KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF

• US 20060237490A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SeekerNet Incorporated
• Inventors: TWITCHELL, Robert W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/481.500
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A shipping container that facilitates communications between wireless communication devices within the shipping container and an external network container includes a keyhole communication device that is adapted for wireless communications with the external network and that includes first and second housing components. The first and second housing components together form an integrated housing structure that extends through a small opening in a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component being disposed exterior to the shipping container and the second housing component being disposed interior to the shipping container. A first antenna is disposed within the first housing component for communications via a first communications protocol, such as a Bluetooth protocol. A second antenna also may be disposed within the first housing component for communications via a second communications protocol, such as a cellular communications protocol. The communications are controlled by electronic circuitry within the second housing component.

Claims

1. A shipping container equipped to facilitate wireless communications between one or more wireless communication devices within the shipping container and a network that is external to the shipping container, comprising:

(a) a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and

(b) a communication device, adapted for wireless communications with the external network, that includes a first housing component and a second housing component, the first housing component being disposed substantially exterior to the wall structure of the shipping container, and the second housing component being disposed substantially interior to the wall structure of the shipping container, the first and second housing components together forming an integrated housing structure that extends through an opening in the wall structure of the shipping container;

(c) wherein,

(i) the communication device includes a first antenna disposed within the first housing component and first electronic circuitry connected to the first antenna and disposed within the second housing, the first electronic circuitry adapted to control signal reception and transmission via the first antenna for communications with the wireless communication devices within the shipping container and with the external network, and

(ii) the opening in the wall structure of the shipping container includes a diameter of between one-quarter and one full wavelength, inclusive, of the electromagnetic waves used to wirelessly communicate via the first antenna the wireless communication devices within the shipping container in accordance with the first electronic circuitry.

2. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the first electronic circuitry are adapted for communications within the 2.4 GHz band.

3. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the communication device further includes a GPS receiver disposed within the second housing component and a patch antenna for the GPS receiver disposed within the first housing component.

4. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuitry includes a tag turn on circuit (TTOC) for waking up a standards-based radio of the communication device.

5. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuitry includes tag turn on (TTO) electronics for causing a tag turn on circuit (TTOC) of another communication device to wake up a standards-based radio of the other communication device.

6. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the first electronic circuitry is adapted for communication with one or more wireless tags (WTs), the WTs being associated with assets disposed within the interior of the shipping container.

7. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuitry is configured to form, in conjunction with other communication devices, a class-based network, at least some of the other communication devices being disposed exterior to the shipping container.

8. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuitry is configured to form, in conjunction with other communication devices, a class-based network, at least some of the other communication devices being disposed within the interior of the shipping container.

9. The shipping container of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor disposed about the shipping container, wherein the first electronic circuitry is communicatively interfaced with the at least one sensor for acquiring data there from.

10. The shipping container of claim 9, wherein the first electronic circuitry is communicatively interfaced with the at least one sensor via wireless communication.

11. The shipping container of claim 9, wherein the first electronic circuitry is communicatively interfaced with the at least one sensor via a direct wired connection.

12. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the wall structure of the shipping container includes a static wall structure and at least one access door, and wherein the communication device is disposed on the static wall structure and not the at least one access door.

13. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the communication device further comprises a second antenna disposed within the first housing component and second electronic circuitry connected to the second antenna and disposed within the second housing component, the second electronic circuitry adapted to control signal reception and transmission via the second antenna for communications with wireless communication devices external to of the shipping container.

14. The shipping container of claim 13, wherein the second antenna and the second electronic circuitry are adapted for satellite communications or cellular communications.

15. The shipping container of claim 13, wherein the second antenna and the second electronic circuitry are adapted for WiFi communications.

16. The shipping container of claim 13, wherein the second antenna and the second electronic circuitry are adapted for WiMAX communications.

17. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the first electronic circuitry are adapted to function as a repeater passing communications to and from the interior of the shipping container, thereby facilitating communications between the one or more wireless communication devices within the shipping container and the network that is external to the shipping container.

18. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes at least two operational modes such that, in the first operational mode, the communication device receives, processes, and transmits messages intended for and authored by the communication device, and such that, in the second operational mode, the communication device functions as a repeater and passes communications to and from the interior of the shipping container.

19. A shipping container equipped to facilitate internal and external wireless communications, comprising:

(a) a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and

(b) a communication device, adapted for wireless communications, that includes a first housing component and a second housing component, the first housing component containing a first antenna and a second antenna therein and the second housing component containing an electronics assembly for controlling receptions and transmissions of the first antenna and the second antenna;

(c) wherein,

(i) the first housing component is mounted on an exterior portion of the wall structure and is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container,

(ii) the second housing component is mounted on an interior portion of the wall structure, proximate the first housing component, and is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container, and

(iii) the first antenna is adapted for wireless communication external to the shipping container and the second antenna is adapted for wireless communication internal to the shipping container.

20. A shipping container equipped to facilitate internal and external wireless communications, comprising:

(a) a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and

(b) a wireless communication device that includes a first housing component and a second housing component, the first housing component being disposed substantially exterior to the wall structure of the shipping container, and the second housing component being disposed substantially interior to the wall structure of the shipping container, the first and second housing components together forming an integrated housing structure that extends through an opening in the wall structure of the shipping container;

(c) wherein,

(i) the communication device includes an antenna disposed within the first housing component and electronic circuitry connected to the antenna adapted to facilitate signal transmission via the antenna, and

(ii) the opening in the wall structure of the shipping container includes a diameter of between one-quarter and one full wavelength, inclusive, of the electromagnetic waves used to wirelessly communicate via the antenna,

whereby internal and external wireless communications via the antenna are accomplished.