Cargo tracking and monitoring system

• US 9,501,920 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KL Harring Transportation LLC
• Original Assignee: KL Harring Transportation LLC
• Inventors: Harring, Keith, Wald, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US13/911,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20130342343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/521, 340/5.61, 340/547, 340/10.1, 340/539.26, 340/426.11, 340/539.22, 340/572.1, 340/539.1, 340/506, 340/540, 340/517, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 705/14.61, 705/26, 705/26.61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/102 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for monitoring a cargo container are presented. Data items are received by a monitoring system from one or more monitoring devices via a communications network. The monitoring devices are affixed to the cargo container and the monitoring system is located separate from the cargo container. The data items are monitored by the monitoring system to determine if an alert condition exists. An alert is generated by the monitoring system if the alert condition exists.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a cargo container, comprising:

receiving data items by a monitoring system from one or more monitoring devices via a communications network, wherein the monitoring devices are affixed to the cargo container and the monitoring system is located separate from the cargo container;

associating, by the monitoring system, each of the one or more monitoring devices with one or more shipments;

retrieving, by the monitoring system, one or more geozones for each of the one or more shipments;

normalizing and storing, by the monitoring system, the received data items;

monitoring, by the monitoring system, the normalized and stored data items to determine if an alert condition exists based on the one or more geozones associated with the one or more shipments;

generating an alert by the monitoring system if the alert condition exists; and

clearing the generated alert if a clearing condition occurs.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring devices include any one or more of:

an engine idling monitor, a speed monitor, a door sensor, a temperature sensor, a global positioning sensor, or a power sensor.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert condition includes user-definable parameters.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert condition includes any one or more of:

an engine idling for more than a first predetermined period of time;

exceeding a predetermined speed for more than a second predetermined period of time;

a communication loss for more than a third predetermined period of time;

a door open indication;

a temperature outside a predetermined range;

a global positioning system failure;

an indication that the cargo container has stopped moving while in a non-designated stopping area;

a loss of power;

or

an indication that the cargo container has diverted from a predetermined route.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating includes any one or more of:

sending a text message from the monitoring system to a user, sending an electronic mail from the monitoring system to the user, placing an automated voice call from the monitoring system to the user, or a combination thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the monitored data items to a user via the monitoring system.

7. A system for monitoring a cargo container, comprising:

one or more monitoring devices affixed to the cargo container, each monitoring device configured to communicate with a monitoring application via a communications network, wherein the monitoring application is located separate from the monitoring devices; and

the monitoring application is configured to;

retrieve data items from the one or more monitoring devices;

associate each of the one or more monitoring devices with one or more shipments;

retrieve one or more geozones for each of the one or more shipments;

normalize and store the received data items;

monitor the normalized and stored data items to determine if an alert condition exists based on the one or more geozones associated with the one or more shipments;

generate an alert if the alert condition exists; and

clear the generated alert if a clearing condition exists.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the monitoring devices include any one or more of:

an engine idling monitor, a speed monitor, a door sensor, a temperature sensor, a global positioning sensor, or a power sensor.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the alert condition includes user-definable parameters.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the alert condition includes any one or more of:

an engine idling for more than a first predetermined period of time;

exceeding a predetermined speed for more than a second predetermined period of time;

a communication loss for more than a third predetermined period of time;

a door open indication;

a temperature outside a predetermined range;

a global positioning system failure;

an indication that the cargo container has stopped moving while in a non-designated stopping area;

a loss of power;

or

an indication that the cargo container has diverted from a predetermined route.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the monitoring application is further configured to send the alert to a user via any one or more of:

a text message sent to the user, an electronic mail sent to the user, a voice call placed to the user, or a combination thereof.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the monitoring application is further configured to present the monitored data items to a user.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions for execution by a general purpose computer to monitor a cargo container, the set of instructions comprising:

a receiving code segment that receives data items by a monitoring system from one or more monitoring devices via a communications network, wherein the monitoring devices are affixed to the cargo container and the monitoring system is located separate from the cargo container;

an associating code segment that associates each of the one or more monitoring devices with one or more shipments;

a retrieving code segment that retrieves one or more geozones for each of the one or more shipments;

a normalizing and storing code segment that normalizes and stores the received data items;

a monitoring code segment that monitors the normalized and stored data items by the monitoring system to determine if an alert condition exists based on the one or more geozones associated with the one or more shipments;

a generating code segment that generates an alert by the monitoring system if the alert condition exists; and

a clearing code segment that clears the generated alert if a clearing condition exists.