Patent ID: 8874734
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: H04L,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A two-tier network system for managing communications among a plurality of shipping containers, the system comprising: a first-tier network for monitoring communications within a single container, wherein the first-tier network comprises a plurality of monitoring units within the monitored container, wherein the monitoring units comprise a sensor, a sensor manager and a processing unit, further wherein the monitoring units are wirelessly linked to one another, and further wherein at least one monitoring unit is assigned as a coordinating monitoring unit which queries and coordinates activities among the plurality of monitoring units, further wherein the role of the coordinating monitoring unit may be switched between the plurality of monitoring units; and a second-tier network for coordinating communications between a plurality of containers monitored with first-tier networks, wherein the coordinating monitoring units in each of the plurality of monitored containers is a node of the second-tier network; wherein the first-tier network is configured to work in a first sleep mode which is managed by the coordinating monitoring unit, wherein the sensor manager of the coordinating monitoring unit manages the wake up and sleep mode activities of the coordinating monitoring unit without waking the processing unit of coordinating monitoring unit; and the second-tier network is configured to work in a second sleep mode, wherein the second sleep mode is managed by a coordinating monitoring unit.