Method and apparatus for container management

• US 6,665,585 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IHI Transport Machinery Company Limited (IHI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kawase, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/926,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 700/225, 700/226, 705/28, 414/560, 414/561, 414/137.1, 414/139.4, 414/139.9, 414/140.3, 414/140.4, 414/142.6, 414/142.7, 414/141.6, 414/141.7, 340/425.5, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/673, 340/825.06, 340/825.54, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 342/463
• US Class Current: 700/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A radio IC number tag (10) having a container number (1a) inputted is applied on a container (1); a radio document tag (14) having container (1) physical distribution information inputted is set to a trailer (2); and a radio antenna (11) is arranged at a gate of a container terminal. Upon passage of the trailer (2) through the gate, the radio antenna (11) receives the physical distribution information transmitted from the radio IC document tag (14) while reading the container number from the radio IC number tag (10) applied on the container (1). Such information is sent to a physical distribution information center (31). A computer (31a) in the physical distribution information center (31) checks up the container number (1a) with the physical distribution information and the like for confirmation and data-processing to send a command signal for a storage address to the trailer (2) through the radio antenna (11).

Claims

1. A container managing method for managing a container via a container managing apparatus, the container managing apparatus including:

a radio IC seal tag having a seal number inputted therein, the radio IC seal tag being attached to closing doors of the container, the container in turn having a radio IC number tag attached thereto, and the radio IC number tag having a container number inputted therein;

a radio IC document tag having physical distribution information of the container inputted therein, the radio IC document tag being set on a trailer;

a radio antenna arranged at an entrance gate of a container terminal of the container, the radio antenna being configured to receive and transmit in relation to all of the radio IC number tag, the radio IC seal tag, and the radio IC document tag;

the radio IC seal tag configured to transmit the seal number only in a state when the closing doors of the container are sealed; and

the radio antenna configured to receive the physical distribution information of the container at the entrance gate of the container terminal of the container, to read the container number, to confirm a sealing state of the radio IC seal tag, and to read the seal number,

the container managing method comprising the steps of;

upon carry-in of the container in a loaded state thereof and when the trailer passes through the entrance gate, receiving the physical distribution information of the container via the radio antenna, the physical distribution information of the container having been transmitted from the radio IC document tag on the trailer;

simultaneously reading the container number from the radio IC number tag applied on the container and the seal number from the radio IC seal tag;

sending the physical distribution information of the container to a physical distribution information center;

comparing the container number and the seal number with the physical distribution information of the container via a computer in the physical distribution information center for conformation; and

data-processing to send a command signal for a storage address to the trailer via the radio antenna.

2. A container managing method for managing a container via a container managing apparatus, the container managing apparatus including:

a radio IC seal tag a radio IC seal tag having a seal number inputted therein, the radio IC seal tag being attached to closing doors of the container, the container in turn having a radio IC number tag attached thereto, and the radio IC number tag having a container number inputted therein;

a radio IC document tag having physical distribution information of the container inputted therein, the radio IC document tag being set on a trailer;

a radio antenna arranged at an entrance gate of a container terminal of the container, the radio antenna being configured to receive and transmit in relation to all of the radio IC number tag, the radio IC seal tag, and the radio IC document tag;

the radio IC seal tag configured to transmit the seal number only in a state when the closing doors of the container are sealed; and

the radio antenna configured to receive the physical distribution information of the container at the entrance gate of the container terminal of the container, to read the container number, to confirm a sealing state of the radio IC seal tag, and to read the seal number,

the container managing method comprising the steps of;

upon entry of the trailer in an empty state thereof, the trailer being configured to carry-out of the container in either an empty state thereof or a loaded state thereof, and when the trailer passes through the entrance gate, receiving the physical distribution information of the container via the radio antenna, the physical distribution information of the container having been transmitted from the radio IC document tag on the trailer;

sending the physical distribution information of the container to a physical distribution information center;

effecting data-processing via a computer in the physical distribution information center; and

sending a command signal for an unstacking address to the trailer via the radio antenna.

3. A container managing method for managing a container via a container managing apparatus, the container managing apparatus including:

a radio IC seal tag having a seal number inputted therein, the radio IC seal tag being attached to closing doors of the container, the container in turn having a radio IC number tag attached thereto, and the radio IC number tag having a container number inputted therein;

a radio IC document tag having physical distribution information of the container inputted therein, the radio IC document tag being set on a trailer;

a radio antenna arranged at an entrance gate of a container terminal of the container, the radio antenna being configured to receive and transmit in relation to all of the radio IC number tag, the radio IC seal tag, and the radio IC document tag;

the radio IC seal tag configured to transmit the seal number only in a state when the closing doors of the container are sealed; and

the radio antenna configured to receive the physical distribution information of the container at the entrance gate of the container terminal of the container, to read the container number, to confirm a sealing state of the radio IC seal tag, and to read the seal number,

the container managing method comprising the steps of;

in a case of carry-in of the container in an empty state thereof and when the trailer passes through the entrance gate, receiving the physical distribution information of the container via the radio antenna, the physical distribution information of the container having been transmitted from the radio IC document tag on the trailer;

simultaneously reading the container number from the radio IC number tag applied on the container in the empty state thereof

sending the physical distribution information of the container to a physical distribution information center;

comparing the container number with the physical distribution information of the container via a computer in the physical distribution information center for confirmation; and

data-processing to send a command signal for a storage address to the trailer through the radio antenna.

4. A container managing method for managing a container via a container managing apparatus, the container managing apparatus including:

a radio IC seal tag having a seal number inputted therein, the radio IC seal tag being attached to closing doors of the container, the container in turn having a radio IC number tag attached thereto, and the radio IC number tag having a container number inputted therein;

a radio IC document tag having physical distribution information of the container inputted therein, the radio IC document tag set on a trailer;

a radio antenna arranged at an exit gate of a container terminal of the container, the radio antenna configured to receive and transmit in relation to all of the radio IC number tag, the radio IC seal tag, and the radio IC document tag;

the radio IC seal tag configured to transmit the seal number only in a state when the closing doors of the container are sealed; and

the radio antenna configured to receive the physical distribution information of the container at the exit gate of the container terminal of the container, to read the container number, to confirm a sealing state of the radio IC seal tag, and to read the seal number,

the container managing method comprising the steps of;

in a case where the trailer, in an empty state thereof is to exit after the trailer has transferred the container, in either an empty state thereof or a loaded state thereof, to a container yard and upon passage of the trailer, in the empty state thereof, through the exit gate, receiving the physical distribution information of the container via the radio antenna, the physical distribution information of the container having been transmitted from the radio IC document tag on the trailer, in an empty state thereof;

sending the physical distribution information of the container to a physical distribution information center; and

effecting data-processing on the physical distribution information of the container via a computer in the physical distribution information center; and

sending a command signal for exit permission to the trailer, in the empty state thereof, via the radio antenna.

5. A container managing method for managing a container via a container managing apparatus, the container managing apparatus including:

a radio IC seal tag having a seal number inputted therein, the radio IC seal tag being attached to closing doors of the container, the container in turn having a radio IC number tag attached thereto, and the radio IC number tag having a container number inputted therein;

a radio IC document tag having physical distribution information of the container inputted therein, the radio IC document tag set on a trailer;

a radio antenna arranged at an exit gate of a container terminal of the container, the radio antenna being configured to receive and transmit in relation to all of the radio IC number tag, the radio IC seal tag, and the radio IC document tag;

the radio IC seal tag configured to transmit the seal number only in a state when the closing doors of the container are sealed; and

the radio antenna configured to receive the physical distribution information of the container at the exit gate of the container terminal of the container, to read the container number, to confirm a sealing state of the radio IC seal tag, and to read the seal number,

the container managing method comprising the steps of;

in a case of carry-out of the container in a loaded state thereof and upon passage of the trailer through the exit gate, receiving the physical distribution information of the container via the radio antenna, the physical distribution information of the container having been transmitted from the radio IC document tag on the trailer;

simultaneously reading the container number from the radio IC number tag applied on the container and the seal number from the radio IC seal tag;

confirming the sealing state of the radio IC seal tag;

sending the physical distribution information of the container to a physical distribution information center;

comparing the container number and the seal number with the physical distribution information of the container via a computer in the physical distribution information center for confirmation; and

data-processing to send a command signal for an exit permission to the trailer through the radio antenna.

6. A container managing method for managing a container via a container managing apparatus, the container managing apparatus including:

a radio IC seal tag having a seal number inputted therein, the radio IC seal tag being attached to closing doors of the container, the container in turn having a radio IC number tag attached thereto, and the radio IC number tag having a container number inputted therein;

a radio IC document tag having physical distribution information of the container inputted therein, the radio IC document tag being set on a trailer;

a radio antenna arranged at an exit gate of a container terminal of the container, the radio antenna configured to receive and transmit in relation to all of the radio IC number tag, the radio IC seal tag, and the radio IC document tag;

the radio IC seal tag configured to transmit the seal number only in a state when the closing doors of the container are sealed; and

the radio antenna configured to receive the physical distribution information of the container at the exit gate of the container terminal of the container, to read the container number, to confirm a sealing state of the radio IC seal tag, and to read the seal number,

the container managing method comprising the steps of;

in a case of carry-out of the container in an empty state thereof and upon passage of the trailer through the exit gate, receiving the physical distribution information of the container via the radio antenna, the physical distribution information being transmitted from the radio IC document tag on the trailer;

simultaneously reading the container number from the radio IC number tag applied on the container;

sending the physical distribution information of the container to a physical distribution center;

comparing the container number with the physical distribution information of the container via a computer in the physical distribution information center for confirmation; and

data-processing to send a command signal for exit permission to the trailer through the radio antenna.