Load safeguard systems

• US 7,193,512 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Radio Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Radio Data Corporation
• Inventors: Coulthard, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/128,530
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531, 340/505, 340/506, 34053913-53917, 340/539.31, 340/539.32, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/5.92
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system for improved monitoring of changes in the location and conditions surrounding vehicles and shippable property, utilizing fixed and moveable logic processors, which communicate with each other as well as receivers. Non-continuous signaling may be used to provide for reduced power consumption, and network coupling may be used to provided for exporting information to anywhere in the world by means of, for example GSM/GPS infrastructures.

Claims

1. A load safeguard system, co-operable with at least one database, for monitoring, within at least one determinable environment, at least one item requiring monitoring of at least one sensible condition, comprising, in combination:

a) a set of first logic-processor means, for logical transacting with receivable information, respectively associated with a respective set of locations within at least one determinable environment; and

b) a plurality of second logic-processor means, for logical transacting with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of such at least one items;

c) wherein essentially each of said set of first logic-processor means comprises first communicator means for communicative coupling with essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means;

d) wherein essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means comprises second communicator means for communicative coupling with essentially each of said set of first logic-processor means;

e) wherein essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means comprises sensor means for sensing at least one environmental condition; and

f) wherein essentially each of said set of first logic-processor means comprises third communicator means for communicative coupling with such at least one database.

2. The load safeguard system according to claim 1, wherein:

a) such at least one item comprises at least one shippable package; and

b) such at least one determinable environment comprises at least one shipping environment.

3. The load safeguard system according to claim 2, wherein:

a) such at least one item comprises perishable produce; and

b) such at least one determinable environment comprises at least one temperature-controllable shipping truck.

4. A system, co-operable with at least one database, for monitoring items within a local area, comprising, in combination:

a) a set of first logic-processor means, for logical transacting with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of locations within the local area; and

b) a plurality of second logic-processor means, for logical transacting with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of the items;

c) wherein essentially each of said set of first logic-processor means comprises first communicator means for communicative coupling with essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means; and

d) wherein essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means comprises second communicator means for communicative coupling with essentially each of said set of first logic-processor means.

5. A system, co-operable with at least one database, for monitoring items within a local area, comprising, in combination:

a) a set of first logic-processors structured and arranged to provide logical transaction with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of locations within the local area; and

b) a plurality of second logic-processors structured and arranged to provide logical transaction with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of the items;

c) wherein essentially each of said set of first logic-processors comprises at least one first communicator structured and arranged to communicatively couple with essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors; and

d) wherein essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprises at least one second communicator structured and arranged to communicatively couple with essentially each of said set of first logic-processors.

6. The system according to claim 5 further comprising at least one receiver structured and arranged to receive communicated information from at least one of the group consisting essentially of each of said set of first logic-processors and each of said plurality of second logic-processors.

7. The system according to claim 6 further comprising such at least one database structured and arranged to manipulate such receivable information.

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein said at least one receiver comprises at least one wireless receptor structured and arranged to receive such receivable information.

9. The system according to claim 6 wherein said at least one receiver comprises at least one network coupler structured and arranged to communicatively couple said at least one receiver with at least one of the group consisting of:

a) Global System for Mobile Communications systems (GSM);

b) Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

c) Internet;

d) personal computers;

e) personal digital assistants;

f) local area networks;

g) radios;

h) cellular phones;

i) wireless networks; and

j) personal computer memory card international associations (PCMCIA'"'"'s) for wireless applications.

10. The system according to claim 5 wherein said at least one first communicator and said at least one second communicator each comprise at least one wireless system structured and arranged to wirelessly assist communicative coupling.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said at least one first communicator and said at least one second communicator comprise at least one frequency within the range consisting of about radio frequency.

12. The system according to claim 5 wherein essentially each of said set of first logic-processors and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprise at least one identifier structured and arranged to uniquely identify essentially each one of said plurality of first logic-processors and essentially each one of said plurality of second logic-processors.

13. The system according to claim 5 further comprising at least one sensor structured and arranged to sense local information, attachable to at least one subset of at least one of the group consisting essentially of each of said set of first logic-processors and each of said plurality of second logic-processors.

14. The system according to claim 5 wherein essentially each of said set of first logic-processors and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprise at least one power source structured and arranged to provide electrical power.

15. The system according to claim 5 wherein said at least one first communicator and said at least one second communicator comprise at least one non-continuous signaler structured and arranged to provide non-continuous communications.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said at least one non-continuous signaler comprises at least one optimized signaler structured and arranged to provide optimized power consumption when generating non-continuous communications.

17. The system according to claim 5 wherein essentially each of said set of first logic-processors and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprise at least one electric circuit structured and arranged to process data.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein said at least one electric circuit comprises at least one firmware structured and arranged to provide modification of said set of first logic-processors and modification of said plurality of second logic-processors.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein said at least one first communicator from at least one of said set of first logic-processors is communicatively coupleable with at least one of said plurality of second logic-processors so that said at least one firmware of said at least one of said plurality of second logic-processors may be modified by said at least one first communicator.

20. The system according to claim 18 wherein said at least one second communicator from at least one of said plurality of second logic-processors is communicatively coupleable with at least one of said plurality of first logic-processors so that said at least one firmware of said at least one of said plurality of first logic-processors may be modified by said at least one second communicator.