System, method, apparatus, and computer program product for monitoring the transfer of cargo to and from a transporter

• US 7,922,085 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: APS Technology Group Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Scheppmann, Leroy E. II, Alvarez, John Charles, Thomas, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/734,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20080252417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 235/376, 235/377, 235/384, 235/440, 235/454, 235/455, 235/462.01, 235/462.06, 235/462.08, 235/462.09, 235/494, 235/492, 382/181, 382/182, 382/200, 382/218, 702/174, 702/187, 702/188
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/46 Position indicators for suspended loads or for crane elements
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/48 Automatic control of crane drives for producing a single or repeated working cycle; Programme control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal'"'"'s operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.

Claims

1. A system that identifies a transporter and cargo during a loading or unloading operation performed by a cargo moving apparatus, the system comprising:

a transporter identification component configured to;

receive a transporter identification code from the transporter during the loading or unloading operation, and

determine transporter identification information therefrom, wherein the transporter identification component is configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code; and

a cargo identification component configured to;

receive a cargo identification code from the cargo after a determination is made that the cargo has been selected for the loading or unloading operation being performed by the cargo moving apparatus, and

determine cargo identification information therefrom, wherein the cargo identification component is configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the transporter identification components and the cargo identification component are configured to capture an optical representation of an identification code and determine identification information therefrom.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a processing component configured to associate the transporter identification information with the cargo identification information.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicate the transporter identification information and the cargo identification information to a Terminal Operating System (TOS).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transporter identification component comprises a transporter identification code receiving device configured to receive the transporter identification code from the transporter, wherein the cargo identification component comprises a cargo identification code receiving device configured to receive the cargo identification code from the cargo, and wherein the transporter identification code receiving device and the cargo identification code receiving device are coupled to the cargo moving apparatus configured to load or unload the cargo to or from the transporter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transporter identification component further comprises:

a transporter identification code receiving device configured to capture the machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code from the transporter; and

a transporter identification code decoding device configured to decode the machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the transporter identification component comprises a second transporter identification code receiving device configured to receive a second transporter identification code from the transporter, and wherein the transporter identification component is further configured to compare information received from the second identification code to transporter identification information received by capturing the machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code from the transporter.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the transporter identification code receiving device comprises a transporter identification code imaging device configured to optically capture an optical representation of the transporter identification code from the transporter.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the transporter identification code comprises a barcode, wherein the transporter identification code imaging device is configured to optically capture an optical representation of the barcode, and wherein the decoding device is configured to decode the optical representation of the barcode.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the transporter identification code comprises a two-dimensional barcode, wherein the transporter identification code imaging device is configured to optically capture an optical representation of the two-dimensional barcode, and wherein the decoding device is further configured to decode the optical representation of the two-dimensional barcode.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transporter identification code comprises an alphanumeric code, wherein the transporter identification component is configured to capture an optical representation of the alphanumeric code, and wherein the system further comprises:

an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system configured to receive the optical representation of the alphanumeric code and determine transporter identification information therefrom.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the transporter identification component comprises a radio frequency receiver configured to receive a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the transporter.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the cargo identification component further comprises:

a cargo identification code receiving device configured to capture the machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code from the cargo; and

a cargo identification code decoding device configured to decode the machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the cargo identification code comprises a barcode, wherein the cargo identification code receiving device is configured to capture an optical representation of the barcode, and wherein the decoding device is configured to decode the optical representation of the barcode.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the cargo identification code comprises a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the cargo, wherein the cargo identification code receiving device comprises a radio frequency receiver configured to receive the radio frequency signal, and wherein the decoding device is configured to decode the radio frequency signal.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the cargo identification component comprises a second cargo identification code receiving device configured to receive a second cargo identification code from the cargo, and wherein the cargo identification component is further configured to compare information received from the second identification code to cargo identification information received by capturing the machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code from the cargo.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the cargo identification code comprises an alphanumeric code, the system further comprising:

an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system configured to receive the optical representation of the alphanumeric code and determine cargo identification information therefrom.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transport detector configured to detect when the transporter is in a loading or unloading zone, wherein the transporter identification component is further configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code in response to the transport detector detecting the transporter in the loading or unloading zone.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cargo detector configured to detect when the cargo is in a loading or unloading zone, wherein the cargo identification component is further configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code in response to the cargo detector detecting the cargo in the loading or unloading zone.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cargo moving apparatus control system configured to control movement of the cargo moving apparatus during the loading or unloading operation; and

a cargo detection system configured to receive, from the cargo moving apparatus control system, information about the movement of the cargo moving apparatus during the loading or unloading operation, wherein the cargo detection system is further configured to determine the cargo'"'"'s location from the information about the movement of the cargo moving apparatus, and wherein the cargo identification component is configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code based on the location of the cargo determined by the cargo detection system.

21. A method of managing the transfer of cargo to or from a transporter, the method comprising:

providing a transporter identification code capturing device;

providing a cargo identification code capturing device;

capturing a transporter identification code from the transporter using the transporter identification code capturing device during the transfer of the cargo to or from the transporter;

attempting to capture a cargo identification code from the cargo using the cargo identification code capturing device subsequent to a determination that a loading operation is being performed with the cargo;

determining transporter identification information from the transporter identification code; and

determining cargo identification information from the cargo identification code.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the transporter identification code capturing device comprises an identification code imaging device, and wherein capturing a transporter identification code comprises using the identification code imaging device to optically capture an optical representation of the transporter identification code.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

associating the transporter identification information with the cargo identification information.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

communicating the transporter identification information and the cargo identification information to a Terminal Operating System (TOS).

25. The method of claim 21, wherein capturing the transporter identification code comprises scanning a barcode associated with the transporter.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein capturing the transporter identification code comprises capturing an image of an alphanumeric code associated with the transporter.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein capturing the transporter identification code further comprises using an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system to determine transporter identification information from the captured image of the alphanumeric code.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein attempting to capture the cargo identification code comprises optically scanning a barcode associated with the cargo.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein attempting to capture the cargo identification code comprises capturing an image of an alphanumeric code associated with the cargo.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein attempting to capture the cargo identification code further comprises using an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system to determine cargo identification information from the captured image of the alphanumeric code.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein attempting to capture the cargo identification code comprises capturing a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the cargo.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

illuminating at least one of the transporter identification code located on the transporter or the cargo identification code located on the cargo with a light source during the transfer of the cargo to or from the transporter.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the illuminating is performed based on detection of the ambient light proximate the transporter identification code on the transporter or the cargo identification code on the cargo.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the illuminating is performed based on detection of the brightness of the transporter identification code on the transporter or the cargo identification code on the cargo.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving contextual logistic information about the cargo loading or unloading operation; and

associating the contextual logistic information with the transporter identification information and the cargo identification information.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the contextual information comprises information related to at least one of the time of the loading or unloading operation, identification of the cargo moving apparatus, or identification of a lane in which the transporter is located.

37. An apparatus that transfers cargo to or from a transporter, the apparatus comprising:

a transporter identification device configured to receive a transporter identification code from the transporter, wherein the transporter identification device comprises a transporter identification code receiving device configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code; and

a cargo identification device configured to receive a cargo identification code from the cargo, wherein the cargo identification device comprises a cargo identification code receiving device configured to capture a machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code in response to the apparatus beginning a loading operation with the cargo, the loading operation comprising transferring the cargo to or from the transporter.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the transporter identification device and the cargo identification device are configured to receive the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code during the loading operation.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein one or more of the transporter identification code receiving device and the cargo identification code receiving device are configured to capture an optical representation of an identification code.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a processor coupled to the transporter identification device and the cargo identification device, and the processor configured to determine transporter identification information from the transporter identification code and to determine cargo identification information from the cargo identification code.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, comprising a crane configured to perform the loading operation, wherein the cargo is containerized cargo.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the crane comprises a support structure, and wherein the transporter identification code receiving device and the cargo identification code receiving device are coupled to the support structure.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the crane comprises an operator booth, and wherein the transporter identification code receiving device is located proximate the operator booth.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the crane comprises a headblock, and wherein the transporter identification code receiving device is coupled to the headblock.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the apparatus is embodied as a containerized cargo moving apparatus selected from the group consisting of a gantry crane, a quay crane, a rubber tired gantry crane, a top-pick container handler, a side-pick container handler, a straddle carrier, a shuttle carrier, a reach stacker, and a forklift vehicle.

46. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a communication interface coupled to the transporter identification code receiving device and the cargo identification code receiving device, and the communication interface configured to communicate information related to the received transporter information code and the received cargo identification code to a Terminal Operating System (TOS).

47. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising an imaging device configured to be used as both the transporter identification code receiving device and the cargo identification code receiving device.

48. A computer program product for identifying a transporter and cargo during a cargo loading or unloading operation in which a cargo moving apparatus performs the loading or unloading of the cargo, the transporter having a transporter identification code, the cargo having a cargo identification code, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code logic stored therein, the computer-readable program code logic comprising:

a first code logic configured for receiving a machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code;

a second code logic configured for determining transporter identification information from the machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code;

a third code logic configured for storing the transporter identification information in a memory;

a fourth code logic configured for receiving a machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code in response to determining a loading operation has begun involving the cargo;

a fifth code logic configured for determining cargo identification information from the machine-readable representation of the transporter identification code; and

a sixth code logic configured for storing the cargo identification information in a memory.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the first code logic is configured for receiving an optical representation of the transporter identification code;

and wherein the second code logic is configured for determining transporter identification information from the optical representation of the transporter identification code.

50. The computer program product of claim 48, further comprising:

a seventh code logic configured for associating the transporter identification information with the cargo identification information.

51. The computer program product of claim 48, further comprising:

a seventh code logic configured for activating a transporter identification code imaging device associated with the cargo moving apparatus to optically capture the optical representation of the transporter identification code;

an eighth code logic configured for activating a cargo identification code receiving device associated with the cargo moving apparatus to capture the machine-readable representation of the cargo identification code.

52. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the transporter identification code is physically associated with the transporter, and wherein the cargo identification code is physically associated with the cargo.

53. The computer program product of claim 48, further comprising:

a seventh code logic configured for communicating the transporter identification information and the cargo identification information to a Terminal Operating System (TOS).

54. The computer program product of claim 48, further comprising:

a seventh code logic configured for activating a light source to illuminate at least one of the transporter identification code located on the transporter or the cargo identification code located on the cargo during the transfer of the cargo to or from the transporter.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the seventh code logic is further configured for activating or adjusting the light source based on detection of the ambient light proximate the transporter identification code on the transporter or the cargo identification code on the cargo.

56. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the seventh code logic is further configured for activating or adjusting the light source based on detection of the brightness of the transporter identification code on the transporter or the cargo identification code on the cargo.

57. The computer program product of claim 48, further comprising:

a seventh code logic configured for decoding a barcode or a two-dimensional barcode in the representation of the transporter identification code or the cargo identification code.

58. The computer program product of claim 48, further comprising:

a seventh code logic configured for recognizing and decoding alphanumeric characters in the representation of the transporter identification code or the cargo identification code.

59. The computer program product of claim 48, further comprising:

a seventh code logic configured for receiving contextual logistic information about the cargo loading or unloading operation; and

an eighth code logic configured for associating the contextual logistic information with the transporter identification information and the cargo identification information.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein the contextual information comprises information related to at least one of the time of the cargo loading or unloading operation, identification of the cargo moving apparatus, or identification of a lane in which the transporter is located.

61. A cargo transfer system comprising:

a cargo moving apparatus structured to move cargo between a first location and a second location, the second location being on a transporter;

a transporter identification device configured to determine transporter identification information from a transporter identification code associated with the transporter, wherein the transporter identification device is configured to capture the transporter identification code as the cargo moving apparatus is loading or unloading the cargo to or from the transporter; and

a cargo identification device configured to determine cargo identification information from a cargo identification code associated with the cargo, wherein the cargo identification device is configured to capture the cargo identification code in response to the loading apparatus beginning a loading or loading operation with the cargo.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the transporter identification device comprises an imaging device configured to capture an optical representation of the transporter identification code.

63. The system of claim 61, further comprising:

a processing device configured to associate the transporter identification information with the cargo identification information.

64. The system of claim 61, further comprising:

a Terminal Operating System (TOS) configured to receive the transporter identification information and the cargo identification information to track or manage the loading or unloading of cargo; and

a communication network configured to communicate information among the transporter identification device, the cargo identification device, and the TOS.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein the transporter identification code comprises a barcode or a two-dimensional barcode, and wherein the transporter identification device comprises a barcode reader configured to determine transporter identification information from the barcode or the two-dimensional barcode.

66. The system of claim 61, wherein the transporter identification code comprises alphanumeric characters, and wherein the transporter identification device comprises:

an imaging device configured to capture an image of the alphanumeric characters; and

an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system configured to recognize the alphanumeric characters in the captured image.

67. The system of claim 61, wherein the cargo comprises containerized cargo, and wherein the cargo moving apparatus comprises a container moving apparatus selected from the group consisting of a gantry crane, a quay crane, a rubber tired gantry crane, a top-pick container handler, a side-pick container handler, a straddle carrier, a shuttle carrier, a reach stacker, and a forklift vehicle.

68. The system of claim 61, wherein the transporter identification code is physically associated with the transporter, and wherein the cargo identification code is physically associated with the cargo.

69. The system of claim 61, wherein the transporter identification device and the cargo identification device are associated with the cargo moving apparatus.

70. A system for monitoring movement of cargo, the system comprising:

a crane configured for loading or unloading cargo to or from a truck; and

one or more cameras configured to;

capture, only while the crane is loading or unloading the cargo to the truck, one or more images of a cargo identification code associated with the cargo, and

capture a truck identification code associated with the truck.

71. A system for managing operation of a terminal, the system comprising:

a crane configured for loading or unloading cargo to or from a truck;

a terminal operating system (TOS) configured to receive truck identification information and cargo identification information from a truck identification code and a cargo identification code that were captured from the truck and the cargo, respectively, based on the crane'"'"'s operational data.