Method and apparatus for control or monitoring of a container

An apparatus includes a carrier, and a system that is responsive to wireless signals transmitted by tags on items carried by the carrier for maintaining a local inventory of items carried by the carrier. A different apparatus involves a carrier having a container with an interior, a sensor for detecting a condition externally of the container that can be related to an environment within the container, and a system that handles information from the sensor in a manner facilitating an evaluation of the likelihood that a problem exists within the container. Another apparatus involves a carrier for a plurality of items, and a system that is responsive to wireless signals received from a remote location for determining a current location of the carrier and for evaluating whether the carrier is proceeding along an intended route.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to monitoring and security for containers and, more particularly, to devices that provide automated monitoring and security for shipping containers.

BACKGROUND

A variety of different products are shipped in cargo containers. Products are packed into the container by a shipper, and then the container doors are closed and secured with some type of lock. The container is then transported to a destination, where a recipient removes the lock and unloads the container.

The shipper often finds it advantageous to have some form of monitoring while the container is being transported. For example, the cargo within the container may be relatively valuable products such as computers or other electronic devices, and thieves may attempt to break into the container and steal these products if the container is left unattended during transport. Alternatively, the cargo may be products such as fresh fruit, for which it is advantageous to continuously monitor environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, in order to avoid or minimize spoilage. As still another example, the cargo may include items that can be damaged by moisture that leaks into the container during a rainstorm, or that escapes from some other item in the container.

It is not cost-feasible to have a person watch a container at all times in order to provide security and/or monitoring. Accordingly, electronic systems have previously been developed to provide a degree of automated security and/or monitoring. Although these pre-existing systems have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been satisfactory in all respects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the broader forms of the invention involves: providing a carrier; supporting on the carrier a plurality of items; receiving wireless signals transmitted by tags on the items carried by the carrier; and maintaining a local inventory of items carried by the carrier.

Another of the broader forms of the invention involves: providing a carrier having a container with an interior, the container being adapted to carry a plurality of items within the interior; detecting with a sensor at a location external to the container a condition that can be related to an environment within the container; and handling information from the sensor in a manner facilitating an evaluation of the likelihood that a problem exists within the container.

Yet another of the broader forms of the invention involves: providing a carrier adapted to carry a plurality of items; storing in a system on the carrier information representing an intended route for the carrier; responding to wireless signals received from a remote location by determining a current location of the carrier; and evaluating whether the carrier is proceeding along the intended route.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a diagrammatic perspective view of an apparatus that embodies aspects of the present invention, and that includes a cargo carrier in the form of a container10of a known type, and a monitoring and control (MC) unit11. The major parts of the container10are all made of steel, except that the floor of the container10is made of wood. However, the container10could alternatively be made of any other suitable materials. The container10has two pivotally supported doors12and13that can each move between open and closed positions, and has a latch assembly14that can releasably secure the doors12and13in their closed position. The illustrated configuration of the container10and the MC unit11is exemplary, and each could alternatively have any of a number of other configurations. In this regard, the MC unit11could be configured to be easily retrofit onto an existing container or pallet, or it could be configured as a built-in arrangement that is installed at the factory while a container or pallet is being assembled.

The MC unit11has an external portion17that is secured to the exterior of the container, and has an internal portion that is not visible inFIG. 1. The external portion17and the internal portion are both discussed in more detail later. The MC unit11can send and receive radio frequency (RF) wireless signals26, in order to communicate with a stationary reader27when the container is in the vicinity of the reader27. In addition, the MC unit11can send and receive RF wireless signals28, in order to communicate with a handheld unit29when the handheld unit is in the vicinity of the container10.

FIG. 2is a diagrammatic view of the container10and the MC unit11, showing certain components that are within each of the container10and the MC unit11. In more detail, a plurality of items51-53are disposed within the container10, and the container10serves as a carrier for the items51-53during shipment. The items51-53each have supported thereon a respective radio frequency identification (RFID) tag56-58of a known type. The items51-53are packed within a case61, and an RFID tag63of a known type is mounted on the case61. The RFID tags56-58and63emit respective RF wireless signals71-74, and the signals71-74each contain a respective unique code. The tags56-58and63emit these wireless signals at periodic intervals, or in response to receipt of a wireless interrogation signal.

InFIG. 2, the cargo includes the items51-53and the case61, but this cargo is exemplary, and could have a variety of other configurations. For example, the case63could be omitted, or there could be a plurality of cases that each contain one or more items. Further, the total number of items in the container10could be larger or smaller than that shown inFIG. 2, and the number of items in each case61could be larger or smaller.

An environmental control unit (ECU)78of a known type is installed within the container10. The ECU78can influence the environment within the container10, for example by heating or cooling the air within the container, by adjusting the pressure of the air within the container, and/or by removing humidity from the air within the container. These environmental control functions are merely exemplary, and the ECU78may be configured to control any other selected environmental conditions.

As mentioned above, the internal portion of the MC unit11is not visible inFIG. 1, but it is shown diagrammatically at81inFIG. 2. The internal portion81includes a plurality of sensors, which are collectively shown in a diagrammatic manner at83. In the disclosed embodiment, the sensors83include a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor, a moisture sensor, a door sensor for detecting when the container doors12and13are closed, a radiation sensor for detecting radioactive emissions, and a gas sensor for detecting hazardous or poisonous gases, such as hydrogen cyanide or phosgene. The sensors83may optionally include more than one sensor of any given type. In addition, the sensors83could optionally include sensors for detecting unauthorized intrusion into the container, such as electro-mechanical sensors that can determine whether the container doors remain in a closed position, and/or RF sensors that can monitor an RF signal for any change indicative of unauthorized intrusion.

The internal portion81of the MC unit11includes a reader84, which can receive the wireless signals71-74emitted by each of the tags56-58and63within the container10. The reader can also selectively emit a wireless interrogation signal to each of the tags56-58and63within the container10, in order to cause each of these tags to transmit its wireless signal71-74. Although the reader84is shown diagrammatically as a single block inFIG. 2, it would be possible for the reader84to include multiple readers disposed at spaced locations within the container10, in order to provide better coverage with respect to receipt of the wireless signals emitted by tags within the container.

A manually operable control panel86is also part of the internal portion81of the MC unit11, and serves as a user interface for a purpose discussed later. The control panel86includes a not-illustrated keypad, and a not-illustrated display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). The internal portion81of the MC unit11further includes an ECU interface, which is operatively coupled to and can control the ECU78. Thus, the MC unit11can cause the ECU78to adjust one or more characteristics of the environment within the container10, for example by heating or cooling the air in the container, or dehumidifying the air in the container.

The internal portion81of the MC unit11includes a battery91that powers the circuitry of the MC unit11. A double headed arrow94inFIG. 2is a diagrammatic representation of the fact that the internal portion81of the MC unit11is operatively coupled to the external portion17thereof. In the disclosed embodiment, the internal and external portions are electrically coupled by not-illustrated wires that extend through a not-illustrated opening in the metal wall of the container10. However, it would alternatively be possible for the internal and external portions of the MC unit11to be operatively coupled by a wireless link, especially in a configuration where the walls of the container10were made of a nonmetallic material that did not tend to obstruct radio waves.

The external portion17of the MC unit11includes a plurality of sensors that are collectively indicated in a diagrammatic manner at101. In the disclosed embodiment, the sensors101include a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor, a moisture sensor, a radiation sensor for detecting radioactive emissions, and a gas sensor for detecting hazardous or poisonous gases, such as hydrogen cyanide or phosgene. The sensors101may optionally include more than one sensor of any given type. In addition, the sensors101could optionally include sensors for detecting unauthorized intrusion into the container, such as electro-mechanical sensors that can determine whether the container doors remain in a closed position, and/or RF sensors that can monitor an RF signal for any change indicative of unauthorized intrusion.

The external portion17further includes RFID tag circuitry106of a known type. The circuitry106can send and receive the wireless signals26and28that are respectively associated with the reader27and the handheld unit29. As evident from the foregoing discussion, the disclosed embodiment includes RFID tag circuitry106and a reader84. However, it would alternatively be possible to use an RF transmitter in place of the tag circuitry106, and an RF receiver in place of the reader84.

The external portion17includes a processor111of a known type, and a memory116. The memory116stores information that includes a database121, an event log122, and a container inventory123. The hardware of the processor111and the memory116may, for example, be implemented using a commercially available micro-controller.

The RFID tag106inFIG. 2is a type of tag referred to in the industry as a long-range tag. The wireless signals that it emits have a relatively long range, such as 100 meters or more. It would be advantageous if each of the tags56-58and63could also be a long-range tag. However, long-range tags are typically too expensive to be placed on all of the items and cases. Consequently, long-range tags are typically placed on valuable items and/or on larger devices, including carriers such as containers, trucks and pallets that are used to carry a number of smaller items. For smaller items, it is common to use tags of a type commonly known in the art as short-range tags.

Consequently, inFIG. 2, the RFID tags56-58and63are short-range tags, and may be either passive or active short-range tags. They emit wireless signals with relatively short ranges, and usually need to be within about 1-10 meters of a reader in order for the reader to receive the tag's RF signal. If there is a metal obstruction between the tag and the reader, for example where the tag is disposed within a metal container and the reader is disposed outside the container, it can be difficult or impossible for the reader to directly and reliably receive wireless signals emitted by the tag.

In the disclosed embodiment, the reader84is provided within the container10, in order to reliably receive the signals transmitted by all of the tags within the container, including the short-range tags56-58and63. This permits the MC unit11to survey the contents of the container. This survey can be done periodically, and/or in response to an event such as detection of the opening or closing of a door12or13of the container.

In more detail, the reader84receives the RF signals71-74that are emitted by tags within the container10, and passes information from these signals on to the processor111of the MC unit. The processor111then formulates an inventory of what is present in the container10, and stores this inventory at123in the memory116. Each time the processor formulates such an inventory, it compares the newly-formulated inventory with a previously-formulated inventory that is already stored in the memory116.

If the newly-formulated and previously-formulated inventories do not match, it may possibly be due to a theft of something from the interior of the container. Consequently, the MC unit11stores in the event log122of the memory116an event entry, which includes a time and date, and an indication of the event that occurred. The MC unit11can then use the tag106to broadcast a wireless signal that contains an indication of an alarm. If the tag106is currently within range of a reader27, the reader27will receive and handle the alarm, for example by bringing it to the attention of a person so that the person can go to the container and investigate. If the tag106does not happen to currently be within the range of a reader27when the tag begins broadcasting the alarm signal, the tag106can continue periodically broadcasting the alarm signal until the tag eventually does come to be within the range of a reader27. The MC unit11will remain in a state that reflects the occurrence of the alarm condition, until the reader27sends a signal instructing the MC unit11to clear the condition and return to normal operation. In this manner, the MC unit11provides a degree of theft detection.

The database121in the memory116includes a definition of internal and external parameters for each of a plurality of different items, such as the items51-53. As discussed above, the MC unit11periodically inventories the contents of the container10. Alternatively, or in addition, the MC unit can inventory the contents of the container10whenever it receives from the reader27an instruction to inventory the contents. For each item detected within the container10, the processor111can check to see whether the database121has a set of specified parameters for that item.

For example, if a detected item within the container happens to be coffee beans, the temperature and humidity within the container10must be maintained within acceptable ranges, in order to keep the coffee beans fresh. Similarly, if a detected item happens to be fresh fruit, the specified parameters may include an appropriate temperature and humidity needed to keep the fruit fresh as long as possible. If the internal conditions currently detected within the container using the internal sensors83are not consistent with the specified parameters, then the MC unit11can control the ECU78through the ECU interface88in order to bring one or more of the environmental conditions within container10into conformity with the specified parameter. For example, if a detected item is fresh fruit, and if the absolute value of the difference between the current temperature and a specified temperature parameter is greater than a specified differential, the MC unit11can use the ECU78to heat or cool the air inside the container10until the actual temperature conforms to the specified temperature parameter.

Where fresh fruit is detected, a different parameter is an indication of how long the fruit can safely remain within a container without spoiling. If the fruit remains in the container10for longer than the specified number of days, the MC unit11can transmit through the tag106a wireless signal raising an alarm condition. Items other than fruit may also have corresponding parameters that specify expiration dates.

With respect to the parameters stored in the database121of the memory116, a user has the ability to make adjustments to the parameters. For example, a user holding the handheld device29can use the device to make changes to parameters. A second approach for changing the stored parameters would be for the user to make the adjustments in a not-illustrated central computer at a remote location, and then download the revised parametric information from the computer to the MC unit11, for example using the reader27, wireless signals26, and tag106. In the disclosed embodiment, both the handheld device29and the control panel86require the user to enter a valid password, in order to ensure that adjustments to parameters are only made by persons with appropriate authorization. For example, when wireless signals at26or27include adjusted data, they would also include an encrypted password known to the particular MC unit.

A third approach is that a user who is inside the container10can use the manually-operable control panel86to make adjustments to the parameters. Since the control panel86is inside the container, a prospective thief or other person outside the container cannot tinker with the control panel86and try to guess the password while the container doors are closed and secured with a seal. Moreover, even from inside the container, a user would need to enter a valid password, in order to ensure that only authorized persons make adjustments to parameters.

The MC unit11also has the capability to maintain within the database121a record of environmental measurements, and to monitor the environment within the container10for changes. For example, and without regard to the parameters that are stored in the database121, if the MC unit finds that the temperature or humidity within the container has changed by a specified amount, and/or has done so in less than a specified interval of time, the MC unit11can treat this as an alarm condition and use the tag106to broadcast a wireless alarm signal at26and28.

The sensors83and101can be used to detect leakage of the contents of cargo being transported within the container10. For example, the radiation sensor at83can detect excessive radioactive emissions within the container10, and the radiation sensor at101can detect the extent to which such radioactive emissions may be escaping the container. As another example, the gas sensor at83can detect leakage from a cargo item of hazardous or poisonous gases, such as hydrogen cyanide or phosgene. The radiation sensor at101can be used to detect the extent to which radioactive radiation is escaping the container10. Detection of such leakage within a container can be helpful in permitting a person to be warned of a problem before he or she opens the container doors, rather than simply opening the doors of the container and being unexpectedly exposed to a hazard such as radioactive radiation or a poisonous gas. Detection of such leakage outside the container is helpful in determining the extent to which the integrity of the container may have become compromised, and thus the extent to which there may be a hazard externally of the container.

As another example, the external moisture sensor at17can be helpful in determining whether the container has been subjected to rain, because rain can present the potential for leakage of water into the container, especially where it is already known that the particular container has experienced some physical damage and is no longer fully resistant to the entry of rain. And the internal moisture and humidity sensors at83can be helpful in directly detecting water that has leaked into the container from the exterior thereof, or from items being transported within the container. It will be understood that rainwater leakage within a container can be very localized, and so it could be difficult to provide enough sensors throughout the interior of the container to reliably detect all possible moisture leakage anywhere within the container. Consequently, using an external moisture sensor to detect the exposure of the container to rain can in some circumstances provide a more reliable warning of the potential for moisture leakage than the use of several internal moisture sensors.

The MC unit11may be a “smart” device that is capable of certain types of intelligent activity. For example, the memory116may contain not-illustrated geographic information of a general type, as well as information specific to the route along which the container is currently supposed to be traveling. When the MC unit11comes within proximity of a reader27, the reader27can provide the MC unit with information about where that particular reader27is located. Since the container10is in the general vicinity of that reader, the MC unit11knows where it is currently located. The MC unit11can compare this to the intended route of the container, in order to verify that the container10is in fact being transported along the route that it is supposed to be following. If not, it may mean that the container10has been stolen, and so the MC unit can store an event entry in the event log122, and then use the tag106to broadcast a wireless signal that contains an indication of an alarm.

On a more specific level, the memory116in the MC unit11may also contain shipment information and/or supply chain management information, such as a shipping number, a billing number, and so forth. With this additional information, the MC unit11(acting as a smart device) can determine not only whether it is being transported along the proper route, but also whether it is progressing along that route according to the expected timetable. If a discrepancy is detected, the MC unit11can store an event entry in the event log122, and then use the tag106to broadcast a wireless signal that contains an indication of an alarm.

Another capability of the MC unit11as a “smart device” would involve downloading local business logic to the MC unit11through a nearby reader27. For example, depending on the value of the current contents of the container, and/or the current location of the container, the MC unit11could select an appropriate security level from two or more pre-defined security levels, and then implement that selected level for purposes of controlling what is required for someone to obtain access to the interior of the container.

Although the disclosed embodiment involves a carrier that is a shipping container, some or all of the aspects of the invention can also be applied to other types of carriers, such as trucks and pallets. Many other variations, modifications and configurations are also possible, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.