METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRPLANE CONTAINER TRACKING

• US 20130321122A1
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roambee Corporation
• Original Assignee: Petari USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Brian, Dubash, Jamshed, Chakraborty, Mrinmoy, Nakra, Jahangir
• Granted Patent: US 9,194,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Wireless tracking systems and devices to detect the status of aircraft cargo containers. The system uses a sensor array to deactivate and activate the tracking devices as needed to comply with FAA regulations. The tracking systems use an array of machine vision sensors and/or inertia (motion) sensors to determine when to activate and deactivate the device. The tracking systems can feature LTE communication devices with a global roaming SIM card to realize true global operation to support GSM, CDMA and other mobile environments seamlessly

Claims

1. A wireless tracking system comprising:

a transmitter device comprising a battery, a GPS positioning element, a RF communication module, a cellular communication module, memory, and a sensor array, the RF communication module and the cellular communication module each configured to deactivate and activate based on movement detected by the sensor array; and

a receiver;

the transmitter configured to send data regarding the location of the transmitter to the receiver, and the receiver configured to receive the data from the transmitter.

2. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the RF communication module is a ZigBee, LBT, and/or Low Energy BlueTooth communication module.

3. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the cellular communication module is a CDMA and/or GSM communication module.

4. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

5. The tracking system of claim 4 further comprising a battery recharging mechanism.

6. The tracking system of claim 1 wherein the sensor array comprises a machine vision sensor with a high dynamic range (HDR>

120 dB), a high frame rate, a global shutter, and low cost image sensor.

7. The tracking system of claim 6 further comprising a motion sensor having ten degrees of freedom.

8. The tracking system of claim 6 wherein the high frame rate is at least 100 frames per second.

9. The tracking system of claim 6 wherein the vision sensor has a UV protected lens with IR (Infra-Red) sensing capability.

10. The tracking system of claim 6 wherein the vision sensor has an auto-focus and anti-shaking frame.

11. A tracking device comprising a battery, a GPS positioning element, a RF communication module, a cellular communication module, memory, and a sensor array comprising a machine vision sensor with a high dynamic range (HDR>

120 dB), a high frame rate (FRS>

100), a global shutter, and low cost image sensor.

12. The tracking device of claim 11 wherein the vision sensor further has a UV protected lens with IR (Infra-Red) sensing capability.

13. The tracking device of claim 11 wherein the vision sensor further has an auto-focus and anti-shaking frame.

14. The tracking device of claim 11 wherein the sensor array further comprises a motion sensor having ten degrees of freedom.

15. The tracking device of claim 11 further comprising a global tracking SIM card.

16. A method of tracking a container in an aircraft, the method comprising:

operably attaching a tracking device to the container, the tracking device configured with an RF module and a cellular module;

if the container is outside of the aircraft, transmitting the container'"'"'s location via an RF signal;

as the container passes through a door into an aircraft cargo hold, transmitting the container'"'"'s location via a cellular signal;

when the container is in the cargo hold, deactivating the RF module and the cellular module;

as the container passes through the door out from the aircraft cargo hold, transmitting the container'"'"'s location via a cellular signal; and

if the container is outside of the aircraft, transmitting the container'"'"'s location via an RF signal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

determining when the container passes through the door into the aircraft cargo hold via a machine vision sensor; and

determining when the container passes through the door out from the aircraft cargo hold via the machine vision sensor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the machine vision sensor has a high dynamic range (HDR>

120 dB), a high frame rate (FRS>

100), a global shutter, and low cost image sensor.