Container unit, message switching equipment, routing method, routing directory, and system for monitoring containers

• US 8,082,002 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Niklas Sohlberg, Ove Ohlstrom, Stephen Lowe, Tom Sarpaneva, Traxer, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CargoTrax Oy
• Inventors: Heinonen, Tero, NORONEN, Pauli
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US11/871,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/41.2, 455/554.2, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/560, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/446, 455/449
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems

Abstract

The invention includes a message switching equipment for transmitting messages between container units placed in containers and a monitoring server. The message switching equipment comprises at least a container unit 201, a gateway unit 202 providing communication links 203, and a message handler 204 which is coupled to the monitoring server 205. The message switching equipment is adapted to send a first message 206 from the container unit 201 via a cellular network 207 to the message handler 204 in response to an event relating to the container. In more detail, the first message 206 is sent through a cellular network radio 208 of the container unit 201. The equipment is further adapted to receive through a short range radio 209 of the container unit 201 a second message 210 originated from one of the container units and transmit the second message 210 from the container unit 201 via the cellular network 207 to the message handler 204. The equipment is further adapted to receive through a short range radio 211 of the gateway unit 202 a third message 212 and transmit the third message through the gateway unit 202 to the message handler 203.

Claims

1. A container unit capable of communicating with a monitoring server, the container unit comprising:

a cellular network radio;

a short range radio;

a power source;

a wake-up unit;

a memory;

a connection set-up logic stored in the memory;

wherein the container unit is configured to

form a message in response to an event, the event relating to a container in which the container unit is placed;

perform on the basis of the connection set-up logic at least two of the following connection set-up attempts;

a) a connection through the short range radio directly to a gateway unit providing communication links between the container unit and the monitoring server;

b) a connection through the short range radio to the gateway unit via at least one other container unit which is placed in another container;

c) a connection through the cellular network radio to a base station of a cellular network; and

,

d) a connection through the short range radio directly or via at least one other container unit to such container unit which is capable to communicate with the base station;

stop the connection set-up attempts when a number of the connection set-up attempts reaches a certain limit;

start the connection set-up attempts when the wake-up unit responsive to movements has detected a movement of the container in which the container unit is placed; and

send the message through an available connection towards the monitoring server when any of the connection set-up attempts results in the available connection to the gateway unit or to the base station of the cellular network,

the container unit being further adapted to provide the monitoring server with routing information enabling it to communicate with the container unit by performing a step selected from a list containing;

adding to the message its own container unit identifier;

adding to the message at least one container unit identifier identifying a candidate container unit through which the container unit is able to send the message;

adding its own container unit identifier to a second message received from another container unit before relaying said message to the available connection; and

,

any combination thereof .

2. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the connection set-up logic further defines criteria for the order, the criteria comprising at least one of the following criteria:

costs, latency, throughput, a number of hops, energy consumption, or a combination thereof.

3. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the event is one of following events:

an event detected by a sensor connected to the container unit, an event initiated by a message sent from the monitoring server, or a combination thereof.

4. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the container unit further comprises a satellite locator.

5. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the container unit comprises a node of a message switching equipment and wherein the container unit is configured to

receive a message from another node of the message switching equipment;

and,

store the received message in the memory until one of the connection set-up attempts results in the available connection or a certain time limit is reached.