Smart container monitoring system

• US 7,916,016 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Capital Bank, NA, Hi-G-Tek, Inc. (Eagle Technologies, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hi-G-Tek, Ltd.
• Inventors: Golan, Eli, Auerbach, Micha, Genin, Arcadi, Cohen, Rony, Isenberg, Alex, Blum, Shmuel, Sender, Ran
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/908,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20080278318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 method for monitoring a shipping container, the method comprising:

providing a shipping container;

mounting an electronic seal onto an outside of said shipping container;

providing a remote monitor operative to monitor the status of said electronic seal;

mounting at least one sensor within said shipping container;

providing at least one remote communicator operative to communicate with said at least one electronic seal; and

providing at least one short range remote communicator outside said shipping container,

wherein said at least one sensor is operative to sense at least one condition within said shipping container and to wirelessly transmit sensed information relating to said at least one condition to said electronic seal,

wherein said electronic seal is operative to wirelessly transmit information to said remote monitor regarding the status of said electronic seal and said sensed information, and

wherein said at least one sensor is operative to wirelessly communicate directly with said at least one short range communicator outside said shipping container.

2. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said providing at least one remote communicator comprises providing at least one of

a presence communicator;

a remote monitoring station; and

an electronic seal.

3. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said mounting an electronic seal comprises mounting an electronic seal including at least one transceiver, communicating with said at least one remote communicator and wherein:

said providing at least one remote communicator comprises providing at least one of;

a presence communicator;

a remote monitoring station; and

an electronic seal.

4. A method according to claim 1, and wherein said providing at least one sensor comprises providing at least one sensor which is operative to sense at least one of carbon dioxide, infra-red emissions, motion, temperature, seismic waves, acoustic waves and radiation.

5. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said providing at least one short range remote communicator comprises providing at least one short range communicator which is operative to wirelessly transmit information regarding an output of said at least one sensor to said remote communicator.

6. A method according to claim 5, and wherein said providing at least one sensor comprises providing at least one sensor which is operative to sense at least one of carbon dioxide, infra-red emissions, motion, temperature, seismic waves, acoustic waves and radiation.

7. A method according to claim 5 and wherein said providing at least one short range remote communicator comprises providing at least one short range remote communicator which is operative to transmit information regarding the status of cargo within said shipping container.