Keyhole communication device for tracking and monitoring shipping container and contents thereof
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring contents of a shipping container, comprising the steps of:
- (a) wirelessly communicating information relating to interior contents of the shipping container, to a communication device attached to the shipping container, from one or more wireless devices within the interior of the shipping container; and
(b) wirelessly communicating information relating to interior contents of the shipping container, from the communication device attached to the shipping container, to a network external to the shipping container;
(c) wherein the communication device attached to the shipping container includes electronics and at least one antenna, and further includes first and second housing components located on opposite sides of a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component defining a first hollow interior and residing substantially exterior to the shipping container, and with the second housing component defining a second hollow interior and residing substantially within the interior of the shipping container, the first hollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shipping container that facilitates communications between wireless communication devices within the shipping container and an external network includes a keyhole communication device that is adapted for wireless communications with the external network and that includes first and second housing components. The first and second housing components together form an integrated housing structure that extends through a small opening in a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component being disposed exterior to the shipping container and the second housing component being disposed interior to the shipping container. A first antenna is disposed within the first housing component for communications via a first communications protocol, such as a Bluetooth protocol. A second antenna also may be disposed within the first housing component for communications via a second communications protocol, such as a cellular communications protocol. The communications are controlled by electronic circuitry within the second housing component.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring contents of a shipping container, comprising the steps of:
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(a) wirelessly communicating information relating to interior contents of the shipping container, to a communication device attached to the shipping container, from one or more wireless devices within the interior of the shipping container; and (b) wirelessly communicating information relating to interior contents of the shipping container, from the communication device attached to the shipping container, to a network external to the shipping container; (c) wherein the communication device attached to the shipping container includes electronics and at least one antenna, and further includes first and second housing components located on opposite sides of a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component defining a first hollow interior and residing substantially exterior to the shipping container, and with the second housing component defining a second hollow interior and residing substantially within the interior of the shipping container, the first hollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. A method for tracking a shipping container, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining location information of the shipping container and interior contents thereof using a GPS receiver and wirelessly communicating, by a communication device attached to the shipping container, with a network external to the shipping container, the wireless communications including information relating to the location of the shipping container and interior contents; (b) wherein the communication device comprises first and second housing components located on opposite sides of a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component defining a first hollow interior and residing substantially exterior to the shipping container, and with the second housing component defining a second hollow interior and residing substantially within the interior of the shipping container, the first hollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior; (c) wherein the first housing component includes a first antenna and the second housing component includes the GPS receiver disposed in electronic communication with the first antenna; and (d) wherein the first housing component includes a second antenna and the second housing component includes circuitry disposed in electronic communication with the second antenna for controlling wireless communications via the second antenna with the network external to the shipping container.
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Specification