IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0468972
(2006-08-31)
|
등록번호 |
US-7529561
(2009-07-01)
|
우선권정보 |
EP-06397019(2006-08-31) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Heinonen, Tero
- Noronen, Pauli
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
19 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
The invention enables a reliable end-to-end monitoring system by means of which the location of containers and other conditions related to the containers can be continuously or almost continuously monitored. The containers are equipped with such container units that are capable to co-operate with ea
The invention enables a reliable end-to-end monitoring system by means of which the location of containers and other conditions related to the containers can be continuously or almost continuously monitored. The containers are equipped with such container units that are capable to co-operate with each other, which is especially needed in challenging radio environments. The co-operation of the container units is based on mesh network algorithms. Each container unit placed in a container includes a short range radio and a cellular network radio. Thus, the container unit is able to connect to two different types of communication networks. In addition, each container unit uses a certain connection set-up logic. When a set-up attempt results in a connection, the container transmits its message through the connection. The invention comprises the container unit, a mesh network composed of container units, and a system reporting container events.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A container unit for handling a message in response to an event, the container unit being placed in a container, the container unit comprising: a cellular network radio, a short range radio, a satellite locator, a power source, a memory, and a connection set-up logic st
The invention claimed is: 1. A container unit for handling a message in response to an event, the container unit being placed in a container, the container unit comprising: a cellular network radio, a short range radio, a satellite locator, a power source, a memory, and a connection set-up logic stored in the memory; the container unit being adapted to store the message in the memory; on the basis of the connection set-up logic, perform the following connection set-up attempts: a) a connection through the short range radio system directly to a gateway unit providing a transmission path for the message, b) a connection through the short range radio system to the gateway unit via at least one other container unit which is placed in a different container; c) a connection through the cellular network radio to a cellular network providing an alternative transmission path for the message, and d) a connection through the short range radio system directly or via one or more other container units to such container unit which is located on the service area of the cellular network; and transmit the message when at least one of the connection set-up attempts results in an available connection or abandon the message when the message expires. 2. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the connection set-up logic defines in which order the connection set-up attempts are performed. 3. The container unit as in claim 2, wherein the order is: a), b), c), and d). 4. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the connection set-up logic defines criteria for the order, the criteria selected from a list consisting of costs, latency, throughput, energy consumption from the power source which are related to use of the transmission path use of the alternative transmission path, and any combination thereof. 5. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the short range radio operates on at least one of the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) bands. 6. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the cellular network radio operates in at least one of the following networks: a TDMA (time division multiple access), a GSM (global system for mobile communications) network, a CDMA (code division multiple access) network, a FDMA (frequency division multiple access) network, a UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) network. 7. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the satellite locator operates in one of the following positioning systems: GPS (global positioning system), EGNOS (european geostationary navigation overlay service), GLONASS (globalnaja navigatsionnaja sputnikovaja sistema), Galileo. 8. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the transmission path includes a satellite link. 9. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the container unit is adapted to receive signals from at least one sensor sensing conditions in the container in which the container unit is placed. 10. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the message includes data related to a container from which the message is originated. 11. The container unit as in claim 7, wherein the data is composed of at least one of the following data items: an identifier of the container from which the message is originated, a current location of the container, an identifier of the event, details related to the event, and time of the event. 12. The container unit as in claim 1, wherein the message is encrypted before transmitting. 13. A mesh network composed of container units placed in different containers, each container unit of the mesh network comprising a cellular network radio, a short range radio, a satellite locator, a power source, a memory, and a connection set-up logic stored in the memory, and being adapted to store the message in the memory and on the basis of the connection set-up logic, perform the following connection set-up attempts: a) a connection through the short range radio system directly to a gateway unit providing a transmission path for the message, b) a connection through the short range radio system to the gateway unit via at least one other container unit of the mesh network; c) a connection through the cellular network radio to a cellular network providing an alternative transmission path for the message, and d) a connection through the short range radio system directly or via one or more container units of the mesh network to such container unit of the mesh network which is located on the service area of the cellular network; and transmit the message when at least one of the connection set-up attempts results in an available connection or abandon the message when the message expires. 14. The mesh network as in claim 13, wherein the message of claim 1 is from any container unit of the mesh network. 15. A system for reporting events related to a plurality of container units, each container unit comprising: a cellular network radio, a short range radio, a satellite locator, a power source, a memory, and a connection set-up logic stored in the memory, the container unit being adapted to store the message in the memory; on the basis of the connection set-up logic, perform the following connection set-up attempts: e) a connection through the short range radio system directly to a gateway unit providing a transmission path for the message, f) a connection through the short range radio system to the gateway unit via at least one other container unit which is placed in a different container; g) a connection through the cellular network radio to a cellular network providing an alternative transmission path for the message, and h) a connection through the short range radio system directly or via one or more other container units to such container unit which is located on the service area of the cellular network; and transmit the message when at least one of the connection set-up attempts results in an available connection or abandon the message when the message expires; the system being adapted to receive messages from the plurality of container units, and produce reports on the basis of the received messages. 16. The system as in claim 15, wherein the system further comprises a server. 17. The system as in claim 15, wherein the system further comprises a user interface through which the reports are readable. 18. The system as in claim 15, wherein the system makes one report per each received message. 19. The system as in claim 15, wherein the system makes one report on the basis of a number of received message. 20. The system as in claim 15, wherein before sending the reports the system compresses the reports reducing the number of bits of to be sent. 21. The system as in claim 15, wherein the reports are encrypted before sending. 22. The system as in claim 15, wherein the plurality of container units includes at least one mesh network. 23. The system as in claim 22, wherein the system further comprises communication means by which the system is able to communicate with the at least one mesh network. 24. The system as in claim 23, wherein the communication means comprises gateway units. 25. The system as in claim 24, wherein the gateway units adds their identifiers to the messages originated from the plurality of container units. 26. The system as in claim 25, wherein the system adds the identifiers of the gateway units and a system identifier to the reports in order to enable a recipient of the reports to perform actions on the basis of the reports. 27. The system as in claim 22, wherein the system is implemented in one of the following places: a container handling area, a harbour, a warehouse, a ship. 28. The system as in claim 22, wherein the system further comprises a satellite modem. 29. The system as in claim 15, wherein the received messages are short messages which the plurality of container units has sent through their cellular network radios. 30. The system as in claim 15, wherein the system further comprises an Internet modem.
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