Container tracking system
First Claim
1. A container tracking system, comprising:
- a dispatcher workstation for association with a shipping container storage and transfer yard;
a database associated with the dispatcher workstation and providing for the storage of location information related to a plurality of shipping containers located throughout the shipping container storage and transfer yard;
a mobile unit for roaming around said shipping container storage and transfer yard and for attachment to a piece of container-handling equipment;
a navigation computer disposed in the mobile unit and providing for three-dimensional position solutions of its location;
a communications link between the mobile unit and the dispatcher workstation and providing for a transfer of said position solutions to the database; and
a display connected to the dispatcher workstation and providing for a graphical user interface representing a number of map locations of said plurality of shipping containers that are derived from said location information in the database.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A container tracking system comprises a dispatcher workstation with a graphical user interface and a database. These are used to track the whereabouts of shipping containers in a storage and transfer yard. A mobile unit in the yard is attached to container handling equipment and monitors the container lock-on mechanism. When a container is locked on for a move, the mobile unit starts reporting positions and velocities to the dispatcher workstation over a radio channel. These positions and solutions are computed from a combination of GPS satellite navigation receiver solutions, inertial navigation, and local beacon markers. Reports stop when the container handling equipment unlocks from the container. The database then updates the new position for that container, and the graphical user interface can be used to “see” the container on a yard map.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A container tracking system, comprising:
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a dispatcher workstation for association with a shipping container storage and transfer yard;
a database associated with the dispatcher workstation and providing for the storage of location information related to a plurality of shipping containers located throughout the shipping container storage and transfer yard;
a mobile unit for roaming around said shipping container storage and transfer yard and for attachment to a piece of container-handling equipment;
a navigation computer disposed in the mobile unit and providing for three-dimensional position solutions of its location;
a communications link between the mobile unit and the dispatcher workstation and providing for a transfer of said position solutions to the database; and
a display connected to the dispatcher workstation and providing for a graphical user interface representing a number of map locations of said plurality of shipping containers that are derived from said location information in the database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
a satellite-navigation receiver connected to provide position solutions to the navigation computer.
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3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
an inertial navigation system connected to provide position solutions to the navigation computer.
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4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a pseudo-noise beacon connected to provide position information to the navigation computer that are triggered by the mobile unit passing by particular surveyed locations in said shipping container storage and transfer yard.
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5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
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a magnetic pattern placed within said shipping container storage and transfer yard and forming a digital encoding of a pseudo-random number, and further having a code-phase correlated to a linear location;
a pseudo-noise receiver connected to provide position information to the navigation computer that are derived from magnetic readings obtained while passing by the magnetic pattern.
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6. The system of claim 5, wherein:
the magnetic pattern includes permanent magnets laid in alternating directions to effectuate digital bits in said pseudo-random number.
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7. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the mobile unit is attached to a bridle of a transtainer type of said container-handling equipment.
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8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a computer workstation having access to said database and including a computer program for orchestrating movements of said shipping containers according to future access requirements of said container-handling equipment.
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9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a satellite-navigation receiver, an inertial navigation system, and a pseudo-noise receiver connected to provide position estimates to the navigation computer, wherein a hybrid position solution is obtained.
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10. A method of managing inventories in a storage area, the method comprising the steps of:
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electronically mapping a three-dimensional storage area in which pieces of inventory come-in, go-out, and shuffle between internal locations;
cataloging and indexing each piece of an inventory according to its identity and location within said storage area;
attaching a navigation computer to a piece of machinery able to move said pieces of inventory around in said storage area;
detecting when said piece of machinery is attached to move any of said pieces of inventory;
reporting position solutions derived from said navigation computer that can be attributed to movements of a particular piece of inventory; and
updating a database with a new imputed position of each piece of inventory that has been moved to a new location by said piece of machinery. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
displaying a map representation of said storage area and each of said pieces of inventory on a computer screen through a graphical user interface (GUI).
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12. The method of claim 10, wherein:
the steps of attaching and detecting include attaching said navigation computer to a bridle on a transtainer, and detecting when said bridle locks onto a shipping container one of said pieces of inventory.
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13. The method of claim 10, wherein:
the step of attaching include attaching said navigation computer which includes at least one of a navigation satellite receiver, inertial navigation sensor, and a pseudo-noise receiver.
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14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
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magnetically encoding a digital pseudo-random number in a pattern along linear runs within said storage yard;
reading said pattern as said piece of machinery passes by it; and
interpreting a code phase of said pattern as correlating to a particular linear position within said storage area.
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Specification