Acoustic Container Tracking Through Stacked Container Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container tracking systems face challenges in effectively transmitting data due to electromagnetic interference and radio frequency multipath effects caused by container stacking, leading to communication degradation and potential tampering without detection.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system utilizing acoustic communication between tracking device instrumentation and communications units through container walls, enabling data transmission and tamper prevention, with features like real-time location tracking, environmental sensing, and ad-hoc networking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If electromagnetic communication is used for container tracking, then data transmission speed is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to electromagnetic interference and radio frequency multipath effects in stacked containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnetic communication systems with acoustic communication systems. Acoustic transducers convert electrical signals to mechanical vibrations that propagate through the container walls, avoiding electromagnetic interference and multipath effects while maintaining data transmission capability through a different physical medium
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic transducers as intermediary devices that convert electrical signals to mechanical vibrations and back. These transducers act as mediators between the tracking device inside the container and the external monitoring system, enabling communication through the container wall without direct electromagnetic signal transmission
2Productivity
If containers are stacked for efficient space utilization, then productivity is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to signal blockage and multipath effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electromagnetic waves with mechanical vibrations for communication through container walls. Mechanical vibrations can propagate through the solid structure of stacked containers, enabling communication even when containers are tightly stacked, thus maintaining productivity while overcoming signal blockage issues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from electromagnetic wave propagation through air to mechanical vibration propagation through solid container walls. This dimensional change in the transmission medium allows communication to occur through the physical structure of stacked containers rather than through the air space around them
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise, worldwide, on-demand location tracking and real-time data transmission, including environmental monitoring and tamper prevention, even in stacked containers, with robust communication and alerting capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the acoustic communication transducer configured to convert the EAS into mechanical vibration energy (MVE) and transmit MVE towards a tracking device communications unit (TD-CU) through a wall of a container
Implementation Method 2
an acoustic transducer configured to: receive the MVE, wherein the MVE is received via an acoustic link between the acoustic transducer and the acoustic communication transducer, wherein the MVE comprises a form of data generated in the TD-IU; convert the MVE into a second EAS
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes: an instrumentation unit (IU) that includes: an IU processor configured to generate an analog signal (AS) and transmit the AS to a first converter the IU; the first converter configured to convert the AS into energy and transmit the energy towards a communications unit (CU); the CU that includes: a second converter configured to: receive the energy, in which the energy includes a form of data generated in the IU; convert the energy into a second AS, in which the second AS is transmitted to a modem of the CU, in which the modem sends the second AS to a CU processor; and the CU processor includes circuitry and is configured to process the second AS to extract the data based on a start of a data frame and an end of the data frame.