System and method for communications of cargo containers in a container security system using wireless ad-hoc networking techniques

• US 7,702,358 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: System Planning Corporation
• Inventors: Meyers, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Danh C
• Application Number:
  US11/598,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/42.1, 455/553.1, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/08 based on transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for communications between a plurality of shipping containers using a short range or local area wireless communication device is provided. The system also contains a cellular communications device, a satellite communications device, or both, which are used to transmit information to, and receive commands from remote central monitoring station. The system includes a method which creates dynamic links between the containers using the short range channel. Containers are organized in networks and sub networks, and have built in redundancy features.

Claims

1. A method for dynamic assignment of communications links between a plurality of containers using a short range wireless communications device associated with each container, the method comprising:

querying each container within the proximity of each short range receiver;

collecting reports back of whether the queried containers have access to a satellite or cellular channel;

measuring energy using a detector which surveys the containers within the proximity of each short range receiver to detect the power of each said short range transmitter for each neighboring container;

ranking the power estimates received from the various container elements;

calculating a most efficient path from any given container to another container, or through a series of containers acting as relays, whereby pertinent data from any given container is relayed to a container having access to a cellular or satellite channel; and

storing a routing table indicating a current connection topology for all containers in an ad-hoc network configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed on a peer based topology running on each container independently, and connections between containers are determined by a voting method and a open network request-acknowledge based protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed on a master-slave topology such that at a given time a single container is designated as a master container controlling the connection paths for all other containers within the network, and all other containers with a specified proximity are designated as slave containers.

4. The method of claim 1, further including application to said containers organized into groups or sub networks connections, in a hierarchical manner, whereby multiple sub networks comprising a plurality of individual containers may exist within the same larger network and the communication paths are controlled by a designated network master container for multiple sub networks.