System and method for communications of cargo containers in a container security system using wireless ad-hoc networking techniques

• US 20070115859A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: System Planning Corporation
• Inventors: Meyers, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,702,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/08 based on transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for communications between a plurality of shipping containers using a short range or local area wireless communication device is provided. The system also contains a cellular communications device, a satellite communications device, or both, which are used to transmit information to, and receive commands from remote central monitoring station. The system includes a method which creates dynamic links between the containers using the short range channel. Containers are organized in networks and sub networks, and have built in redundancy features.

Claims

1. A system for providing robust communications for a container monitoring system for a plurality of containers comprising:

a short range wireless communications device associated with each container, each short range wireless communication device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element;

at least a long range communications device communications device associated with each container;

a control element which dynamically determines a plurality of communications channels between the short range wireless communication elements located on the plurality of containers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the short range wireless communication device located on each container is capable of transmitting and receiving data and messages via a radio frequency signal at a maximum predetermined distance from a few feet to a several hundred feet.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a short range wireless communication protocol comprises any one of standards including Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.11 series, and a proprietary short range wireless channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the long range communications device comprises a cellular communications device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element located on each container, capable of transmitting data and messages to a central monitoring station, and receiving data and messages from the central monitoring station.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the cellular communications device implements one of a cellular standard or a proprietary wireless protocol and network suited to transmit data over a network between long distances of at least hundreds of miles.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the long range communications device comprises a satellite communications device including a transmitter element and a receiver element, which may communicate with either a geosynchronous (GEO) or Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite in a network.

7. A method for dynamic assignment of communications links between a plurality of containers using a short range wireless communications device associated with each container, the method comprising:

querying each container within the proximity of each short range receiver;

collecting reports back of whether the queried containers have access to a satellite or cellular channel;

measuring energy using a detector which surveys the containers within the proximity of each short range receiver to detect the power of each said short range transmitter for each neighboring container;

ranking the power estimates received from the various container elements;

calculating a most efficient path from any given container to another container, or through a series of containers acting as relays, whereby pertinent data from any given container is relayed to a container having access to a cellular or satellite channel; and

storing a routing table indicating a current connection topology for all containers in an ad-hoc network configuration.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is performed on a peer based topology running on each container independently, and connections between containers are determined by a voting method and a open network request-acknowledge based protocol.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is performed on a master-slave topology such that at a given time a single container is designated as a master container controlling the connection paths for all other containers within the network, and all other containers with a specified proximity are designated as slave containers.

10. The method of claim 7, further including application to said containers organized into groups or sub networks connections, in a hierarchical manner, whereby multiple sub networks comprising a plurality of individual containers may exist within the same larger network and the communication paths are controlled by a designated network master container for multiple sub networks.

11. A method wherein a short range wireless channel is used to provide a level of redundancy within a container monitoring system comprising:

determining that a first container has a failed long range channel and an operational short range wireless channel;

locating at least one additional container having all communication modes operations including short range wireless, and long range wireless;

utilizing the short range wireless channel from the first container to communicate with the at least one second container to allow information relating to the status of the first container to be transmitted by the at least one second container.