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

• US 9,555,772 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• 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:
  US14/684,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 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: 1/1
• 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. A security system for an environment-controlled transport unit including a transportation refrigeration unit, the security system comprising:

a fuel sensor mounted to the environment-controlled transport unit, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor a fuel supply level to the transportation refrigeration unit; and

a communication device embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit of the environment-controlled transport unit, the communication device being configured to receive fuel supply level data from the fuel sensor, and to send the received fuel supply level data to a controller being remote from the environment-controlled transport unit,

wherein the controller is configured to monitor the security status of the environment-controlled transport unit and to determine a security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit based on the received fuel supply level data,

wherein the security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit includes a fuel theft of the environment-controlled transport unit, and

wherein the controller determines the fuel theft of the environment-controlled transport unit based on a current location of the environment-controlled transport unit and the received fuel supply level data.

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, and

wherein the GPS determines a current location of the environment-controlled transport unit and the communication device electronically communicates the current location of the environment-controlled transport unit to the controller.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a door switch sensor that is configured to monitor a status of an environment-controlled transport unit door, and

wherein the controller is configured to compare the status of the environment-controlled transport unit door to at least one of an instruction given to the driver and a location of the environment-controlled transport unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to send a current location of the environment-controlled transport unit to the controller, and

wherein the controller is configured to determine a security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit door based on the received current location of the transport unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device further comprises a communication circuit configured to send the received fuel supply level data and an environment-controlled transport unit door location to the controller.

7. 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.

8. 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 transportation refrigeration unit controller of the transportation refrigeration unit.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines the fuel theft of the environment-controlled transport unit based on the current location of the environment-controlled transport unit and at least one of a total fuel supply and a fuel consumption rate, wherein the at least one of the total fuel supply and the fuel consumption rate is determined based on the received fuel supply level data.

9. A method for detecting a security risk at an environment-controlled transport unit including a transportation refrigeration unit having a communication device, the method comprising:

a controller that is remote from the environment-controlled transport unit receiving fuel supply level sensor data obtained via a fuel sensor of the environment-controlled transport unit;

monitoring, via the controller that is remote from the environment-controlled transport unit, the received fuel supply level sensor data;

determining, via the controller that is remote from the environment-controlled transport unit, a security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit based on the received fuel supply level sensor data; and

the controller that is remote from the environment-controlled transport unit sending an alert of a security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit,

wherein determining the security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit includes determining, via the controller, a fuel theft at the environment-controlled transport unit based on a current location of the environment-controlled transport unit and the received fuel supply level data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the controller is positioned at a remote logistics operations center.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

the controller receiving a status of an environment-controlled transport unit door; and

the controller comparing the status of the environment-controlled transport unit door to an instruction given to the driver or a location of the environment-controlled transport unit.

12. A security system for an environment-controlled transport unit including a transportation refrigeration unit, the security system comprising:

a sensor mounted to the environment-controlled transport unit; and

a communication device embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit of the environment-controlled transport unit, the communication device being configured to receive data from the sensor, and to send the received data to a controller being remote from the environment-controlled transport unit,

wherein the controller is configured to monitor the security status of the environment-controlled transport unit and to determine a security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit based on the received data,

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, and

wherein the security system is configured to operate and detect a security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit when the starter battery is at least one of removed and disconnected.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is positioned at a remote logistics operations center.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication device further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) embedded in the communication device, and

wherein the GPS determines a current location of the environment-controlled transport unit and the communication device electronically communicates the current location of the environment-controlled transport unit to the controller.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication device is configured to send a current location of the environment-controlled transport unit to the controller, and

wherein the controller is configured to determine a security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit based on the received current location of the environment-controlled transport unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication device further comprises a communication circuit configured to send the received sensor data and transport unit location to the controller.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is door switch sensor that is configured to monitor the status of a transport unit door, and

wherein the controller is configured to compare the status of the transport unit door to an instruction given to the driver or the received current location of the environment-controlled transport unit.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a fuel level sensor is configured to monitor the level of fuel supply to the transportation refrigeration unit.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication device further comprises a power supply circuit configured to control the power supplied to the communication device.

20. The system of claim 19, 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.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein when the starter battery is at least one of removed and disconnected, the power supply circuit is configured to automatically switch to the backup battery for the security system to operate and detect a security risk at the environment-controlled transport unit.