Abstract:
A tracking and security device that is self-contained, portable and easily secured to a shipping container. Since the unit can be easily attached and removed from a container and is relatively inexpensive to produce, the unit can be purchased and controlled by the owners of cargo, rather than the transportation service providers or owners of shipping containers. The device monitors and records positional information at a daily or other frequency dictated by the cargo owner, and reports this information as well as other events, such as suspicious entry into the container, over a satellite communication system or other wireless communication network. Access to status and/or position information is provided a secure fashion through Internet access to a centralized database. The device empowers an importer/exporter, or really any small business engaged in long distance shipment of goods, to control in-transit, real-time status and location information for their cargo without relying on third party sources, such as transportation carriers, to provide such data or to pay their service fees.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/386,144, filed Jun. 5, 2002, the entire teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to monitoring cargo while in transit, and in particular to a portable, reusable electronic device that provides for locking and tracking of cargo containers. 
   The shipment of goods via containers was introduced in the early 1950s as an alternative to the ancient method of general loose cargo handling (also known as break-bulk shipping). Since then, container shipping has become a preferred way to move merchandise, especially over international routes, and has displaced break-bulk shipping for all but the largest of goods. Containers provide many advantages including:
         cargo may move from an inland point of origin in one continent to an inland of destination in another continent, without the need to handle the cargo itself, so that a container may move seamlessly among a multiple modes of transportation from a truck chassis onto a container ship and then back again onto another truck, rail, or barge;   standardization of container unit size, which has introduced significant efficiencies into the management of shipping, warehousing and general distribution processes; and   greater security from theft and improved protection from breakage, since it avoids the manual handling that is required for break-bulk or general loose cargo shipments.       

   Dramatic growth in the container shipping industry is one result of these improved efficiencies and lower cost of transport. Container shipping has been, in fact, an important mechanism in allowing manufacturers around the world to be competitive in foreign markets. 
   The container industry is still a relatively fragmented industry of more than 500 companies operating thousands of vessels. As the number of carriers increases, the frequency of sailings and the speed of vessels improve, providing manufacturers with the ability to offer products around the world with shorter delivery times and lower transportation costs. In the U.S. alone, for example, there are 32,000 import and 2,500 export companies who utilize services provided by others. There are no reports available that identify the number of shippers around the world, but the number of individual companies utilizing international container shipping in some form or another has probably grown to the hundreds of thousands. 
   While containerization allows goods to be transported from an origin point to a destination point in a single medium, tracking a shipment requires participation of a wide variety of vendors within the supply chain. This is becoming increasingly important, because as shippers try to maintain correct inventory levels, they need greater visibility into the status and location of their shipments. One of the challenges to overcome is a lack of information standardization between vendors. Communication between all parties involved typically does not exist. 
   Consider the typical steps involved in moving a container from an in-land origin point to an in-land overseas destination. First, a shipper requests that his goods be moved, by contracting it with a carrier or freight forwarder. The carrier/forwarder then notifies a trucking company of the request, who then dispatches a truck to a designated port to pick up an empty container. The port releases a container, and the trucking company delivers the empty container to the shipper&#39;s location. The shipper inspects, loads and seals the container, releasing it to the trucking company. 
   The trucking company then moves the sealed container to a designated port. The port accepts the container, and positions it to be loaded on a vessel. The port then advises the carrier of the arrival of the container. Next, when a vessel arrives, the port loads the container, and confirms to the carrier that the container now is loaded. The vessel travels to multiple overseas ports, with the carrier supplying destination port unloading instructions prior to arrival at the designated arrival port. 
   The container is eventually unloaded at the appropriate destination port. At this point, it may still need to be moved to an inland port via rail, barge, and then truck (based on the ultimate destination), with the carrier typically notifying customs and a receiver of at least the arrival at the first port. The receiver notifies a customs broker, and the customs broker clears the goods with customs. After approving the container&#39;s release, a receiver confirms container clearance and provides delivery instructions to a carrier. The carrier, such as a trucking company, is then notified of arrival at the destination port with paperwork to pick up the container. The port releases the container to the trucking company which then delivers the sealed container for unloading at the destination. The receiver inspects and removes the seal, unloads the container, and releases the now empty container to the trucking company. The trucking company can now return the container to an appropriate port. 
   It can be appreciated that each service provider in this chain has information concerning the container shipment; however the systems they use are not all compatible or even use the same language. If the original shipper (the owner of the goods inside the container) needs to track a shipment, he needs to undertake a massive data integration project with each service provider, or else contract shipment to a company that offers land changes for supply chain visibility. At a minimum, messaging standards between service providers in far-flung countries would have to be converted to a form that is suitable for use by the shipper. Even if the communication difficulties are resolved, the issue of most data being historical limits its value. For example, where a container is located isn&#39;t typically part of the data recorded—an event is recorded only when responsibility for the container changes hands, such as when it is transferred between service providers. 
   The quality of this information can vary widely based on the sophistication and integration of the systems utilized by the parties and as well as the quality and dedication of the individuals entering data. Many of these parties rely on some sort of manual data entry and validation by field personnel, and thus are susceptible to human error even if compatible systems are in place. 
   Furthermore, real time security data is practically non-existent. The shipper typically places a plastic or soft metal seal on the container and records a number on their documentation. Upon receipt, the receiver confirms that the seal is still intact and that the container has not been tampered with. Thus, the first notice of a security breach is typically upon delivery at the destination, at which point it is too late to take actions to avoid inventory issues, or establish where the invasion occurred. Containerization has significantly reduced incidents of theft over break-bulk shipments, but with the increase in volume of international trade this is still a common occurrence. 
   With only 4% of the six million containers entering U.S. ports annually being inspected, there is also a substantial threat that dangerous materials or weapons could be imported via container, potentially bringing commerce to a stand still. There are numerous government agencies that are involved in security initiatives that could make use of better methods and techniques for tracking cargo shipments. 
   Numerous prior art devices and systems exist for tracking the location of mobile units, including vehicles and/or persons. These systems are capable of monitoring present position, progress along a given route, determining that an emergency has occurred, and other functions. They invariably use electronic position sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, Long Range Navigation (LORAN), or similar devices to obtain a position, and then report that position to a central location via a radio modem. In addition, cargo security systems that involve provisioning for physical resistance or other dissuasion methods are also known in some depth. 
   The problem with these prior art systems is that none address the fact that an owner of the cargo itself does not have ownership of a container in which cargo is shipped, nor does a cargo owner or other shipper have any control over the equipment utilized to move the container in various transportation modes. It is unrealistic to expect shippers of international goods to purchase a fleet of containers simply to satisfy their own information needs. The ocean carrier typically provides containers as a cost of doing business. It would certainly not be practical for hundred thousands of small imports/exporters to each have their own container. 
   Government agencies might be enlisted to mandate that ocean carriers install tracking devices on every container in their fleet, but the scope of each government&#39;s authority in coordinating this makes it a remote possibility that this would ever occur worldwide. 
   It is also the case that only certain shipments are worth the effort to be tracked. For example, certain shippers might not wish to pay additional money associated with tracking shipments for which risk of theft is minor or insignificant, such as in the case of grain shipments and the like. However other shipments which might include, for example, consumer electronics and or newly manufactured vehicles, would potentially be worth the effort to track real time to the shipper. 
   Two types of security devices are typically used in the market today that provide for limited protection of cargo containers. These include physical locks and electronic seals. 
   A physical lock is a straightforward device. One closes both of the doors that are typically on the rear of a shipping container, and places locks on each door handle. Variations on this approach include bars, cables and housings. Unfortunately, these approaches have problems including: key distribution to recipients and/or loss of the key in transit to open the lock; custom requirements to inspect the locked container&#39;s contents upon arrival at a port; and the possibility that forced entry will occur through means other than the door, such as by removal of door hinges, access pins, prying of side panels and the like. 
   A second approach is to attach an electronic seal that records a variety of activities. The seal can typically be interrogated by a data collection device. The collection device is typically a hand held device that can, for example, document an action such as a door being opened. These systems typically lack the ability to transmit the information independently of ground personnel or ground systems, and thus cannot be used to monitor cargo in-transit. A more elaborate data solution exists that can interrogate and save data on the electronic seal—but an extensive network of proximity actuators is necessary to be placed throughout the entire intermodal journey with this approach as well. 
   Prior art asset management/recovery systems, like the well known LoJack™ system in the United States, are solutions that permanently attach a wireless transceiver to a mobile object such as a truck or car. The transceiver range and the type of data it provides is highly dependent upon the application and depend upon the vehicle remaining in range of terrestrial radio networks. 
   While both electronic seals and the asset management systems may deter and/or document entry into a container, they do not provide an opportunity to react quickly. A more proactive stance is required involving security breaches, not just from the security threat to standpoint but also from an inventory management perspective as well. A recipient cannot utilize compromised cargo, and alternatives need to be set in motion by the shipper as soon as possible to mitigate damages once a container has been breached, such as to ship duplicate goods. 
   Asset management solutions also only track the mobile equipment—not the cargo—and would represent a significant capital cost if deployed worldwide. For example, an asset management solution may track a truck or a ship but not the particular container carried by a truck or a ship. Given the competitive nature of the shipping industry, the cost associated with outfitting every container and/or truck with a tracking device has been thought to be prohibitive. The probability of carriers installing these devices on all of their modes of transportation any time soon is therefore quit slim. It is also unlikely that shippers will be willing to forego competitive pricing, in order to select only those carriers which make an investment to track their transportation equipment. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   What is needed is a tracking and security device that is completely self-contained, portable, and which can be easily and securely affixed to a container. The device should not impede entrance to a container or disrupt standard present-day intermodal container operations. It should monitor and record/report positional information at a frequency dictated by the user, and report entrance into a container, suspicious activities, and the like. The unit should be easily attached and removed from a container, so that it can be economically returned to the device owner, which can typically be the owner of the cargo itself. 
   This approach empowers an importer/exporter or other shipper (or even government agency) with control over in-transit location and status data, without reliance on third party sources such as transportation carriers and other service providers. In this approach, because the shipper controls deployment of the device, he has the ability to choose the cargos he wants to monitor. He can also be assured of obtaining the same status data on his cargo, regardless of the service providers that actually handle the container en route. This allows the shipper to change service provider partners whenever he wishes and still receive data in a consistent and known format. The status information is available through secure Internet access, integrated with existing system, or via email messaging. 
   In one embodiment, the unit is secured, typically at the transport origin, with a mechanical and electronic locking system. The unit remains in place until completion of the journey, even as the container is handled through several different modes of transport. 
   The unit preferably also includes one or more sensors located on cables to provide security status information. One sensor may be a door lock sensor, which is secured through a latching mechanism on the container. Another sensor, which can be light or other physical change sensor, is extended through a door opening and placed inside the closed container. Should the security of the container be breached, by disconnecting the door lock sensor, or activating the internal light sensor, the unit immediately sends a message alerting the owner of the device of the event via satellite communication and providing other relevant information, such as a location. 
   Other types of sensors such as moisture, temperature, pressure and others can be utilized depending on the cargo. 
   The fact that the unit does not rely on third party data entry eliminates concerns about data integrity, security of information, and timely entry on the part of service provider personnel. 
   In one embodiment, the mechanical mounting and locking mechanism used for the device includes a hollow restraint latch that fits over a bar associated with the exterior of a truck or shipping container, such as a keeper bar. The unit thus straddles over the external vertical locking bar commonly found on the door of a shipping container or truck trailer. A restraint latch locks into and mates with the main unit housing. A locking pin holds the restraint latch in position when a device is properly attached over the bar, remaining locked until the container reaches its destination. 
   Electronic functions of the device provide for activation/deactivation of the restraint latch. Activation codes may be entered on a keypad associated with the device itself, or preferably through auxiliary input devices, such as a handheld properly programmed Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). In the case of using PDAs, the activation can be accomplished via bi-directional infrared link, Bluetooth, or other types of wireless links. An inverse sequence is used to electronically deactivate the device. 
   The device is therefore small and hand portable, and runs on battery power. This enables its movement from container to container. Thus, once the device arrives at a destination, it may be detached from the container and then reutilized by attaching it to another container at the destination and/or by returning it via post to an owner for reuse. 
   The device is entirely self-contained and is thus capable of tracking cargo over a long range or even global scale. By self-contained, it is meant that the device operates on local battery power and makes use of long range data networks, such as satellite data networks. An owner of cargo may therefore attach the device to a container at his own origin point, e.g., his own warehouse. He also need not purchase or lease access to additional infrastructure in order to have access to in-transit visibility of data for the cargo across multiple modes of transportation, other than standard Internet access. 
   The device has a universal mounting system, making it attachable to cargo containers that may be transported using different transportation modes including ocean vessels, trucks, rail cars and the like. The same unit may thus be used to track cargo through these several transportation modes that might be utilized between a given origin and destination, even if the different modes are not even known to the shipper. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a container having a tracking device attached, and a typical movement from an inland origin point to an inland destination point in a different continent. 
       FIG. 2  is an external view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the device showing how it is attached to a container. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the device. 
       FIG. 5  is a view of the internal components of the device. 
       FIG. 6  shows the device attached to a vertical locking bar on a container. 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing how the light sensor is attached to the inside of a door on a container. 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing how a lock sensor is attached. 
       FIG. 9  shows how an activation device may be used. 
       FIG. 10  is a view of an alternate embodiment of the device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a typical sequence of events that occur in multimodal transport of goods by container. In this example, a shipper  10  located near Austin, Tex. in the United States is a manufacturer and wholesaler of personal computer subassemblies. The shipper  10  wants to use carriers, freight forwarders, or other service providers to ship a container  20  filled with goods at the lowest possible cost. These service providers normally supply the container  20  to the shipper  10  as a cost of doing business. 
   Here, a customer  11  in a destination location  13  near Frankfurt, Germany has placed an order for computer components. The customer  11  is also referred to herein as the receiver  11  of the container  20 . The shipper  10  places the goods in the container  20  at a location such as his Texas warehouse  12 . The shipper  10  here then attaches an electronic tracking and security device  5 , as will be described in greater detail below, to the container  20  before it is placed on a first transport mode such as truck  22 . 
   The device  5  remains with the container  20  throughout its journey to Germany. During this journey, the device  5  transmits position and other status information via a wide area communication network such as by sending radio frequency signals  30  to a satellite  32 . The satellite  32  returns data signals  33  to a ground station  40 . The ground station  40  receives signals via a satellite antenna  42 , and forwards this information to a backend system  48  that decodes the data received  33  and stores the data in a database. The data can be made available to shipper  10  via query  14  through the backend system  48  such as may be connected through the Internet. The query result may also be reported in any convenient agreed to manner, such as by fax, email, page, etc. 
   This system thus provides any shipper  10  who has access to the Internet to real time status and position information for containers  20  to which he has attached devices  5 . As will be understood shortly, the devices  5  thus provide a system that is under complete control of the shipper  10 . This system is quite unlike prior art systems that operate under exclusive control of transportation service providers such as freight forwarders, or transportation carriers who operate trucks  22 , ships  50 , barges  60 , trains  70  or other modes of transport utilized to move the containers  20 . 
   It should thus be understood that the container  20  may travel using various modes of transport, and even under control of various service providers that may or may not be known to the shipper  10 , and yet the shipper  10  may still track the container  20  status and location. 
   At the shipper&#39;s origin location, such as at his own warehouse  12 , the shipper  10  inspects, loads and seals the container  20  attaching the electronic device  5 . At this point, the shipper  10  releases the container  20  to a carrier such as a trucking company which operates a truck  22 . The carrier then trailers the sealed container  20  by truck  22  to an overseas port that services shipping containers, such as at Charleston, S.C. After arriving at Charleston, the container  20  is loaded onto a ship  50  along with many other similar containers. The port advises the carrier that the container has arrived. A vessel  50  eventually arrives at the port, and the container  20  is loaded onto it, with the port advising the carrier of its content being loaded. 
   Vessel  50  then travels across the ocean to various ports and eventually arrives at an intermediate port which may, for example, be Liverpool, England. The container  20  is then unloaded here. For example, the container  20  may be moved onto a barge  60  which is under control of yet another transport service provider. Upon arrival in Europe, customs agents and the receiver  13  may be given notice of arrival at Liverpool. However, the act of loading onto a barge  60  may not, for example, be reported by existing systems—although the device  5  will still be operating to inform the shipper  10  as before. 
   At this point, should custom officials need access to the container  20  to inspect it, they can access the contents of container  20  without deactivating or damaging the device  5 . The device  5  will send a message  30  indicating that that the container has been entered, and the backend system  48  will notify the shipper  10  of the event via prior agreed to channels (web, fax, email or page). 
   Eventually, the barge  60  arrives at continental port such as Amsterdam, Netherlands. Here the container  20  might be loaded onto a train  70  along with many other containers, the train operated by yet another carrier. At this point, various documents may again change hands and/or with customs and/or customs brokers again becoming involved. Eventually the train  70  arrives at a depot  80  in Germany where the container  20  may be unloaded. A truck  82  operated by a German carrier then picks up the container  20  and moves it along a final leg to the destination  13  in Frankfurt. 
   It can be appreciated that without the expediency of the device  5 , for the shipper  10  to have visibility into the location and status of the container  20  would require coordination among a variety of service providers including at least the operator of the truck  22  in Texas, overseas carrier  50 , English Channel barge company  60 , European intra-city rail transport carrier that operates the train  70 , as well as the trucking company in Frankfort that operates the truck  82 . The shipper  10  need only purchase and/or lease access to devices  5 , and does not need to purchase and/or lease access to a vary of other infrastructure equipment that might otherwise be necessary to track and/or monitor the container  20  as it is handled by the providers of various transportation modes used in transit from the origin  12  to the destination  13 . 
   The device  5  thus tracks the cargo—not the intermodal transportation apparatus—and thus provides shipper  10  or other cargo owner with the ability to choose which cargos are monitored and how they are monitored. The cargo owner can thus introduce the device  5  anywhere within the transportation supply chain to provide security information that the shipper  10  needs to protect the cargo from theft. 
   A government might also use devices  5  use to protect ports from importation of dangerous cargo; 
     FIG. 2  is a more detailed view of device  5 . The device  5  generally consists of an upper  100 - 1  and lower  100 - 2  housing, and a restraint latch  102  which is hingeably connected to at least part of the housing  100 - 1  via a hinge pin  104 . The housing has a rear recess  106  that is generally cylindrical in nature and running from top to bottom of the device  5 . The recess  106  is designed to allow the device  5  to be secured to a vertical locking bar, to be described below. 
   A locking pin  130  assembly is also associated with the device  5  and is used to secure the device  5  mechanically and electronically in a manner that will be understood shortly. A keypad  112  may be formed on an exterior surface of the lower housing  100 - 2 . In a preferred embodiment, a pair of sensing cables, including a lock sense cable  108  and light sense cable  110  are connected to the unit  5 . A light sensor  116  attached to the light sensor cable  110  is capable of providing electrical signals to the electronics within the unit  5  when a container door is breached. Similarly, the lock sensor  118  associated with lock sensor cable  108  is capable of determining when a lock has been tampered with. Lock sensor  118  may, for example, be a plug  1182  and socket  1180  type sensor, whereby electrical continuity can be detected, i.e., if the plug  1182  is inserted into the socket  1180  or not. 
     FIG. 3  is a rear view of the device  5 . The cables  108 ,  110  are omitted in this view. Here the recess  106  is more clearly visible and the restraint latch  102  is shown in a partially open position. The restraint latch  102  is thus moved to an opened or closed position as indicated by the arrows A, by rotating it about the hinge pin  104 . The restraint latch  102  is used to secure the unit  5  against a vertical locking bar  200  (shown by the dashed lines in  FIG. 3 ) as typically found on a door of a shipping container  20  or truck trailer. Tabs  1020 - 1  and  1020 - 2  formed on an upper and lower portion of the rear of the restraint latch  102  may fit into recesses  1000 - 1  and  1000 - 2  associated respectively with the upper and lower portions  100 - 1 ,  100 - 2  of the housing. A hole  1124  in the bottom of the latch  102  is used to allow the locking bar  130  to pass through the latch  102  and thus to mechanically and electronically secure the device  5 . 
     FIG. 4  is a bottom end view of the device  5  showing a battery chamber portion  210  that is accessible when the restraint latch  102  is in an open position (restraint latch  102  is not shown in  FIG. 4  for clarity). Here, a battery chamber end cap  220  may be opened to insert one or more batteries such as “D” size cells to power the device  5 . Also evident is a hole  1122  through which a bottom portion  530  of locking pin  130  fits when it is engaged to lock the restraint latch  102 . 
     FIG. 5  is an isometric view of internal components of the device  5 , consisting of a circuit board  500  having mounted thereon an antenna ground plane  502  and radiating antenna element  504 . A horn mount servo  506  and servo horn  508  are used to extend or retract, via a wire link  512 , an internal locking pin  510  which is located in between the upper locking shaft  520  and lower locking shaft  530 . The upper and lower locking shafts  520 , 530  connect together and extend the entire height of the interior of the unit to form the pin  130 . The extending portion of the locking pin  130  attaches to the top of the upper locking shaft  520  and is accessible on the exterior of the unit, allowing a user to lift and release the lower locking shaft  530  to pass through holes  1122  and  1124  and into the restraining latch  102 , essentially locking the restraining latch  102  on the unit  5 . 
   The servo  506  can thus activate or deactivate the locking pin  130  electronically. The circuit board  500  has electronics that control the pin  510  and other various components in a manner that is to be described to herein shortly. 
   The antenna  504  is tuned to operate at a radio frequency for data communications such as with a satellite communications system. For example, the radio antenna  504  related wireless data modem and circuitry (not shown) may operate properly with equipment that is available from a variety of vendors that communicate with the Argos system. The Argos system provides long range data communication as well as position information. However, other satellite systems might possible be used such as Globalstar, would be a more regional communication network and/or which may need Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to provide position location information. In any event, the electronics in the device  5  provide position (and optionally other status information), to a server  40  that is accessible to the Internet in a manner which is known in the art. 
   Turning attention now to  FIG. 6 , one manner of installing of the device  5  onto a typical container  20  will be described in greater detail. The container  20  typically has two rear doors including a left hand door  602  and right hand door  604 . Each of the doors  602 ,  604  have one or more vertical locking bars  604 - 1 ,  604 - 2 ,  604 - 3 ,  604 - 4 . In a first step, the restraint latch  102  on a device  5  is opened such as by pulling up the locking pin  130  manually. Once the pin  130  is pulled up, the restraint latch  102  is then moveable to an open position. 
   The device  5  is then placed over the right hand container door  604  with the recess  106  straddling the vertical locking bar  604 - 3  closest to the gap between the two doors  602 ,  604 . The restraint latch  102  is then pivoted to the closed position until the locking pin  130  drops down (through holes  1122 ,  1124 ) and clicks into position. The recess  106  in the back of the device  5  thus permits the restraint latch  102  to securely hold the device to the locking bar  604 - 3   5  for the duration of the shipment of the container  20 . 
   Now with the device  5  secured to the container  20 , the light sensor  116  and door lock sensor  118  can be installed. The light sensor cable  110  is fed through the door opening. As more particularly shown in  FIG. 7 , it is magnetically attached to an interior surface of the door  604 , via a magnetic portion  702  which may be formed as a ferrule of magnetic material formed above the body of light sensor  116 . Light sensor  116  is preferably placed inside the door  604  as far as possible, so that the cable does not catch or drag on cargo as it is loaded or unloaded from the container  20 . A return shipment carton (not shown) for return of the device  5  may be placed in the container  20  at this point. This enables the receiver  11  to return device  5  to its owner (e.g., shipper  10 ) or other custodian via parcel post, overnight delivery service or the like once the cargo container  20  reaches its destination  13 . 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the door lock sensor cable  108  is fed through a door locking handle retainer hole  802 , and the socket  1180  is mated to the plug  1182 . 
   Prior to installing the device  5 , the battery cap  220  can also be removed with new batteries being installed. The battery cap  220  is then reinstalled by turning its threaded portions clockwise. (It should be understood that other arrangements for the batteries are possible, such as bayonet caps.) To confirm that the device  5  is now powered on, lights  1120  ( FIG. 2 ) on the front panel  112  may turn on for a brief period. For example, one of the lights  1120  may be a yellow flashing light that indicates that the unit  5  is ready to be attached to container  20 . 
   At this point, the unit  5  is mechanically attached to the container  20 , but still needs electronic activation. In a preferred embodiment, another device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) utilized with infrared sensors are used to securely activate the device  5 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , such an activation PDA  902  is first placed in close proximity to device  5 . A sequence of menus may then be shown on the screen of the PDA  902  allowing the shipper  10  to enter identification serial numbers for container  20 , destination information, carrier information and other information relevant for the shipment. The activation unit  902  then initiates communication with the device  5  executing an activation sequence. The activation sequence may be encrypted or may use other suitable security measures to ensure that only authorized users are able to activate or deactivate the device  5 . 
   The activation sequence may typically cause the servo  560  to operate, to further secure the pin  130  so that latch  102  locks in position. 
   Once activated, a green light  120  on the front panel  111  may be lit on the device  5  (it may blink approximately once a minute, for example), to indicate that device  5  is in use. Other lights may blink, such as during satellite transmission if so desired. 
   Returning attention briefly to  FIG. 1 , a container  20  having the attached device  5  then travels over its intended itinerary using various modes  20 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70  and  82  of transit to its final destination  13 . During transit, status information is periodically provided via the communication link  30  to satellite  32  and ultimately to the backend system  48 . Status notifications may be at intervals designated by the shipper  20 . 
   The device  5  also preferably broadcasts messages on an instantaneous basis should the lock sensor  108  or light sensor cable  110  provides signals that indicate tampering with the container  20 . For example, if the lock sensor  108  is tampered with such that the socket  1180  becomes disconnected from the plug  1182 , a signal will be generated by the device  5  indicating that the lock has been tampered with. Similarly, in the event that the sensor  116  indicates light being detected within the container the device  5  will send a message. 
   It should be understood that other types of status sensors such as vibration, acoustic, temperature, humidity and other sensors that detect physical or environmental conditions of the container  20  could also indicate problems. 
   Deactivation includes an inverse sequence of events, i.e., entering in the unlock code into the keypad  112  or, alternatively, using a PDA  902  to perform an authorized deactivation sequence to electronically disengage the device  5 . Mechanically, this then includes removing the door lock sensor  118  and light sensor  116 , lifting the locking pin  130 , and pivoting the restraint latch  102  to remove the device  5  from the vertical bar  603 . 
   Data representing the encrypted deactivation sequence can be forwarded to the destination  13 (or a customer  11  or government official) via a secure Internet connection between the backend system  48  and a PDA  902 . Deactivation is also by directional infrared link with an authorized PDA unit  902 , and only authorized de-activation units or valid unlock codes entered into the keypad  112  can cause the device  5  to de-activate upon arrival at the intended destination  13 . 
   The device  5  is small and portable and thereby can be moved easily from one container  20  to another container  20  under the direction of the shipper  10 . Thus, for example, when the device  5  arrives at the destination  13  it can be re-attached to other containers that are traveling in a reverse direction. However, since the shipper  10  is typically the owner of the device  5  and/or its lessor, the device  5  will usually be placed in a return package and mailed back to the shipper  10 . 
   The device  5  provides in-transit visibility cargo without requiring attachment to outside power sources such as power sources that might be available on the particular vehicles used for transit. The device  5  also does not rely on terrestrial communication networks such as local radio networks, cellular telephone networks and the like. The device  5  is thus capable of tracking a cargo container  20  over even a global scale. The owner  10  of cargo may attach a self-contained device  5  to any container  20  of his own interest, and need not purchase or lease access to additional infrastructure. 
   Furthermore, a universal mounting system is provided by the expediency of the recess  106  and restraint latch  102  that fit over a vertical locking bar  604  on a shipping container  20 . The device  5  can thus be adapted to containers  20  handled by various, different, and even unknown types of providers of transportation services. Thus, different transportation modes including trucks, ocean vessels, trains, and the like may use the same container  20  and might be handled by different vendors en route to an ultimate destination point  13 , and yet the device  5  still remains under the control of the shipper  10 . 
     FIG. 10  shows an alternate embodiment of a device  5  having a mechanical configuration that is different from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , but which provides the same functions. In this embodiment, mounting arms  1200 - 1 ,  1200 - 2  are used to attach the device  5  to the securing bar  604 - 3 , another locking arm  1204  located within the device  5  is used to lock to the vertical bar  604 - 3 . Thus the device  5  is attached to the container by hooking the mounting arms  1200  around a container locking bar  604 ,extending the movable locking arm  1204  outward by rotating a bar ratchet  1202  until the securing bar is tightly engaged. Once this process is completed the device  5  can be electronically locked by activating a servo  560  which further controls the locking arm  1204  (or ratchet  1202 ), as previously described, to electronically lock the device  5 . 
   While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.