Smart container monitoring system

• US 7,411,495 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hi-G-Tek, Inc. (Eagle Technologies, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hi-G-Tek, Ltd.
• Inventors: Golan, Eli, Auerbach, Micha, Genin, Arcadi, Cohen, Rony, Blum, Shmuel, Sender, Ran, Isenberg, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US11/078,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391-53926, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/546
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• 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 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/005 Locks with means for tracking the location of locked items, e.g. freight containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/005 Chain-locks, cable-locks or padlocks with alarms
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/36 Padlocks with closing means other than shackles ; Removable locks, the lock body itself being the locking element; Padlocks consisting of two separable halves or cooperating with a stud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening

Abstract

A remotely monitorable shipping container including a shipping container body having associated therewith at least one door and at least one door latch having a latch locking element arranged for locking engagement with a door mounted locking element, at least one wireless communicator mounted in a secure location within the shipping container and being operative to wirelessly transmit information to a remote monitor regarding the status of an electronic seal mounted onto the locking element for confirming locking of the at least one door, and at least one wireless antenna mounted within a protected enclosure on the outside of the shipping container for transmitting the information from the at least one wireless communicator.

Claims

1. A monitored shipping container system comprising:

at least one remotely monitorable shipping container including;

a shipping container; and

at least one sensor mounted within the shipping container operative to sense at least one condition within the shipping container and operative to wirelessly transmit sensed information to an electronic seal mounted onto the outside of said shipping container, said electronic seal monitoring a status of said shipping container and being operative to wirelessly transmit information to a remote monitor regarding the status of said electronic seal, and said sensed information; and

at least one remote communicator communicating with the at least one electronic seal.

2. A monitored shipping container system according to claim 1, and wherein said at least one sensor is operative to communicate directly with at least one short range remote communicator located outside said shipping container.

3. A monitored shipping container system according to claim 2, and wherein said at least one sensor is operative to wirelessly communicate with said at least one short range remote communicator.

4. A monitored shipping container system according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one short range remote communicator is operative to wirelessly transmit information regarding an output of said at least one sensor to said remote communicator.

5. A monitored shipping container system according to claim 4, and wherein the at least one sensor senses at least one of carbon dioxide, infra-red emissions, motion, temperature, seismic waves, acoustic waves and radiation.

6. A monitored shipping container system according to claim 4 and wherein said at least one short range remote communicator also transmits information regarding the status of cargo within said shipping container body.

7. A monitored shipping container system according to claim 2, and wherein the at least one sensor senses at least one of carbon dioxide, infra-red emissions, motion, temperature, seismic waves, acoustic waves and radiation.

8. A shipping container communications system according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one remote communicator comprises at least one of:

a presence communicator;

a remote monitoring station; and

an electronic seal.

9. A shipping container communications system according to claim 1 and wherein said electronic seal comprises at least one transceiver, communicating with the at least one remote communicator and wherein:

the at least one remote communicator comprises at least one of;

a presence communicator;

a remote monitoring station; and

an electronic seal.

10. A monitored shipping container system according to claim 1, and wherein the at least one sensor senses at least one of carbon dioxide, infra-red emissions, motion, temperature, seismic waves, acoustic waves and radiation.