Tracking Devices

Abstract

A tracking device (100) comprises: a module (130) arranged to determine a position of the tracking device; a communication gateway (140) arranged to communicate the position of the tracking device (100) to a receiving station (150); and a housing (110) arranged to accommodate the position module (130) and the communication gateway (140), wherein the housing (110) is further arranged to engage with an access mechanism (20) so that when the access mechanism (20) is actuated, the housing (110) is manipulated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tracking device and in particular, but not exclusively, to a tracking device arranged to engage with a container to determine the location and operating status of the container. Background Art

[0002] Global trade has been a common activity for centuries, and companies rely heavily on "full container load" (FCL), "less than container load" (LCL) or air freight to send goods locally or overseas. In the past, FCL was the standard form of freight method, and entire containers of various sizes were leased for exclusive use by freight companies. This was good because containers were usually locked and few parties such as shipping agents, docking agents and customs officials had access.

[0003] However, as online retail shopping becomes more and more popular, LCL provides shippers with smaller shipments without having to rent out an entire container if they only have a small amount of goods to transport. Air freight with custom-sized containers has also become a popular option for shippers for situations where cargo budget is not a concern for them. However, online shopping has caused two problems, the first being that the value of the goods shipped may vary significantly, from low-cost items to high-cost items, and thus increasing the risk of theft losses, and the second being that for many LCL containers that are more suitable for online retailers, access to the LCL containers will increase, which in turn means that the containers may be damaged at different locations and accessed more regularly, further increasing security risks. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tracking device, comprising: a position module, which is arranged to determine the position of the tracking device; a communication gateway, which is arranged to communicate the position of the tracking device with a receiving station; and a shell, which is arranged to accommodate the position module and the communication gateway, wherein the shell is also arranged to engage with an access mechanism so that when the access mechanism is actuated, the shell is manipulated.

[0005] In an embodiment of the first aspect, when the housing is manipulated, the manipulation is detected and recorded by the processor as a manipulation event.

[0006] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the manipulation event is taken to include tracking the position of the device during the manipulation.

[0007] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the manipulation event is communicated to the receiving station via a communication gateway.

[0008] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the housing is elongated and arranged to engage with the access mechanism by being inserted into a locking aperture of the access mechanism.

[0009] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the housing comprises a shoulder arranged to abut the locking hole so as to retain the housing in the locking hole.

[0010] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the housing further comprises a locking cap arranged to engage with the distal end of the shoulder so as to secure the housing in the locking hole.

[0011] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the locking cap comprises a receiving groove arranged to receive and engage a protruding tooth on the housing.

[0012] In an embodiment of the first aspect, when the locking cap is engaged or disengaged with the housing, the processor is arranged to detect engagement and disengagement of the locking cap.

[0013] In an embodiment of the first aspect, engagement and disengagement of the locking cap are stored and processed as engagement and disengagement events.

[0014] In an embodiment of the first aspect, engagement and disengagement events are processed to include tracking the position of the device when engaged or disengaged.

[0015] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the locking cap is attached to the housing prior to use and is arranged to be removed from the housing by a user to engage with the distal end of the shoulder to use the tracking device.

[0016] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the locking cap is integrally formed as part of the housing and comprises a destructible appendage arranged to attach the cap to the housing.

[0017] In an embodiment of the first aspect, when the destructible accessory is destroyed, a wake-up signal is generated, the wake-up signal being arranged to turn on the processor, the communication gateway or the location module.

[0018] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the destructible attachment comprises an electrical conduit arranged such that the electrical conduit is manipulated when the destructible attachment is destroyed, the circuit being actuated to generate the wake-up signal when the electrical conduit is manipulated.

[0019] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the housing comprises an elongated portion, and the elongated portion is at least partially inserted into the locking cap in use.

[0020] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the shoulder is arranged to engage with the elongated portion.

[0021] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the shoulder is fastened to the elongated portion.

[0022] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the elongated portion comprises an elongated fastener for locking the shoulder to the elongated portion.

[0023] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the shoulder is removable from the protruding tooth when the upper and lower portions of the elongated portion are separated into two pieces.

[0024] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the elongated portion further comprises circuitry for generating a signal indicative of separation of the upper portion and the lower portion.

[0025] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the position of the tracking device communicated to the receiving station is compared with a user-predetermined position of the tracking device to verify manipulation of the housing.

[0026] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the tracking device further comprises an antenna module, and the positioning module determines the position of the tracking device relative to the GPS source through the antenna module.

[0027] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the tracking device further comprises a solar panel for absorbing solar energy and converting the absorbed solar energy for use as a power source for the tracking device.

[0028] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the destruction of the breakable attachment between the housing and the locking cap by the breaking action on the breakable attachment is irreversible.

[0029] In an embodiment of the first aspect, prior to engaging the housing with another access mechanism, a previous position of the tracking device and a previous manipulation event of the housing associated with the previous access mechanism are erased from the tracking device.

[0030] In an embodiment of the first aspect, individual data associated with the location of the tracking device and manipulation events of the housing are encapsulated in a blockchain, whereby new data associated with new locations and new manipulation events of the tracking device are stored within the blockchain.

[0031] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the tracking device is arranged to operate in a battery saving mode if communications between the communication gateway and the receiving station are terminated for a predetermined period.

[0032] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the tracking device is arranged to communicate with one or more adjacent tracking devices to form a data exchange network, whereby data received by one tracking device from a data source is communicated to the other tracking devices via the data exchange network.

[0033] In an embodiment of the first aspect, a radio frequency (RF) sensor is further included to sense a radio frequency of an object near the tracking device.

[0034] In an embodiment of the first aspect, an environmental sensor is further included, wherein the environmental sensor is used to monitor one or more environmental conditions around the tracking device.

[0035] In an embodiment of the first aspect, further comprising a motion sensor for sensing movement associated with the tracking device.

[0036] In an embodiment of the first aspect, a locking cap attached to the housing is removable from the housing during use, whereby the locking cap can be reattached to the housing for tracking repeated access.

[0037] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the locking cap attached to the housing cannot be removed from the housing during use.

[0038] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the locking cap is removed when the elongated portion is cut.

[0039] Preferably, the elongated portion is cut by using a bolt cutter.

[0040] It is an advantage of some example embodiments of the present invention to address the above-mentioned needs, overcome or substantially ameliorate the above-mentioned disadvantages, or more generally, to provide new or otherwise improved tracking devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a tracking device having a housing and a locking cap according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a container ship with multiple containers is shown, each container consisting of Figure 1 The tracking device is locked;

[0044] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A perspective view of a housing of a tracking device;

[0045] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 A partial view of a protruding tooth of a tracking device;

[0046] Figure 5 Shows Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of a tracking device illustrating engagement between a shoulder and a locking cap;

[0047] Figure 6 Shows Figure 3 A partial view of a shoulder of a tracking device;

[0048] Figure 7 Shows Figure 1 A perspective view of a locking cap of a tracking device;

[0049] Figure 8 Shows the instructions Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a tracking device applied to an access mechanism of a container;

[0050] Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a tracking device according to another embodiment of the present invention, the tracking device having a housing, a locking cap and a destructible attachment;

[0051] Fig.10 Shows the description Figure 1 a block diagram of the interaction between components of the tracking device and a remote receiving station; and

[0052] Fig.11 A block diagram illustrating a method of communicating between a plurality of tracking devices and a remote receiving station via a master device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] Without wishing to be bound by theory, the inventors of the present application devised through their own research and experimentation that once the shipment is sent to the freight company, the consignee automatically loses the ability to track the status of the shipment. The status includes but is not exhausted by the following: the location of the shipment, the time, and where the container was sealed or unlocked. This type of information becomes very valuable when a shipment is delayed, lost, or the cargo is found damaged or mixed with other illegal substances without the knowledge of the consignor and / or consignee.

[0054] Therefore, a location tracking system with the ability to tell the location and time of container locking and opening is critical in determining legal liability.

[0055] The present invention seeks to provide a device that can help determine legal liability for uses that go beyond and above basic tracking and tracing and beyond traditional tracking devices, thereby solving or at least alleviating one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

[0056] In the present invention, the relevant tracking device described herein may be suitable for, but not limited to, three general product categories, including: 1) real-time tracking of FCL shipments, 2) real-time tracking of LCL shipments shipped in containers by sea, and 3) real-time tracking of air shipments. The tracking device is applicable to containers of different types and sizes.

[0057] refer to Figures 1 to 11, shows a tracking device 100, which includes a location module 130 arranged to determine the tracking device 100; a communication gateway 140, which is arranged to communicate the location of the tracking device 100 to a receiving station 150; and a housing 110, which is arranged to accommodate the location module 130 and the communication gateway 140, wherein the housing 110 is also arranged to engage with an access mechanism so that when the access mechanism is actuated, the housing 110 is manipulated.

[0058] In such Figure 2 In an example container carrier 30 shown, a container 10 for storing items, including personal belongings, cargo and valuables, and an access mechanism 20 for accessing the contents therein, such as a handle, lever, retainer catch, etc., are provided. For safety reasons, the access mechanism 20 may be additionally provided or incorporated as a locking mechanism on a door or access entrance for limiting access thereto to only permitted or authorized users. For example, the access mechanism 20 of the container 10 may include a hole on its door 12, 14 through which a tracking device 100, such as a bolt, may be inserted or mounted to the door and must be removed or otherwise manipulated so that the access mechanism 20 can be manipulated to access the container 10, thereby ensuring that if an unauthorized person attempts to access the container 10 through the access mechanism 20, the person in charge can be immediately alerted and necessary action can be taken because the tracking device 100 has been manipulated and a signal indicating the manipulation has been detected and sent.

[0059] Figure 1 An example implementation of a tracking device 100 having at least two major mechanical components is shown. In this case, the tracking device 100 includes a housing 110, a locking cap 120 that is a portion of the housing 110 that can be selectively engaged or disengaged by an operator, a motion sensor 160 (e.g., a gyroscope sensor) for detecting such engagement or disengagement, and a battery module for providing power to the motion sensor 160 and all other electronic components. The engagement between the housing 110 and the locking cap 120 is monitored by the tracking device 100. In particular, the engagement state between the housing 110 and the locking cap 120 can be detected and recorded by the tracking device 100 as a manipulation event, and the recorded manipulation event can in turn be used for further data analysis or other purposes.

[0060] Reference now Figures 3 to 4, showing the detailed physical structure of the housing 110. The housing 110 includes a spherical portion forming a shoulder 190 at one end and an elongated cylindrical portion extending from the other end of the housing 110 below the shoulder 190, thereby forming a male member 230 (e.g., a tube or a protruding tooth). The shoulder 190 and the protruding tooth 230 can be made of different materials. For example, the shoulder 190 can be made of a hard plastic such as a thermosetting plastic, and on the other hand, the protruding tooth 230 can be made of metal.

[0061] The protruding tooth 230 may also include a middle portion 232, such as a plastic sleeve, and a lower tip portion 234 having a reduced cross-sectional area. On the other hand, the locking cap 120 may include a female member 210, such as a cylindrical receiving groove 210, through which the protruding tooth 230 may be received, thereby engaging the housing 110 with the locking cap 120.

[0062] Reference now Figure 5 , the shoulder 190 of the housing 110 may include an elongated tail 192 incorporating an elongated fastener, such as a hook 194, and a circuit line 196 connected from the output of the processor 170 to the input of the processor 170, which is positioned along the axial direction of the tail 192. The protruding tooth 230 includes a groove at its upper end for receiving the hook 194 and the tail 192 therein along its longitudinal axis, includes an inner side wall 231 on the groove for engaging the tail 192, and in turn longitudinally surrounds the tail 192. Therefore, the shoulder 190 can be locked by the tail 192 through the interaction between the hook 194 and the groove.

[0063] In order to remove the tracking device 100 from the access mechanism 20 of the container 10, the protruding tooth 230 and the received tail 192 are cut by a bolt cutter in the cross section of the protruding tooth 230, for example along the section line AA shown, thereby dividing the upper and lower parts of the tail 192 into two parts. In this case, the tail 192 of the shoulder 190 is no longer held by the protruding tooth 230 via the hook 194. Preferably, during the cutting operation, the wire 196 is also cut by the bolt cutter, and a signal indicating that the tracking device 100 has been cut by the operator is sent to the processor 170.

[0064] In one exemplary embodiment, the tip portion 234 of the protruding tooth 230 can be configured with an upper hexagonal disc 238 for packaging within the lower shoulder 190, so that the protruding tooth 230 can be aligned with the shoulder 190 in a coaxial manner. Alternatively, one or more components of the protruding tooth 230 can be implemented in different shapes. For example, the upper disc 238 and the lower tip portion 234 can be embodied in other feasible shapes that help deliver the locking feature.

[0065] Figure 6Only the shoulder 190 of the housing 110 is shown, which is configured, for example, in a pentagonal box shape or any other shape and extends from a pentagonal surface with all edges chamfered. When the housing 110 is engaged with the locking cap 120, the lower pentagonal surface can abut against the retainer claw of the container. Therefore, the size of the shoulder 190 must be designed to have a larger cross-sectional area than the locking hole of the retainer claw to clamp the retainer claw between the shoulder 190 and the locking cap 120.

[0066] Preferably, the shoulder 190 not only encapsulates the hexagonal base of the protruding teeth 230 mentioned above, but also contains other electrical modules therein. For example, the shoulder 190 can provide a cavity for accommodating one or more of the positioning module 130, the communication gateway 140, the mobile sensor 160, the processor 170, and the wireless communication module such as the antenna 180.

[0067] Alternatively, the shoulder 190 may be a different shape, as long as the base area of ​​the shoulder 190 is sufficiently larger than the area of ​​the locking hole of the retainer catch.The aesthetics of the tracking device 100 may also be considered.

[0068] Now go to Figure 7 Detailed structure of the locking cap 120 shown in FIG. 1 , the locking cap 120 may be configured as a hexagonal shape extending from a hexagonal surface with all edges chamfered. The locking cap 120 may further include a receiving groove 210, through which the protruding teeth 230 may be received, so that the housing 110 and the locking cap 120 are engaged in a coaxial manner. Alternatively, as long as the locking cap 120 can be assembled in all necessary parts and the protruding teeth 230 can be fixed in place, it can be implemented in a different shape.

[0069] Preferably, the locking cap 120 may further include a mechanical mechanism for locking and fixing the protruding tooth 230 in a proper position within the receiving groove 210. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower tip portion 234 of the protruding tooth 230 may further include a mushroom-shaped tip portion 236, and on the other hand, the receiving groove 210 may include a retainer catch (not shown) at its lowermost level for receiving the tip portion 236 in a tight manner. The cross-sectional area of ​​the cylindrical portion 230 is much smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the receiving groove 210, so that the operator can insert the end portion 236 into the retainer catch without difficulty. In addition, this allows the detachment of the end portion 236 from the retainer catch to be easily detected by the tracking device 100. Alternatively, the end portion 236 may be implemented in other shapes as long as it can lock the end portion 236 in the receiving groove 210 of the locking cap 120 using a locking mechanism.

[0070] Advantageously, the engagement between the locking cap 120 and the housing 110 can be customized to suit various applications and meet different requirements. For example, if the tracking device 100 is intended for a one-time application and a unique identification is required for each container 10 in each transport, the locking cap 120 attached to the housing 110 cannot be removed from the housing 110 during use. Even if the operator forcibly removes the locking cap 120 from the housing 110, the engagement between the locking cap 120 and the housing 110 will be permanently damaged, or the housing 110 and / or the locking cap 120 may need to be destroyed. The locking cap 120 cannot be connected to the same housing 110 again or to another housing 110' for use.

[0071] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the tracking device 100 is adapted for repeated access. For example, the locking cap 120 connected to the housing 110 during use can be removed from the housing 110 for temporary access, and after the temporary access, the locking cap 120 is easily reconnected to the same housing 110 or to another housing 110' without the need for repair or maintenance.

[0072] The location of the container that triggers the manipulation event of the tracking device 100 may also be important to the user who is tracking the container. In order to determine the instantaneous location of the tracking device 100 associated with the container, a location module 130 for generating a signal associated with the location of the tracking device 100 is preferably provided on the upper surface of the shoulder unit 190, and a built-in processor 170 for processing the signal generated by the location module 130 is provided.

[0073] In an example embodiment, the location module 130 may include a hardware system, such as a global data SIM, a SIM-free data (a SIM feature embedded in an electronic device or programmed into a programmable memory module), a direct satellite data connection, or other devices that will enable the location module 130 to perform similar functions. In order to support the hardware system, a software system for this purpose is also provided. For example, the location module 130 may utilize one or more of the following location functions to assist the hardware system: 1) Global Positioning System (GPS) / Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS); 2) Cell tower triangulation; 3) Wi-Fi positioning system; or other positioning technology.

[0074] In one example implementation, the location module 130 may determine the location of the tracking device 110 via GPS, which is a subset of GNSS. The location module 130 may determine the autonomous geospatial positioning of the tracking unit 110 based on a plurality of satellites having global coverage. Advantageously, even if one of the plurality of satellites fails, the positioning module 130 may detect the location of the tracking unit 110 by relying on signals from other remaining and functioning satellites.

[0075] An advantage of placing the location module 130 on the upper surface of the shoulder 190 is that the GPS location of the location module 130 relative to the GPS source can be more accurate. To ensure that the location module 130 is facing upward, the motion sensor 160 can record the orientation of the tracking device 100 and send a signal associated with the orientation of the tracking device 100 to the processor 170 so that the processor 170 can calibrate the GPS location of the tracking device determined by the location module and, in the worst case, notify the operator of the misplacement of the tracking device 100 and the reliability of the GPS location.

[0076] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the location module 130 can determine the location of the tracking device 110 via cell tower triangulation. For example, the cell tower triangulation can include multiple cell towers and preferably at least three cell towers, each of which transmits a signal within a coverage area. Based on the signals and amplitudes transmitted by the towers, the positioning module 130 can pinpoint the exact location of the tracking unit.

[0077] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the location module 130 may determine the location of the tracking device 110 via one or more Wi-Fi hotspots or wireless access points. For example, the tracking device 110 may correlate the location module 130 with the unique SSID and MAC address of the Wi-Fi hotspot.

[0078] Preferably, the above-mentioned motion sensor 160 may also be deployed to determine whether the tracking device 100 has been tampered with by a third party during operation of the tracking device 100. For example, the motion sensor 160 may detect angular movement of the tracking device 100. Preferably, movement caused by vibrations of a transport vehicle such as a vehicle or a transport container during logistics supply may be considered as noise and discarded by the motion sensor 160. This ensures that the motion sensor 160 does not falsely alert the operator.

[0079] Furthermore, a telecommunications module 180 may be provided, such as an antenna extending from the position module 130 on an upper surface of the shoulder 190, so that a higher accuracy of the position signal may be detected by the position module 130 and any uncertainty or inaccuracy in the detected position may then be prevented or at least minimized.

[0080] Optionally, the tracking device 100 may carry a solar panel 185 for providing an additional power supply to the electrical module. The solar panel 185 may be mounted on the upper surface of the shoulder 190 of the housing 110 or on the surface of the locking cap 120 that is exposed to sunlight. For example, Figure 6As shown, a solar panel 185 is also provided on the shoulder 190 of the housing 110. This is particularly advantageous because the tracking device 100 may need to be operated for an extended period of time, such as in a shipping arrangement. The solar panel 185 can be used as an auxiliary power source for the tracking device 100, thus ensuring that the service of the tracking device 100 is not interrupted in any event that the internal battery of the tracking device 100 is completely exhausted before the tracking device reaches its final destination.

[0081] In order to access, record and further process the location data and manipulation data obtained by the tracking device, such as data associated with the location of the tracking device and data associated with manipulation events and the location of the tracking device 100, when the device detects the presence of manipulation, the tracking device 100 also includes a communication gateway 140 arranged to communicate with a receiving station 150. As an example, data sent by one or more communication modules such as the location module 130 can be received by the receiving station 150 in a unidirectional or bidirectional manner, or exchanged between one or more communication gateways 140 within the tracking device such as a global 3G / 4G / 4G-IOT / 5G or other future network. In these examples, the location of the tracking device 100 is communicated to the receiving station 150, which in turn can transmit the information to a central tracking server that can be accessed by various users and interested parties to track the location of the shipment. In addition, manipulation events detected by the tracking device 100 may also be communicated to the server via the gateway 140 and in turn allow users and interested parties to determine when a container may have been accessed, including when the tracking device was placed on the container, when it was removed from the container, and whether there were any further actions between the two events that would signal that the container was to be opened or destroyed. Together with the location information, this would be very helpful in tracking the status and security of the consignment.

[0082] Furthermore, in another example, the position data and manipulation data may be compared to the user's predetermined position of the tracking device 100, i.e., the intended destination or path of travel of the container, thereby verifying the intended manipulation of the housing 110. If there is any deviation from the predetermined position, manipulation events, alarms and warnings may be issued to the relevant users and parties to prevent further theft, loss or delay.

[0083] In some embodiments, the communication gateway 140 may be arranged to communicate with other tracking devices that may be placed in close proximity to each other and thereby reduce the power of transmitting information to the base station, or as is common in transportation systems, even if a base station is installed, it may be inaccessible to tracking devices that are out of range due to the size of the transport vessel or vehicle. In these examples, the communication gateway 140 may be arranged to relay messages from other tracking devices within its range to help the other tracking devices communicate their data to the base station that may be out of range. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, security and quality of service (QoS) issues must be considered in this implementation.

[0084] like Figure 8 As shown, the protruding teeth 230 of the housing 110 are aligned with the receiving groove 210 of the locking cap 120 and inserted into the target object 20 in the direction shown, and the locking mechanism between the protruding teeth 230 of the housing 110 and the receiving groove 210 of the locking cap 120 will lock each other in place. For example, if the user intends to use it, the user needs to insert the housing 110 into the receiving groove 210 of the locking cap 120 through the locking hole 22 of the access mechanism 20 associated with the relevant container. The tracking device 100 will notify the user that the housing 110 and the locking cap 120 are firmly locked together by sending a mechanical or electronic signal.

[0085] Advantageously, the same tracking device 100 can be repeatedly used to monitor access mechanisms for manipulation events for different batches of shipping orders. For example, upon completing a shipping order, the operator can disengage the tracking device 100 from the access mechanism. The previous position of the tracking device 100 and the previous manipulation events of the housing 110 associated with the access mechanism of the previous container can be erased from the tracking device 110 for reset. The housing 110 of the same tracking device 100, without the previous position data and manipulation events, can then be used to engage the access mechanism of another container to monitor the manipulation events of the container in the next shipping order.

[0086] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the tracking device 100 can also deploy blockchain technology to record each location or manipulation event. The location of the tracking device 100 and the manipulation event of the housing 110 can be stored in each block, and the blockchain can be encrypted and decrypted by the same or different sets of public and private keys, or can be provided in the form of a public or private blockchain. For example, before transmitting the data to the receiving station 150, the data associated with the location data of the tracking device 100 and the manipulation event of the housing 110 can be encrypted by the public key on one side. The other side with the private key can decrypt the encrypted information to retrieve the data associated with the location data of the tracking device 100 and the manipulation event of the housing 110. The application of blockchain is particularly advantageous because each block is connected to all blocks in the blockchain, and this makes it very difficult to change the record of location data and manipulation events in the blockchain. This provides an information transmission system with a high level of security, while making it easy for anyone to access the system to verify the quality, safety and content of the container when it is transported around the world.

[0087] In an exemplary embodiment, a manipulation event of one tracking device 100 and a location associated with the manipulation event may be transmitted to and stored in other adjacent tracking devices 100', 100", etc. For example, when a ship is in the middle of a large and empty ocean and has not received any traffic for a predetermined period of time, a crew member may break one of the tracking devices 100 to open the corresponding container 10 in order to access items stored therein. To capture these events, when a tracking device 100 detects access to an access mechanism 20 of one of the containers 10 being manipulated by a crew member, the device 100 may continue to transmit the event while the remaining uncontacted tracking devices 100', 100" are located near the device 100. Furthermore, the manipulation events of the tracking device 100 may be stored in the remaining tracking devices 100', 100". Although the manipulation events have not yet been sent to any server or remote computer, evidence of such events may be stored in other tracking devices 100', 100", and it is unlikely that the crew will destroy all tracking devices 100', 100" on the ship to destroy such evidence. For example, when the ship sails through the ocean and reaches an area of ​​reception or arrives at a port, the manipulation events associated with the damaged tracking device 100 may be sent to the receiving station 150 by one or more of the remaining tracking devices 100', 100". Therefore, although the manipulation event occurs outside the ocean as it is received, the timing, access and location of the operation are still known because it is retained by another device 100', 100".

[0088] In such Fig. 9In one preferred embodiment shown, a tracking device 100 is provided, which has the above-mentioned housing 110 with a shoulder 190, the above-mentioned locking cap 120, and an additional destructible attachment 250 connected between the shoulder 190 and the locking cap 120. For example, the destructible attachment 250 can include an electrical conduit therein, so that when the user twists the locking cap 120 against the housing 110, a shear force will be applied to the electrical conduit, and this can break at least one electrical component of the electrical conduit. This ensures that the circuit is damaged in an irreversible manner and provides a one-time wake-up function when the tracking device 100 detects the destruction of the destructible attachment 250. Similarly, the locking cap 120 can also be designed to be worn, marked or destroyed each time it is inserted into and removed from the housing. The advantage of these example embodiments is that the tracking device 100 can be designed to be "used only once", although the components can be reused, but by implementing the tracking device as "used only once", the container user can ensure the authenticity of the tracking device 100 and thus increase the safety and peace of mind provided by the tracking device.

[0089] Although the destructible attachment 250 may be breakable and the tracking device 100 is intended for a single use only, most of the electrical components of the tracking device 100, such as the housing 110 and the locking cap 120, may be recycled and reused. To enable the reuse of the tracking device 100, in one example, the broken electrical conduit of the destructible attachment 250 is replaced with a new electrical conduit, and the identification of the tracking device 100 is reset. In this way, the tracking device 100 may provide an environmentally friendly solution while striking a fair balance with information security. In another example, only the electronic and electrical components are recycled, and the housing and locking cap are made of low-cost materials, such as plastic, which can be easily made by low-cost processes (such as molding) and are easily adapted to receive electronic components recycled from used tracking devices 100. In addition, each housing and locking cap may also be made in a specific pattern or color to represent a specific company or identity, thereby increasing the level of security and authenticity.

[0090] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the tracking device 100 may require a dual actuation mechanism for protecting the tracking device 100 from accidental actuation by a novice user. For example, the tracking device 100 may require an initial destruction of the destructible attachment 250 and a subsequent insertion of the protruding tooth 230 into the locking cap 120. This prevents mis-actuation of the tracking device 100 when the protruding tooth 230 of one tracking device 100 is accidentally inserted into the locking cap 120 of another tracking device 100'.

[0091] In one exemplary embodiment, the tracking device 100 may operate in a battery saving mode when the communication gateway 140 of the tracking device 100 may not be communicating with the receiving station 150. For example, when the container is carried in a ship at sea and there is no mobile network connection, the tracking device 100 may automatically enter the sea mode to save battery. In the absence of mobile network connectivity, the tracking device 100 may rely on the ship's mobile data and communicate with the receiving station 150 via satellite.

[0092] In one exemplary embodiment, the tracking device 100 can place itself in a sleep mode or shut itself down during transport or some degree of idleness. For example, if the motion sensor 160 described above does not detect any movement for a certain period of time, it can signal the processor 170 to shut down the tracking device 100 or put the tracking device 100 into a sleep mode. The same functionality can be achieved by manually shutting down the tracking device 100 or putting it into a sleep mode through other electronic or mechanical devices.

[0093] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, one or more of the location module 130, the communication gateway 140, the motion sensor 160, the processor 170, and the remote communication tool 180 may be selectively housed in the housing 110 or the locking cap 120. The processor 170 may also be placed inside the housing 110 or the locking cap 120, or outside the tracking device 100 so that data processing is handled remotely on the server side.

[0094] Fig.10 The workflow of operating the above-described tracking device 100 is shown. The tracking device 100 involves interactions between at least three or more entities, including a housing 110, a locking cap 120, and a receiving station 150.

[0095] Initially, when the attachment 250 between the housing 110 and the locking cap 120 is disconnected, the electrical conduit will then initiate a circuit to generate a wake-up signal to the location module 130 , the communication gateway 140 , and / or the processor 170 .

[0096] For example, the tracking device 100 is in sleep mode or is turned off before use. When the user wants to seal the container with the tracking device 100, the user must break the physical connection that combines the housing 110 and the locking cap 120. At this point, the tracking device 100 will be placed in wake-up mode and will send a mechanical or electronic signal to notify the user that the tracking device 100 is ready for use.

[0097] When the housing 110 engages with the access mechanism (e.g., handle, lever, etc.) of the container, the housing 110 is manipulated. This will be sensed by the motion sensor 160, such as a gyroscope sensor, and it will signal the processor 170. The processor 170 will record the manipulation event. In addition, the processor 170 will pick up and process the concurrent position data from the location module 130 while maneuvering. This data will then be passed to the receiving station 150 via the communication gateway 140. An electronic and / or mechanical signal will be sent to confirm that the user data is sent to the receiving station 150.

[0098] When engaging or disengaging the housing 110 and the locking cap 120, the processor 170 is arranged to detect and record the engagement or disengagement event. In addition, the processor 170 will pick up and process the concurrent position data from the position module 130 when maneuvering. These data will then be passed to the receiving station 150 via the communication gateway 140. An electronic and / or mechanical signal will be emitted to confirm that the user data is sent to the receiving station 150.

[0099] For example, when the user inserts the housing 110 into the receiving slot 210 of the locking cap 120 through the locking hole of the container, data combining the location and manipulation events will be sent to the receiving station 150. At this time, the user will also receive a notification from the tracking device 100 or remotely from the receiving station 150 as confirmation.

[0100] In the case of unauthorized or illegal opening of tracking equipment and containers, the consignor or authorized party controlling the receiving station 150 will immediately obtain the location of the container being opened. Utilizing this function, the consignor or other authorized party can then immediately take responsive action to prevent further losses or legal liabilities.

[0101] In an alternative embodiment, one or more sensors may also be included for enabling the tracking device 100 to communicate with other external devices. For example, the tracking device 100 may include one or more radio frequency (RF) sensors for detecting the presence of radio frequencies of any objects (e.g., related ports and locations) near the tracking device 100. For example, the tracking device 100 may also include one or more Internet of Things (IOT) sensors, such as gyroscopes, magnetometers, etc., for motion detection purposes such as movement associated with the tracking device 100 or any other nearby or adjacent objects.

[0102] In order to monitor the environmental conditions of the tracking device 100, one or more environmental sensors such as gyroscopes, humidity, air quality, temperature, VOC sensors may also be included. In any case, any undesirable condition of the container 10 can be easily detected by the tracking device 100 and reported to the receiving station 150 for immediate action. For example, if the container 10 has been shaken violently from side to side, dropped or soaked in water or toxic substances are spread, the tracking device 100 can immediately notify the receiving station 150 so that the operator can check the container 10 and take necessary actions.

[0103] In the event of a freight transport, most cargo is covered by insurance programs. If the cargo stored in the container 10 is inevitably damaged or contaminated, or in the worst case, such damage results in an overall loss to the owner, one or more outputs of these sensors may be collected and transmitted to the receiving station 150 for further data analysis. For example, an insurance company may refer to the data generated by these environmental sensors and make an informed decision as to whether an insurance claim should be granted to the insured to recover or at least partially remedy its losses based on the occurrence of an unforeseen or unauthorized event.

[0104] When the ship 30 has arrived at the port to dock for a scheduled time, the shipping company is required to pay a large amount of port charges and storage fees. In most cases, the port fee may not be a fixed total amount, and it is basically calculated based on time. However, in the past, such port charges may only be roughly estimated by the freight company, and the uncertainty of the port charges charged may surprise the payer. By providing such a tracking device 100, the arrival time of the container ship 30 and the departure time of the next transportation event of the container ship 30 can be recorded separately, so the duration between them can be used to determine the precise docking period of the container ship 30, which can increase the transparency of the port and the storage fees charged by the port operator, thus avoiding any unnecessary disputes between all parties involved.

[0105] Final Reference Fig.11 In the information sharing network 310, the aforementioned tracking device 100 can also be used in combination with other similar tracking devices 100', 100" nearby through the control of the master device 300. The master device 300 can be one of the tracking devices 100 in use, another separate device built into or placed on the tracking device 100, or another separate device built independently of the tracking device 100 and also capable of carrying a remote control function.

[0106] The master device 300 can control and receive information from other nearby tracking devices 100. For example, when multiple tracking devices 100 are used, the user is required to operate on one single master device 300 to pass commands to other tracking devices 100 belonging to the same information sharing network 310. This can substantially reduce redundant manual work of operating multiple tracking devices 100 and transmitting the same command thereon.

[0107] This has the advantage that the user only needs to control one single device as the master device 300 rather than multiple tracking devices 100. Furthermore, since the receiving station 150 only communicates with one single master device 300, the communication traffic between the receiving station 150 and the multiple tracking devices 100 used can potentially be reduced.

[0108] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, without departing from the concept or scope of the invention as broadly described, many changes and / or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention are considered in all aspects to be illustrative and not restrictive.

[0109] Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge.

Claims

1. A tracking device, comprising: an elongated housing including a shoulder; a locking cap arranged to engage with a distal end of the shoulder, a location module disposed in the housing and configured to determine a location of the tracking device; a motion sensor disposed in the housing for sensing movement of the housing caused by a manipulation event to determine whether the tracking device has been tampered with; a processor disposed in the housing for recording the manipulation event and picking up and processing the position of the tracking device determined by the position module when the manipulation event occurs; a communication gateway disposed in the housing for communicating the operational event and the location of the tracking device when the operational event occurs to a receiving station; wherein the housing is further arranged to be inserted into a locking aperture of an access mechanism of a storage container in use; Wherein, when the locking cap is engaged with the distal end of the shoulder, the locking cap is arranged to cooperate with the shoulder to retain the housing in the locking hole.

2. The tracking device according to claim 1, wherein: The locking cap includes a receiving slot configured to receive and engage a protruding tooth on the housing.

3. The tracking device according to claim 1, wherein: When the locking cap is engaged with the housing, the processor is arranged to detect engagement of the locking cap; and Wherein, when the locking cap is disengaged from the housing, the processor is arranged to detect the disengagement of the locking cap.

4. The tracking device according to claim 3, wherein: The processor is arranged to store and process engagement of the locking cap as an engagement event, and to store and process disengagement of the locking cap as a disengagement event.

5. The tracking device according to claim 4, wherein: The engagement event is processed to include the position of the tracking device at the time of the engagement, and wherein the disengagement event is processed to include the position of the tracking device at the time of the disengagement.

6. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a destructible attachment for attaching the locking cap to the housing prior to use of the tracking device.

7. The tracking device according to claim 6, wherein: When the destructible accessory is destroyed, a wake-up signal is generated, the wake-up signal being arranged to turn on the processor, the communication gateway or the location module.

8. The tracking device according to claim 7, wherein: The destructible attachment comprises an electrical conduit arranged to be manipulated when the destructible attachment is destroyed, and to actuate a circuit to generate the wake-up signal when the electrical conduit is manipulated.

9. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein: The housing comprises an elongate portion and the elongate portion is at least partially inserted into the locking cap in use.

10. The tracking device of claim 9, wherein: The shoulder is configured to engage the elongated portion.

11. The tracking device of claim 10, wherein: The shoulder is secured to the elongated portion.

12. The tracking device of claim 11, wherein: The elongated portion includes an elongated fastener for locking the shoulder to the elongated portion.

13. The tracking device of claim 12, wherein: The shoulder can be removed from the housing when the upper and lower portions of the elongated portion are separated into two pieces.

14. The tracking device of claim 13, wherein: The elongated portion further includes a circuit line for generating a signal indicative of separation of the upper and lower portions.

15. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein: The location of the tracking device communicated to the receiving station is compared to a user-predetermined location of the tracking device to verify manipulation of the housing.

16. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1-15, further comprising an antenna module, wherein the position module determines the position of the tracking device relative to a GPS source through the antenna module.

17. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a solar panel for absorbing solar energy and converting the absorbed solar energy for use as a power source for the tracking device.

18. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: By the breaking action on the breakable attachment, the destruction of the breakable attachment between the housing and the locking cap is irreversible.

19. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: Prior to engagement of the housing with another access mechanism, a previous position of the tracking device and a previous manipulation event of the housing associated with the aforementioned access mechanism are deleted from the tracking device.

20. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: Individual data associated with the location of the tracking device and the manipulation event of the housing are encapsulated in a blockchain, whereby new data associated with a new location of the tracking device and a new manipulation event are stored within the blockchain.

21. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: If the communication between the communication gateway and the receiving station is terminated for a predetermined period, the tracking device is arranged to operate in a battery saving mode.

22. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: The tracking device is arranged to communicate with one or more adjacent tracking devices for forming a data exchange network, whereby data received by one tracking device from a data source is communicated to the other tracking devices via the data exchange network.

23. The tracking device of any one of claims 1-15, further comprising a radio frequency (RF) sensor for sensing a radio frequency of an object in proximity to the tracking device.

24. The tracking device of any one of claims 1-15, further comprising an environmental sensor for monitoring one or more environmental conditions surrounding the tracking device.

25. The tracking device of claim 24, wherein: The environmental sensor includes a temperature sensor.

26. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: The locking cap connected to the housing during use is removable from the housing whereby the locking cap can be reconnected to the housing to track repeated access.

27. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: The locking cap connected to the housing during use cannot be removed from the housing, whereby the locking cap is permanently destroyed when it is removed from the housing.

28. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: Once attached to the housing, the locking cap cannot be removed from the housing without permanently damaging the locking cap.

29. The tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: The tracking device is used to store data associated with the operational event and the location of the tracking device in the blockchain when the operational event occurs.

Images