Keyhole communication device for tracking and monitoring shipping container and contents thereof

• US 7,391,321 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US11/306,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20060237490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/545.6, 340/568.1, 340/539.16, 340/825.72, 340/572.1, 340/539.17, 455/422.1, 455/499
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A shipping container that facilitates communications between wireless communication devices within the shipping container and an external network container 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.

Claims

1. A shipping container equipped to facilitate wireless communications between one or more wireless communication devices within the shipping container and a network that is external to the shipping container, comprising:

(a) a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and

(b) a communication device, adapted for wireless communications with the external network, that includes a first housing component and a second housing component, the first housing component being disposed substantially exterior to the wall structure of the shipping container, and the second housing component being disposed substantially interior to the wall structure of the shipping container, the first and second housing components being secured together and forming an integrated housing structure of the communication device, the integrated housing structure extending through an opening in the wall structure of the shipping container;

(c) wherein,

(i) the first housing component defines a first hollow interior, the second housing component defines a second hollow interior, and the first hollow interior is contiguous with the second hollow interior,

(ii) the communication device includes,

(A) a first antenna that is disposed within the first hollow interior and is located exterior to the shipping container, and

(B) first electronic circuitry that is connected to the first antenna, is disposed within the second hollow interior, and is located interior to the shipping container, the first electronic circuitry adapted to control signal reception and transmission via the first antenna for communications both with the wireless communication devices within the shipping container, and with the external network, and

(iii) the opening in the wall structure of the shipping container through which the integrated housing structure extends includes a diameter of between one-quarter and one full wavelength, inclusive, of the electromagnetic waves used to wirelessly communicate via the first antenna with the wireless communication devices within the shipping container in accordance with the first electronic circuitry.

2. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the first electronic circuitry are adapted for communications within the 2.4 GHz band.

3. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the communication device further includes a GPS receiver disposed within the second housing component and a patch antenna for the GPS receiver disposed within the first housing component.

4. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuitry includes a tag turn on circuit (TTOC) for waking up a standards-based radio of the communication device.

5. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuitry includes tag turn on (TTO) electronics for causing a tag turn on circuit (TTOC) of another communication device to wake up a standards-based radio of the other communication device.

6. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the first electronic circuitry is adapted for communication with one or more wireless tags (WTs), the WTs being associated with assets disposed within the interior of the shipping container.

7. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuitry is configured to form, in conjunction with other communication devices, a class-based network, at least some of the other communication devices being disposed exterior to the shipping container.

8. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuitry is configured to form, in conjunction with other communication devices, a class-based network, at least some of the other communication devices being disposed within the interior of the shipping container.

9. The shipping container of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor disposed about the shipping container, wherein the first electronic circuitry is communicatively interfaced with the at least one sensor for acquiring data there from.

10. The shipping container of claim 9, wherein the first electronic circuitry is communicatively interfaced with the at least one sensor via wireless communication.

11. The shipping container of claim 9, wherein the first electronic circuitry is communicatively interfaced with the at least one sensor via a direct wired connection.

12. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the wall structure of the shipping container includes a static wall structure and at least one access door, and wherein the communication device is disposed on the static wall structure and not the at least one access door.

13. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the communication device further comprises a second antenna disposed within the first housing component and second electronic circuitry connected to the second antenna and disposed within the second housing component, the second electronic circuitry adapted to control signal reception and transmission via the second antenna for communications with wireless communication devices external to the shipping container.

14. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the first electronic circuitry are adapted to function as a repeater passing communications to and from the interior of the shipping container, thereby facilitating communications between the one or more wireless communication devices within the shipping container and the network that is external to the shipping container.

15. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes at least two operational modes such that, in the first operational mode, the communication device receives, processes, and transmits messages intended for and authored by the communication device, and such that, in the second operational mode, the communication device functions as a repeater and passes communications to and from the interior of the shipping container.

18. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing components include correspondingly-threaded fittings such that the first and second housing components are adapted to be screwed together to form the integrated housing structure.

16. A shipping container equipped to facilitate internal and external wireless communications, comprising:

(a) a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and

(b) a communication device, adapted for wireless communications, that includes,

(i) a first housing component and a second housing component,

(A) the first housing component located substantially exterior to the wall structure of the shipping container and defining a first hollow interior,

(B) the second housing component located substantially interior to the wall structure of the shipping container and defining a second hollow interior, and

(C) the first and second housing components being secured together and forming an integrated housing structure of the communication device such that the first hollow interior is contiguous with the second hollow interior, the integrated housing structure extending through an opening in the wall structure of the shipping container,

(ii) a first antenna and a second antenna located within the first hollow interior, and

(iii) an electronics assembly located within the second hollow interior and connected to the first antenna and to the second antenna and configured to control receptions and transmissions of the first antenna and the second antenna;

(c) wherein the first antenna is adapted for wireless communication external to the shipping container and the second antenna is adapted for wireless communication internal to the shipping container.

19. The shipping container of claim 16, wherein the first and second housing components include correspondingly-threaded fittings such that the first and second housing components are adapted to be screwed together to form the integrated housing structure.

17. A shipping container equipped to facilitate internal and external wireless communications, comprising:

(a) a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and

(b) a wireless communication device that includes a first housing component and a second housing component,

(i) the first housing component located substantially exterior to the wall structure of the shipping container and defining a first hollow interior,

(ii) the second housing component located substantially interior to the wall structure of the shipping container and defining a second hollow interior, and

(iii) the first and second housing components being secured together and forming an integrated housing structure of the communication device such that the first hollow interior is contiguous with the second hollow interior, the integrated housing structure extending through an opening in the wall structure of the shipping container;

(c) wherein the communication device includes an antenna located exterior to the shipping container within the first hollow interior, and electronic circuitry located within the integrated housing structure, the electronic circuitry being connected to the antenna and adapted to facilitate signal transmission via the antenna for both internal wireless communications with wireless communication devices within the shipping container, and external wireless communications with an external network, and

(d) wherein the opening in the wall structure of the shipping container, through which the integrated housing structure extends, includes a diameter of between one-quarter and one full wavelength, inclusive, of the electromagnetic waves used to wirelessly communicate via the antenna with the wireless communication devices within the shipping container.

20. The shipping container of claim 17, wherein the first and second housing components include correspondingly-threaded fittings such that the first and second housing components are adapted to be screwed together to form the integrated housing structure.