Apparatus and method for wireless monitoring

• US 8,334,781 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark-It Services
• Original Assignee: Mark-It Services
• Inventors: Heck, Mark, Ferrall, Hart, Maguire, Sean, Mansuri, Parvez
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): OTT, FREDERICK R
• Application Number:
  US12/132,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 340/585
• US Class Current: 340/585
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A method of collecting data from (and sending instructions and data to) a reefer is provided, the method includes the steps of connecting a monitoring device on a reefer at an existing connection port for collecting (and delivering) data related to the reefer and wirelessly transmitting the data. A software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer is also provided, the software management system has a monitoring device for obtaining data from a reefer at an connection port of the reefer and wirelessly transmitting the data, and a software system for receiving the data and monitoring and controlling the status of the reefer based on the data received.

Claims

1. A method of collecting data from a reefer, the method comprising:

connecting an autonomous monitoring device on the reefer at a data connection port, the data connection port providing a direct connection to a control computer of the reefer;

collecting the data related to the reefer; and

wirelessly transmitting the data to a management system and wirelessly receiving management data from the management system,

wherein, when the autonomous monitoring device is connected to the reefer, the autonomous monitoring device updates its own and the reefer status to the management system on an automatic and definable interval, and when the autonomous monitoring device is not connected, the autonomous monitoring device updates its own status to the management system at least once a day.

2. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, further comprising:

providing two-way communications to reefer machinery.

3. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 2, further comprising:

sending control instructions to the reefer.

4. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, further comprising:

disconnecting the monitoring device.

5. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is a radio frequency extraction device.

6. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, wherein the device uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

7. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, further comprising:

mounting the device on a reefer frame.

8. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 5, wherein the device is detachable.

9. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, wherein the management data includes commands related to at least one of set temperature, clear alarms, start pre-trips and stop pre-trips.

10. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, wherein the device has an internal rechargeable battery.

11. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, further comprising:

alerting a user if a battery level of the device is low.

24. The method of collecting data from the reefer of claim 1, wherein the management system provides for analysis and control of the reefer.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein, if the autonomous monitoring device is disconnected from the reefer and not reconnected within a predetermined time, the management system terminates a reporting window.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein, if the autonomous monitoring device is disconnected from the reefer and the reefer does not gate out from a storage area within a specified time period, the management system will issue a notification.

12. A device for collecting data from a reefer, the device comprising:

an autonomous monitoring device for obtaining the data from the reefer and wirelessly transmitting the data to a management system, and wirelessly receiving control commands from the management system and sending the control commands to the reefer; and

a connector connected to the monitoring device at one end and connected to a connection port of the reefer at the other end, the connection port providing a direct connection to a control computer of the reefer,

wherein, when the autonomous monitoring device is connected to the reefer, the autonomous monitoring device updates its own and the reefer status to the management system on an automatic and definable interval, and when the autonomous monitoring device is not connected, the autonomous monitoring device updates its own status to the management system at least once a day.

13. The device for collecting data from the reefer of claim 12, the device further comprising:

a magnet for attachment of the device to a reefer frame.

14. The device for collecting data from the reefer of claim 12, wherein the monitoring device is a radio frequency extraction device.

15. The device for collecting data from the reefer of claim 12, wherein the device uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

16. The device for collecting data from the reefer of claim 12, wherein the device has an internal rechargeable battery.

27. The device of claim 12 wherein, if the autonomous monitoring device is disconnected from the reefer and not reconnected within a predetermined time, the management system terminates a reporting window.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein, if the autonomous monitoring device is disconnected from the reefer and the reefer does not gate out from a storage area within a specified time period, the management system will issue a notification.

17. A software management system for collecting and monitoring data of a reefer, the software management system comprising:

an autonomous monitoring device for obtaining the data from the reefer at a data connection port of the reefer and wirelessly transmitting the data, the data connection port providing a direct connection to a control computer of the reefer; and

a software system for receiving the data, monitoring a status of the reefer based on the data received and dispatching a control command to the reefer if the data of the reefer is above/below a predetermined threshold,

wherein, when the autonomous monitoring device is connected to the reefer, the autonomous monitoring device updates its own and the reefer status to the software system on an automatic and definable interval, and when the autonomous monitoring device is not connected, the autonomous monitoring device updates its own status to the software system at least once a day.

18. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of the reefer of claim 17, the software management system further comprising:

a server for storing the data received by the software system.

19. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of the reefer of claim 17, the software management system further comprising:

a user interface for viewing the reefer and additional reefers located in a facility or vessel.

20. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of the reefer of claim 17, wherein the software system provides an alert to a user if the data of the reefer is above/below a predetermined threshold.

21. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of the reefer of claim 17, wherein the monitoring device is a radio frequency extraction device.

22. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of the reefer of claim 17, wherein the device has an internal rechargeable battery.

23. The software management system for collecting and monitoring data of the reefer of claim 17, wherein the control commands include at least one of set temperature, clear alarms, start pre-trips and stop pre-trips.

29. The software management system of claim 17 wherein, if the autonomous monitoring device is disconnected from the reefer and the reefer does not gate out from a storage area within a specified time period, the software system will issue a notification.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein, if the autonomous monitoring device is disconnected from the reefer and not reconnected within a predetermined time, the software system terminates a reporting window.