Method and system for airplane container tracking

• US 9,194,932 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roambee Corporation
• Original Assignee: Senaya Inc
• Inventors: Lee, Brian, Chakraborty, Mrinmoy, Dubash, Jamshed, Nakra, Jahangir
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US13/906,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/539.13, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Wireless tracking systems and devices to detect the status of aircraft cargo containers. The system uses a sensor array to deactivate and activate the tracking devices as needed to comply with FAA regulations. The tracking systems use an array of machine vision sensors and/or inertia (motion) sensors to determine when to activate and deactivate the device. The tracking systems can feature LTE communication devices with a global roaming SIM card to realize true global operation to support GSM, CDMA and other mobile environments seamlessly.

Claims

1. A wireless tracking system for use with aircraft, comprising:

a transmitter device comprising a battery, a GPS positioning element, an RF transmitter module, a cellular transmitter module, memory, and a sensor array including a motion sensor and a vision sensor,

the RF transmitter module configured to deactivate when loaded into the aircraft, when loading is detected by the motion sensor, and reactivate when the aircraft has landed, as detected by the motion sensor, and

the cellular transmitter module configured to deactivate when passed through a cargo door of the aircraft, as detected by the vision sensor, and reactivate when the aircraft has landed, as detected by the motion sensor; and

a receiver;

the cellular transmitter module configured to send data regarding the location of the transmitter device to the receiver when the transmitter device is outside of the aircraft and the RF transmitter module configured to send data regarding the location of the transmitter device to the receiver when the aircraft is not at altitude, and the receiver configured to receive the data from the transmitter modules.

2. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the RF transmitter module is a ZigBee, LBT, and/or Low Energy BlueTooth transmitter module.

3. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the cellular transmitter module is a CDMA and/or GSM transmitter module.

4. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

5. The tracking system of claim 4 further comprising a battery recharging mechanism.

6. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the vision sensor comprises a machine vision sensor with a high dynamic range (HDR>

120 dB), a high frame rate, a global shutter, and low cost image sensor.

7. The tracking system of claim 6 further comprising a motion sensor having ten degrees of freedom.

8. The tracking system of claim 6 wherein the high frame rate is at least 100 frames per second.

9. The tracking system of claim 6 wherein the vision sensor has a UV protected lens with IR (Infra-Red) sensing capability.

10. The tracking system of claim 6 wherein the vision sensor has an auto-focus and anti-shaking frame.

18. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the RF transmitter module and the cellular transmitter module are two separate modules.

11. A tracking device comprising a battery, a GPS positioning element, an RF transmitter module, a cellular transmitter module, a sensor array comprising motion sensor and a machine vision sensor, memory that saves location data, programming to deactivate the RF transmitter module when loaded into an aircraft, as detected by the sensor array, and reactivate the RF transmitter module when the aircraft has landed, as detected by the motion sensor, and to deactivate the cellular transmitter module when passed through a door of the aircraft, as detected by the vision sensor, and reactivate the cellular transmitter module when the aircraft has landed, as detected by the motion sensor, the sensor array comprising a machine vision sensor with a high dynamic range (HDR>

120 dB), a high frame rate (FRS>

100), a global shutter, and low cost image sensor, with the memory and the sensor array configured to remain activated when on-board the aircraft.

12. The tracking device of claim 11 wherein the vision sensor further has a UV protected lens with IR (Infra-Red) sensing capability.

13. The tracking device of claim 11 wherein the vision sensor further has an auto-focus and anti-shaking frame.

14. The tracking device of claim 11 wherein the sensor array further comprises a motion sensor having ten degrees of freedom.

15. The tracking device of claim 11 further comprising a global tracking SIM card.

16. The tracking device of claim 11 devoid of an RF receiver module and devoid of a cellular receiver module.

17. The tracking device of claim 11 wherein the RF transmitter module and the cellular transmitter module are two separate modules.