Shipping container monitoring and tracking system

Abstract

The invention provides a system for monitoring a container for transporting cargo. The system includes an onboard device attached to the container and a central computer system. The central computer system processes alerts transmitted by the onboard device. The onboard device includes a processor / sensor component and an antenna component. The processor / sensor component comprises a processor for controlling the device. The processor / sensor component also includes one or more sensor in communication with the processor for sensing container conditions. A satellite modem in the processor / sensor component transmits alerts relating to container conditions and other satellite communications. The antenna component includes a satellite antenna, which is connected to the satellite modem.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 994,781, filed on Nov. 22, 2004, which parent application was and is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes. All benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 for and to that application was and is hereby claimed.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of container shipping, and particularly to methods and systems for monitoring and tracking containers and cargo during transportation. [0003] Intermodal container shipping involves the shipment of various commodities in a container from an origin to a destination using multiple modes of transportation such as trucks, trains, barges, feeder vessels, ocean-going ships, and planes. The shipping industry uses standardized containers, which can be mounted on wheeled chassis for truck transportation. These standard containers have two doors at the rear, which can be ope...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Even the newer electronic seals do not communicate security alerts until after a container arrives at a facility where readers are available.

Because conventional security measures do not include real-time alerts, containers protected with conventional seals are vulnerable to tampering or breach during transit.

However, the Boman system has a number of disadvantages that make it impractical for most conventional intermodal shipping applications.

For example, the monitoring device attached to the container does not have the capability to communicate directly with the software backbone.

The positioning of reader devices throughout the transit route is impractical.

For example, many carriers would not permit such reader devices to be even temporarily installed for a variety of reasons, including concern that such radio communications devices would interfere with critical shipboard radio communications.

In addition, the installation of reader devices on other modes of transportation, such as trucks, trains, barges, feeder vessels and planes would be prohibitively expensive.

Like the Boman monitoring device, the Yagesh locking device attached to the container is incapable of communicating directly with a computerized alarm monitoring system.

As discussed above, such a solution is logistically impractical.

In addition, both the Boman and Yagesh systems do not provide useful cargo tracking and logistics functions.

For example, both systems focus on the physical condition of container itself, and lack tools for processing and tracking data relating to the cargo within the container.

Thus, these devices are generally limited to providing a security function and do not provide any useful cargo tracking and logistics functions.

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