Control, monitoring, and/or security apparatus and method

• US 10,152,876 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GTJ Ventures, LLC (Raymond Anthony Joao)
• Original Assignee: GTJ Ventures, LLC (Raymond Anthony Joao)
• Inventors: Joao, Raymond Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van
• Application Number:
  US11/180,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,899 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 34053911-53918, 34053925, 34053926, 3404255, 3404261, 34042614, 34042616, 340428, 340429, 340430, 34082569, 34042613, 340994, 307 102, 307 103, 34235703, 34235707, 370313, 370401, 370496, 4554122, 4554141, 455457, 700226, 705 28, 709218
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/042 operating on the fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/00 Alarm systems in which substations are interrogated in succession by a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/00 Checking or monitoring of signalling or alarm systems; Prevention or correction of operating errors, e.g. preventing unauthorised operation

Abstract

An apparatus, including a first controller located at a vehicle which monitors, and detects an event regarding, a system, equipment system, component, device, or equipment, of the vehicle. The vehicle is a shipping container, pallet, tote, or piece of luggage. The first controller generates and transmits a first signal, containing information regarding the event, to a second controller. The second controller is located remote from the vehicle, automatically receives the first signal, and generates and transmits a second signal, containing information regarding the event, via the Internet or World Wide Web to a communication device located remote from the second controller. The apparatus activates, de-activates, disables, re-enables, or controls an operation of, the system, equipment system, component, device, or equipment, of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first controller, wherein the first controller monitors, and detects an event regarding, a system, equipment system, component, device, or equipment, of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is a shipping container, a pallet, a tote, or a piece of luggage, wherein the first controller is located at the vehicle,

wherein the first controller generates a first signal and transmits the first signal to a second controller, wherein the first signal contains information regarding the event, and further wherein the second controller is located at a location which is remote from the vehicle, wherein the second controller automatically receives the first signal, and further wherein the second controller generates a second signal and transmits the second signal via, on, or over, the Internet or the World Wide Web to a communication device, wherein the second signal contains information regarding the event, and further wherein the communication device is located remote from the second controller,

wherein the apparatus activates, de-activates, disables, re-enables, or controls an operation of, the system, equipment system, component, device, or equipment, of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a shipping container.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shipping container is a refrigerated container, a protective container, a railroad container, a tractor trailer container, a air freight container, or a marine vessel shipment container.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a pallet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a tote.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a piece of luggage.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a video recording device or a camera, wherein the video recording device or the camera obtains video information or a photograph at the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehicle, wherein the video information or the photograph is transmitted to the communication device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the event is a detection of a lost shipment, an off-track shipment, a delayed shipment, a theft of the vehicle, an unauthorized use of the vehicle, an unauthorized access of the vehicle, a detection of an impact experienced by the vehicle, a force experienced by the vehicle, a mishandling of the vehicle, a dropping of the vehicle, an accident involving the vehicle, or a detection of a shipment temperature or a transportation temperature which deviates from a shipment temperature requirement or a transportation temperature requirement.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, an interactive television, or a digital television.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a global positioning device, wherein the global positioning device determines a position or location of the vehicle, and further wherein information regarding the position or location of the vehicle is transmitted to the communication device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an audio recording device, a microphone, or a tape recorder, wherein the audio recording device, the microphone, or the tape recorder, obtains audio information at the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehicle, and further wherein the audio information is transmitted to the communication device.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a first controller, wherein the first controller is a central processing unit, a microprocessor, or a first computer, wherein the first controller monitors, and detects an event regarding, a first vehicle, wherein the first vehicle is a shipping container, a pallet, a tote, or a piece of luggage, and wherein the first controller is located at the first vehicle,

wherein the first controller generates a first signal and transmits the first signal to a second controller, wherein the second controller is a server computer or a second computer, wherein the first signal contains information regarding the event, and further wherein the second controller is located at a location which is remote from the first vehicle and is remote from a second vehicle in or on which the first vehicle is located or is remote from a premises in or on which the first vehicle is located, wherein the second controller automatically receives the first signal, and further wherein the second controller generates a second signal and transmits the second signal to a communication device, wherein the second signal contains information regarding the event, and further wherein the communication device is located remote from the second controller, and further wherein the communication device is located remote from the second vehicle or is located remote from the premises.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a container, wherein the container is a shipping container, a pallet, a tote, or a piece of luggage;

a global positioning device, wherein the global positioning device determines a position or a location of the container;

a first controller, wherein the first controller device monitors, and detects an event regarding, the container, wherein the first controller is located at the container,

wherein the first controller generates a first signal and transmits the first signal to a second controller, wherein the first signal contains information regarding the event, and further wherein the second controller is located at a location which is remote from the container, wherein the second controller automatically receives the first signal, and further wherein the second controller generates a second signal and transmits the second signal via, on, or over, the Internet or the World Wide Web to a communication device, wherein the second signal contains information regarding the event and information regarding the position or the location of the container, and further wherein the communication device is located remote from the second controller,

wherein the apparatus, the second controller, or the communication device is capable of activating, de-activating, disabling, re-enabling, or controlling an operation, of a system, an equipment system, a component, or a device, of the container.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second controller is located remote from a vehicle or a premises in, or on, which the container is located.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first controller or the second controller detects or determines that the container is off course, that the container is deviating from a travel route or has deviated from a travel route, that the container is deviating from a flight plan or has deviated from a flight plan, or that the container is deviating from a navigation route or plan or has deviated from a navigation route or plan.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a video recording device or a camera, wherein the video recording device or the camera obtains video information or a photograph at the container or in the vicinity of the container, wherein the video information or a photograph is transmitted to the second controller or to the communication device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the event is a detection of a lost shipment, an off-track shipment, a delayed shipment, a theft of the container, an unauthorized use of the container, an unauthorized access of the container, an impact experienced by the container, a force experienced by the container, a mishandling of the container, a dropping of the container, an accident involving the container, or a detection of a shipment temperature or a transportation temperature which deviates from a shipment temperature requirement or a transportation temperature requirement.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an audio recording device, a microphone, or a tape recorder, wherein the audio recording device, the microphone, or the tape recorder, obtains audio information at the container or in the vicinity of the container, and further wherein the audio information is transmitted to second controller or to the communication device.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second controller or the communication device transmits a control signal for activating, de-activating, disabling, re-enabling, or controlling an operation, of the system, the equipment system, the component, or the device, of the container.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the container is a refrigerated container, a protective container, a railroad container, a tractor trailer container, a air freight container, or a marine vessel shipment container.