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

• US 7,378,959 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:
  US11/832,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/545.6, 340/568.1, 340/539.16, 340/505, 340/825.72, 340/572.1, 340/539.17, 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 method for monitoring contents of a shipping container, comprising the steps of:

(a) wirelessly communicating information relating to interior contents of the shipping container, to a communication device attached to the shipping container, from one or more wireless devices within the interior of the shipping container; and

(b) wirelessly communicating information relating to interior contents of the shipping container, from the communication device attached to the shipping container, to a network external to the shipping container;

(c) wherein the communication device attached to the shipping container includes electronics and at least one antenna, and further includes first and second housing components located on opposite sides of a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component defining a first hollow interior and residing substantially exterior to the shipping container, and with the second housing component defining a second hollow interior and residing substantially within the interior of the shipping container, the first hollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first housing component of the communication device includes an antenna with which said steps (a) and (b) are performed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second housing component includes circuitry for controlling wireless communications by the antenna.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the circuitry is part of an electronics assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first housing component of the communication device includes a first antenna in connection with which said step (a) is performed and a second antenna in connection with which said step (b) is performed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second housing component includes a first circuitry for controlling wireless communications via the first antenna and second circuitry for controlling wireless communications via the second antenna.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second housing component comprises circuitry for controlling wireless communications via the first antenna and via the second antenna.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first housing component of the communication device includes a first antenna by which said step (b) is performed and wherein the second housing component comprises a second antenna by which said step (a) is performed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second housing component comprises first circuitry for controlling wireless communications via the first antenna and second circuitry for controlling wireless communications via the second antenna.

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

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

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the second housing component comprises circuitry for controlling wireless communications by the first antenna and by the second antenna.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first housing component and the second housing component are secured together through an opening in the wall of the shipping container.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the communication devices within the shipping container is associated with a content of the shipping container.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a message from the external network to the communication device attached to the shipping container that results in the communication device attached to the shipping container sending a message to a wireless device within the interior of the shipping container.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the message that is sent to the wireless device within the interior of the shipping container results in the wireless device sending a message to the communication device attached to the shipping container, and further comprising the step of sending, in response thereto, a message to the external network from the communication device attached to the shipping container.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the wireless devices within the interior of the shipping container comprises a sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a radiation sensor, a video camera, a still camera, an electronic seal sensor, or a microphone.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first housing component and the second housing component are secured together through an opening in the wall of the shipping container to form an integrated housing structure.

19. A method for tracking a shipping container, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining location information of the shipping container and interior contents thereof using a GPS receiver and wirelessly communicating, by a communication device attached to the shipping container, with a network external to the shipping container, the wireless communications including information relating to the location of the shipping container and interior contents;

(b) wherein the communication device comprises first and second housing components located on opposite sides of a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component defining a first hollow interior and residing substantially exterior to the shipping container, and with the second housing component defining a second hollow interior and residing substantially within the interior of the shipping container, the first hollow interior being contiguous with the second hollow interior;

(c) wherein the first housing component includes a first antenna and the second housing component includes the GPS receiver disposed in electronic communication with the first antenna; and

(d) wherein the first housing component includes a second antenna and the second housing component includes circuitry disposed in electronic communication with the second antenna for controlling wireless communications via the second antenna with the network external to the shipping container.