Container Location Tracking via Proximity Sensor Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location tracking systems for containers, such as GPS, cell-tower-based, and Wi-Fi-based methods, are costly, energy-inefficient, and inaccurate, especially for metallic containers indoors or in dense buildings, and require additional infrastructure like Wi-Fi access points or databases.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where each container has a sensor unit with a movement detector and communication means, transmitting identification codes to a communication module for proximity analysis and updating a list of stored codes, allowing accurate location tracking without the need for Wi-Fi access points or databases, using short-range communication for initial detection and long-range communication for server updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS sensors are used for location tracking, then location information can be obtained, but costs and battery consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the location tracking system into two segments: containers equipped with simple sensors that detect local position among neighboring containers, and a central server that processes this data to determine absolute location. This segmentation allows containers to use low-power relative positioning while the server handles computationally intensive tasks, resolving the contradiction between location accuracy and battery consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication system where containers exchange identification codes and position data through short-range communication with neighboring containers. This intermediary layer enables indirect location determination without requiring each container to directly communicate with satellites or towers, reducing energy consumption while maintaining tracking capability.
2Measurement precision
If GPS sensors are used for location tracking, then location information can be obtained, but costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive GPS sensors in each container with inexpensive sensor units that only detect relative position among neighboring containers. These simple sensors are far cheaper than GPS receivers, and the system compensates for their limited capability through the collective data from multiple containers and server-side processing, resolving the contradiction between location accuracy and system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the central server multi-functional, handling both the processing of relative position data from containers and the determination of absolute locations. This universal approach consolidates computational resources, eliminating the need for each container to have expensive independent location determination capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If cell-tower-based location tracking is used, then location can be estimated, but accuracy decreases and energy consumption increases due to modem requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by having containers continuously exchange identification codes and detect the presence of neighboring containers through short-range communication. This preliminary data collection establishes relative position information that the server later uses to determine absolute location, eliminating the need for energy-intensive modems while maintaining tracking capability.
4Measurement precision
If Wi-Fi-based location tracking is used, then location can be determined, but infrastructure requirements increase and accuracy decreases due to signal fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location determination function from the container devices and places it entirely on the server. Containers only perform simple sensor measurements of neighboring containers' identification codes, while the server handles the complex task of translating these relative positions into absolute locations using its database and computational resources, eliminating infrastructure requirements and signal fluctuation issues.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for identifying location of a first container within a group of containers. Each container has an identification code and includes a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes communication means and a movement detector. The method includes at least a first sensor unit of the first container transmitting a first message including a first identification code of the first container, and at least one communication module receiving the first message. The at least one communication module analyzes the received first message, compares the received first identification code to a list of stored identification codes, updates the list of stored identification codes by addition of the first identification code when the first identification code is absent from the list, and transmits a second message to a server, the second message including the first identification code for the server to update the location of the first container.