Asset monitoring using the internet
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring assets, each of the assets including an on-board sensor system that obtains data about contents in an interior of the asset, a processor that derives information about the contents from the data obtained by the sensor system, and a communication system configured to link to a communications network encompassing an area of travel of the asset and including Internet connectability, the communication system being further configured, when linked to the communications network, to wirelessly transmit the information derived by the processor via the Internet, whereby communications being transmitted directly from the communication system are transmitted from the communication system using Internet protocol to enable transmission of such communications using the Internet, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a data processing and storage facility, the information being transmitted from the assets via the Internet;
associating the information being transmitted from each of the assets with a unique identification code for each asset;
storing the received information in association with the identification code; and
enabling access to the stored information via the Internet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method for monitoring assets that include a sensor system that obtains data about contents thereof, a processor that derives information about the contents from the sensor data, and a communication system that, when linked to a communications network, wirelessly transmits the information derived by the processor via the Internet. The information is received at a data processing and storage facility, associated with a unique identification code for each asset, and stored in association with the identification code. Access to the stored information is effected via the Internet.
135 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring assets, each of the assets including an on-board sensor system that obtains data about contents in an interior of the asset, a processor that derives information about the contents from the data obtained by the sensor system, and a communication system configured to link to a communications network encompassing an area of travel of the asset and including Internet connectability, the communication system being further configured, when linked to the communications network, to wirelessly transmit the information derived by the processor via the Internet, whereby communications being transmitted directly from the communication system are transmitted from the communication system using Internet protocol to enable transmission of such communications using the Internet, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a data processing and storage facility, the information being transmitted from the assets via the Internet; associating the information being transmitted from each of the assets with a unique identification code for each asset; storing the received information in association with the identification code; and enabling access to the stored information via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for location-based monitoring of assets using a sensor system on-board each asset that obtains data about contents in an interior compartment defined by the asset, a processor being coupled to the sensor system and deriving information about the contents from the data obtained by the sensor system, a communication system being coupled to the processor and configured to link to a communications network encompassing an area of travel of the asset and including Internet connectability, the communication system being further configured, when linked to the communications network, to wirelessly transmit the information derived by the processor via the Internet, whereby communications being transmitted directly from the communication system are transmitted from the communication system using Internet protocol to enable transmission of such communications using the Internet, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a data processing and storage facility, the information being transmitted from the assets via the Internet; associating the received information that has been transmitted from each of the assets with a unique identification code for each asset; determining a location of each asset; associating the determined location of each asset with the received information and the identification code for the asset; storing the determined location of each asset with the received information in association with the identification code; and enabling access to the stored information via the Internet.
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24. A method for location-based monitoring of assets using a sensor system on-board each asset that obtains data about contents in an interior compartment defined by the asset, a processor being coupled to the sensor system and deriving information about the contents from the data obtained by the sensor system, a communication system being coupled to the processor and configured to link to a communications network encompassing an area of travel of the asset and including Internet connectability, the communication system being further configured, when linked to the communications network, to wirelessly transmit the information derived by the processor via the Internet, whereby communications being transmitted directly from the communication system are transmitted from the communication system using Internet protocol to enable transmission of such communications using the Internet, the on-board sensor system being configured to determine whether a door of the asset has been opened or closed, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a data processing and storage facility, the information being transmitted from the assets via the Internet, including an indication of opening or closing of the door of each asset, the information being transmitted every time the door of the asset opens or closes; associating the information being transmitted from each of the assets with a unique identification code for each asset; storing a location of each asset in association with the received information, including the indication of opening or closing of the door of the asset, and the identification code for the asset; enabling access to the stored information via the Internet; integrating an asset anti-theft protocol into the data processing and storage facility by determining whether there are differences between the current contents of the asset as obtained from the data processing and storage facility and a manifest for the asset; and when there are determined to be differences between the current contents of the asset as obtained from the data processing and storage facility and a manifest for the asset, enabling review of historical data about the asset stored at the data processing and storage facility to identify a location at which the contents changed from the manifest.
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Specification