Container verification through an electrical receptacle and plug associated with a container and a transport vehicle of an intermodal freight transport system

• US 9,316,737 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baade, Levi Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US13/898,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 340/989, 340/539.17, 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/539.1, 455/456.1, 342/357.24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method and system related to container identification through an electrical receptacle and plug associated with the container of an intermodal freight transport system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes coupling an electrical power plug of a container and an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle. Also, the method includes activating a tracking device of the container through a switch and actuator coupling. Further, the method includes verifying an identity of the container upon coupling the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle through an identification tag of the container and an electronic reader. Furthermore, the method may include conserving battery power through deactivating the tracking device of the container when the electrical power plug is de-coupled to the electrical power receptacle. The method may also include delivering an alert message to a driver when an incorrect container is identified.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

coupling an electrical power plug of a container and an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle;

activating, through a switch and an actuator coupling of at least one of the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle, a tracking device of the container;

verifying, through an identification tag of the container read by an electronic reader, an identity of the container upon coupling the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle; and

wherein reading the identification tag of the container through the electronic reader further comprises;

discovering, through the coupling of the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle, an identification number of the container, and

communicating, through a network, the identification number of the container to an administrative server upon discovery.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

powering, through a battery of at least one of the tracking device and the container, the tracking device based on an activation by the switch and the actuator coupling; and

waking the tracking device of the container through an electrical signal generated by the switch and the actuator coupling and based on the coupling of the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, through a global positioning system (GPS) of at least one of the tracking device of the container and a tracking device of the transport vehicle, a location data associated with at least one of the container and the transport vehicle; and

transmitting to the administrative server, on a periodic basis through the network, the location data through at least one of the tracking device of the container and the tracking device of the transport vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data and the identification number are communicated through the tracking device of the container based on at least one of the activation of the tracking device of the container and a location query of the container by the administrative server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data and the identification number are communicated through the tracking device of the transport vehicle based on at least one of an initial movement of the transport vehicle, a duration of a continuous movement of the transport vehicle, and a duration of a stationary condition of the transport vehicle.

6. A method comprising:

activating a tracking device of at least one of a container and a transport vehicle through a switch and an actuator coupling of an electrical power plug and an electrical power receptacle;

generating, through a global positioning system (GPS) of the tracking device, a location data when the electrical power plug is coupled to the electrical power receptacle;

reading an identification tag of the container through an electronic reader of the electrical power receptacle to discover an identification number upon a mate event; and

wherein reading the identification tag of the container through the electronic reader further comprises;

discovering, through a coupling of the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle, the identification number of the container, and

communicating, through a network, the identification number of the container to an administrative server upon discovery.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mate event comprises an action that involves the coupling of at least one of an electrical system and a mechanical system of the transport vehicle and the container.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mate event further comprises:

waking the tracking device of the container through an electrical signal of the switch and the actuator coupling;

powering the tracking device of the container through a battery thereof; and

activating the tracking device of the transport vehicle through the electrical signal of the switch and actuator coupling.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting to the administrative server, through the network, at least one of the location data and the identification number through the tracking device of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the tracking device of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle is configured to transmit at least one of the location data and the identification number based on at least one of a daily location query by the administrative server, a periodic location query by the administrative server, a manual location query by the administrative server, and the mate event.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting an initial movement of the container through the GPS of the tracking device of the container;

determining, through the administrative server, a duration of a continuous movement of the container based on the location data of the GPS of the tracking device of the container; and

determining, through the administrative server, a duration of a stationary condition of the container based on the location data of the GPS of the tracking device of the container.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein an alert message is delivered to a driver of the transport vehicle when the electronic reader identifies the identification number of an incorrect container through the identification tag based on the mate event.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

conserving battery power through deactivating the tracking device of the container when the electrical power plug is de-coupled to the electrical power receptacle.

14. A system comprising:

an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle;

an electrical power plug of a container;

a switch and an actuator coupling configured to signal a mate event between the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle;

an electronic reader configured to read an identification tag of the container comprising an identification number thereby confirming an identity of the container;

a tracking device configured to provide a location data associated with at least one of the container and the transport vehicle; and

an administrative server configured to gather location data, wherein the tracking device is communicatively coupled therewith;

wherein reading the identification tag of the container through the electronic reader comprises;

discovering, through a coupling of the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle, the identification number of the container; and

communicating, through a network, the identification number of the container to the administrative server upon discovery.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the tracking device further comprises a battery configured to supply electrical power to the tracking device based upon the mate event, wherein the battery is configured to conserve electrical power when the electrical power plug is not mated to the electrical power receptacle.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the tracking device activates based on the mate event, wherein the switch and the actuator coupling is configured to generate an electrical signal to turn on the tracking device.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the tracking device includes a global positioning system (GPS) that is configured to provide location data based on at least one of an initial movement of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle, a duration of a continuous movement of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle, and a duration of a stationary condition of the container.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the tracking device is configured to a transmit location data to the administrative server based on at least one of a daily location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, a periodic location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, a manual location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, and the mate event.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic reader is coupled to the tracking device and is configured to deliver an alert message to a driver of the transport vehicle, according to the mate event, wherein the electronic reader identifies the identification number of an incorrect container through the identification tag read thereof.

20. A method, comprising:

coupling an electrical power plug of a container and an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle;

activating, through a switch and an actuator coupling of at least one of the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle, a tracking device of the container;

verifying, through an identification tag of the container read by an electronic reader, an identity of the container upon coupling the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle; and

detecting an initial movement of the container through a global positioning system (GPS) of the tracking device of the container;

determining, through an administrative server, a duration of a continuous movement of the container based on a location data of the GPS of the tracking device of the container; and

determining, through the administrative server, a duration of a stationary condition of the container based on the location data of the GPS of the tracking device of the container.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

powering, through a battery of at least one of the tracking device and the container, the tracking device based on an activation by the switch and the actuator coupling; and

waking the tracking device of the container through an electrical signal generated by the switch and the actuator coupling and based on the coupling of the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

generating, through the GPS of at least one of the tracking device of the container and a tracking device of the transport vehicle, the location data associated with at least one of the container and the transport vehicle; and

transmitting to the administrative server, on a periodic basis through a network, the location data through at least one of the tracking device of the container and the tracking device of the transport vehicle.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein reading the identification tag of the container through the electronic reader comprises:

discovering, through the coupling of the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle, an identification number of the container; and

communicating, through the network, the identification number of the container to the administrative server upon discovery.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the location data and the identification number are communicated through the tracking device of the container based on at least one of the activation of the tracking device of the container and a location query of the container by the administrative server.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the location data and the identification number are communicated through the tracking device of the transport vehicle based on at least one of the initial movement of the transport vehicle, the duration of the continuous movement of the transport vehicle, and the duration of the stationary condition of the transport vehicle.

26. A method comprising:

activating a tracking device of at least one of a container and a transport vehicle through a switch and an actuator coupling of an electrical power plug and an electrical power receptacle;

generating, through a global positioning system (GPS) of the tracking device, a location data when the electrical power plug is coupled to the electrical power receptacle;

reading an identification tag of the container through an electronic reader of the electrical power receptacle to discover an identification number upon a mate event;

detecting an initial movement of the container through the GPS of the tracking device of the container;

determining, through an administrative server, a duration of a continuous movement of the container based on the location data of the GPS of the tracking device of the container; and

determining, through the administrative server, a duration of a stationary condition of the container based on the location data of the GPS of the tracking device of the container.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mate event comprises an action that involves a coupling of at least one of an electrical system and a mechanical system of the transport vehicle and the container.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the mate event further comprises:

waking the tracking device of the container through an electrical signal of the switch and the actuator coupling;

powering the tracking device of the container through a battery thereof; and

activating the tracking device of the transport vehicle through the electrical signal of the switch and the actuator coupling.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting to the administrative server, through a wireless network, at least one of the location data and the identification number through the tracking device of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the tracking device of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle is configured to transmit at least one of the location data and the identification number based on at least one of a daily location query by the administrative server, a periodic location query by the administrative server, a manual location query by the administrative server, and the mate event.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein an alert message is delivered to a driver of the transport vehicle when the electronic reader identifies the identification number of an incorrect container through the identification tag based on the mate event.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

conserving battery power through deactivating the tracking device of the container when the electrical power plug is de-coupled to the electrical power receptacle.

33. A system comprising:

an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle;

an electrical power plug of a container;

a switch and an actuator coupling configured to signal a mate event between the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle;

an electronic reader configured to read an identification tag of the container comprising an identification number thereby confirming an identity of the container;

a tracking device configured to provide a location data associated with at least one of the container and the transport vehicle;

an administrative server configured to gather location data, wherein the tracking device is communicatively coupled therewith; and

wherein the tracking device includes a global positioning system (GPS) that is configured to provide location data based on at least one of an initial movement of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle, a duration of a continuous movement of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle, and a duration of a stationary condition of the container.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the tracking device further comprises a battery configured to supply electrical power to the tracking device based upon the mate event, wherein the battery is configured to conserve electrical power when the electrical power plug is not mated to the electrical power receptacle.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the tracking device activates based on the mate event, wherein the switch and the actuator coupling is configured to generate an electrical signal to turn on the tracking device.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the tracking device is configured to a transmit location data to the administrative server based on at least one of a daily location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, a periodic location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, a manual location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, and the mate event.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the electronic reader is coupled to the tracking device and is configured to deliver an alert message to a driver of the transport vehicle, according to the mate event, wherein the electronic reader identifies an identification number of an incorrect container through the identification tag read thereof.

38. A method, comprising:

coupling an electrical power plug of a container and an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle;

activating, through a switch and an actuator coupling of at least one of the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle, a tracking device of the container;

verifying, through an identification tag of the container read by an electronic reader, an identity of the container upon coupling the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle;

wherein an alert message is delivered to a driver of the transport vehicle when the electronic reader identifies an identification number of an incorrect container through the identification tag based on a mate event.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

powering, through a battery of at least one of the tracking device and the container, the tracking device based on an activation by the switch and the actuator coupling; and

waking the tracking device of the container through an electrical signal generated by the switch and the actuator coupling and based on the coupling of the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

generating, through a global positioning system (GPS) of at least one of the tracking device of the container and a tracking device of the transport vehicle, a location data associated with at least one of the container and the transport vehicle; and

transmitting to an administrative server, on a periodic basis through a network, the location data through at least one of the tracking device of the container and the tracking device of the transport vehicle.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein reading the identification tag of the container through the electronic reader comprises:

discovering, through the coupling of the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle, the identification number of the container; and

communicating, through the network, the identification number of the container to the administrative server upon discovery.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the location data and the identification number are communicated through the tracking device of the container based on at least one of the activation of the tracking device of the container and a location query of the container by the administrative server.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the location data and the identification number are communicated through the tracking device of the transport vehicle based on at least one of the initial movement of the transport vehicle, the duration of the continuous movement of the transport vehicle, and the duration of the stationary condition of the transport vehicle.

44. A method comprising:

activating a tracking device of at least one of a container and a transport vehicle through a switch and an actuator coupling of an electrical power plug and an electrical power receptacle;

generating, through a global positioning system (GPS) of the tracking device, a location data when the electrical power plug is coupled to the electrical power receptacle;

reading an identification tag of the container through an electronic reader of the electrical power receptacle to discover an identification number upon a mate event;

wherein an alert message is delivered to a driver of the transport vehicle when the electronic reader identifies the identification number of an incorrect container through the identification tag based on the mate event.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the mate event comprises an action that involves a coupling of at least one of an electrical system and a mechanical system of the transport vehicle and the container.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the mate event further comprises:

waking the tracking device of the container through an electrical signal of the switch and the actuator coupling;

powering the tracking device of the container through a battery thereof; and

activating the tracking device of the transport vehicle through the electrical signal of the switch and the actuator coupling.

47. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

transmitting to an administrative server, through a wireless network, at least one of the location data and the identification number through the tracking device of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the tracking device of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle is configured to transmit at least one of the location data and the identification number based on at least one of a daily location query by the administrative server, a periodic location query by the administrative server, a manual location query by the administrative server, and the mate event.

49. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

conserving battery power through deactivating the tracking device of the container when the electrical power plug is de-coupled to the electrical power receptacle.

50. A system comprising:

an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle;

an electrical power plug of a container;

a switch and an actuator coupling configured to signal a mate event between the electrical power plug and the electrical power receptacle;

an electronic reader configured to read an identification tag of the container comprising an identification number thereby confirming an identity of the container;

a tracking device configured to provide a location data associated with at least one of the container and the transport vehicle;

an administrative server configured to gather location data, wherein the tracking device is communicatively coupled therewith; and

wherein the electronic reader is coupled to the tracking device and is configured to deliver an alert message to a driver of the transport vehicle, according to the mate event, wherein the electronic reader identifies the identification number of an incorrect container through the identification tag read thereof.

51. The system claim 50, wherein the tracking device further comprises a battery configured to supply electrical power to the tracking device based upon the mate event, wherein the battery is configured to conserve electrical power when the electrical power plug is not mated to the electrical power receptacle.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the tracking device activates based on the mate event, wherein the switch and the actuator coupling is configured to generate an electrical signal to turn on the tracking device.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the tracking device is configured to a transmit location data to the administrative server based on at least one of a daily location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, a periodic location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, a manual location query of the tracking device by the administrative server, and the mate event.

53. The system of 50, wherein the tracking device includes a global positioning system (GPS) that is configured to provide location data based on at least one of an initial movement of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle, a duration of a continuous movement of at least one of the container and the transport vehicle, and a duration of a stationary condition of the container.