Wireless monitoring device

• US 7,135,976 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amsted Rail Company Incorporated (Amsted Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: RFTrax, Inc. (Colliers International Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barrett, Fred, Neff, Raymond Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/813,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/988, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/825.34, 705/22, 705/28, 700/229, 700/225, 700/224, 235/385, 235/384
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

The system of the invention includes a method for monitoring changes in the status or condition of a Container using one or more monitoring units mounted to the Container. The monitoring units preferably include a power supply, sensors using reflective energy with programmable parameters, globally-unique sensor identification, recording capability on a timeline, long term memory and the ability to rebroadcast information on RFID radio technology. Programmable monitoring hardware in the monitoring unit detects significant changes in the sensor outputs as a triggering event. The programmable monitoring hardware includes memory for storing identification information for the Container. The sensors which can include conventional devices that detect various forms of energy including visible light, infrared light, magnetic fields, radio frequency energy and sound. In one embodiment, a monitoring unit is mounted inside a shipping Container suitable for long distance transport. The triggering event can be used for tamper detection security.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a transport storage compartment, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a monitoring unit having a sensor and a transmitter inside said storage compartment;

utilizing said sensor to monitor the physical condition of the inside surface of the storage compartment; and

utilizing said transmitter to transmit a signal based on the physical condition of the inside surface of the storage compartment,

wherein the step of utilizing said sensor to monitor the physical condition of the inside surface of the storage compartment comprises monitoring the ambient light within the compartment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of commencing logging data regarding the compartment upon a triggering event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said triggering event is a change in output from the sensor.

4. A method for monitoring a transport storage compartment, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a monitoring unit having a sensor and a transmitter inside said storage compartment;

utilizing said sensor to monitor the physical condition of the inside surface of the storage compartment; and

utilizing said transmitter to transmit a signal based on the physical condition of the inside surface of the storage compartment,

wherein the step of utilizing said sensor to monitor the physical condition of the inside surface of the storage compartment comprises emitting a signal from said sensor to reflect on an inside surface of said compartment.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of utilizing said sensor to receive a signal reflected by said inside surface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said inside surface is an access port to said surface.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of commencing logging data regarding the compartment upon a triggering event.

8. A method of monitoring a cargo transport compartment, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a monitoring unit at a location within a cargo transport compartment in proximity to an inside surface of the compartment, the monitoring unit including a proximity sensor and a radio transmitter; and

upon sensing a change in an output of the proximity sensor, transmitting an identifier for the monitoring unit for receipt by a reader using the radio transmitter,

wherein said change in output results from opening said compartment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of opening is opening an access port.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of opening is creating an opening in said compartment.

11. A method of monitoring cargo in a shipping container comprising the steps of:

attaching a monitoring unit to an inside surface of the shipping container, the monitoring unit including a sensor, monitoring electronics and a radio transmitter, wherein said sensor is a reflective energy sensor;

utilizing said reflective energy sensor to reflect energy off an inside surface of said shipping container;

upon receiving a radioed start command from a reader, commencing logging data on triggering events in a memory of the monitoring unit with a time stamp, a triggering event being a chance in an output of the sensor, and

upon receiving a radioed get-response command from a reader, transmitting the data on triggering events to the reader.