Switch and actuator coupling in a chassis of a container associated with an intermodal freight transport system

• US 8,933,802 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baade, Levi Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US13/668,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 340/989, 340/991, 340/426.19, 340/539.13, 701/468, 705/14.63
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method and system of switch and actuator coupling in a chassis of a container associated with an intermodal freight transport system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method of a tracking system involves coupling a first switch of a chassis to a second actuator of a container and coupling a first actuator of the chassis to a second switch of the container when the container is placed on the chassis, and signaling a wake event to a container tracking device when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container. The method may also include communicating at least one of a location data and a container identification number of the container through at least one of the container tracking device and a chassis tracking device, through a network, to an administrative server.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

placing a first switch and a first actuator of a housing of a chassis;

coupling the first switch of the housing of the chassis to a second actuator of a container and coupling the first actuator of the housing of the chassis to a second switch of the container when the container is placed on the chassis;

signaling a wake event to a container tracking device when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container;

activating a chassis tracking device when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container;

detecting an initial movement of the chassis through a Global Positioning System (GPS) of at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device;

determining a duration of a continuous movement of the chassis through the GPS of the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device; and

calculating a duration of a stationary condition of the chassis through the GPS of the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

powering the container tracking device through an internal battery of the container tracking device based on the wake event.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, through the GPS of the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device, a location data when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container;

reading an identification tag of the container through a container reader of the chassis to discover a container identification number when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container; and

communicating the location data and the container identification number through the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device, through a network, to an administrative server.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

detecting at least one of an opening and a closing of a door of the container through a door sensor of the container.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising at least one of:

communicating the location data and the container identification number through the container tracking device based on the at least one of the opening and the closing of the door of the container; and

communicating the location data and the container identification number through the container tracking device based on a daily location query of the container tracking device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of:

the location data and the container identification number are communicated through the container tracking device based on at least one of the wake event, the at least one of the opening and the closing of the door, and the daily location query of the container tracking device, and

the location data and the container identification number are communicated through the chassis tracking device based on at least one of the initial movement of the chassis, the duration of the continuous movement of the chassis, and the duration of the stationary condition of the chassis.

7. A method, comprising:

signaling a wake event to a container tracking device when a first switch and a first actuator of a chassis is coupled with a second actuator and a second switch of a container;

activating a chassis tracking device when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container;

generating, through a GPS of at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device, a location data when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container;

reading an identification tag of the container through a container reader of the chassis to discover a container identification number when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container;

detecting an initial movement of the chassis through the GPS of the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device;

determining a duration of a continuous movement of the chassis through the GPS of the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device; and

calculating a duration of a stationary condition of the chassis through the GPS of the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

powering the container tracking device through an internal battery of the container tracking device based on the wake event.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting the location data and the container identification number through the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device, through a network, to an administrative server.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting at least one of an opening and a closing of a door of the container through a door sensor module of the container.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising at least one of:

communicating the location data and the container identification number through the container tracking device based on the at least one of the opening and the closing of the door of the container; and

communicating the location data and the container identification number through the container tracking device based on a daily location query of the container tracking device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of:

the location data and the container identification number are transmitted through the container tracking device based on at least one of the wake event, the at least one of the opening and the closing of the door, and the daily location query of the container tracking device, and

the location data and the container identification number are transmitted through the chassis tracking device based on at least one of the initial movement of the chassis, the duration of the continuous movement of the chassis, and the duration of the stationary condition of the chassis.

13. A transport vehicle, comprising:

a chassis having a first switch and a first actuator;

a container having a second switch and a second actuator, the first switch of the chassis being configured to be coupled to the second actuator of the container, and the first actuator of the chassis being configured to be coupled to the second switch of the container when the container is placed on the chassis;

a container tracking device to power on when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis are coupled with the second switch and the second actuator of the container, the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis being coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container signaling a wake event to the container tracking device;

a chassis tracking device configured to be activated when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container; and

a GPS of at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device to detect an initial movement of the chassis, to determine a duration of a continuous movement of the chassis, and to calculate a duration of a stationary condition of the chassis.

14. The transport vehicle of claim 13, wherein the container tracking device is powered by an internal battery thereof.

15. The transport vehicle of claim 13,

wherein:

the GPS of the at least one of the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device is configured to generate a location data when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container, and

the transport vehicle further comprises a container reader of the chassis to read an identification tag of the container to discover a container identification number when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container.

16. The transport vehicle of claim 15, wherein the container tracking device and the chassis tracking device communicate with:

an administrative server to receive a communication comprising the location data and the container identification number when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container.

17. The transport vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a door sensor to detect at least one of an opening and a closing of a door of the container.