Secure cargo transportation system

• US 7,777,608 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Bates, Benjamin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/844,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.21, 340/10.31, 340/7.25, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 340/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• 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 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

One embodiment provides a wireless communications device comprising a processing unit; a location-determining subsystem communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining subsystem to determine a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS); a first wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the first wireless communications subsystem to communicate location information using a cellular communications system; and a second wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the second wireless communications subsystem to modulate a radio frequency (RE) field provided by a remote interrogator to wirelessly provide a random number generated on the wireless communications device as an identifier of the wireless communications device; wherein the second wireless communications subsystem is switchable between transmitting in a passive mode and transmitting in an active mode.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a processing unit;

a location-determining subsystem communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining subsystem to determine a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a first wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the first wireless communications subsystem to communicate location information using a cellular communications system; and

a second wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the second wireless communications subsystem to modulate a radio frequency (RF) field provided by a remote interrogator to wirelessly provide a random number generated on the wireless communications device as an identifier of the wireless communications device;

wherein the second wireless communications subsystem is switchable between transmitting in a passive mode and transmitting in an active mode.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications subsystem comprises a cellular communications device controlled by the processing unit to perform wireless communications with the cellular communications system;

and the second wireless communications subsystem comprises an identification device to generate the random number and to modulate the RF field.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 2, wherein the cellular communications device comprises a cellular receiver coupled to a first antenna for wireless communications with the cellular communications system;

and the identification device is coupled to a second antenna to provide identification information comprising the random number.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 3, wherein the second antenna comprises at least one loop.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 4, wherein the identification device comprises a transmitter switchable between transmitting using a carrier provided by an interrogator and transmitting using a carrier generated by the wireless communications device.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 2, wherein the identification device comprises a transmitter switchable between a first mode in which the transmitter modulates an RF field generated by the remote interrogator and a second mode in which the transmitter modulates an RF field generated by the identification device.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 6, wherein the identification information is transmitted via magnetic field modulation.

8. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the location-determining subsystem comprises a GPS receiver;

and the first wireless communications subsystem comprises a cellular receiver coupled to the processing unit.

9. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the location information is received at the wireless communications device via the first wireless communications subsystem.

10. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communications subsystem is to wirelessly provide a unique identification code via modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by the remote interrogator.

11. A portable device, comprising:

a processing unit;

a location-determining system coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining system to determine a current location of the portable device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a memory to log locations determined by the location-determination system with respect to time;

a first antenna;

a cellular communications device coupled to the processing unit and the first antenna, the cellular communications device to communicate location information via the first antenna using a cellular communications system;

a second antenna; and

an identification device coupled to the processing unit and the second antenna, the identification device to generate a random number as an identifier of the portable device and to provide the random number, via the second antenna in a passive mode of operation, by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by an interrogator wirelessly coupled to the identification device;

wherein in an active mode of operation the identification device is to provide an RF field for communications.

12. The portable device of claim 11, wherein the identification device is to provide a unique identifier, in addition to the random number, via the second antenna in the passive mode of operation.

13. The portable device of claim 11, wherein the location-determining system comprises a GPS receiver;

and the cellular communications device comprises a cellular receiver.

14. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a processing unit;

a location-determining subsystem communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining subsystem to determine a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a first wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the first wireless communications subsystem to communicate identification information using a cellular communications system; and

a second wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the second wireless communications subsystem to modulate a radio frequency (RF) field provided by a remote interrogator to wirelessly provide a random number generated on the wireless communications device as an identifier of the wireless communications device;

wherein the second wireless communications subsystem comprises a transmitter switchable between a first mode in which the transmitter modulates the RF field generated by the remote interrogator and a second mode in which the transmitter modulates an RF field generated by the identification device.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the identification information comprises a unique identification code to identify the wireless communications device.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the location-determining subsystem comprises a GPS receiver;

the first wireless communications subsystem comprises a cellular communications device controlled by the processing unit to perform wireless communications with the cellular communications system; and

the second wireless communications subsystem comprises an identification device to generate the random number and to transmit the random number via magnetic field modulation.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 16, wherein the cellular communications device comprises a cellular receiver coupled to a first antenna for wireless communications with the cellular communications system;

the identification device is coupled to a second antenna to provide the random number; and

the second antenna comprises at least one loop.