Patent Abstract:
A wireless data communications network system for establishing communication between a server and a plurality of containers that are loaded onto a cargo vessel. The system includes a data communications device configured to establish and manage a pre-configured wireless data communications network and to communicate with the server through a local area network, and a plurality of electronic tracking devices each having a wireless transceiver and routing capabilities and configured to be joined to a container and to connect to the wireless data communications network upon being activated. The data communications device is configured to intermittently perform a network scan to locate each tracking device connected to the network and reconfigure the network topology to include each connected tracking devices such that the data communications device maintains mutual communication with each connected tracking device using the routing capabilities of the tracking devices.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, and is a continuation of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/140,253 filed Jun. 16, 2008, which &#39;253 application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, and is a continuation-in-part of:
       (I) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/610,427 filed Dec. 13, 2006, and which &#39;427 application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, and is a continuation of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/161,545 filed Aug. 8, 2005, and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,668, which &#39;545 application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) and §120 to and through each of, and is a continuation-in-part of:
           (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/604,032 filed Jun. 23, 2003, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,934,540, which is,
               (a) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,282 filed Mar. 13, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, which &#39;282 application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and   (b) a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US01/49513 filed Dec. 26, 2001, expired, designating the United States and published in English as WO 03/032501 A2, which PCT Application is a,
                   (i) continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,282 filed Mar. 13, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, which &#39;282 application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and   (ii) nonprovisional of,    (A) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and    (B) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,398 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired;   
                   
               (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/514,336 filed Nov. 12, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,771, which &#39;336 application is a national stage of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US03/14987 filed May 14, 2003, expired, designating the United States and published in English as WO 03/098851, which &#39;987 application is a,
               (a) continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,282 filed Mar. 13, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, which &#39;282 application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired,   (b) continuation-in-part of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US01/49513 filed Dec. 26, 2001, expired, which is a,
                   (i) continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,282 filed Mar. 13, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, which &#39;282 application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and   (ii) nonprovisional of    (A) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and    (B) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,398 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and   
                   (c) nonprovisional of,
                   (i) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/380,195 filed May 14, 2002, expired, and   (ii) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/380,670 filed May 16, 2002, expired;   
                   
               (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/987,884 filed Nov. 12, 2004, and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,133,704, which &#39;884 application is a continuation of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US03/14987 filed May 14, 2003, expired, which &#39;987 application is a,
               (a) continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,282 filed Mar. 13, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired,   (b) continuation-in-part of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US01/49513 filed Dec. 26, 2001, expired, which &#39;513 application is a,
                   (i) continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,282 filed Mar. 13, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, which &#39;282 application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and   (ii) nonprovisional of    (A) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and    (B) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,398 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and   
                   (c) nonprovisional of,
                   (i) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/380,195 filed May 14, 2002, expired, and   (ii) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/380,670 filed May 16, 2002, expired; and   
                   
               (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/987,964 filed Nov. 12, 2004, and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,264, which &#39;964 application is a continuation of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US03/14987 filed May 14, 2003, expired, which &#39;987 application is a,
               (a) continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,282 filed Mar. 13, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, which &#39;282 application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired,   (b) continuation-in-part of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US01/49513 filed Dec. 26, 2001, expired, which &#39;513 application is a,
                   (i) continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,282 filed Mar. 13, 2001, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, which &#39;282 application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and   (ii) nonprovisional of    (A) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,637 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and    (B) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,398 filed Dec. 22, 2000, expired, and   
                   (c) nonprovisional of,
                   (i) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/380,195 filed May 14, 2002, expired, and   (ii) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/380,670 filed May 16, 2002, expired; and   
                   
               
           (II) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,765 filed Jan. 10, 2006, and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,394,361, which &#39;765 application is a nonprovisional patent application of, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to, each of:
           (1) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/766,223 filed Jan. 1, 2006, expired;   (2) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/596,930 filed Oct. 31, 2005, expired;   (3) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/642,632 filed Jan. 10, 2005, expired;   (4) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,073 filed Jun. 3, 2005, expired;   (5) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,415 filed Jun. 3, 2005, expired;   (6) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/691,574 filed Jun. 17, 2005, expired;   (7) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/691,718 filed Jun. 17, 2005, expired;   (8) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/691,884 filed Jun. 17, 2005, expired;   (9) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/696,159 filed Jul. 1, 2005, expired;   (10) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/709,204 filed Aug. 18, 2005, expired; and   (11) U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/719,061 filed Sep. 21, 2005, expired;   
           III. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/161,542 filed Aug. 8, 2005, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/642,632 filed Jan. 10, 2005, expired;   IV. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/422,304 filed Jun. 5, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,073 filed Jun. 3, 2005, expired;   V. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/422,306 filed Jun. 5, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,073 filed Jun. 3, 2005, expired;   VI. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/422,321 filed Jun. 5, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of both of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/691,884 filed Jun. 17, 2005, expired, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,415 filed Jun. 3, 2005, expired;   VII. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/422,329 filed Jun. 5, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of both of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/691,884 filed Jun. 17, 2005, expired, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,415 filed Jun. 3, 2005, expired;   VIII. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/423,127 filed Jun. 8, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/688,737 filed Jun. 8, 2005, expired;   IX. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/424,845 filed Jun. 16, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/595,233 filed Jun. 16, 2005, expired;   X. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/424,847 filed Jun. 16, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/595,233 filed Jun. 16, 2005, expired;   XI. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/424,849 filed Jun. 16, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/595,233 filed Jun. 16, 2005, expired;   XII. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/424,850 filed Jun. 16, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/595,233 filed Jun. 16, 2005, expired;   XIII. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/425,040 filed Jun. 19, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/691,718 filed Jun. 17, 2005, expired;   XIV. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/425,047 filed Jun. 19, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/691,574 filed Jun. 17, 2005, expired;   XV. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/428,535 filed Jul. 3, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/696,159 filed Jul. 1, 2005, expired;   XVI. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/428,536 filed Jul. 3, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/696,159 filed Jul. 1, 2005, expired   XVII. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/465,466 filed Aug. 18, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of both of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/709,204 filed Aug. 18, 2005, expired, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/719,061 filed Sep. 21, 2005, expired;   XVIII. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/465,796 filed Aug. 18, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of both of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/709,204 filed Aug. 18, 2005, expired, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/719,061 filed Sep. 21, 2005, expired;   XIX. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/555,164 filed Oct. 31, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/596,930 filed Oct. 31, 2005, expired;   XX. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/555,173 filed Oct. 31, 2006, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/596,930 filed Oct. 31, 2005, expired;   XXI. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/618,931 filed Jan. 1, 2007, pending, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/766,223 filed Jan. 1, 2006, expired;   XXII. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,764 filed Jan. 10, 2006, and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,391,321, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/642,632 filed Jan. 10, 2005, expired;   XXIII. International Patent Application No. PCT/US08/54630 filed on Feb. 21, 2008, pending, which is a nonprovisional of each of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/890,990 filed Feb. 21, 2007, expired, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/891,008 filed Feb. 21, 2007, expired, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/891,153 filed Feb. 22, 2007, expired; and   XXIV. International Patent Application No. PCT/US08/54633 filed on Feb. 21, 2008, pending, which is a nonprovisional of each of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/890,990 filed Feb. 21, 2007, expired, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/891,008 filed Feb. 21, 2007, expired, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/891,153 filed Feb. 22, 2007, expired.       
 
         [0066]    Each of the foregoing U.S. patent applications, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patents, international applications and international application publications from which priority is claimed is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0067]    Additionally, the present application hereby incorporates herein by reference each of the following U.S. patent application publications and U.S. patents: 20080303897 titled VISUALLY CAPTURING AND MONITORING CONTENTS AND EVENTS OF CARGO CONTAINER; 20080112378 titled COMMUNICATIONS AND SYSTEMS UTILIZING COMMON DESIGNATION NETWORKING; 20080112377 titled RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION BASED NETWORKS; 20080111692 titled RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION BASED SENSOR; 20070291724 TITLED METHOD FOR SUPPLYING CONTAINER SECURITY; 20070291690 titled SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING CONTAINER SECURITY; 20070273503 titled KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF; 20070268134 titled KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF; 20070268126 titled KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF; 20070159999 titled INTELLIGENT NODE COMMUNICATION USING NETWORK FORMATION MESSAGES IN A MOBILE AD HOC NETWORK; 20070155327 titled DETERMINING PRESENCE OF RADIO FREQUENCY COMMUNICATION DEVICE; 20070099629 titled USING GPS AND RANGING TO DETERMINE RELATIVE ELEVATION OF AN ASSET; 20070099628 titled DETERMINING RELATIVE ELEVATION USING GPS AND RANGING; 20070069885 EVENT-DRIVEN MOBILE HAZMAT MONITORING; 20070043807 titled All WEATHER HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS; 20070041333 titled SENSOR NETWORKS FOR MONITORING PIPELINES AND POWER LINES; 20070004431 titled FORMING AD HOC RSI NETWORKS AMONG TRANSCEIVERS SHARING COMMON DESIGNATION; 20070004331 titled TACTICAL GPS DENIAL AND DENIAL DETECTION SYSTEM; 20070004330 titled SELECTIVE GPS DENIAL SYSTEM; 20070002808 titled TRANSMITTING SENSOR-ACQUIRED DATA USING STEP-POWER FILTERING; 20070002793 titled MAINTAINING INFORMATION FACILITATING DETERMINISTIC NETWORK ROUTING; 20070002792 titled COMMUNICATING VIA NONDETERMINISTIC AND DETERMINISTIC NETWORK ROUTING; 20070001898 titled OPERATING GPS RECEIVERS IN GPS-ADVERSE ENVIRONMENT; 20060289204 titled All WEATHER HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS; 20060287822 titled GPS DENIAL DEVICE DETECTION AND LOCATION SYSTEM; 20060287008 titled REMOTE SENSOR INTERFACE (RSI) HAVING POWER CONSERVATIVE TRANSCEIVER FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING WAKEUP SIGNALS; 20060282217 titled NETWORK AIDED TERRESTRIAL TRIANGULATION USING STARS (NATTS); 20060276963 titled NETWORK AIDED TERRESTRIAL TRIANGULATION USING STARS (NATTS); 20060276161 titled REMOTE SENSOR INTERFACE (RSI) STEPPED WAKE-UP SEQUENCE; 20060274698 titled USING WAKE-UP RECEIVERS FOR SOFT HAND-OFF IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS; 20060237490 titled KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF; 20060023679 titled PROPAGATING AD HOC WIRELESS NETWORKS BASED ON COMMON DESIGNATION AND ROUTINE; 20060023678 titled FORMING COMMUNICATION CLUSTER OF WIRELESS AD HOC NETWORK BASED ON COMMON DESIGNATION; 20060018274 titled COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN POPULATION OF WIRELESS TRANSCEIVERS BASED ON COMMON DESIGNATION; 20040082296 titled NETWORK FORMATION IN ASSET-TRACKING SYSTEM BASED ON ASSET CLASS; U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,668 titled COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN POPULATION OF WIRELESS TRANSCEIVERS BASED ON COMMON DESIGNATION; U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,771 titled BATTERY POWERED WIRELESS TRANSCEIVER HAVING LPRF COMPONENT AND SECOND WAKE UP RECEIVER; U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,468 titled FORMING COMMUNICATION CLUSTER OF WIRELESS AD HOC NETWORK BASED ON COMMON DESIGNATION; U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,132 titled FORMING AD HOC RSI NETWORKS AMONG TRANSCEIVERS SHARING COMMON DESIGNATION; U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,264 titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS HAVING LPRF DEVICE WAKE UP USING WIRELESS TAG; U.S. Pat. No. 7,133,704 titled MANUFACTURE OF LPRF DEVICE WAKE UP USING WIRELESS TAG; U.S. Pat. No. 6,934,540 titled NETWORK FORMATION IN ASSET-TRACKING SYSTEM BASED ON ASSET CLASS; U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 titled CLASS SWITCHED NETWORKS FOR TRACKING ARTICLES; 20080136624 titled KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF; 20080130536 titled METHOD IN A RADIO FREQUENCY ADDRESSABLE SENSOR FOR COMMUNICATING SENSOR DATA TO A WIRELESS SENSOR READER; 20080129458 titled RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION BASED SENSOR; U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,959 titled KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF; U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,958 titled KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,957 titled KEYHOLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRACKING AND MONITORING SHIPPING CONTAINER AND CONTENTS THEREOF. Additionally, the present application expressly incorporates herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,753,775; 6,665,585; and 5,458,042; as well as U.S. Patent Appl. Publication Nos. 2004/0183673 and 2004/0021572. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT STATEMENT 
       [0068]    All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0069]    The present invention generally relates to tracking and/or monitoring assets that are stored and/or transported in shipping containers and, in particular, to facilitating communications for tracking and/or monitoring assets that are stored and/or transported in shipping containers at a level of tracking and/or monitoring that is at or below that of the shipping container. 
         [0070]    The ISO standard maritime and intermodal containers are ubiquitous and the primary means of shipping goods internationally to and from the United States. The container technology is a mature and well established practice with over 16 million containers worldwide. This in-place infrastructure represents billions of dollars in capital for shippers and terminal operators, most of which is designed to handle and transport the standardized ISO container. 
         [0071]    In the last decade, and with increased emphasis following the passage of the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Department of Homeland Security has devoted considerable resources toward securing maritime cargo. Indeed, container tracking and sensor monitoring have taken on added importance with the realization that a container shipped into the US could cause severe damage if a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) were to be smuggled therein. Programs that have been initiated include Operation Safe Commerce, the Container Security Initiative, C-TPAT, and the Smart Container initiative. The development continues with programs such as the Advanced Container Security Device and the Automated Commercial Environment. Unfortunately, all of these programs suffer from a lack of granularity in the level of tracking and monitoring provided. More specifically, none of the contemplated security and information systems are being designed to track or monitor a unit any smaller than today&#39;s ISO container. It is believed that a better system would include tracking and/or monitoring not only of such shipping containers as a whole, but the individual assets within such shipping containers as well. 
         [0072]    Accordingly, in furtherance of the protection and security of international and national commerce, and in the interests of U.S. national security, one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention is intended to facilitate communications for tracking and/or monitoring of assets that are stored and/or transported within the ISO standard maritime and intermodal container, i.e., to provide visibility at a granularity below that of merely tracking or monitoring the shipping container itself. In this respect, one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention facilitates the tracking and/or the monitoring of not only the shipping container, but the contents within the container as well. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0073]    The present invention includes many aspects and features. 
         [0074]    In an aspect of the invention, a shipping container is equipped to facilitate wireless communications between one or more wireless communication devices within the shipping container and a network that is external to the shipping container. The shipping container includes: a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and a communication device, adapted for wireless communications with the external network, that includes a first housing component and a second housing component. The first housing component is disposed substantially exterior to the wall structure of the shipping container, and the second housing component is disposed substantially interior to the wall structure of the shipping container. Furthermore, the first and second housing components together form an integrated housing structure that extends through a small opening in the wall structure of the shipping container. Because the communication device physically extends through the small opening of the shipping container, it is sometimes referred to hereinbelow as a “keyhole” communication device. 
         [0075]    Additionally, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the keyhole communication device includes a first antenna disposed within the first housing component and first electronic circuitry disposed within the second housing and connected to the first antenna. The first electronic circuitry is adapted to control signal reception and transmission via the first antenna for communications with the external network and for communications with the wireless communication devices within the shipping container. Furthermore, the small opening in the wall structure of the shipping container preferably includes a diameter that is between about one-quarter to one full wavelength of the signals that are transmitted and received by the first antenna under the control of the first circuitry. 
         [0076]    In a feature of this aspect, the first antenna comprises an antenna that is adapted for communications within the 2.4 GHz band such as, for example, an antenna adapted for Bluetooth or WiFi communications. 
         [0077]    In another feature, the communication device further includes a GPS receiver disposed within the second housing component and a patch antenna for the GPS receiver disposed within the first housing component. 
         [0078]    In other features of this aspect, the first electronic circuitry includes a tag turn on circuit (TTOC) for waking up a standards-based radio of the keyhole communication device; and the first electronic circuitry includes tag turn on (TTO) electronics for causing a tag turn on circuit (TTOC) of another communication device to wake up a standards-based radio of the other communication device. 
         [0079]    In another feature, the first electronic circuitry is adapted for communication with one or more wireless tags (WTs), the WTs being associated with assets disposed within the interior of the shipping container. 
         [0080]    In still yet another feature, the first electronic circuitry is configured to form, in conjunction with other communication devices, a class-based network, wherein at least some of the other communication devices are disposed exterior to the shipping container. 
         [0081]    In another feature, the first electronic circuitry is configured to form, in conjunction with other communication devices, a class-based network, wherein at least some of the other communication devices being disposed within the interior of the shipping container. 
         [0082]    In another feature, the shipping container further includes at least one sensor disposed about the shipping container, and the first electronic circuitry is communicatively interfaced with the at least one sensor for acquiring data there from. The interface may be via wireless communication or a direct wired connection. 
         [0083]    In still yet another feature, the wall structure of the shipping container includes a static wall structure and at least one access door, and the keyhole communication device is disposed on the static wall structure and not on the at least one access door. 
         [0084]    In another feature of this aspect, a second antenna is disposed within the second housing component and second electronic circuitry is connected to the second antenna that is adapted to control signal reception and transmission via the second antenna for additional communications with an external network and/or wireless communication devices within the area of the shipping container. With regard to this feature, the first electronic circuitry and the second electronic circuitry are disposed substantially within the second housing component. In a contemplated alternative, the first electronic circuitry and the second electronic circuitry are disposed substantially within the first housing component. In yet another contemplated alternative, the first electronic circuitry is disposed substantially within the first housing component and the second electronic circuitry is disposed substantially within the second housing component. With additional regard to this feature, the second antenna may comprise an antenna that is adapted, for example, for satellite communications or cellular communications. Alternatively, the first antenna comprises an antenna that is adapted, for example, for WiFi communications, WiMAX communications or UWB (Ultra Wide Band) communications. 
         [0085]    In another aspect of the invention, a shipping container equipped for external communications via a wireless network includes: a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and a keyhole communication device, adapted for wireless external communication, that includes a first housing component and a second housing component. The first housing component contains a first antenna and a second antenna therein and the second housing component contains an electronics assembly for controlling receptions and transmissions of the first antenna and the second antenna. Additionally, the first housing component is mounted on an exterior portion of the wall structure and is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container, and the second housing component is mounted on an interior portion of the wall structure, proximate the first housing component, and is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container. Furthermore, the first antenna is adapted for wireless communication external to the shipping container and the second antenna is adapted for wireless communication internal to the shipping container. 
         [0086]    In still yet another aspect of the invention, a shipping container equipped to facilitate internal and external wireless communications includes: a wall structure for receiving and containing items to be shipped; and a wireless keyhole communication device that includes a first housing component and a second housing component. The first housing component is disposed substantially exterior to the walls of the shipping container, and the second housing component is disposed substantially interior to the walls of the shipping container. The first and second housing components together form an integrated housing structure that extends through an opening in the wall structure of the shipping container. Furthermore, the keyhole communication device includes an antenna disposed within the first housing component and electronic circuitry connected to the antenna that is adapted to facilitate signal transmission via the antenna. Moreover, the opening in the wall of the shipping container includes a diameter of between one-quarter and one full wavelength, inclusive, of the electromagnetic waves used to wirelessly communicate via the antenna, whereby internal and external wireless communications via the antenna are thereby facilitated. 
         [0087]    In still yet another aspect of the invention, a network includes a plurality of wireless keyhole communication devices of shipping containers of one or more of the aforementioned aspects. Additionally, the network may comprise a common designation network, such as a class-based network. 
         [0088]    In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of facilitating wireless communications between one or more wireless communication devices within a shipping container and a network that is external to the shipping container includes the steps of: disposing a wireless keyhole communication device on a shipping container such that a first housing component of the keyhole communication device is disposed on the exterior of the shipping container and a second housing component of the keyhole communication device is disposed within the interior of the shipping container, wherein the first and second housing components together form an integrated housing structure that extends through an opening of the shipping container, wherein the keyhole communication device is adapted for wireless communications with one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container, and wherein the keyhole communication device is adapted for wireless communications with a network that is external to the shipping container; wirelessly communicating between the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container and the one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container; and wirelessly communicating between the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container and the network that is external to the shipping container. 
         [0089]    In features of this aspect, the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container is disposed on a wall of the shipping container, and the integrated housing structure extends through an opening in the wall of the shipping container. 
         [0090]    In another feature of this aspect, the method further includes the step of disposing a sealing ring on the wall of the shipping container for sealing of the opening in the wall of the shipping container through which the integrated housing structure extends. 
         [0091]    In yet another a feature of this aspect, the opening in the wall of the shipping container includes a diameter of between one-quarter and one full wavelength, inclusive, of the electromagnetic waves used to wirelessly communicate between the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container and the one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container. 
         [0092]    In a feature of this aspect, the frequency of the wirelessly communications between the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container and the one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container is within the 2.4 GHz band. 
         [0093]    In other, alternative features of this aspect, the wall comprises a side wall of the shipping container; a top wall of the shipping container; a bottom wall of the shipping container; and a wall of an access door of the shipping container. Preferably, the wall comprises a side wall, which configuration is believed to afford greater protection for the housing of the keyhole communication device than the other contemplated locations on the shipping container. 
         [0094]    In still yet another aspect of the invention, a shipping container that facilitates wireless communications between one or more wireless communication devices within an interior thereof and a network that is external thereto includes a wireless keyhole communication device that is disposed on the shipping container such that a first housing component of the keyhole communication device is disposed on the exterior of the shipping container and a second housing component of the keyhole communication device is disposed within the interior of the shipping container. 
         [0095]    In accordance with this aspect, the first and second housing components together form an integrated housing structure that extends through an opening of the shipping container; the keyhole communication device is adapted for wireless communications with one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container; and the keyhole communication device is adapted for wireless communications with a network that is external to the shipping container. 
         [0096]    In a feature of this aspect, the first housing component of the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container includes an antenna for communications with the network that is external to the shipping container. The antenna may comprises an antenna adapted for remote communications including, for example, satellite, WiMAX, UWB, or cellular communications. 
         [0097]    In another feature of this aspect, the first housing component of the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container includes a GPS receiver, and the first housing component of the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container includes a patch antenna disposed in electronic communication with the GPS receiver. 
         [0098]    In a feature of this aspect, the first housing component of the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container includes an antenna for communications with the one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container. 
         [0099]    In another feature of this aspect, at least one of the wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container comprises a remote sensor interface (RSI). With regard to this feature, the RSI may be disposed in electronic communication with at least one sensor and is adapted to communicatively interface with the at least one sensor via wireless communication or via a direct wired connection. The sensor may comprises, for example, a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a radiation sensor, a video camera, a still camera, an electronic seal sensor, and/or a microphone. 
         [0100]    In another feature of this aspect, at least one of the wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container comprises a wireless tag reader (WT reader). With regard to this feature, assets disposed within the interior of the shipping container may include radiofrequency identification tags (RFID tags or “WTs”) associated therewith, and a remote sensor interface (RSI) may comprise a WT reader. 
         [0101]    In a feature of this aspect, the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container comprises a WT reader and the one or more wireless communication devices disposed within the interior of the shipping container comprise one or more WTs associated with assets within the shipping container. 
         [0102]    In a feature of this aspect, the keyhole communication device disposed on the shipping container is disposed, itself, in electronic communication with at least one sensor. 
         [0103]    In a feature of this aspect, the network exterior to the shipping container comprises wireless communication devices, each of which is disposed on a respective shipping container. 
         [0104]    In other features of this aspect, the network exterior to the shipping container comprises a wide area network (WAN) that includes Internet communications, cellular communications, and/or satellite communications. 
         [0105]    In still yet another feature of this aspect, the first and second housing components are separately formed but are adapted to be secured together. In this regard, the first and second housing components may include correspondingly-threaded fittings adapted to be screwed together. Furthermore, the electronics assembly may include first electrical contacts disposed in the first housing component and second electrical contacts disposed in the second housing component, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected to one another when the first housing component is secured to the second housing component. 
         [0106]    In still yet another feature of this aspect, the first and second housing components are integrally formed. 
         [0107]    In yet another feature of this aspect, the first and second housing components are formed from a material that does not significantly impede transmission of RF energy. 
         [0108]    In still yet another feature of this aspect, the first and second housing components have external configurations adapted to conform to respective surface contours of the shipping container. 
         [0109]    In another feature of this aspect, the shipping container comprises an ISO intermodal shipping container. 
         [0110]    Another aspect of the invention relates to a communication device for attaching to a shipping container. The communication device includes an electronics assembly, including an antenna, for wireless communication; a first housing component, containing the antenna, that is adapted to be mounted on an exterior wall of a shipping container such that the first housing component is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container and substantially surrounds an opening in the wall of the shipping container; and a second housing component adapted to be mounted on an interior wall of the shipping container, proximate the first housing component, such that the second housing is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container and substantially surrounds the opening in the wall of the shipping container. 
         [0111]    In a feature of this aspect, the first housing component defines a first hollow interior, wherein the second housing component defines a second hollow interior, and wherein the first hollow interior is contiguous with the second hollow interior via the opening in the wall of the shipping container. 
         [0112]    In another aspect of the invention, a communication device for attaching to a shipping container includes: an electronics assembly, including first and second antennas and circuitry connecting the first and second antennas together, for wireless communication; a first housing component, containing the first and second antennas, that is adapted to be mounted on an exterior wall of a shipping container such that the first housing component is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container; and a second housing component, containing the electronic circuitry for controlling transmissions and receptions by the first and the second antennas, that is adapted to be mounted on an interior wall of the shipping container, proximate the first housing component, such that the second housing is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container. 
         [0113]    In a feature of this aspect, the first antenna is adapted for wireless communication external to the shipping container and the second antenna is adapted for wireless communication internal to the shipping container. 
         [0114]    In still yet another aspect of the invention, a method of attaching a communication device to a shipping container includes the steps of: providing a communication device, adapted for wireless external communication, that includes a first housing component and a second housing component, the first housing containing an antenna; positioning the first housing component exterior to the shipping container; positioning the second housing component interior to the shipping container; and securing the first housing component and the second housing component together through the shipping container. 
         [0115]    In a feature of this aspect, the step of positioning the first housing component includes positioning the first housing component such that an external configuration thereof conforms to an external surface configuration of the wall of the shipping container, and the step of positioning the second housing component includes positioning the second housing component such that an external configuration thereof conforms to an internal surface configuration of the wall of the shipping container such that the first and second housing components are protected within recesses of the shipping container. 
         [0116]    In another feature of this aspect, the method further includes the preliminary step of forming an opening in the wall of the shipping container through which the first and second housing components are secured together. With regard to this feature, the step of forming the opening in the wall of the shipping container may include forming the opening with a diameter of between one-quarter and one full wavelength, inclusive, of radiofrequency waves used to communicate within a 2.4 GHz band. 
         [0117]    In an aspect of the invention, a method of attaching a communication device to a shipping container includes steps of: providing a communication device, adapted for wireless external communication, that includes a first housing component and a second housing component, the first housing containing an antenna; mounting the first housing component on an exterior wall of a shipping container such that the first housing component is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container and substantially surrounds an opening in the wall of the container; and mounting the second housing component on an interior wall of the shipping container, proximate the first housing component, such that the second housing component is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container and substantially surrounds the opening in the wall of the shipping container. 
         [0118]    In a feature of this aspect, the step of mounting the first housing component includes mounting the first housing component such that the first housing component defines a first hollow interior, wherein the step of mounting the second housing component includes mounting the second housing component such that the second housing component defines a second hollow interior and such that the first hollow interior is contiguous with the second hollow interior via the opening in the wall of the shipping container. 
         [0119]    Another aspect of the invention includes a method of attaching a communication device to a shipping container. The method includes the steps of: providing a communication device, adapted for wireless external communication, that includes a first housing component and a second housing component, the first housing containing a first antenna and a second antenna; mounting the first housing component on an exterior wall of the shipping container such that the first housing component is disposed substantially exterior to the shipping container; and mounting the second housing component on an interior wall of the shipping container, proximate the first housing component, such that the second housing component is disposed substantially interior to the shipping container. The second housing component includes circuitry for controlling transmissions and receptions of the first antenna and the second antenna. 
         [0120]    In a feature of this aspect, the method further includes the steps of: communicating wirelessly, via the first antenna, with communication devices external to the shipping container; and communicating wirelessly, via the second antenna, with communication devices internal to the shipping container. 
         [0121]    Another aspect of the invention includes a method for tracking and/or monitoring contents of an ISO intermodal shipping container. The method includes the steps of: wirelessly communicating, by a keyhole communication device attached to the shipping container, via a first antenna that is disposed within a first housing component of the communication device, with one or more communication devices within the interior of the shipping container; and wirelessly communicating, by the keyhole communication device attached to the shipping container, with a network external to the shipping container, the wireless communications including information relating to the tracking and/or the monitoring of the contents of the shipping container. In accordance with this aspect, the first and second housing components are secured together through a wall of the shipping container, with the first housing component residing substantially within the interior of the shipping container and with the second housing component residing substantially exterior to the shipping container. The wireless communications are controlled by circuitry within the second housing component of the keyhole communication device. 
         [0122]    In a feature of this aspect, the keyhole communications device communicates to the external network via a second antenna that is disposed within the first housing component of the keyhole communication device. 
         [0123]    In a feature of this aspect, each communication device is associated with one or more respective contents of the shipping container, and the information relates, respectively, to the respective tracking and/or the monitoring of the contents of the shipping container. 
         [0124]    In a feature of this aspect, the method also includes the step of sending a message to the keyhole communication device attached to the shipping container that results in the keyhole communication device sending a message to the communication devices within the interior of the shipping container. The message that is sent to the communication devices within the interior of the shipping container further may result in at least one of the communication devices sending a message to the keyhole communication device and, further, the sending, in response thereto, of a message from the keyhole communication device to the external network. 
         [0125]    In addition to the aforementioned aspects and features of the invention, it should be noted that the invention further includes the various possible combinations of such aspects and features, including the combinations of such aspects and features with those aspects and features of the incorporated references from which priority is claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0126]    One or more preferred embodiments of the invention now will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not intended to be to scale, and wherein: 
           [0127]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a shipping port in which an asset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized. 
           [0128]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a warehouse in which an asset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized. 
           [0129]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a shipping port in which an asset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized that has shipping containers with keyhole communication devices attached thereto in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0130]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a warehouse in which an asset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized that has shipping containers with keyhole communication devices attached thereto in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0131]      FIG. 5A  is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of the network-connected keyhole communication device attached to an ISO shipping container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0132]      FIG. 5B  is a block diagram illustrating an alternative implementation of the network-connected keyhole communication device attached to an ISO shipping container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0133]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating another implementation of the network-connected keyhole communication device attached to an ISO shipping container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0134]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are side cross-sectional views of a keyhole communication device for attaching to a shipping container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0135]      FIGS. 9A-9D  are block diagrams of several alternative arrangements of the elements of the electronics assembly in a keyhole communication device, illustrating the relative disposition of the elements therein. 
           [0136]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are side elevational views of additional keyhole communication devices for attaching to shipping containers in accordance with other preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0137]    As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the present invention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0138]    Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present invention, and is made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself. 
         [0139]    Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps of various processes or methods that are described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and orders while still falling within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by the appended claims rather than the description set forth herein. 
         [0140]    Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the Ordinary Artisan based on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan should prevail. 
         [0141]    Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to “a picnic basket having an apple” describes “a picnic basket having at least one apple” as well as “a picnic basket having apples.” In contrast, reference to “a picnic basket having a single apple” describes “a picnic basket having only one apple.” 
         [0142]    When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus, reference to “a picnic basket having cheese or crackers” describes “a picnic basket having cheese without crackers”, “a picnic basket having crackers without cheese”, and “a picnic basket having both cheese and crackers.” Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.” Thus, reference to “a picnic basket having cheese and crackers” describes “a picnic basket having cheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers,” as well as describes “a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basket further has cheese.” 
         [0143]    Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like components throughout the several views, preferred embodiments of the present invention are next described. The following description of preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0144]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a shipping port in which an asset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized, and  FIG. 2  is an illustration of a warehouse in which an asset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized. Both the shipping port and warehouse illustrations include the use of shipping containers  102 , such as, for example, ISO standard maritime and intermodal containers. In many such environments, highway-only trailers  100  also are utilized. 
         [0145]    The asset monitoring and/or tracking systems of  FIGS. 1 and 2  each utilizes wireless tag readers  40 , located within the highway trailers  100  and shipping containers  102 , for reading wireless tags and/or for receiving sensor acquired data from sensors within or associated with the highway trailers  100  and shipping containers  102  in accordance with the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2, International Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/032501 A2 (designating the United States and published in English), and International Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/098851 A1 (designating the United States and published in English), each of which has been incorporated herein by reference. As used herein, the term “wireless tag” (“WT”) refers to a wireless transceiver that is associated with an asset to be tracked. WTs can be, for example, passive, active, or semi-passive, but preferably each WT is a semi-passive transceiver. Also as used herein, the term “wireless tag reader” (“WT reader”) refers to a wireless transceiver that generally is used to read WTs. WT readers can be, for example, passive, active, or semi-passive, but preferably each WT reader is an active transceiver. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , highway trailers  100  and shipping containers  102  and the contents thereof may be tracked using WTs, sensors, WT readers and the principles described in the above-mentioned patent references. 
         [0146]    In particular, as described in these patent references, gateways  50  (sometimes referred to as “gateway controllers” or “GC”) are mounted in spaced relation to each other and connected together to a server-based application  106  via a wide area network (WAN)  112 , which may include, for example, the Internet. The gateways  50  are used to wirelessly communicate with and obtain information from the WT readers  40  according to principles well disclosed in the references. The wireless communications preferably comprise radiofrequency communications whose transmissions are within the 2.4 GHz band, such as Bluetooth communications or WiFi communications. 
         [0147]    Additionally, mobile gateways  51  are illustrated on the trucks pulling the containers  102  and trailers  100  and include satellite communications, whereby communications may be passed through the mobile gateways  51  between the WT readers  40  and the server-based application  106 , even during transportation of the shipping containers  102  and highway trailers  100  in remote areas. As shown, the mobile gateways  51  are mounted on the cabs of the trucks and preferably are powered by the electrical systems of the trucks for communications with the WT readers  40  via, for example, Bluetooth communications, as well as for communication with the WAN  112  via satellite communications. The mobile gateways  51  further may include cellular communication capabilities, WiFi capabilities, UWB (Ultra Wide Band) capabilities and/or WiMAX capabilities in addition to, or in substitution for, the satellite communication capabilities for communications with the WAN  112 . 
         [0148]    A drawback to the systems shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is that communications with WT readers  40  disposed within the trailers  100  and shipping containers  102 , both by the gateways  50  and the mobile gateways  51 , can be degraded due to the construction materials of the walls of the trailers  100  and shipping containers  102 , which often are made of steel or an alloy thereof. Such materials reduce the range and effectiveness of radiofrequency communication, which is the preferred mode of communication with the WT readers  40 . This problem furthermore is aggravated when maritime shipping containers  102  are stacked during storage and transportation. Although less of an issue, a similar problem exists when highway trailers  100  are closely parked together in trucking depots or warehouse environments. Accordingly, in addressing this problem and as used herein, the term “shipping container” is intended to refer broadly to both the standard ISO maritime shipping containers as well as highway-only trailers and the like. 
         [0149]    Within the context of the shipping containers  100 ,  102  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention improves communications between internal and external communication devices in order to provide improved visibility of assets within the shipping containers  100 ,  102 . In this respect, various keyhole communication devices  500  are provided that improve communications between the interior and exterior of the shipping containers, even when the shipping containers are stacked during storage and transportation or closely parked beside each other. In this context, the keyhole communication devices  500  of the present invention are described in detail below and with reference to the various drawings. 
         [0150]    Accordingly,  FIG. 3  generally illustrates a shipping port in which an asset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized that has shipping containers with keyhole communication devices attached thereto in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  generally illustrates a warehouse in which an asset monitoring and/or tracking system is utilized that has shipping containers with keyhole communication devices attached thereto in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It will be appreciated from comparison of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with  FIGS. 3 and 4  that the keyhole communication devices of the invention communicate not only with the satellite  116  in the manner of the mobile gateways  51  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but also with the stationary gateways  50  in the manner of the WT readers  40  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this regard, the keyhole communication devices  500  of the preferred embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4  communicate both with the WT readers (not shown) disposed within the interior of the shipping containers  100 ,  102  and with various external communication devices, including, for example, the satellite  116  and the stationary gateways  50 . The keyhole communication device  500  of each shipping container  100 ,  102  thus serves as a liaison between internal and external communications. 
         [0151]    Furthermore, as discussed in greater detail below, the keyhole communication device  500  itself may receive, process, and transmit messages intended for and authored by the keyhole communication device  500  or, alternatively, the keyhole communication device  500  may simply function as a repeater and pass communications to and from the interior of the shipping container, repeating each message as it is received. Still yet, the keyhole communication device  500  may include operational modes. In the first mode, the keyhole communication device  500  may receive, process, and transmit messages intended for and authored by the keyhole communication device  500 , and in the second mode, the keyhole communication device  500  may simply function as a repeater and pass communications to and from the interior of the shipping container, repeating each message as it is received. The mode of operation also may be remotely selected. For instance, if the keyhole communication device  500  includes class-based (or common designation based) wake-up features as disclosed in some of the incorporated references, then the mode of operation may be dependent upon the common designation that is used to wake-up the keyhole communication device  500 . 
         [0152]    The shipping containers  100 ,  102  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  are now described with respect to the exemplary shipping container  102  of  FIG. 5A . In this respect,  FIG. 5A  illustrates an implementation of a network-connected keyhole communication device  500  attached to an exemplary ISO maritime shipping container  102  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0153]    As more fully described herein below, the keyhole communication device  500  is mounted on a part of the wall structure of the container  102  with one portion being disposed within the interior of the container  102  and another portion being disposed outside of the container  102 . Furthermore, while the keyhole communication device  500  may be mounted on any suitable portion of the wall structure, including a door, the ceiling, the floor, and any side wall, it is frequently advantageous to mount the keyhole communication device  500  at a relatively high elevation on one of the side walls of the container  102 . The higher location helps minimize interference during the above-described communications with the WAN  112 . In addition, it has been found that electronics devices are often subjected to excessive jarring, shaking and bumping when mounted on access doors due to the additional movement caused by opening and closing of the doors and, thus, it is preferred that the keyhole communication device  500  be mounted on a more stable structure, such as on one of the side walls, in order to avoid any unnecessary jarring, shaking and bumping. Furthermore, the side wall is preferred to the ceiling and floor, as it is believed that the keyhole communication device  500  would be less susceptible to damage if attached to the side wall. Indeed, the housing components of the keyhole communication device  500  preferably conform to and fit within the ribbed/corrugated-shaped recesses of the side walls for added protection of the keyhole communication device  500 . 
         [0154]    The keyhole communication device  500  as illustrated is disposed in at least intermittent electronic communication with the WAN  112  by way of any of a wide variety of technologies, including but not limited to WiFi, Bluetooth, mobile phone, satellite, and the like, or a combination thereof. In particular, the keyhole communication devices  500  communicate with gateways that provide access to the WAN  112 . in the exemplary systems of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the communication devices  500  communicate with stationary gateways  50  and mobile gateways  51 . For example, the mobile gateways  51  communicate with a satellite  116 . The satellite  116  is, in turn, connected via the WAN  112  to the server-based tracking and/or monitoring application  106 , which is generally embodied by a network server  118  and an associated database system  120 , but other topologies will be apparent to the Ordinary Artisan. Similarly, the stationary gateways  50  preferably include a centralized broadband connection to the Internet and WAN  112  for communicating with the server-based tracking and/or monitoring application  106 . Such a tracking and/or monitoring application  106  is more fully disclosed in the aforementioned incorporated references and is not further described herein. 
         [0155]    Various communication protocols may be utilized in the communications by the keyhole communication devices  500  with the various gateways. Moreover, different keyhole communication devices  500  may have different capabilities for communications. In this regard, one keyhole communication device  500  may include only Bluetooth or WiFi capabilities for communicating with a gateway, while another keyhole communication device  500  may include cellular or satellite capabilities for communicating with a gateway. 
         [0156]    In any event, the keyhole communication device  500  comprises a two-way communication device that preferably communicates not only with gateways, but also communicates with additional communication devices  134  disposed within the interior of the shipping containers  102 . In an exemplary scenario, illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the additional communication devices  134  comprise, for example, WT readers, each of which may further communicate with WTs  136  that are associated with assets or items  60  that are being shipped within the container. Alternatively, however, the keyhole communication device  500  may communicate directly with the WTs  136 , as shown in  FIG. 5B , provided that the keyhole communication device includes the capabilities required for reading the WTs. The communication devices  134  may be packaged within the packaging of the respective items  60 , integrated into pallets of the respective items  60 , integrated into the packaging, integrated or disposed within the items  60  themselves, or integrated with the items  60  in any other matter as desired. The communication devices  134  located in the shipping container  102  also preferably form ad hoc class-based networks as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027 B2; International Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/032501 A2 (designating the United States and published in English); and International Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/098851 A1 (designating the United States and published in English), each of which is incorporated herein by reference. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the keyhole communication device  500  of the present invention may represent a gateway itself to the communication devices  134  within the shipping container  102 , in accordance with these incorporated patent references. 
         [0157]    In this respect, the keyhole communication device  500  facilitates communication between the communication devices  134  located within the shipping container  102  and the server-based application  106  that is located remotely from the shipping container  102 . Specifically, data is communicated from the communication devices  134  to the keyhole communication device  500 , and the data, and/or data indicative thereof, is further communicated from the keyhole communication device  500  via a gateway  50 , 51  over the WAN  112  to the server  118 , whereat the communicated data preferably is stored in the database system  120 . The data communication between the communication devices  134  and the keyhole communication device  500 , and between the keyhole communication device  500  and a gateway  50 , 51 , is accomplished in accordance with a standardized communications protocol, including Bluetooth and WiFi communication protocols. Furthermore, the data may be communicated upon a triggering event and/or in response to inquiries sent from the server  118 , as desired. The data also may be transmitted at regularly scheduled intervals, as desired. 
         [0158]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating another implementation of a network-connected keyhole communication device  500  in an exemplary maritime shipping container  102  in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. This keyhole communication device  500  is implemented in generally similar fashion to the keyhole communication device  500  described with regard to  FIG. 5A . More particularly, the keyhole communication device  500  is mounted on a wall of the container  102  with one portion inside the container  102  and another portion outside the container  102 . The keyhole communication device  500  is at least intermittently in communication with the WAN  112 , which may utilize any of a wide variety of technologies, including but not limited to WiFi, Bluetooth, mobile phone, satellite, and the like, or a combination thereof. The WAN  112  is, in turn, connected to the tracking application  106  which is generally embodied by the network server  118  and the associated database system  120  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0159]    In this implementation, however, the keyhole communication device  500  comprises a two-way communication device that is capable of communication with other nearby wired or wireless devices  130 ,  132 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , several such nearby devices  130 ,  132  may be distributed throughout the shipping container  102  or located nearby the shipping container (not shown). In this implementation, each device  130 ,  132  comprises a sensor with which the communication device  500  is interfaced. Alternatively, each device  130 ,  132  may comprise a remote sensor interface (“RSI”) with which the keyhole communication device  500  wirelessly communicates, with the RSIs being interfaced with the sensors. The sensors may include, but are not limited to, temperature sensors, motion sensors, humidity sensors, radiation sensors, video cameras, still cameras, microphones, electronic/magnetic seal sensors, and the like, whereby conditions, characteristics, etc. regarding the shipping container and/or the contents thereof may be monitored and/or tracked. If provided, communications between the RSIs and the keyhole communication device preferably are carried out in accordance with a standardized communications protocol, including Bluetooth and WiFi communication protocols. 
         [0160]    Indeed, as used herein, the term “sensor” is intended to relate broadly to many types of devices that are each in some way sensitive to the security, integrity, configuration, condition, disposition, orientation, location, contents, or surroundings of a container  102 . Thus, a sensor can be a seal monitor that detects openings and closures of a container  102 . A sensor can be an inclination monitor for detecting the overturning or tipping of a container  102  that should be maintained in a particular orientation. A sensor can be a device or array of devices for measuring state conditions of a container  102  or that of its contents such as temperature, volume, weight or mass, and pressure. A sensor can be any activity-monitoring or reconnaissance device such as a camera, a microphone, a motion detector, a light detector, and a broad-band RF signal scanner. A sensor can be a device for detecting physical presence, asset movement, and tampering such as a pressure-sensitive pad on a floor or surface, a switch on an access-panel, and an optical device such as an infra-red beam device, or an on-board accelerometer. A sensor also can be a device that detects any hazardous material, such as those that represent chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats. Such a sensor thus could be used to detect weapons of mass destruction within the shipping container  102 . 
         [0161]    The devices  130 ,  132  communicate, via the keyhole communication device  500 , with the server-based application  106  that is remotely located to the shipping container  102 . In this respect, the keyhole communication device  500  facilitates communication between the communication devices  130 ,  132  located within the shipping container  102  and the server-based application  106  that is located remotely from the shipping container  102 . Specifically, data—including data acquired from the sensors of the shipping container  102  and/or data indicative of the sensor readings from the sensors in the shipping container  102 —is communicated from the communication devices  130 ,  132  to the keyhole communication device  500 , and the data, and/or data indicative thereof, is further communicated from the keyhole communication device  500  via a gateway  50 , 51  over the WAN  112  to the server  118 , whereat the communicated data preferably is stored in the database system  120 . The data communication between the devices  130 ,  132  and the keyhole communication device  500 , and between the keyhole communication device  500  and a gateway  50 , 51 , preferably is accomplished in accordance with a standardized communications protocol, including Bluetooth and WiFi communication protocols. Furthermore, the data may be communicated upon a triggering event and/or in response to inquiries sent from the server  118 , as desired. The data also may be transmitted at regularly scheduled intervals, as desired. 
         [0162]    Furthermore, as will be appreciated from the incorporated references, the implementations of  FIGS. 5 and 6  may be combined, wherein the keyhole communication device  500  acquires and communicates data from communication devices  134  and from devices  130 , 132 . Additionally, a communication device  134  itself may include or be disposed in electronic communication with one or more sensors, such as those described with regard to  FIG. 6 , and sensor acquired data may be obtained from the communication device  134 . 
         [0163]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate side cross-sectional views of a keyhole communication device  500  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the keyhole communication device  500  is installed on a wall  508  of an exemplary shipping containers  102 . As shown therein, the keyhole communication device  500  includes an internal component  502  and an external component  504 . In the illustrated embodiment, the internal component  502  removably engages the external component  504  through a screw-type connection by rotationally inserting, through an opening  506  in the wall  508  of the shipping container  102 , a threaded male fitting  510  of the internal component  502  into a correspondingly-threaded female fitting  512  of the external component  504 . The internal and external components  502 ,  504  are thereby secured together on the wall  508  of the shipping container  102 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the two components  502 ,  504  prior to their engagement, and  FIG. 8  illustrates the two components  502 ,  504  secured together on the wall  508  of the shipping container  102 . 
         [0164]    It should be noted that any manner of securing the internal and external components  502 ,  504  together that result in the external component  504  residing on the exterior of the shipping container  102  and the internal component  502  residing on the interior of the shipping container  102  may be utilized in connection with the present invention, and the screw-type connection is shown only as one possible manner of achieving such a connection in order to provide an enabling disclosure of the present invention. Other manners of securing the components together may include latching, snapping, adhering the two components  502 ,  504  or their equivalents. 
         [0165]    As will be appreciated, it often is desirable to maintain the integrity of the environment within the shipping container  102 , especially with regard to interior temperature and humidity. In order to maintain the integrity of the interior of the shipping container  102 , sealing rings  514 ,  516 , formed from a resilient material such as rubber, are preferably provided between each of the two components  502 ,  504  and the shipping container wall  508  about the opening  506 . The sealing rings  514 ,  516  seal the opening  506  in the wall  508  of the shipping container  102  and at least reduce the amount of, if not eliminate, the moisture that otherwise may pass through the opening  506  in the shipping container wall  508 . The sealing rings  514 ,  516  may further be made of an insulating material to reduce the flow of heat through the opening  506  in the shipping container wall  508  between the interior and exterior of the shipping container  102 . Furthermore, one of the sealing rings  514 ,  516  may be omitted if only a single seal is deemed necessary or desirable in preserving the interior environment of the shipping container  102 . 
         [0166]    Each component  502 ,  504  of a keyhole communication device  500  preferably is made from a radio-frequency (RF) friendly material, i.e., a material that does not significantly impede transmission of RF energy. 
         [0167]    In a variation of a keyhole communication device (not shown), the first and second components are integral with each other and do not constitute separate components. In this regard, an exterior section and an interior section (not shown) may be integrally formed together in a molding process out of one or more RF-friendly materials. Additionally, the opening  506  in a shipping container wall  508  is preferably large enough to accommodate the passing there through of the equivalent of at least one of the sections (i.e., one or both ends of a structure similar to that of the combined components  502 ,  504  as shown in their assembled state in  FIG. 8 ) for securing the keyhole communication device to the shipping container wall  508 . The particular portion that is passed through the opening  506  may include resilient elements to facilitate the insertion of that portion through the opening  506  and, additionally, to provide resistance to removal of that portion from the opening  506 . 
         [0168]    In accordance with the present invention, the keyhole communication device  500  includes an electronics assembly that is housed in one or both of the internal and external components  502 ,  504 . The design and implementation of the electronics assembly depends upon the functionality desired in the keyhole communication device  500 . Indeed, many different variations exist in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, In those keyhole communication devices  500  in which the electronics assembly is distributed between both the internal and external components  502 ,  504 , then the internal and external components  502 ,  504  preferably further include electrical contacts (not shown) that connect when the components  502 ,  504  are secured together. These electrical contacts provide a data communications link between electronics located in each of the two components  502 ,  504  of the keyhole communication device  500  as well as power and ground connections between the two components  502 ,  504 . 
         [0169]    The components of the electronics assembly that are disposed within the external component  504  (i.e., the component of the keyhole communication device  500  that is located exterior to the cargo area of the shipping container  102 ) preferably include an antenna or antennas for wireless communications with a gateway. Depending on the wireless communication protocol used by a particular gateway, the electronics assembly housed in the exterior component  504  may include, for example, an antenna for satellite communications; an antenna for cellular communications; an antenna for WiFi communications; an antenna for WiMAX communications; an antenna for UWB communications; and/or an antenna for Bluetooth communications. Conversely, the components of the electronics assembly housed within the interior component  502  (i.e., the component of the keyhole communication device  500  that is located proximate or within the interior of the cargo area of the shipping container  102 ) preferably include circuitry for sending and receiving transmissions via the one or more antennas housed within the external component  504 . 
         [0170]    In this regard, it is believed to optimal to minimize the size of the exterior component  504  in order to reduce the likelihood of damage to the exterior component  504  when, for example, the shipping containers  102  are stacked during transport and storage. Accordingly, while it nevertheless is preferred to include antennas within the exterior component  504  for increased range of communication with a gateway, it is still preferred to include the associated circuitry for such antennas within the interior component  502 . For this same reason, the internal power source for the electronics assembly of the keyhole communication device  500  also is preferably located within the interior component  502 . 
         [0171]    With particular regard to communications by the keyhole communication device  500  with devices within the shipping container  102  (i.e., with respect to “internal communications”), the antenna for internal communications preferably is disposed within the external component  504 , and the associated circuitry for controlling such communications preferably is disposed within the internal component  502 . Moreover, to the extent that the communications protocol with the gateway  50  is the same as the communications protocol for the internal communications, the antenna and associated electronic circuitry that used for the gateway communications is further used for the internal communications. 
         [0172]    As a result of the preferred location of the antennas within the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500 , it further will be appreciated that one or more of the antennas and associated circuitry may be utilized to establish communications with communications devices, in addition to gateways  50 , that are exterior to but within the general vicinity of the shipping container  102 . Such additional communications with exterior devices may comprise, for example, the establishing of an ad hoc class based network with keyhole communication devices  500  attached to neighboring shipping containers  102 . In this regard, each keyhole communication device  500  may itself comprise a node in such a network, as such network nodes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,027. Furthermore, as disclosed therein, classes and sub-classes may be established that are internal to a particular shipping container  102 , external to a particular shipping container  102 , or that include nodes both inside the shipping container  102  and outside the shipping container  102 . 
         [0173]    Furthermore, such additional communications by the keyhole communication device  500  could comprise, for example, a communications path by which a neighboring keyhole communication device, that otherwise is not equipped to communicate with available gateways  50 , or is having difficulties in carrying out such communications for any of a variety of reasons, nevertheless may communicate to the server-based application  106  via the keyhole communication device  500  through one of the available gateways  50 . Indeed, in such circumstances, and in order to facilitate relatively wide area communications between such keyhole communication devices  500 , each keyhole communication device  500  may include, for example, a WiMAX radio (not shown) for intercommunications between keyhole communication devices  500 . In this regard, the exterior component  504  preferably includes therein the antenna for such WiMAX intercommunications, with the associated circuitry again being disposed within the interior  502 . In such an arrangement, communications may be relayed or “hopped” from one keyhole communication device  500  to another until a gateway  50  or other WAN access point is reached. 
         [0174]    The opening  506  in which the keyhole communication device  500  is secured may be created when the shipping container  102  is manufactured, or alternatively, a shipping container  102  may be retrofitted with a keyhole communication device  500  in accordance with the present invention, preferably by forming an opening in a wall  508  of the shipping container  102 . Retrofitting shipping containers  102  is especially beneficial in view of the large number of existing shipping containers  102  in use in commerce today. 
         [0175]    Importantly, the opening  506  that is formed in the wall  508  of the shipping container  102  preferably includes a diameter of at least one-quarter wavelength, and more preferably a diameter of one full wavelength, of the radio waves that are used to communicate through the opening  506  of the container wall  508  with communication devices within the shipping container  102 . In preferred implementations of the present invention, a frequency within the 2.4 Gigahertz (“GHz”) band is utilized for internal communications and, consequently, the diameter of the opening  506  in the wall  508  of the shipping container  102  preferably includes a diameter of at least 3, and preferably 13 centimeters (“cm”). Of course, the reception improves as the diameter of the opening  506  is increased; however, container integrity is a very significant consideration, and minimizing the size of the hole  506  is an important factor in preserving the integrity of the container  102  and, thus, a preferred diameter range of between 3 and 13 cm, inclusive, is specified herein when the 2.4 GHz band is utilized for such communication. The provision of an opening  506  having such a diameter maintains a high degree of container integrity while at the same time facilitates communications in and out of the shipping container  102  when the antenna that is used for the internal communications is disposed within the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communications device  500 . Positioning of this antenna within the exterior component  504  further enables greater range for communicating with communication devices exterior to the shipping container  102  without loss of communication coverage into and out of the shipping container  102 . Nonetheless, it will be apparent that still-larger diameters may be preferred for applications where improved communication reliability, greater range, or the like, is desired or necessary. Moreover, it will be apparent that diameters larger than 3-13 cm may be necessary or desirable for communication taking place at lower frequencies, and that smaller diameters may be sufficient for communications taking place at higher frequencies. 
         [0176]      FIGS. 9A-9D  are block diagrams of several alternative arrangements of the elements of the electronics assembly in a keyhole communication device  500 , illustrating the relative disposition of the elements therein. A first alternative electronics assembly  550 , shown in  FIG. 9A , includes an antenna  552  disposed in the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500  and circuitry  554  disposed in the interior component  502 . In this arrangement, the antenna  552  is a preferably short-range RF antenna. The circuitry  554  may include a radio portion  556 , a control portion  558 , a battery (not shown) and/or other portions as desired, wherein the radio portion  556  handles the transmission and reception of RF signals and the control portion  558  generally handles all other functions. Given an opening  506  of sufficient diameter (i.e., as described above, a diameter equal to at least one-quarter wavelength, and more preferably one full wavelength, of the radio waves used to communicate through the opening  506 ), the placement of the RF antenna  552  in the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500  permits the device  500  to communicate with nearby gateways  50  and/or other devices, such as neighboring keyhole communication devices  500 , while still facilitating communication, using the same antenna  552 , between the device  500  and communication devices internal to the container  102 . This arrangement of the electronics assembly  550  is preferred for its simplicity and low cost, owing primarily to its single antenna/single radio portion design, but is generally unable to carry out wider-range communications such as cellular communication or the satellite communications illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0177]    A second alternative electronics assembly  560 , shown in  FIG. 9B , includes a first antenna  552  disposed in the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500 , at least a second antenna  562  that is also disposed in the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500 , and circuitry  564  disposed in the interior component  502 . In this arrangement, the first antenna  552  is a preferably short-range RF antenna, while the second antenna  562  is a specialized antenna for longer-range communications, such as a satellite antenna or cellular telephone antenna. The circuitry  564  may include a radio portion  556 ,  566  for each antenna  552 ,  562 , a control portion  568 , a battery (not shown) and/or other portions as desired, wherein a first radio portion  556  handles the transmission and reception of short-range RF signals, a second radio portion  566  handles the transmission and reception of longer-range RF signals, and the control portion  558  generally handles all other functions. Given an opening  506  of sufficient diameter (i.e., as described above, a diameter equal to at least one-quarter wavelength, and more preferably one full wavelength, of the radio waves used to communicate through the opening  506 ), the placement of the RF antenna  552  in the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500  once again permits the device  500  to communicate with nearby gateways  50  and/or other devices, such as neighboring keyhole communication devices  500 , while still facilitating communication, using the same antenna  552 , between the device  500  and communication devices internal to the container  102 . In addition, the second radio portion  566  and antenna  562  permit this arrangement of the electronics assembly  560  to carry out wider-range communications such as cellular communication or the satellite communications illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , thus providing the ability to track and/or monitor the container  102  and its contents when the container  102  is traveling or otherwise out of the range of one of the fixed-location gateways  50 . 
         [0178]    A third alternative electronics assembly  570 , shown in  FIG. 9C , includes a first antenna  552  disposed in the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500 , a second antenna  572  disposed in the interior component  502  of the keyhole communication device  500 , and circuitry  574  disposed in the interior component  502 . In this arrangement, the first antenna  552  is a preferably short-range RF antenna, while the second antenna  572  is also a short-range antenna intended specifically for wireless communications within the shipping container  102  as contemplated above. The circuitry  574  may include a radio portion  576  for the antennas  552 ,  572 , a control portion  578 , a battery (not shown) and/or other portions as desired, wherein the radio portion  576  handles the transmission and reception of short-range RF signals via either antenna  552 ,  572  and the control portion  578  generally handles all other functions. This arrangement of the electronics assembly  570  is preferred for its ability to communicate both externally and internally with separate antennas  552 ,  572 , thus obviating, or at least reducing, the need for a wall opening  506  of minimum diameter, since there is little or no need for wireless transmissions to pass through the opening  506 . Furthermore, in a first variation of this alternative assembly  570 , the circuitry  574  may further include a second radio portion (not shown), wherein a first radio portion  576  handles the transmission and reception of RF signals via the first antenna  552  and the second radio portion handles the transmission and reception of RF signals via the first antenna  572 . Still further, in a second variation of this alternative assembly  570 , the long-range antenna  562  and radio portion  564  shown in  FIG. 9B  may be combined therewith. 
         [0179]    In an additional variation applicable to one or more of the various alternative electronics assemblies  550 ,  560 ,  570  shown in  FIGS. 9A-9C , the respective electronics assembly may further include, as contemplated hereinabove, a GPS receiver (not shown) for determining a geographic location of the shipping container  102 , whereby data communicated to the server-based application  106  may include locational data of the shipping container  102  as determined by the GPS receiver. Such a keyhole communication device  500  preferably includes a patch antenna for the GPS receiver within the exterior component  504  and includes the GPS receiver within the interior component  502 . 
         [0180]    A fourth alternative electronics assembly  580 , shown in  FIG. 9D , includes an antenna  552  disposed in the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500  and circuitry  584  disposed in the interior component  502 . In this arrangement, the antenna  552  is once again a preferably short-range RF antenna. However, in this arrangement, the circuitry  584  may simply include a radio portion  586 , a battery (not shown) and/or other portions as desired, wherein the radio portion  556  is merely a repeater that handles the reception and retransmission of RF signals. The repeater function may be used to amplify and retransmit signals received from devices inside the shipping container  102 , nearby communication devices such other keyhole communication devices  500  on or in adjacent shipping containers  102 , gateways  50 , or any combination thereof. Given an opening  506  of sufficient diameter (i.e., as described above, a diameter equal to at least one-quarter wavelength, and more preferably one full wavelength, of the radio waves used to communicate through the opening  506 ), the placement of the RF antenna  552  in the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500  permits devices inside the container  102  to communicate, via the keyhole communication device  500 , with nearby gateways  50  and/or other devices, such as neighboring keyhole communication devices  500 . This arrangement of the electronics assembly  550  may be useful as being even simpler and cheaper than the assembly shown in  FIG. 9A , but is limited in its inability to provide any function other than merely repeating (retransmitting) signals into and from the shipping container  102 . 
         [0181]    In order to reduce unnecessary power consumption by a keyhole communication device  500 , each keyhole communication device  500  preferably utilizes the technology disclosed in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/098851 A1 for selective wake-up. This technology is sometimes referred to as “tag turn-on” technology, the electronics responsible for transmitting one or more appropriate RF signals to wake up an intended device is sometimes referred to as “tag turn-on” or “TTO,” and the electronics in the intended device that is responsible for monitoring for the appropriate RF signal or signals and waking up the rest of the device is sometimes referred to as a “tag turn-on circuit” or “TTOC.” In accordance with this feature, a keyhole communication device  500  preferably includes in the exterior component  504  thereof the TTOC, including both the electronics and the antenna thereof, for monitoring for the appropriate RF signal or signals and waking up the rest of the keyhole communication device  500 . In fact, due to the sensitivity of the monitoring for the RF signal to wake up the rest of the keyhole communication device  500 , significant physical separation of the antenna from the electronics of the TTOC is not recommended and, thus, the exterior component  504  of the keyhole communication device  500  preferably contains both the TTOC antenna and the electronics thereof. 
         [0182]    It is furthermore contemplated that communication devices  134  located both interior and exterior to the shipping container  102  will likewise have the technology disclosed in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/098851 A1 for selective wake-up of the respective device  134  in response to an RF signal intended for that device  134 . Accordingly, a keyhole communication device  500  equipped to communicate with such devices  134  preferably includes tag turn-on electronics including an antenna thereof. Furthermore, the TTO electronics and antenna may be contained within the interior component  502  if applied in an implementation that is “shipping container internal centric,” or alternatively, the antenna, and preferably the TTO electronics as well, may be located in the exterior compartment  504  if communication devices  134  both interior and exterior to the shipping container  102  are to be awakened by the keyhole communication device  500 . 
         [0183]    It will be apparent to the Ordinary Artisan that the configuration of the components  502 ,  504  may vary widely but should generally be designed so as to fit within or around any particular contours of the wall  508  of the shipping container  102 . Indeed, walls  508  of shipping containers  102  often have a corrugated shape, and the components  502 ,  504  should preferably have configurations that fit within or conform to such shape for a seamless fit therewith. Various different configurations are illustrated herein. In  FIGS. 7-8 , discussed above, each of the components  502 ,  504  has a cross-sectional configuration that is generally rectangular with rounded corners. Other exemplary configurations are illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B .  FIG. 10A  discloses a communication device  701 , in which the internal and external components  702 ,  704  each have a cross-sectional configuration that is semicircular.  FIG. 10B  discloses yet another communication device  705 , in which the internal and external components  706 ,  708  have differing cross-sectional configurations; in this regard, the internal component  706  has a cross-sectional configuration that is rectangular with square corners, while the external component  708  has a cross-sectional configuration that is trapezoidal, also with square corners. It will be apparent that any suitable configuration may be used for both the internal and external components of a keyhole communication device without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0184]    Many benefits are provided by the present invention. Indeed, one or more benefits provided by various embodiments of the present invention include, inter alia: the protection of electronics inside the shipping container  102 ; the provision of good communications coverage beyond the shipping container  102  with the antennae being disposed outside of the shipping container  102 ; the provision of good communications coverage within the shipping container through the opening in the shipping container wall  508 ; the reduction in power consumption due to the lower output power required to communicate between the interior and exterior of the shipping container  102 ; the ability to position sensors, inside and outside of the container with minimal or no wired connections; and the avoidance of single failure points. 
         [0185]    Based on the foregoing information, it is readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those specifically described herein, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalent arrangements; the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8