Method for supplying container security

• US 8,238,826 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Twitchell, Robert W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US11/847,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20070291724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 370/254, 370/401, 370/402, 370/405, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• 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: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method for monitoring the status of a container for transporting goods, wherein the container includes sensors includes receiving data at a processing system within the container from at least one sensor within the container, implementing a controller within the processing system for comparing the received sensor data against a predetermined condition stored in a memory of the processing system, initiating a message from the controller in response to comparison between the received sensor data and the predetermined-condition related to the measured sensor data, and transmitting the initiated message as an RF signal from within the container to a satellite transceiver element outside the container, thereby initiating unprompted communication from inside of the container, wherein the RF signal is transmitted outside of the container via a passive antenna system.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the status of a container for transporting goods, wherein the container includes sensors, the method comprising:

a) receiving data at a processing system within the container from at least one sensor within the container;

b) implementing a controller within the processing system for comparing the received sensor data against a predetermined condition stored in a memory of the processing system;

c) initiating a message from the controller in response to comparison between the received sensor data and the predetermined-condition related to the measured sensor data;

d) transmitting the initiated message as an RF signal from within the container to a satellite transceiver element outside the container, thereby initiating unprompted communication from inside of the container, wherein the RF signal is transmitted outside of the container via a passive antenna system;

e) wherein the transmitted RF signal comprises profile information stored in memory of the processing system, and the transmitted RF signal is scanned for such profile information upon receipt at the satellite transceiver element prior to any further processing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the passive antenna system comprises a passive antenna.

3. A method for monitoring the status of a container for transporting goods, wherein the container includes sensor components, the method comprising:

a) receiving data at a processing system within the container from at least one sensor component within the container;

b) implementing a controller within the processing system for comparing the received sensor data against predetermined sensor derived information stored in a memory of the processing system;

c) creating a data packet, at the controller, in response to comparison between the received sensor data and the predetermined-sensor derived information related to the received sensor data;

d) transmitting the data packet as a signal from within the container to a satellite transceiver element outside the container, thereby initiating unprompted communication from inside of the container, wherein the signal is transmitted outside of the container via an antenna system;

e) wherein the transmitted signal comprises profile information stored in memory of the processing system, and the transmitted signal is scanned for such profile information upon receipt at the satellite transceiver element prior to any further processing.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the antenna system comprises a passive antenna.

5. A method for monitoring the status of a container for transporting goods, wherein the container includes one or more sensor components, the method comprising:

a) receiving sensor derived information at a processing system within the container from at least one sensor component within the container;

b) implementing a controller within the processing system for comparing the received sensor derived information against predetermined sensor derived information stored in a memory of the processing system;

c) creating a data packet, at the controller, in response to comparison between the received sensor derived information and the predetermined-sensor derived information related to the received sensor derived information;

d) transmitting the data packet as a signal from within the container to a satellite transmitter outside the container, thereby initiating communication from inside of the container, wherein the signal is transmitted outside of the container via an antenna system;

e) wherein the transmitted signal comprises profile information stored in memory of the processing system, and the transmitted signal is scanned for such profile information upon receipt at the satellite transmitter prior to any further processing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the antenna system comprises a passive antenna.