Embedded security system for environment-controlled transportation containers and method for detecting a security risk for environment-controlled transportation containers

• US 9,007,205 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Walker, Timothy Alan, Tan, Eduardo S., Fink, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US13/150,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20120306646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/426.1, 340/539.22, 340/568.1, 340/539.16, 340/545.6, 340/539.31, 701/213, 701/207
• US Class Current: 340/539.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/30 Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction

Abstract

An embedded security system for an environment-controlled trailer including a transportation refrigeration unit. The security system includes a plurality of sensors mounted to the trailer and a communication device embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit of the trailer, the communication device being configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors, and to send the received data to a controller being remote from the trailer. The controller is configured to monitor the security status of the trailer and to determine a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on the received data.

Claims

1. An embedded security system for an environment-controlled trailer including a transportation refrigeration unit, the security system comprising:

a plurality of sensors mounted to the trailer; and

a communication device embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit of the trailer, the communication device being configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors, and to send the received data to a controller being remote from the trailer,

wherein the controller is configured to monitor the security status of the trailer and to determine a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on the received data,

wherein the sensors include door switch sensors that monitor the status of the trailer doors, and

wherein the controller is configured to compare the status of the trailer doors to instructions given to the driver or the location of the trailer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is positioned at a remote logistics operations center.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) embedded in the communication device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the GPS determines a current location of the trailer and the communication device electronically communicates the current location of the trailer to the controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to send a current location of the trailer to the controller, and

wherein the controller is configured to determine a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on the received current location of the trailer.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the communication device further comprises a communication circuit configured to send the received sensor data and trailer location to the controller.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device further comprises a power supply circuit configured to control the power supplied to the communication device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is powered by a starter battery of the transportation refrigeration unit and a backup battery embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication device is configured to automatically switch to the backup battery when the starter battery is removed or disconnected.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors include at least one fuel level sensor that monitors the level of fuel supply to the transportation refrigeration unit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is embedded inside a control box of the transportation refrigeration unit and is mounted to a controller of the transportation refrigeration unit.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a printed circuit board attached to a main printed circuit board of the controller of the transportation refrigeration unit.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication circuit utilizes at least one of cellular, satellite, WiFi, wireless personal area network, and radio frequency communication networks.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of a door switch sensor configured to monitor an open or closed status of a trailer door, a fuel level sensor configured to monitor a level of fuel supply to the transport refrigeration unit,

wherein the received data from the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a status of the trader door and a level of the fuel supply to the transport refrigeration unit, and

wherein the controller is configured to monitor the security status of the trailer and to determine the security risk at the trader based, at least in part, on at least one of the status of the trailer door and the level of the fuel supply to the transport refrigeration unit.

15. A method for detecting a security risk at an environment-controlled trailer including a transportation refrigeration unit and a communication device removably coupled to a controller of the transportation refrigeration unit, the method comprising:

obtaining sensor data from a plurality of sensors mounted to the trailer and a current location of the trailer from a global positioning system (GPS);

receiving communication, including the sensor data and the current trailer location, from the plurality of sensors and from the GPS;

sending the sensor data and the current trailer location to a controller that is remote from the trailer;

monitoring, via the controller that is remote from the trailer, the received sensor data and current trailer location;

determining, via the controller that is remote from the trailer, a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on the received sensor data and current trailer location; and

receiving a response from the controller that is remote from the trailer, the response indicative of the security risk at the trailer,

wherein monitoring the received sensor data further includes comparing the status of the trailer doors to instructions given to the driver and to the location of the trailer.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising powering the communication device by a starter battery of the transportation refrigeration unit and by a backup battery embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising automatically switching the communication device to the backup battery when the starter battery is removed or disconnected.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein monitoring the received sensor data further includes monitoring a level of fuel supply to the transportation refrigeration unit.

19. A method for detecting a security risk at an environment-controlled trailer including a transportation refrigeration unit and a communication device removably coupled to a controller of the transportation refrigeration unit, the method comprising:

obtaining sensor data from a plurality of sensors mounted to the trailer and a current location of the trailer from a global positioning system (GPS);

receiving communication, including the sensor data and the current trailer location, from the plurality of sensors and from the GPS;

sending the sensor data and the current trailer location to a controller that is remote from the trailer;

monitoring, via the controller that is remote from the trailer, the received sensor data and current trailer location;

determining, via the controller that is remote from the trailer, a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on the received sensor data and current trailer location; and

receiving a response from the controller that is remote from the trailer, the response indicative of the security risk at the trailer,

wherein monitoring the current location of the trailer further includes comparing the current trailer location to instructions given to the driver or to a premeditated trailer route.

20. A security system for an environment-controlled container including an environment control unit, the security system comprising:

a plurality of sensors mounted to the container;

a communication device removably connected to a controller of the environment control unit, the communication device configured to receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors;

a global positioning system embedded in he communication device and configured to provide a current location of the container to the communication device;

a logistics operations center controller that is in electronic communication with the communication device and is configured to receive sensor data and the current location of the container from the communication device; and

a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the logistics operations center controller, cause the logistics operations center controller to

monitor the received sensor data and the location of the container, and

determine a security risk at the container based, at least in part, on the received data and container location,

wherein the plurality of sensors include one or more door switch sensors that monitor the status of one or more container doors of the container, and

wherein the controller is configured to compare the status of the one or more container doors to instructions given to the driver or the location of the container.

22. An embedded security system for an environment-controlled trailer including a transportation unit, the security system comprising:

a plurality of sensors mounted to the trailer; and

a communication device embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit of the trailer, the communication device being configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors, and to send the received data to a controller being remote from the trailer,

wherein the controller is configured to monitor the security status of the trailer and to determine a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on the received data, and

wherein the controller is configured to determine e security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on a comparison between the current location of the trailer and an instruction given to the driver or a premeditated trailer route.