Integrating refrigerated transport operations and logistics by creating operational states via wireless communications

• US 8,390,464 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Startrak Information Technologies LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Startrak Information Technologies LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Inventors: Slifkin, Timothy, Robinson, Thomas A., Karuppanan, Venkateswaran
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US12/251,445
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 340/585
• US Class Current: 340/585
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system allows a remote asset, via an Intelligent Device and interconnected Central Data Server to autonomously, and continuously monitor and update its status on various parameters; and from these, to calculate an overall asset state that may be caused by various combinations of the parameters and to infer the operational states and logistical position of a transport refrigeration unit.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

automatically generating and storing time stamps associated with refrigerated operations and refrigerated operational events pertaining to the transport refrigeration unit, which are associated with changes in responsibility of refrigerated freight shipments, to permit responsible parties'"'"' measurement of operations, including fuel usage and dwell times.

2. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

automatically compiling assessorial charges associated with refrigerated transport operations by utilizing wireless communications.

3. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

automatically measuring refrigerated transport fuel levels via wireless transmissions compiled for third party re-imbursement of costs.

4. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

continuously measuring time stamps, entry/exit into out of specific locations, and refrigerated operational conditions to automatically calculate equipment use fees of refrigerated transportation assets, so that fuel usage, equipment dwell time and equipment use maintenance costs may be calculated based on time in use and fuel used to allow the owner of the asset or party responsible for the shipment to invoice fees associated with actual, excessive or unauthorized use of the asset/fuel.

5. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

continuously measuring time stamps, entry/exit into specific locations, and refrigerated operational conditions to automatically measure wasteful emissions.

6. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

delivering wireless events of a refrigerated freight shipment based on “

boundary”

events, which are determined by the simultaneous examination of multiple freight conditions and refrigeration “

states”

.

7. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

breaking down a refrigerated shipment cycle into “

segments”

, based on wireless events.

8. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

summarizing and compiling transport cycle segment measurements to allow the creation of operational “

standards”

associated with each segment, so that continuous measurable improvement and statistical analysis may be performed.

9. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

for refrigerated transport operations, logically distinguishing between geofences based on their operational nature, for automatically treating wireless communications appropriately for that facility.

10. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

creating a pre-cooling notification complete wireless message, by comparing current temperatures to previous temperatures, and utilizing the time stamp of the notification to reduce cycle time and dwell time.

11. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

associating refrigerated shipment trips with wireless refrigerated event notifications, geofence origin points, destination points, and in-route points to allow automatic compilation of shipment segments measurements for fuel, temperatures, and dwell time.

12. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

portraying a refrigerated shipment cycle via a graphical display, which overlays fuel, refrigerated events, and temperatures for visual and statistical shipment performance monitoring.

13. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

automatically and wirelessly measuring and creating a notification when transport refrigeration units are loaded with commodities that have not been pre-cooled.

14. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

automatically logically associating a wireless notification for a destination geofence with a refrigeration unit turned off to mean the logical termination of a refrigerated shipment, and concurrently, logically associating a wireless notification for an origin geofence with a refrigeration unit turned on to mean the logical initiation of a refrigerated shipment.

15. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

automatically utilizing shipment temperature profiles, created by wireless communications, associated with specific freight shipments, to resolve freight disputes at the time of delivery.

16. A method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a load in a transport refrigeration unit for a time period;

wirelessly transmitting information of the sensed temperature to a network;

in said network, determining changes in the sensed temperature during the time period;

determining a status of at least one of the load and the transport refrigeration unit based at least partially on a plurality of data points of the sensed temperature and the changes in the sensed temperature; and

measuring dwell times of specific refrigerated freight operations, which are determined exclusively by wireless communications delivering specific events associated with the boundary conditions of those events.