Transport Refrigeration Wi-Fi Switching for Lower Data Costs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transport refrigeration systems lack efficient means to identify and connect to available Wi-Fi networks, leading to high costs for data-intensive operations over cellular networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine a container's location and transmit Wi-Fi network credentials to switch from cellular to Wi-Fi connections for data transmission, conserving cellular data limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellular networks are used for data transmission, then connectivity is maintained during transport, but data transmission costs increase and cellular data limits are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between cellular and Wi-Fi networks based on location and network availability. The container automatically transitions from cellular network during transport to Wi-Fi network at destination, optimizing both connectivity reliability and transmission costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses location data and network detection as intermediaries to decide which network to use. The backend service acts as a mediator that receives location information, determines Wi-Fi availability, and instructs the container on which network to connect to.
2Loss of energy
If Wi-Fi networks are used for data transmission, then data transmission costs decrease, but network availability is location-dependent
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining the container's location and detecting available Wi-Fi networks before initiating data transmission. This allows the system to proactively switch to cost-effective Wi-Fi networks when available, rather than reacting after transmission has begun.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the network parameter (from cellular to Wi-Fi) based on location and availability conditions. This parameter change optimizes transmission costs while maintaining adaptability through automatic switching capabilities.
3Loss of information
If data is transmitted continuously over cellular network, then real-time monitoring is achieved, but cellular data limits are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by transmitting critical data continuously over cellular network while delaying non-critical data transmission until Wi-Fi network is available. This periodic transmission strategy reduces cellular data consumption while maintaining essential real-time monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments data transmission into critical and non-critical categories. Critical data (such as temperature alerts) is transmitted immediately over cellular network, while non-critical data (such as routine status updates) is delayed and transmitted over Wi-Fi network when available.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are embodiments for a method and system for managing equipment connections to Wi-Fi networks for data transmission to backend systems. The embodiments can include determining a location of a first container (104), and transmitting credential information to a controller (202) of the first container (104) over a first connection based on the determined location. Embodiments can also include receiving an acknowledgment from the first container (104) over the first connection, and enabling communication with the first container (104) over a second connection using the credential information, wherein the first connection is different than the second connection.