Self-check for a detector detecting the proximity of a transportation vessel
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a tracking device configured to transmit and receive positioning information to a remote site over a wireless communications link, the tracking device including a power source for supplying power to the tracking device;
a control system;
a frequency detector coupled to said control system for receiving a frequency signal indicative of the proximity of the transportation vessel, the control system being configured to decrease the power supplied to the tracking device by the power source; and
a frequency generator coupled to said control system;
said control system being capable of determining whether said frequency detector is operating properly by causing said frequency generator to emit a self-check signal having a frequency substantially the same as said frequency signal and determining if said self-check signal was received by said frequency detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A frequency detector that detects a frequency signal indicative of the proximity of a transportation vessel or an intrinsically-safe area. The frequency detector may be associated with any type of electronic device. The frequency detector detects the presence of a frequency signal that is emitted by a transportation vessel and/or a frequency beacon associated with the transportation vessel. The frequency detector and/or container may disable, shut down, or reduce power of any electro-magnetic field generating devices associated with the frequency detector and/or container if the frequency detector receives a frequency signal indicative of the inside or proximity of a transportation vessel or an intrinsically-safe area. The container also includes a self-check frequency generator that emits a frequency signal capable of being detected by the frequency detector. If the frequency detector is operating properly, the frequency detector will successfully receive the frequency signal emitted by the frequency generator.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a tracking device configured to transmit and receive positioning information to a remote site over a wireless communications link, the tracking device including a power source for supplying power to the tracking device;
a control system;
a frequency detector coupled to said control system for receiving a frequency signal indicative of the proximity of the transportation vessel, the control system being configured to decrease the power supplied to the tracking device by the power source; and
a frequency generator coupled to said control system;
said control system being capable of determining whether said frequency detector is operating properly by causing said frequency generator to emit a self-check signal having a frequency substantially the same as said frequency signal and determining if said self-check signal was received by said frequency detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a converter to receive said frequency signal;
a phase and frequency comparator to receive an output signal from said converter; and
a filter and VCO that receives an output signal from said phase and frequency comparator indicative of the difference in phase between said frequency signal and said VCO;
said VCO generates an output signal that is fed back into said phase and frequency comparator.
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20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system is associated with a device from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a PDA, a laptop computer, and an apparatus associated with a shipping container.
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21. An apparatus for sensing the proximity of an intrinsically-safe area, comprising:
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a tracking device configured to transmit and receive positioning information over a wireless communications link to a remote site;
a power source for supplying power to the tracking device;
a frequency detector coupled to said control system for receiving a frequency signal indicative of the proximity of the intrinsically-safe area;
a control system configured to decrease the power supplied to the tracking device in response to the received frequency signal; and
a frequency generator coupled to said control system;
said control system being capable of determining whether said frequency detector is operating properly by causing said frequency generator to emit a self-check signal having a frequency substantially the same as said frequency signal and determining if said self-check signal was received by said frequency detector. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
a phase and frequency comparator to receive an output signal from said converter; and
a filter and VCO that receives an output signal from said phase and frequency comparator indicative of the difference in phase between said frequency signal and said VCO;
said VCO generates an output signal that is fed back into said phase and frequency comparator.
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40. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said control system is associated with a device from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a PDA, a laptop computer, and an apparatus associated with a shipping container.
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41. A transportation vessel detection system, comprising:
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an electronic device containing a control system;
a frequency detector coupled to said control system for receiving a frequency signal indicative of when said container is in proximity to the transportation vessel;
and a frequency generator coupled to said control system;
a tracking device coupled to said control system, the tracking device being configured to receive positioning information from a positioning system concerning said electronic device and a remote communication device coupled to said control system to transmit said positioning information remotely wherein said control system is adapted to deactivate said remote communication device if said frequency detector detects said frequency signal, said control system being capable of determining whether said frequency detector is operating properly by causing said frequency generator to emit a self-check signal having a frequency substantially the same as said frequency signal and determining if said frequency detector received said self-check signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
a converter to receive said frequency signal;
a phase and frequency comparator to receive an output signal from said converter; and
a filter and VCO that receives an output signal from said phase and frequency comparator indicative of the difference in phase between said frequency signal and said VCO;
said VCO generates an output signal that is fed back into said phase and frequency comparator.
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62. The system of claim 41, wherein said electronic device is comprised from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a PDA, a laptop computer, and a shipping container.
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63. A method of verifying that a frequency detector used to detect the proximity of a transportation vessel is operational, comprising the steps of:
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detecting a frequency signal indicative of the proximity of the transportation vessel using a frequency detector;
reducing power in a tracking device based on the detected frequency signal, the tracking device being configured to receive positioning information over a communications link;
generating a second signal at substantially the same frequency as said frequency signal; and
verifying that said frequency detector is operating properly by determining if said frequency detector detected said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method of verifying that a frequency detector used to detect proximity to an intrinsically-safe area, comprising the steps of:
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detecting a frequency signal indicative of the proximity of the intrinsically-safe area using a frequency detector;
reducing power in a tracking device based on the received frequency signal;
generating a second signal at substantially the same frequency as said frequency signal; and
verifying that said frequency detector is operating properly by determining if said frequency detector detected said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification