Keyhole communication device for tracking and monitoring shipping container and contents thereof

• US 7,378,957 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US11/832,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 340/53.9, 340/53.1, 340/539.13, 34053916-53917, 340/545.6, 340/568.1, 340/505, 340/825.72, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 455/422.1, 455/499
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A shipping container that facilitates communications between wireless communication devices within the shipping container and an external network 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 communication device for attaching to a shipping container, comprising:

(a) an electronics assembly, including an antenna and circuitry, configured for wireless communication both with a network that is external to the shipping container and with one or more wireless devices contained within an interior of a shipping container;

(b) a first housing component, containing the antenna, that is adapted to be mounted on an exterior of a wall of a shipping container such that the first housing component is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container; and

(c) a second housing component, containing the circuitry, that is adapted to be mounted on an interior of the wall of the shipping container, proximate the first housing component, such that the second housing component is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container;

(d) wherein the first housing component and the second housing component are adapted to be secured together to form an integrated housing structure when each is mounted on the wall of the shipping container with the circuitry disposed in electronic communication with the antenna for wireless communications; and

(e) wherein the first housing component defines a first hollow interior, wherein the second housing component defines a second hollow interior, and wherein the first hollow interior is contiguous with the second hollow interior when the first housing component and the second housing component are secured together to form an integrated housing structure.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing components are adapted to be secured together via a screw-type connection between the first and second housing components.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second housing components includes a threaded fitting and the other of the first and second housing components includes a correspondingly threaded fitting, whereby the first and second housing components are secured together.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly includes first electrical contacts located in the first housing component and second electrical contacts located in the second housing component, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected to one another when the first and second housing components are secured together to form an integrated housing structure.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing components are adapted to be secured together via a snap-fit connection between the first and second housing components.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing components are adapted to be latched together.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing components are adapted to be adhered together.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first housing component includes a second antenna and wherein the circuitry is disposed in electronic communication with the second antenna for wireless communications when the first housing component and the second housing component are secured together.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the electronics assembly is adapted for satellite and 2.4 GHz communications.

10. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the electronics assembly is adapted for cellular and 2.4 GHz communications.

11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing components have external configurations adapted to conform to respective surface contours of the shipping container.

12. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a GPS receiver located within the second housing component and a patch antenna located within the first housing component, the patch antenna being disposed in electronic communication with the GPS receiver when the first and second housing components are secured together.

13. A communication device for attaching to a shipping container, comprising:

(a) an electronics assembly, including an antenna, configured for wireless communication both with a network that is external to the shipping container and with one or more wireless devices contained within an interior of a shipping container;

(b) a first housing component, containing the antenna, that is adapted to be mounted on an exterior of a wall of a shipping container such that the first housing component is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container;

(c) a second housing component that is adapted to be mounted on an interior of the wall of the shipping container, proximate the first housing component, such that the second housing component is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container; and

(d) means for securing together the first housing component and the second housing component to form an integrated housing structure;

(e) wherein the first housing component defines a first hollow interior, the second housing component defines a second hollow interior, and the first hollow interior is contiguous with the second hollow interior when the first and second housing components are secured together to form an integrated housing structure.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the electronics assembly includes first electrical contacts located in the first housing component and second electrical contacts located in the second housing component, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected to one another when the first and second housing components are secured together to form an integrated housing structure.

15. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the first and second housing components have external configurations adapted to conform to respective surface contours of the shipping container.

16. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the first housing component includes a second antenna and wherein the circuitry is disposed in electronic communication with the second antenna for wireless communications when the first housing component and the second housing component are secured together.

17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the electronics assembly is adapted for satellite and 2.4 GHz communications.

18. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the electronics assembly is adapted for cellular and 2.4 GHz communications.