System, method, apparatus, and computer program product for monitoring the transfer of cargo to and from a transporter

• US 8,181,868 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: APS Technology Group Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Thomas, Patrick, Scheppmann, Leroy E. II, Alvarez, John Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US13/048,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/492, 235/440, 235/454, 235/455, 235/462.01, 235/462.02, 235/462.06, 235/462.08, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/46 Position indicators for suspended loads or for crane elements
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/48 Automatic control of crane drives for producing a single or repeated working cycle; Programme control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal'"'"'s operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a processor, transporter identifying information associated with a transporter, the transporter identifying information representing a transporter code captured by a transporter identification code capturing device while cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter;

receiving, at the processor, cargo identifying information associated with the cargo, the cargo identifying information representing a cargo code captured by a cargo identification code capturing device while the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter;

generating an association between the transporter identification information and the cargo identification information; and

managing the movement of one or more vehicles based at least partly on the association that was generated.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing, by the transporter identification code capturing device, the transporter code that is an alpha numeric code.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing, by the cargo identification code capturing device, the cargo code that is an alpha numeric code.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing, by the transporter identification code capturing device, the transporter code transmitted using radio frequency identification signals.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing, by the cargo identification code capturing device, the cargo code transmitted using radio frequency identification signals.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the association to a remote machine.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising communicating the association to a central computer.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising communicating the association to a third party.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising communicating the association to a central server.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising communicating the association to a terminal operating system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the movement of the one or more vehicles comprises managing the movement of the transporter.

12. A system, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive transporter identifying information associated with a transporter, the transporter identifying information representing a transporter code captured by a transporter identification code capturing device while cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter;

receive cargo identifying information associated with the cargo, the cargo identifying information representing a cargo code captured by a cargo identification code capturing device while the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter; and

generate an association between the transporter identification information and the cargo identification information; and

a terminal operating system configured to;

receive the association; and

manage the movement of one or more vehicles based at least partly on the association that was generated.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transporter code is an alpha numeric code.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the cargo code is an alpha numeric code.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the transporter identification code capturing device is included in a radio frequency identification system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the cargo identification code capturing device is included in an optical character recognition system.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the cargo code is transmitted using radio frequency identification signals.

18. The system of claim 12 further comprising a communication interface configured to communicate the association to a remote machine.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote machine is a central computer.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote machine is third party device.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote machine is a central server.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote machine is the terminal operating system.