System and method for effectuating the acquisition and distribution of tracking data on mobile assets, including shipment containers used in freight transportation
First Claim
1. In a method for effectuating collaboration on mobile asset tracking between one or many parties that own mobile assets equipped with mobile asset tracking devices (“
- Owners”
) and one or many other parties with a need to know tracking data for at least one mobile asset or its contents for at least one discrete event (“
Partners”
), the method comprising the steps of;
a) at least one Owner and at least one Partner specifying the tracking data required for one or many mobile assets for one or more discrete events, wherein the mobile assets are equipped with remotely configurable mobile asset tracking devices;
b) using the specified tracking data to remotely configure the mobile asset tracking devices;
c) acquiring tracking data from the remotely configured tracking device for one or more discrete events which simultaneously minimizes the quantity of data acquired and satisfies the specified tracking data; and
d) at least one Owner and at least one Partner contemporaneously accessing and viewing the specified tracking data.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for effectuating the optimum configuration of a duplex tracking device used to track the location and attributes of a mobile asset during a discrete event and the distribution of the data reported by the device so that the owner of the mobile asset and one or more of the owner'"'"'s business partners can contemporaneously access the tracking data that they require. Each party first specifies a minimum configuration for all events with which they are associated, and then optionally specifies more extensive configurations for classes of discrete events. The owner may also constrain the data that partners can request by specifying access authorities for each class of business partners. The configuration parameters for a discrete event are systematically determined to minimize the data to be reported by the device while still meeting the requirements of all the parties, as constrained by the access authorities. Each party may then view and edit, as desired, the configuration until it is frozen prior to satellite transmission to the tracking device. The apparatus includes an internet-based program tool by which any participant can contemporaneously participate in the specification of the configuration parameters for the tracking device for a discrete event, and also access the data for events with which they are associated and generate exception reports. In a preferred embodiment, the mobile asset is a shipment container used to transport freight by ocean, rail, or road, the tracking device reports via satellite communications, the discrete event is a single shipment of goods from a origin location to a destination location, and the parties include the owner of the mobile asset (carrier), the owner of the contents (shipper), the receiver (consignee), and relevant logistics providers and regulatory agencies.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. In a method for effectuating collaboration on mobile asset tracking between one or many parties that own mobile assets equipped with mobile asset tracking devices (“
- Owners”
) and one or many other parties with a need to know tracking data for at least one mobile asset or its contents for at least one discrete event (“
Partners”
), the method comprising the steps of;a) at least one Owner and at least one Partner specifying the tracking data required for one or many mobile assets for one or more discrete events, wherein the mobile assets are equipped with remotely configurable mobile asset tracking devices; b) using the specified tracking data to remotely configure the mobile asset tracking devices; c) acquiring tracking data from the remotely configured tracking device for one or more discrete events which simultaneously minimizes the quantity of data acquired and satisfies the specified tracking data; and d) at least one Owner and at least one Partner contemporaneously accessing and viewing the specified tracking data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- Owners”
-
18. A system for effectuating collaboration on mobile asset tracking between one or more parties that own mobile assets equipped with mobile asset tracking devices (“
- Owners”
) and one more other parties with a need to know tracking data for at least one mobile asset and its contents for at least one discrete event (“
Partners”
), the system comprising;a) means for at least one Owner and at least one Partner to specify the tracking data required for one or more mobile assets for one or more discrete events, wherein the mobile assets are equipped with remotely configurable mobile asset tracking devices; b) means for remotely configuring the mobile asset tracking devices to report the specified tracking data; c) means for acquiring tracking data from the mobile asset tracking devices for one or more discrete events which simultaneously minimizes the quantity of data acquired and satisfies the specified tracking data; and d) means for at least one Owner and at least one Partner to contemporaneously access and view the tracking data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- Owners”
Specification