Identification and association of refrigerated containers with dispatch orders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless devices installed on shipping containers struggle to operate reliably across multiple countries or regions, and data transmission is challenging, especially when containers are stacked on ships, leading to inefficiencies in dispatch order management.
Innovation Solution
A database system that dispatches data to wireless devices on gensets powering refrigerated containers, allowing for the association of shipment orders with the correct containers through genset-mounted wireless devices, which communicate via power lines or wirelessly, ensuring accurate matching and termination of orders across different segments of a journey.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If wireless devices are installed on containers to track and manage dispatch orders, then container identification and order association capability is improved, but reliability of operation across multiple countries and regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces genset-mounted wireless devices as intermediaries between containers and the central database. These devices are positioned on the power supply equipment (gensets) rather than directly on containers, allowing them to serve as reliable communication intermediaries that can consistently operate across different countries and regions regardless of container stacking conditions or wireless signal availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct wireless communication between containers and the central database with a power-line communication system. By utilizing the existing electrical power infrastructure (gensets) as a communication medium, the system eliminates the need for complex wireless protocols that struggle with reliability across different regions, substituting a more stable electrical signal-based communication method.
2Productivity
If containers are stacked on ships for efficient space utilization, then shipping capacity is improved, but data transmission capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses genset-mounted wireless devices as intermediaries that remain outside the stacked container configuration. Since gensets are positioned on supporting equipment rather than inside stacked containers, they maintain unobstructed wireless communication capability even when containers are densely stacked on ships, solving the data transmission problem while preserving shipping capacity.
3Device complexity
If dispatch orders are manually managed without automated systems, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity and accuracy of order management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service system where genset-mounted wireless devices automatically identify containers, retrieve dispatch orders from the database, and associate orders with containers without human intervention. This automation eliminates manual paperwork and processing, significantly improving order management productivity and accuracy while keeping the system relatively simple by leveraging existing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the central database continuously receives container identification data from genset-mounted devices, automatically matches containers with dispatch orders, and updates the system state. This automated feedback mechanism ensures real-time order management accuracy and productivity without requiring complex manual coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A database sends identification and dispatch orders to a ship or rail transport that powers a shipping container during the ship or rail segment of the container's journey. The database also sends identification and dispatch orders to gensets that power shipping containers on a motor vehicle transport during a vehicular segment of the container's journey. The database associates the identification and dispatch orders along with the container as the container moves from connection with a genset on a vehicular transport to a ship or rail transport, and associates the identification and dispatch orders along with the container as the container moves to connection with a genset on a vehicular transport from a ship or rail transport.