Keyhole communication device for tracking and monitoring shipping container and contents thereof
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating wireless communications between one or more wireless communication devices within a shipping container and a network that is external to the shipping container, comprising the steps of:
- (a) disposing a wireless keyhole communication device on a shipping container such that,(i) a first housing component of the wireless keyhole communication device is located on the exterior of the shipping container, the first housing component defining a first hollow interior, and(ii) a second housing component of the wireless keyhole communication device is located within the interior of the shipping container, the second housing component defining a second hollow interior,(iii) wherein the first and second housing components are secured together and form an integrated housing structure of the wireless keyhole communication device, with the first hollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior to define an interior space of the integrated housing structure,(iv) wherein the integrated housing structure extends through an opening in a wall structure of the shipping container, and(v) wherein at least one antenna and electronics both are contained within the interior space of the integrated housing structure and are configured to enable the wireless keyhole communication device to wirelessly communicate both with one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container, and with a network that is external to the shipping container;
(b) wirelessly communicating between the wireless keyhole communication device and the one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container; and
(c) wirelessly communicating between the wireless keyhole communication device and the network that is external to the shipping container.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of facilitating wireless communications between one or more wireless communication devices within a shipping container and a network that is external to the shipping container, comprising the steps of:
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(a) disposing a wireless keyhole communication device on a shipping container such that, (i) a first housing component of the wireless keyhole communication device is located on the exterior of the shipping container, the first housing component defining a first hollow interior, and (ii) a second housing component of the wireless keyhole communication device is located within the interior of the shipping container, the second housing component defining a second hollow interior, (iii) wherein the first and second housing components are secured together and form an integrated housing structure of the wireless keyhole communication device, with the first hollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior to define an interior space of the integrated housing structure, (iv) wherein the integrated housing structure extends through an opening in a wall structure of the shipping container, and (v) wherein at least one antenna and electronics both are contained within the interior space of the integrated housing structure and are configured to enable the wireless keyhole communication device to wirelessly communicate both with one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container, and with a network that is external to the shipping container; (b) wirelessly communicating between the wireless keyhole communication device and the one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container; and (c) wirelessly communicating between the wireless keyhole communication device and the network that is external to the shipping container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 19)
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6. A shipping container that facilitates wireless communications between one or more wireless communication devices within an interior thereof and a network that is external thereto, comprising:
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(a) a wireless keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container such that a first housing component of the wireless keyhole communication device is disposed on the exterior of the shipping container and a second housing component of the wireless keyhole communication device is disposed within the interior of the shipping container, (b) wherein the first housing component includes a first hollow interior, the second housing component includes a second hollow interior, and the first and second housing components are secured together and form an integrated housing structure that extends through an opening of the shipping container, with the first hollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior to define an interior space of the integrated housing structure, and (c) wherein the wireless keyhole communication device includes, within the integrated housing structure, both electronics and at least one antenna such that the keyhole communication device is adapted for wireless communications both with one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container and with a network that is external to the shipping container. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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Specification