Transport Climate Control Data Repository for Cargo Condition Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transport climate control systems (TCCS) lack efficient data management and sharing mechanisms, leading to difficulties in real-time monitoring and compliance with environmental regulations, as well as challenges in ensuring the quality and freshness of cargo during transportation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a shared data repository, such as a blockchain-based system, to collect, process, and disseminate data related to TCCS operations, cargo conditions, and environmental sustainability, enabling real-time visibility and compliance tracking, while allowing for the configuration of climate control profiles and certification of TCCS units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a shared data repository system is implemented for TCCS data management, then real-time visibility and operational efficiency are improved, but system complexity and implementation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a shared data repository that acts as an intermediary layer between TCCS systems and end users. This repository collects, stores, and disseminates climate control data, cargo condition data, and operational information, enabling real-time visibility without requiring direct complex connections between all system participants. The repository mediates data exchange, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared data repository serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a data collection point, storage facility, dissemination hub, and compliance monitoring system. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional platform, the system improves operational efficiency across multiple operations (monitoring, reporting, compliance checking) while avoiding the complexity of implementing separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If real-time data collection and dissemination is implemented, then cargo condition monitoring capability is improved, but data management overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo condition monitoring capabilityVSAvoiddata management overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data collection, storage, and dissemination functions into a single shared data repository system. Instead of separate systems for each function, the repository consolidates climate control data, cargo condition data, and operational data into one unified platform, reducing data management overhead while maintaining precise real-time monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared data repository system automatically collects data from TCCS units, stores it in the appropriate format, and makes it available to end users without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages data ingestion, validation, storage, and retrieval, reducing the overhead burden on operators while maintaining high monitoring precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If blockchain-based data repository is used, then data integrity and compliance tracking are improved, but implementation complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidimplementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blockchain-based shared data repository acts as a trusted intermediary that provides immutable data storage and verification. By using blockchain technology, the system ensures data integrity and compliance tracking without requiring each participant to implement their own complex verification systems. The blockchain network mediates trust and validation, simplifying implementation while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If comprehensive data sharing among stakeholders is enabled, then operational efficiency is improved, but data security and access control challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoiddata security risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shared data repository implements local quality control by providing different levels of data access to different end users based on their roles and permissions. Instead of uniform data access for all users, the system tailors data visibility and access rights to specific user needs, enabling operational efficiency through appropriate data sharing while maintaining security through differentiated access control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3913558B1Methods and systems of conveying data to and from a transport climate control system
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 THERMO KING CORP
  • EP3913558B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3913558B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3913558B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Methods and systems for conveying or operationalizing data from a transport climate control system (TCCS) that provides climate control within an internal space moved by a vehicle are disclosed. A method includes determining, by a controller of the TCCS, a set of TCCS operational measurements; obtaining, by the controller, a set of TCCS operational settings; determining, by the controller, a set of cargo measurements; creating a shipment performance log based on the set of TCCS operational measurements, the set of TCCS operational settings, and the set of cargo measurements; publishing the shipment performance log to a data repository; and retrieving the shipment performance log to facilitate disposition of goods in the internal space.