Abstract:
A container monitoring system which includes a microprocessor comprising a memory to store data, and a control program executed by said microprocessor, said microprocessor having a stand-by mode and an active mode, a communications means connected to said microprocessor for transmitting data from said microprocessor to a monitoring station, a zone monitoring device on the container connected to said microprocessor in a loop with said microprocessor in said stand-by mode, a power source for supplying power to said microprocessor, communications means and zone monitoring device, wherein upon said microprocessor receiving an input signal from said zone monitoring device, said control program directs said microprocessor to switch to active mode, generate and store in said memory an alarm message corresponding to said input signal from said zone monitoring device, activate said communications means, and transmit said alarm message to a monitoring station.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CA2005/000629, filed Apr. 26, 2005, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/564,941, filed Apr. 26, 2004, the contents of each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a container monitoring system and in particular, a monitoring system for postal and courier drop off boxes.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In conventional postal and courier drop off boxes, there is no way to determine whether there are articles in the box without someone physically checking the contents of each box. This results in many unnecessary pick-up stops by postal and courier workers at empty boxes.  
         [0004]     Conventional postal and courier drop off boxes are also susceptible to tampering, vandalism and theft, which is usually only discovered by postal or courier workers at the next scheduled pick-up.  
         [0005]     In addition, in today&#39;s age of terrorism, packages containing explosives, chemical or biological threats can be left in drop off boxes and remain undetected thus posing a threat to persons using the box or situated near it.  
         [0006]     Prior art drop off boxes have been proposed which include some security features. One such drop off box is disclosed in PCT publication WO 00/76378 entitled Network Connected Delivery Box Using Access Codes and Method for Providing Same, published on Dec. 21, 2000 and naming Holtkamp et al as inventors. The Holtkamp application discloses a delivery box which includes a communications unit linking the box with a central computer at a delivery box company. The box is equipped with sensors for detecting when items are placed in the box and for monitoring the ambient temperature in the box.  
         [0007]     Item placement and ambient temperature data from the sensors is transmitted by the communications unit via a portal interface with a cellular or satellite communications link to the central computer. The box can be integrated through the portal interface with a delivery company&#39;s GPS tracking system.  
         [0008]     PCT publication WO 97/43935 entitled A Mail Box, published on Nov. 27, 1997 and naming Lateo as inventor discloses a mail box which includes a microprocessor controlled locking system which can be activated in the event of an attempted forced entry into the mail box. A sensor detects the deposit of articles into the box. The box is linked to a monitoring centre by a communications link.  
         [0009]     None of the prior art boxes discussed above include sensors for detecting the deposit of hazardous materials in the box. Furthermore, where the security and communication systems in the prior art boxes are battery powered, no power saving functionality is taught.  
         [0010]     Thus there is a need for a container monitoring system having a low-power stand-by mode which permits the monitoring system to be operational over extended periods of time.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The above-mentioned need is met by the invention by providing in one embodiment a container monitoring system which includes a microprocessor comprising a memory to store data, and a control program executed by said microprocessor, said microprocessor having a stand-by mode and an active mode, a communications means connected to said microprocessor for transmitting data from said microprocessor to a monitoring station, a zone monitoring device on the container connected to said microprocessor in a loop with said microprocessor in said stand-by mode, a power source for supplying power to said microprocessor, communications means and zone monitoring device, wherein upon said microprocessor receiving an input signal from said zone monitoring device, said control program directs said microprocessor to switch to active mode, generate and store in said memory an alarm message corresponding to said input signal from said zone monitoring device, activate said communications means, and transmit said alarm message to a monitoring station. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a postal box retrofitted with a monitoring system according to the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a low power controller according to the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of a power supply for a low power controller according to the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic/block diagram of a low power controller according to the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic/block diagram of a low power controller according to the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a fiberglass parcel/postage box according to the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a fiberglass parcel/postage box according to the invention;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are block diagrams of a portable monitoring unit according to the invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart which illustrates the major operations of the control program. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional postal box of the type commonly used by Canada Post indicated generally at  10  is shown retrofitted with a monitoring system according to the invention. The box  10  includes a monitoring unit  1  which is housed in a cap which can be fitted to the top of the postal box  10  to retrofit it. The hollow cap  1  includes a top  200  and sides  202 ,  204 ,  206  and  208 . The unit  1  is connected to surface mounted magnetic contacts  4 ,  5 ,  6  on doors  4   a ,  5   a  and  6   a  respectively of the box  10  via wire  1   a . Contacts  4 ,  5 ,  6  correspond to zones  1 ,  2 ,  3  of the monitoring system. Wiring is used to connect the unit  1  to the contacts  4 ,  5  and  6  via a surface mounted contact  3 , model GRI29AWH.  
         [0023]     A hollow tube  2  houses the wiring  1   a  to keep it from interfering with the operation of the box  10 . The unit  1  is also connected by wire to a smoke detector  7 , model DSCMN-140 C. The smoke detector  7  corresponds to zone  4  of the monitoring system.  
         [0024]     Other contacts or sensors can be used with the monitoring system depending upon operational requirements. For example, sniffer sensors for detecting bombs and biological agents placed inside the postal box  10  by terrorists can be used. Temperature sensors can also be used to monitor temperature within and without the postal box. A GPS system can also be incorporated into the system for tracking the position of the postal box should it be removed from its location by vandals or thieves. A potentiometer or mercury switch can also be used inside the postal box  10  and connected to the monitoring unit  1  to monitor whether the postal box  10  has been tipped or moved. All such monitoring devices are connected to the monitoring unit  1  in a similar fashion to the magnetic contacts  4 ,  5 ,  6  or the smoke detector  7  as described above.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a monitoring system according to the invention. The system is controlled by a microprocessor  20  integrated with a smart circuitry board low power controller (discussed in more detail below) which forms part of the monitoring unit  1 . Inputs  21  to  24  are connected to the microprocessor  20  and are the inputs from the magnetic contacts  4 ,  5 ,  6  and detector  7 , respectively. The microprocessor  20  is also connected to a connector  26  which can be used to connect an external programming key pad (not shown) to the microprocessor  20 .  
         [0026]     Microprocessor  20  is connected to three relays,  28 ,  29  and  30  which in turn are connected to controlled devices  32 ,  33  and  34 . The controlled devices  32  to  34  can be motor driven locks, for example, which can be activated to lock the doors of the postal box  10  in the event of a hazardous package being detected in the postal box  10 .  
         [0027]     The microprocessor  20  is also connected to a solid state power switch  36  which in turn is connected to a Fast Track System (“FTS) radio  38  manufactured by Numerex Corp. of Atlanta, Ga., U.S.A. (other suitable wireless communications devices can also be used). A serial data in/out connection  40  connects the microprocessor  20  to the FTS radio  38 . The FTS radio  38  communicates to a central monitoring station  42  via cellular network  44 .  
         [0028]     A solar panel  46  is connected to a battery voltage regulator  47  which in turn is connected to a rechargeable battery  48  and a microprocessor voltage regulator  49  and then to the microprocessor  20  to provide power to the monitoring system. The solar panel  46  charges the battery  48 . The regulator  47  down regulates the voltage from the solar panel  46  to 12V and the regulator  49  in turn down regulates the voltage to 3.3V, the operating voltage of the microprocessor  20 .  
         [0000]     Low Power Controller  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4 , and  5 , the low power controller of the invention includes a circuit board with a PIC 16F870-I/SP (“PIC”) microprocessor for controlling the operation of the monitoring system of the invention. The PIC microprocessor is designed to operate in a stand-by low power (sleep) mode and in a full power an active mode. The PIC processor controls the operation of the controller using a control program comprised of code programmed in C++.  
         [0030]     The PIC microprocessor is connected to a 74HC4051 multiplexer. The multiplexer is connected to an RN2 resistor network. The RN2 resistor network is connected to a terminal strip connector CN 1  with input screws Z 1  to Z 6  and common screws C.  
         [0031]     The PIC microprocessor is also connected to an SPX  485  driver which in turn is connected to an RJ45 jack which can be used to connect the controller to a hand-held key pad.  
         [0032]     The PIC microprocessor is also connected to a MAX202ECP 9 (“MAX”) RS-232 driver manufactured by Maxim which in turn is connected to a DB9 MALE plug. The DB9 MALE plug is connected to an FTS radio. The MAX RS-232 driver converts the binary communication of the PIC microprocessor to the RS-232 protocol of the FTS radio when the PIC microprocessor is sending serial data to the FTS radio. When serial data is received from the FTS radio, the MAX microprocessor converts the RS-232 communication of the FTS radio to the binary communication of the PIC microprocessor.  
         [0033]     The PIC processor is also connected to relays which operate devices connected to the relays such as door locks.  
         [0034]     The solar panel unit is a high output micro-thin solar panel unit connected to a low drop-out voltage regulator manufactured by National Semiconductor which is used to charge a 12 V 7AHr storage battery. A solar voltage (“Vsolar”) monitor, a voltage output (“Vo”) monitor, a battery voltage (“Vbatt”) monitor are used to determine optimum conditions for battery charging. A 3V switch-mode regulator is used to power the low-power PIC processor. Power generated by the solar panel unit is used to charge the storage battery. The low drop-out regulator regulates the amount of charge given to the storage battery up to a defined maximum voltage such that the storage battery is not overcharged. The low voltage regulator maintains a constant voltage output when sufficient sun-light is falling on the solar panel.  
         [0035]     In operation, the PIC microprocessor has a stand-by low power mode and a full power active mode. The PIC microprocessor in the stand-by mode operates on a low power consumption of 5 to 6 milliamps of current which is normally supplied by the solar panel unit. If the solar panel unit is not operational, such as because it is covered with snow, power to the PIC microprocessor is supplied by the storage battery. The 12V 7AHr rechargeable lead-acid battery used in the system has a stand-by life of about 10 to 11 days before it requires a recharge from the solar panel unit.  
         [0036]     The PIC microprocessor operates on a normally closed input in stand-by mode as it waits for an open loop signal (alternatively, a normally open loop input can be used). When a zone is triggered, (for example if a door is opened on zone  1 ), the input loop for that zone opens and the voltage on that zone goes to about 5V and the PIC microprocessor goes into an active mode and turns on an electronic switch (a field effects transistor manufactured by International Rectifier) which in turn switches on the FTS radio. The triggered zone is an analogue input which is used by the PIC microprocessor to generate an electronic alarm message corresponding to that zone input. The alarm message is stored in the scratch pad memory of the PIC microprocessor.  
         [0037]     The FTS radio then auto-enrolls itself into a cellular network which takes about 30 seconds. After the enrollment is complete, the FTS radio sends a request to the PIC microprocessor that it is now safe to send the zone input alarm message which has been stored in the PIC microprocessor. The PIC microprocessor waits for the enrollment before sending the alarm signal to the FTS radio for transmission to a central monitoring station or other monitoring device. The message is received by the FTS radio and the FTS radio sends the message through the control channel portion of the cellular network. The PIC microprocessor then switches off the FTS radio to conserve power and starts a timer for a pre-set period of time so that subsequent triggered events will not be transmitted until the set time expires. After the time expires, the new event will restart the cycle described above.  
         [0038]     The relays and the FTS radio require 12V DC for operation, the driver integrated circuits require 5VDC for operation and the PIC microprocessor requires 3 VDC for operation. The FTS radio operates at 100 milli-amps when it is energized.  
         [0000]     Fiberglass Parcel/Postage Box  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 , in another embodiment of the invention, the monitoring unit can be integrated into a postal box during manufacture. The postal box of  FIGS. 5, 6 , and  7  is constructed from fiberglass and includes a weighted base  110  to ground the box. The main compartment of the box includes two doors. The upper door  100  is for receiving mail and parcels. The lower door  103  is a pick-up door by which a mail/courier employee gains access to the contents of the box during a pick-up.  
         [0040]     The box includes a solar panel  105  which is affixed to the front of the box for locations where the box is located up against a building or a wall. The solar panel  105  is inclined slightly upwards toward the sky to capture the sun&#39;s rays. Alternatively, a solar panel  106  can be affixed to the inclined top of the box for open area locations. The monitoring unit is housed in a sealed compartment  108  or  107  next to the solar panel  105  or  106  as the case may be and connected to it. A hollow tube  104  attached to the inside of the box houses cables connecting the various contacts and sensors of the box to the monitoring unit  108  or  107  in a similar manner to the postal box shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0041]     For very remote or low sunlight locations, an additional battery (not shown) can be included in the base  110  and connected to the monitoring unit  108  or  107  using wiring which is carried inside a second hollow tube  109 . The box is equipped with remote lock-down devices which lock the doors  100  and  103  to prevent entry into the box in response to a lock-down signal. The doors  100  and  103  can be unlocked by the appropriate signal transmitted from a central monitoring station or a handheld device.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in a further embodiment of the invention, a monitoring unit is housed in a portable housing which includes a low power control unit, a battery and a radio as the major components, connected to each other and other components (not shown) in a similar manner to the pervious embodiments discussed above. The portable housing can be a suitcase. The portable unit includes connector  300  for connecting the unit to a solar panel, connector  301  for connecting the unit to sensors and/or controlled devices and connector  302  for connecting the unit to an antenna.  
         [0043]     The monitoring unit can be used in a number of applications such as in trucks. In trucks the portable monitoring unit can be connected to a fixed low temperature sensor such as model SNIF-20 manufactured by WINLAND or a high low temperature sensor such as model WINUTAL manufactured WINLAND, to monitor temperature in refrigeration trucks whereby if the temperature in the truck rises above or below a certain level due to a failure of the climate control system, a trouble signal is sent by the monitoring unit to a central monitoring center to locate the driver. The monitoring unit can also be used to monitor opening of doors in trucks, trains, shipping containers and the like and to send an intrusion signal upon unauthorized entry. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that depending on the container being monitored and the sensors used, the wiring arrangement described in the pervious embodiments will have to be modified accordingly.