Temperature tracking and monitoring system used for commodities transportation

• US 7,221,270 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Hui-Chuan, Kuo, Hong-Ming, Wang, Ming-Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/115,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/449, 340/584, 340/588
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A temperature tracking and monitoring system used for commodities transportation comprises a deliver unit, a control computer and a monitor and control unit. The deliver unit comprises a transportation means, at least a glove compartment, a RFID tag and a RFID reader. The glove compartment is disposed in the transportation device the RFID tag is disposed in the glove compartment and has provision for transmitting an identification code. The control computer is adapted to communicate with the RFID reader to receive a temperature signal and the identification code. The control computer transmits a positioning request signal, receives real-time position data, transforms the real-time position data into a position signal and transmitting the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code in a specific manner. The monitor and control portion comprises a positioning device and a logistics center. The positioning device transmits the real-time position data to the control computer in response to the positioning request signal. The logistics center receives the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code so as to acquire information of a position and a temperature of the glove compartment reading content of a local message.

Claims

1. A temperature tracking and monitoring system used for commodities transportation, comprising

a deliver unit, comprising:

a transportation means for transporting;

at least a glove compartment disposed in the transportation means;

a RFID tag disposed in the glove compartment and adapted to transmit an identification code, wherein the RFID tag is capable of transforming a temperature into a temperature signal and transmitting the temperature signal; and

a RFID reader disposed in the transportation means and capable of reading the temperature signal and the identification code;

a control computer coupled communicatively with the RFID reader so as to receive the temperature signal and the identification code, adapted to transmit a positioning request signal and receive real-time position data, transform the real-time position data into a position signal and transmitting the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code in a specific manner; and

a monitor and control unit, comprising;

a positioning device adapted to transmit the real-time position data to the control computer in response to the positioning request signal; and

a logistics center adapted to receive the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code so as to acquire information of a position and a temperature of the glove compartment.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitor and control unit further comprises a telecommunications company which is capable of receiving the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code transmitted from the control computer and forwarding the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code to the logistics center.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code are forwarded to the logistics center through the Internet.

4. The fixation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is an active RFID tag.

5. The fixation device as recited in claim 1, wherein the specific manner is selected from a group consisting of GPS transmission, universal grouping wireless business transmission, wireless transmission, and 3G wireless communications transmission.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the positioning device is a global positioning system satellite.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the delivery unit further comprises an alarm device coupled communicatively to the control computer and displaying a frame or setting forth an alarm sound.

8. A fixation device for a glove compartment used for a temperature tracking and monitoring system for commodities transportation, comprising:

an upper lid being hollow and provided with a plurality of through-holes and an end of the upper lid being closed and another end of the upper lid provided with a first tenon and a first rotation fixation bolt capable of being coupled to the glove compartment; and

a lower lid being hollow and provided with a plurality of through-holes and an end of the lower lid being closed and another end of the lower lid provided with a second tenon capable of being fastened closely to the first tenon and a second rotation fixation bolt being capable of being coupled to the glove compartment,

wherein the fixation device is fixed into the glove compartment through the coupling of the first and second rotation fixation bolts and the glove compartment.

9. The fixation device as recited in claim 8, wherein the transportation means further comprises a RFID tag disposed therein.

10. A method of tracking and monitoring in a cargo truck, multi-temperature commodities, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a deliver unit, a control computer and a monitor and control unit wherein the deliver unit includes a transportation means for transporting, a glove compartment, a RFID tag with an identification code and a RFID reader and the monitor and control unit includes a positioning device and a logistics center;

(b) placing the RFID tag into the glove compartment and then placing the glove compartment, the RFID reader and the control computer into the transportation means and at the same time connecting communicatively the control computer with the RFID reader;

(c) initializing the control computer and the RFID reader;

(d) starting off the cargo truck and beginning a distribution task from the logistics center;

(e) detecting a temperature by the RFID tag instructed by the control computer through the RFID reader, transforming the detected temperature into a temperature signal, transmitting the temperature signal, reading the identification code through the RFID reader by the control computer and at the same time transmitting a positioning request signal to the positioning device by the control computer, transmitting real-time position data in response by the positioning device to the control computer and transforming the real-time position data into a position signal;

(f) transmitting the temperature signal, the position signal and the identification signal in a specific manner to the logistics center; and

(g) displaying the temperature signal, the position signal and the identification code by the logistics center so that real-time conditions of the transportation means are acquired.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

(h) determining if the transportation means has reached a client terminal by the logistics center;

(i) and if yes, directing a transported commodity to a client terminal, repeating the step (e);

(j) generating a signal as to finished transportation and transmitting the signal as to finished transportation to the logistics center in a specific manner;

(k) displaying information as to finished transportation by the logistics center; and

(l) returning of the cargo truck to the logistics center.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the monitor and control unit further comprises a telecommunications company which is capable of receiving the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code transmitted from the control computer and forwarding the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code to the logistics center.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the position signal, the temperature signal and the identification code are forwarded to the logistics center through the Internet.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the glove compartment further comprises:

an upper lid being hollow and provided with a plurality of through-holes and an end of the upper lid being closed and another end of the upper lid provided with a first tenon and a first rotation fixation bolt capable of being coupled to the glove compartment; and

a lower lid being hollow and provided with a plurality of through-holes and an end of the lower lid being closed and another end of the lower lid provided with a second tenon capable of being fastened closely to the first tenon and a second rotation fixation bolt being capable of being coupled to the glove compartment,

wherein the fixation device is fixed into the glove compartment through the coupling of the first and second rotation fixation bolts and the glove compartment.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the transportation means further comprises a RFID tag disposed therein.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is an active RFID tag.

17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the specific manner is selected from a group consisting of GPS transmission, universal grouping wireless business transmission, wireless transmission, and 3G wireless communications transmission.

18. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the positioning device is a global positioning system satellite.

19. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the delivery unit further comprises an alarm device coupled communicatively to the control computer and displaying a frame or setting forth an alarm sound.

20. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the RFID tag detects the temperature based on a specific time interval.