Reusable self contained electronic device providing in-transit cargo visibility
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a reusable mounting apparatus, attached to the housing to permit the housing to be attached and detached mechanically from a surface of a shipping container;
circuitry, disposed within the housing, for determining status data associated with the attached shipping container; and
an electrical actuator, for electrically activating or deactivating the reusable mounting apparatuswherein the reusable mounting apparatus further comprises;
a shaped exterior portion on the housing, the position being shaped to accommodate positioning of the housing adjacent to a vertical locking bar associated with a shipping container; and
a restraint mechanism, attached to the housing adjacent the shaped exterior portion, the restraint mechanism serving to secure the apparatus to the vertical locking bar.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tracking and security device that is self-contained, portable and easily secured to a shipping container. Since the unit can be easily attached and removed from a container and is relatively inexpensive to produce, the unit can be purchased and controlled by the owners of cargo, rather than the transportation service providers or owners of shipping containers. The device monitors and records positional information at a daily or other frequency dictated by the cargo owner, and reports this information as well as other events, such as suspicious entry into the container, over a satellite communication system or other wireless communication network. Access to status and/or position information is provided a secure fashion through Internet access to a centralized database. The device empowers an importer/exporter, or really any small business engaged in long distance shipment of goods, to control in-transit, real-time status and location information for their cargo without relying on third party sources, such as transportation carriers, to provide such data or to pay their service fees.
112 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a reusable mounting apparatus, attached to the housing to permit the housing to be attached and detached mechanically from a surface of a shipping container; circuitry, disposed within the housing, for determining status data associated with the attached shipping container; and an electrical actuator, for electrically activating or deactivating the reusable mounting apparatus wherein the reusable mounting apparatus further comprises; a shaped exterior portion on the housing, the position being shaped to accommodate positioning of the housing adjacent to a vertical locking bar associated with a shipping container; and a restraint mechanism, attached to the housing adjacent the shaped exterior portion, the restraint mechanism serving to secure the apparatus to the vertical locking bar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification