Device, system and method for tracking mobile assets
First Claim
1. A device for attaching to an outside surface of a shipping container for tracking the shipping container, comprising:
- a solar panel for converting light-energy into electrical power;
a battery for receiving and storing said electrical power from said solar panel;
a GPS receiver module for receiving signals from a global positioning system and determining a location of said shipping container;
a cellular data transceiver module for communicating via a cellular data network;
a local wireless network master transceiver module having a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a wireless sensor located entirely within said shipping container without penetrating through walls of the shipping container, the transceiver wirelessly communicating with the wireless sensor by transmitting wireless signals through the walls of the shipping container without any holes through the walls of the shipping container; and
a microcontroller for controlling said GPS receiver module to periodically obtain said location of said shipping container from said GPS receiver module, for controlling said local wireless network master transceiver module to periodically obtain data from said wireless sensor, and for controlling said cellular data transceiver module to transmit said location and said sensor data using said cellular data transceiver module;
wherein said solar panel, said battery, said GPS receiver module, said cellular data transceiver module, said local wireless network master transceiver module, and said microcontroller are integrated into a master control unit attached to the outside surface of the shipping container without penetrating into an interior of the shipping container.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device attached to an outside surface of a shipping container for tracking the shipping container includes a solar panel, a battery, a GPS receiver module, a cellular data transceiver module, and a microcontroller for controlling the GPS receiver module and the cellular data transceiver module to periodically obtain the location of the shipping container and transmit the location to a tracking database of a central tracking computer. The solar panel, battery, GPS receiver module, cellular data transceiver module and microcontroller are integrated into a one-piece, watertight master control unit. The master control unit may further include a local wireless network master transceiver module. The local wireless network master transceiver module is for communicating with a wireless sensor located within the shipping container through the walls of the shipping container.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A device for attaching to an outside surface of a shipping container for tracking the shipping container, comprising:
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a solar panel for converting light-energy into electrical power; a battery for receiving and storing said electrical power from said solar panel; a GPS receiver module for receiving signals from a global positioning system and determining a location of said shipping container; a cellular data transceiver module for communicating via a cellular data network; a local wireless network master transceiver module having a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a wireless sensor located entirely within said shipping container without penetrating through walls of the shipping container, the transceiver wirelessly communicating with the wireless sensor by transmitting wireless signals through the walls of the shipping container without any holes through the walls of the shipping container; and a microcontroller for controlling said GPS receiver module to periodically obtain said location of said shipping container from said GPS receiver module, for controlling said local wireless network master transceiver module to periodically obtain data from said wireless sensor, and for controlling said cellular data transceiver module to transmit said location and said sensor data using said cellular data transceiver module; wherein said solar panel, said battery, said GPS receiver module, said cellular data transceiver module, said local wireless network master transceiver module, and said microcontroller are integrated into a master control unit attached to the outside surface of the shipping container without penetrating into an interior of the shipping container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for tracking a shipping container, wherein said shipping container has walls that form a substantially sealed enclosure, comprising:
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a central tracking computer having a tracking database and being interfaced to the Internet; a wireless sensor located within said shipping container for sensing a condition of said shipping container; and a master control unit attached to an outside surface of the shipping container without penetrating into an interior of the shipping container, said master control unit including; a solar panel for converting light-energy into electrical power; a battery for receiving and storing said electrical power from said solar panel; a GPS receiver module for receiving signals from a global positioning system and determining a location of said shipping container; a cellular data transceiver module for communicating with said central tracking computer via a cellular data network interfaced to the Internet; a local wireless network master transceiver module in wireless communication with said wireless sensor located within said shipping container, by transmitting wireless signals through the walls of the shipping container without any holes through the walls of the shipping container; and a microcontroller for controlling said GPS receiver module to periodically obtain said location of said shipping container from said GPS receiver module, for controlling said local wireless network master transceiver module to periodically obtain sensor data from said wireless sensor, and for controlling said cellular data transceiver module to transmit said location and said sensor data to said central tracking computer for storage in said tracking database. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of tracking information about a shipping container having walls that form a substantially sealed enclosure, said method comprising:
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positioning a wireless sensor within said shipping container without penetrating the walls of said shipping container, said wireless sensor for sensing a condition of said shipping container; positioning a master control unit on the outside of the shipping container without penetrating the walls of said shipping container, said master control unit; converting light-energy into electrical power using a solar panel; storing said electrical power from said solar panel in a battery; receiving signals from a global positioning system and determining a location of said shipping container using a GPS receiver module; communicating with a cellular data network using a cellular data transceiver module; communicating with said wireless sensor by transmitting wireless signals through the walls of the shipping container without any holes through the walls using a local wireless network master transceiver module; and controlling said GPS receiver module, said local wireless network master transceiver module, and said cellular data transceiver module with a microcontroller to periodically obtain said location of said shipping container from said GPS receiver module, to periodically obtain sensor data from said wireless sensor, and to transmit said location and said sensor data using said cellular data transceiver module. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification