Patent Abstract:
A method and system providing a transfer container crane with container code recognition of a container identified by a container code to a container inventory management system is disclosed. The system and method are capable of performing these tasks without the use of non-standard container tagging.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to automated container code recognition for use on transfer container cranes providing container handling in cargo container storage yards.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0002]    In the marine shipping industry, the expected annual container traffic growth is from 4.7% to 7.6%. Container terminals are faced with the challenge of maintaining the inventory control for these escalating numbers of containers. The input, ouput and storage of containers at these terminals must provide an efficiency level that is at least consistent with, or exceeds, past performance.  
           [0003]    Present and future growth levels have compelled terminal management companies to look for new systems to bring about more efficient resource control and, as a consequence, provide a more profitable operation.  
           [0004]    Shipping companies wish to reduce the time a ship spends at port in order to increase the productivity of each vessel. Increasing the productivity of berthing operations allows ships to be loaded and unloaded faster, effectively reducing the time spent at port.  
           [0005]    What is needed by both terminal management and shipping companies is a more accurate, real time accounting of incoming, outgoing and existing container inventory. A more efficient container inventory management system is needed to minimize the time spent at a port or rail yard loading and unloading containers.  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a typical berthing process, involving quay container cranes  2200 , transports between quay container cranes  2200  and storage yards, and storage yard containers manipulated by transfer container cranes  2100 , as found in the prior art.  
           [0007]    The berthing operations involve the transport of containers between container ships and the storage yard. Currently, quay container cranes  2200  access the containers from above ships  220  and move them to and from transportation units  210 , such as trucks, each with a chassis, or Automatically Guided Vehicles (AGV&#39;s). The vehicles deliver the containers to storage yards  200  where other vehicles transfer the containers to stacks. The berthing process involves three operations: (1) quay container crane  2200  handling, (2) quay container crane  2200  to storage area  200  transport, and (3) storage area  200  manipulation often by one or more transfer container cranes  2100  as illustrated in FIG. 1.  
           [0008]    Generally, there are two kinds of storage yards  200 , wheeled storage yards  200  and stack (or ground) storage yards  200 . For a wheeled storage yard  200 , each container is on a chassis and there is only one container on a chassis. For a stack (or ground) storage yard  200 , containers are stacked up to  5  levels high.  
           [0009]    The quay container crane  2100  and transport vehicle  210  operations are highly interdependent. A delay in one operation causes the other to pause, reducing the overall productivity of the berthing process. If there are mistakes in these operations, then the overall berthing process is seriously delayed.  
           [0010]    What is needed is a method for reducing errors and supporting efficient operation of the berthing process.  
           [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate typical container codes and their representation on the side of a container as found in the prior art.  
           [0012]    Each cargo container  100  is assigned a unique identification number  110  displayed on the sides and roof of the container. This identification number is represented in the form of a painted code and ID tag. Numerous government agencies and ship regulators require container codes on all containers. As a result, the painted container code representations of numerals and letters are used universally and internationally, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.  
           [0013]    A magnetic tag is another prior art method assigning an identification number to a container. However, the magnetic tag method suffers from several problems. The magnetic tag method is not an international standard. Magnetic tags for containers are only installed by individual shipping line owners at their discretion. Not all container transporters support magnetic tags for their containers.  
           [0014]    Additionally, a magnetic tag must pass in close proximity to a magnetometer in order for the magnetic tag to be read. The container passing the magnetometer can be outbound and inbound. Moreover, the magnetically tagged container can be moved anywhere. Magnetic tag reading provides no information about the container&#39;s physical location.  
           [0015]    Another prior art alternative can identify containers from a distance. It is a technically more sophisticated and expensive system requiring a transponder tag attached to each container. The transponder tags can be programmed to show different kinds of information in the form of a coded signal when interrogated by a radio frequency transceiver. Such systems are expensive, delicate, and easily damaged.  
           [0016]    Cargo containers are the individual property of the different shipping lines. When used by a non-owner shipping line, a container rental fee is paid to the owner. At the present time, the shipping companies only know the size of each container and whether it is dry or refrigerated.  
           [0017]    A cargo container can become lost for several reasons. Inadvertently, a container is misplaced in a different location (yard address). Sometimes a container crane operator leaves a container at the wrong address, causing the container to be lost. A computer tracking the containers parked in a container terminal storage area will have an error in the container&#39;s tracking data. As a result, the lost container is effectively invisible to the existing container terminal management system (CTMS). While this is usually discovered eventually, the container is inevitably lost for a certain time.  
           [0018]    A cargo container can become lost when the container ID number is incorrectly input into the CTMS. A cargo container can become lost when the container ID number is unreadable due to dirt, scratches, being covered, or an incorrect label on the container.  
           [0019]    Any of these errors can result in disruptions of the inventory database. In addition, these errors become particularly serious when one attempts to place a second container into a supposedly vacant location only to find the location is already occupied, which further results in time consuming interruptions. What is needed is an efficient way to track all the containers and update an inventory database. What is further needed is an efficient way to track all containers in both wheeled storage yards and stack storage yards.  
           [0020]    It can take a week in a major container storage yard to find a lost container. This can delay a ship&#39;s departure and/or the container&#39;s delivery to its destination. Either and/or both delays cost the shipping companies money.  
           [0021]    Today, there is a large turnover of cargo containers in the seaports. This cargo turnover makes it necessary to regularly update the CTMS database. What is needed is an automated method of updating the CTMS database in real-time that will work efficiently even during the rush hours.  
           [0022]    Today, a known disclosure teaching automatic reading of container ID tags on container cranes, is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,802 entitled “Method and apparatus for location cargo containers”, by Takehara (one of the inventors of this application) and Ng. The &#39;802 patent is assigned to the same assignee as this application, Paceco Corp. The &#39;802 patent discloses “The system can be installed on cranes to identify containers at wharfside and on straddle carrier cranes for identifying containers in single or multiple stack container storage. The system can be installed on cranes to identify containers mounted on rail cars in rail terminals . . . ” (Lines 50-55, Column 4)  
           [0023]    “The machine reader, its associated apparatus, and the LDU, are carried onboard a transporter such as a cart which runs on tracks or can be steerable. The cart can either be operator driven or remotely controlled. The apparatus could be mounted onboard the storage yard patrol truck. . . . The machine reader can be alternatively aimed by the transporter, remotely controlled, or handheld by an operator.” (lines 40-48, Column 6) Note that “LDU” is disclosed as “location determining unit” in line 1 of Column 6.  
           [0024]    “. . . the present invention contemplates wireless transmission of the data from the machine reader/transporter to the central terminal where the CTMS is located for real time data updating. This can be accomplished by a wireless modem, or a communication unit, which transmits the container&#39;s ID number and its current location back to the stationary central computer which hosts the CTMS program and also contains the inventory database.” (line 65 Column 6-line 6 Column 7) CTMS refers to container terminal management system (line 12 Column 3).  
           [0025]    “The identification means is scanned from a distance by a machine such as an optical character recognition (OCR) unit to interrogate the ID tag and identify the container. It is an important characteristic of the invention that an operator of the system is able to remotely interrogate an ID tag of a cargo container . . . without the necessity of physically approaching and contacting the container or even coming in close proximity thereto.” (lines 3-10 Column 5)  
           [0026]    While of value, the &#39;802 patent fails to disclose or teach at least the following:  
           [0027]    1. How to track containers in stack storage yards, which may pile containers as many as five levels high.  
           [0028]    2. There are advantages to monitoring cargo container operations by a container crane either through sensing the control system of the container crane, or through the use of sensors external to the container crane&#39;s control system.  
           [0029]    3. Real-world optical character recognition systems occasionally make mistakes or are unable to recognize the characters, often requiring reliability estimates of the recognized container ID.  
           [0030]    4. There is a practical requirement for an automatic container code reading machine to send a version of the image(s) captured by its video imaging device(s) to a remote operator. This again stems from the real-world limitations of optical character recognition systems at recognizing the characters.  
           [0031]    5. There is a practical requirement for the machine to minimize bandwidth in sending the video image(s) across at least a wireless physical transport layer.  
           [0032]    6. There are significant advantages in many real-world situations for the machine to have multiple video imaging devices placed apart from at least each other, rigidly affixed to the container crane. Such advantages include the ability to withstand the severe mechanical vibrations container cranes experience, while providing container code observations from various locations about and around the container crane, which include providing the length of the cargo container.  
           [0033]    7. There are further advantages to positioning multiple, independently controlled lighting systems to improve the imaging quality of the multiple video imaging devices.  
           [0034]    To summarize, what is needed by both terminal management and shipping companies is a more accurate, real time accounting of incoming, outgoing and existing container inventory as the container cranes act upon and around the containers, particularly with regards to stack storage yards.  
           [0035]    What is needed is a method of reducing errors and supporting efficient operation in the berthing process through the automated monitoring of cargo container loading and unloading.  
           [0036]    What is needed is an automatic container code reading machine sending a version of the image(s) captured by its video imaging device(s) to the remote operator. The bandwidth needs to be minimized in sending video image(s) across at least a wireless physical transport layer. The machine needs, in many real-world situations, to include multiple video imaging devices placed apart from each other and rigidly affixed to the container crane. Multiple, independently controlled lighting systems may further be needed, positioned to improve the imaging quality of the multiple video imaging devices.  
           [0037]    Note that the problems discussed herein also relate to rail yard container inventories as well.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0038]    The invention solves at least all the problems discussed above regarding the prior art.  
           [0039]    The invention provides a method and system supporting container code recognition from a transfer container crane  2100  communicating with a container inventory management system. An optical characteristic recognition system preferably tracks container movement within a container stacking yard, which may be either a wheeled storage yard or a stack storage yard.  
           [0040]    The invention can read the standard universal identification (ID) tags internationally used on containers. Container ID tags will be referred to hereafter as container codes. Container inventory management systems incorporating this invention can be integrated into existing container terminal management systems (CTMS). Since each cargo container carries a standard container code, the invention can be utilized for tracking of all containers with respect to their history, damage, current location, and use.  
           [0041]    The invention supports operators remotely interrogating a container code without the need to physically approach the container. The optical characteristic system further provides at least one video image, which is compressed and may be sent via a wireless physical transport to the container inventory management system. The video image compression effectively minimizes the bandwidth required to send video images.  
           [0042]    The invention preferably includes multiple video imaging devices mechanically coupled at distinct locations about the transfer container crane  2100 . The invention further preferably includes multiple, independently controlled lighting sources. At least two of the multiple lighting sources are further, preferably, mechanically coupled apart from each other on transfer container crane  2100  to provide length estimates of a cargo container.  
           [0043]    The invention reduces container inventory errors and increases the overall terminal efficiency.  
           [0044]    Optical characteristic recognition systems are sometimes referred to as container code readers. Optical characteristic recognition systems may further interrogate the contents of a container.  
           [0045]    These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0046]    [0046]FIG. 1 illustrates a typical berthing process involving quay container cranes  2200 , transports between quay container cranes  2200  and storage yards, and storage yard containers manipulated by transfer container cranes  2100 , as found in the prior art;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate typical container codes and their representation on the side of a container as found in the prior art;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 3 illustrates a marine shipping yard  20  in accord with the invention;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 4A illustrates a simplified block diagram of the container inventory management system  1000  of FIG. 3 using the optical characteristic recognition systems;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 4B illustrates a system block diagram of the means for operating  3300  optical characteristic system  3000  implementing the inventive method for automated optical container code recognition with positional identification from a transfer container crane  2100  of FIGS. 3 and 4A;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an optical characteristic system  3000  providing container code recognition from transfer container crane  2100 , of a container  100  identified by a container code  110 , to container inventory management system  1000 ;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 6A illustrates a method of operating optical characteristic system  3000  of FIG. 5 as program system  3300  of FIG. 5;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 6B illustrates certain embodiments of the optical characteristic  3250  from FIG. 5 of the container code  110  of FIGS.  2 A-B and  5 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 6C illustrates positional identification  3260  of FIG. 5 for container  100 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 7 illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3332  of FIG. 6A for generating the optical characteristic of the container code;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 8A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3342  of FIG. 6A for generating the positional identification of the container;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 8B illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3462  of FIG. 8A for generating the storage-location designation;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 8C illustrates a preferred detail flowchart of operation  3472  of FIG. 8A for generating the terminal location for the transfer container crane  2100 ;  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 9A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3362  of FIG. 7 for acquiring the container code image;  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 9B illustrates a detail flowchart of program system  3300  of FIG. 5 implementing the method of operating the optical characteristic recognition system;  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 9C illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3392  of FIG. 7 for processing the first container code image;  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 10 illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3352  of FIG. 6A for sending the optical characteristic and the positional identification;  
         [0063]    FIGS.  11 A- 11 C illustrate various detail flowcharts of operation  3452  of FIG. 8A for generating the loading-operation;  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 12 illustrates optical characteristic recognition system  3000  video imaging devices mechanically coupled to transfer container crane  2100  as found in FIGS.  3  to  5 ;  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 13 illustrates a preferred embodiment of at least part of the mechanical housing of an optical characteristic recoginition system; and  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 14 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a preferred optical recognition system  3000 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0067]    The invention provides a method and system supporting container code recognition of a container, from a transfer container crane  2100  as shown in FIG. 1, to manage at least a container inventory. The invention automatically and efficiently tracks the location of the container in a container storage area, automatically updating at least the container inventory database.  
         [0068]    The invention allows a container code reader to find any container in a storage area including containers carrying specialized tag identifiers. The invention supports remotely interrogating a container for identification.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 3 illustrates a marine shipping yard  20  in accord with the invention.  
         [0070]    System  1000  uses container code recognition of a container  100 , identified by a container code  110  as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, from transfer container crane  2100  shown in FIG. 1 to manage at least a container inventory. The invention automatically and efficiently tracks the location of the container in a container storage area  200 , automatically updating at least a container inventory database.  
         [0071]    As used herein, a container crane is at least one of the following: a quay side container crane  2200 , a transfer container crane  2100 , as well as rubber tire gantry container cranes and rail gantry container cranes. Quay container cranes  2200  are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and  4 A. Transfer container cranes  2100  are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3,  4 A to  5 , and  12 . It should be noted that transfer container cranes  2100  are predominantly rubber tire gantry container cranes, while quay container cranes  2200  are predominantly rail gantry container cranes.  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 4A illustrates a simplified block diagram of the container inventory management system  1000  of FIG. 3 using the optical characteristic recognition systems.  
         [0073]    The method of operating the system  1000  will be discussed in terms of computer  1010 , controlled by a program system  1200 , including program steps residing in a memory  1020  accessibly coupled  1022  to computer  1010 .  
         [0074]    The system  1000  further includes computer  1010  communicatively coupled  1002  to optical characteristic system  3000 , which is mechanically coupled to transfer container crane  2100 .  
         [0075]    Computer  1010  is also communicatively coupled to optical characteristic system  3000 , mechanically coupled to quay container crane  2200 . The communicative coupling of computer  1010  and optical characteristic system  3000  may be at least partially provided by network  1004  through network interface  1030 , which in turn communicates  1032  with computer  1010 .  
         [0076]    Note that in many embodiments of the invention, the communicative coupling of various optical characteristic systems  3000  may employ a uniform coupling mechanism, which in many circumstances may preferably be a network.  
         [0077]    Network  1004  may employ at least one member of a physical transport collection in communicating with an optical characteristic system  3000  in quay container crane  2200 . The physical transport collection includes at least one wireline physical transport layer and preferably at least one wireless physical transport layer.  
         [0078]    Computer  1010  is communicatively coupled  1102  with database  1100 . Note that database  1100  may be included in at least one member of a container inventory management collection comprising a marine shipping inventory management system and a rail yard inventory management system.  
         [0079]    Note that the system includes received optical characteristic  1100  and received positional identification  1150 . In certain systems, it is preferred that both received optical characteristic  1100  and received positional identification  1150  reside in memory  1020 . However, the system may include one or both of  1100  and  1150  residing somewhere other than memory  1020 , including but not limited to them residing in network interface  1030 .  
         [0080]    Program system  1200  of FIG. 4A manages at least a container inventory using container code recognition of a container identified by a container code. The container code recognition is performed on the container crane, which may be either a transfer container crane  2100  or a quay container crane  2200  seen in FIG. 3.  
         [0081]    The container inventory management includes the following: Receiving an optical characteristic of the container code and a positional identification of the container to create a received optical characteristic  1100  and a received positional identification  1150 . Updating a database with the received container code optical characteristic and the received container positional identification.  
         [0082]    As used herein, a computer will be considered to include at least one of the following: an instruction processor, an inferential processor, a finite state machine, and a memory.  
         [0083]    An instruction processor will include at least one of the following. A Single Instruction Single Datapath (SISD) processor, a Single Instruction Multiple Datapath (SIMD) processor, a Multiple Instruction Single Datapath (MISD) processor, a Multiple Instruction Multiple Datapath (MIMD) processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC), a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) and a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) computer.  
         [0084]    An inferential processor will include at least one of the following: a rule-based inferential processor, a constraint-based inferential processor, and a fuzzy logic engine.  
         [0085]    A finite state machine will include at least one of the following: at least part of a programmable logic device, at least part of an application specific integrated circuit. A programmable logic device will refer to at least one member of the following: a Field Programmable Gate Array(FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD).  
         [0086]    As used herein, memory  1020  includes at least one instance of a volatile memory and/or at least one instance of a non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory includes at least one of the following: a writeable non-volatile memory and a Read Only Memory (ROM). Writeable non-volatile memory includes at least one member of the following: an electro-magnetically interfaced non-volatile memory and an optically interfaced non-volatile memory.  
         [0087]    Please refer to FIG. 6B for a discussion of the optical characteristic of the container code.  
         [0088]    Receiving the optical characteristic and the positional identification of the container may include the following. Determining a reliability measure of the estimated container code. Examining the container code image to create a second estimated container code, whenever the reliability measure indicates doubt.  
         [0089]    Examining the container code image may include at least one of the following. Requesting a modified version of the container code image to create a modified container code image request. Receiving a modified container code image based upon the modified container code image request.  
         [0090]    Also note that the modified container code request may include at least one of the following: a zoom-in request; a zoom-out request; a tilt request; a filter request. The filter request may includes at least one of the following: an apply first filter request, an apply second filter request; and an align the first filter to the second filter request.  
         [0091]    The positional identification of the container as illustrated in FIG. 6C may include at least one of the following: a loading-operation designation for the container, a storage-location designation for the container, and a terminal location for the container crane.  
         [0092]    Note that the invention includes embodiments wherein at least one of the storage-location designation and the loading-operation designation for the container, is derived, at least in part, from the terminal location for the container crane.  
         [0093]    Receiving the optical characteristic and the positional identification may include the following. Receiving a packet from a network to create a received packet. Processing the packet to create at least part of the optical characteristic. Processing the packet to create at least part of the positional identification.  
         [0094]    The method and system may further include generating a shipping container plan for a ship  220  shown in FIG. 3, loaded by quay container crane  2200  based upon database  1100 .  
         [0095]    Note that the container inventory management  1000  is not limited to the following discussion, but is included to illustrate only a preferred use of container crane optical characteristic recognition systems  3000  illustrated in FIG. 4B, coupled to transfer container cranes  2100  and quay container cranes  2200 , as shown in FIG. 4A.  
         [0096]    [0096]FIG. 4B illustrates a system block diagram of the means for operating  3300  optical characteristic system  3000  implementing the inventive method for automated optical container code recognition with positional identification from a transfer container crane  2100  of FIGS. 3 and 4A.  
         [0097]    Optical characteristic system  3000  includes at least two video imaging devices  3100  and  3110 , each communicatively coupled  3104  and  3114 , respectively, to means  3332  for generating optical characteristic  3250  of container code based upon at least two video imaging devices  3100  and  3110 . Video imaging devices  3100  and  3110  are mechanically coupled  3102  and  3112 , respectively, to transfer container crane  2100 .  
         [0098]    Note that optical characteristic recognition system  3000  may also be mechanically coupled  3002  to transfer container crane  2100 . Mechanical coupling  3002  may preferably include a mechanical shock absorber to improve the reliability of optical characteristic recognition system  3000 .  
         [0099]    Note that as used herein, a video imaging device such as  3100  belongs to a collection including at least a video camera, a digital video camera, and a charged coupled array. A video imaging device  3100  may further include any of the following: a computer, a digital memory, an image processor and a flash lighting system.  
         [0100]    Means  3342  for generating position identification  3260  of the container may include any of the following: Coupling to PLC unit  2010  on transfer container crane  2100 , coupling to quay crane relay controls  2020 , and container sensors  3270 . Container sensors  3270  may preferably include sensors to ultrasonic transponders. Coupling to PLC unit  2010  may include one or more indications of container locking, often known as twist locking signals.  
         [0101]    Means  3342  preferably includes coupling  3232  to a GPS receiver  3230 .  
         [0102]    Means  3352  for sending optical characteristic  3250  and positional identification  3260  to container inventory management system  1000  is communicatively coupled  1002  to container inventory management system  1000 .  
         [0103]    Note that as used herein GPS includes any form of global positioning, including but not limited to, DGPS, (Differential Global Positioning System). Today, DGPS is the preferred global positioning form for the invention, but the invention can use any form of global positioning.  
         [0104]    [0104]FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a preferred optical characteristic system  3000  providing container code recognition from a transfer container crane  2100  of a container  100  identified by a container code  110  to container inventory management system  1000  refining FIG. 4B.  
         [0105]    Optical characteristic system  3000  includes at least one, and in FIG. 5, two video imaging devices  3100  and  3110 , each communicatively coupled  3104  and  3114 , respectively, to computer  3200 . Video imaging devices  3100  and  3110  are mechanically coupled  3102  and  3112 , respectively, to transfer container crane  2100 .  
         [0106]    Note that optical characteristic recognition system  3000  is mechanically coupled  3002  to transfer container crane  2100 . Mechanical coupling  3002  preferably includes a mechanical shock absorber to improve the reliability of optical characteristic recognition system  3000 .  
         [0107]    Computer  3200  accesses memory  3210 , which includes program steps of program system  3300 , which implement the method of operating  3300  the optical characteristic system  3000 . The method will be further documented in the discussion of FIGS. 6A through 11C.  
         [0108]    The invention may incorporate a number of location determination mechanisms, preferably including a GPS receiver  3230  and communicatively coupled  3232  with computer  3200 . GPS receiver  3230  may preferably mechanically couple  3234  with transfer container crane  2100 ,  
         [0109]    The invention is preferably communicatively coupled  1002  with container inventory management system  1000 . The invention may further preferably include a network interface  3220  with network  1004  providing a coupling from computer  3200  via  3222 - 3220 - 1004  with container inventory management system  1000 .  
         [0110]    Network  1004  employs at least one member of a physical transport collection in communicating from the transfer container crane  2100  to container inventory management system  1000 . The physical transport collection includes at least one wireline physical transport layer and preferably at least one wireless physical transport layer.  
         [0111]    Network  1004  preferably employs a packet based communications protocol, which may further preferably provide compatibility to the IEEE 802.11(b) communications standard.  
         [0112]    [0112]FIG. 6A illustrates a method of operating optical characteristic system  3000  of FIG. 5 as program system  3300  of FIG. 5.  
         [0113]    Operation  3332  performs generating an optical characteristic  3250  of container code  3610  based upon at least one of video imaging devices  3100  and  3110  shown in FIG. 5. Optical characteristics  3250  will be further discussed in FIG. 6B.  
         [0114]    Operation  3342  performs generating a positional identification  3260  of container  3600 . Positional identification  3260  is further discussed in FIG. 6C.  
         [0115]    Operation  3352  performs sending optical characteristic  3250  of container code  3610  and positional identification  3260  of container  3600  to container inventory management system  1000  as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5.  
         [0116]    [0116]FIG. 6B illustrates certain embodiments of the optical characteristic  3250  from FIG. 5 of the container code  110  of FIGS.  2 A-B and  5 .  
         [0117]    The optical characteristic  3250  of the container code  110  includes at least one member of the following: at least one container code image  4010  of a container representation  2620  of the container code  110  imaged from the transfer container crane  2100 . The optical characteristic  3250  may also include an estimated container code  4020  based upon an optical character recognition process applied to the container code image  4010 . Additionally, optical characteristic  3250  may include a first container code image  4030 , which may be further processed and/or modified to create container code image  4010 .  
         [0118]    [0118]FIG. 6C illustrates positional identification  3260  of FIG. 5 for container  100 .  
         [0119]    Positional identification  3260  may further include at least one of the following: a loading operation designation  4110  for container  100 , a storage-location designation  4120  for container  100  and a terminal location  4130  for transfer container crane  2100 .  
         [0120]    Note that the invention may include one or more of the operations of FIG. 7.  
         [0121]    [0121]FIG. 7 illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3332  of FIG. 6A for generating the optical characteristic of the container code.  
         [0122]    Operation  3362  performs acquiring at least one container code image of a container representation of the container code imaged from the video imaging device.  
         [0123]    Operation  3372  performs applying an optical character recognition process to the container code image to create an estimated container code.  
         [0124]    Operation  3382  performs acquiring a first container code image from the video imaging device of the container representation of the container code.  
         [0125]    Operation  3392  performs processing the first container code image to create the container code image.  
         [0126]    Operation  3402  performs compressing the first container code image to create the container code image.  
         [0127]    The invention may also include one or more of the operations of FIG. 8A.  
         [0128]    [0128]FIG. 8A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3342  of FIG. 6A for generating the positional identification of the container.  
         [0129]    Operation  3452  performs generating a loading-operation designation for the container  100  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0130]    Operation  3462  performs generating a storage-location designation for the container  100  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0131]    Operation  3472  performs generating a terminal location for the transfer container crane  2100  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0132]    [0132]FIG. 8B illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3462  of FIG. 8A for generating the storage-location designation.  
         [0133]    Operation  3492  performs deriving the storage-location designation for the container at least in part from the terminal location for the transfer container crane  2100  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0134]    [0134]FIG. 8C illustrates a preferred detail flowchart of operation  3472  of FIG. 8A for generating the terminal location for transfer container crane  2100  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0135]    Operation  3512  performs receiving a location reading from a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver  3230  to create at least in part the terminal location for the transfer container crane  2100  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0136]    The invention may include at least one of the operations of FIG. 9A.  
         [0137]    [0137]FIG. 9A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3362  of FIG. 7 for acquiring the container code image.  
         [0138]    Operation  3532  performs selecting a first of at least two of the video imaging devices mechanically coupled to the transfer container crane  2100  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0139]    Operation  3542  performs acquiring the container code image from the first video imaging device of the container representation of the container code  110  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0140]    [0140]FIG. 9B illustrates a detail flowchart of program system  3300  of FIG. 5 implementing the method of operating the optical characteristic recognition system.  
         [0141]    Operation  3552  performs receiving a modified container code image request.  
         [0142]    [0142]FIG. 9C illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3392  of FIG. 7 for processing the first container code image.  
         [0143]    Operation  3572  performs processing the first container code image based upon the modified container code image request to create the container code image.  
         [0144]    The invention may include at least one of the operations of FIG. 10.  
         [0145]    [0145]FIG. 10 illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3352  of FIG. 6A for sending the optical characteristic  3250  and the positional identification  3260  shown in FIGS. 5, 6B and  6 C.  
         [0146]    Operation  3592  performs sending a packet across a network  1004  to the container inventory management system  1000  as shown in FIGS. 4A and 5.  
         [0147]    Operation  3602  performs writing the optical characteristic  3250  of the container code  110  and the positional identification  3260  of the container  100  to  3242  a removable non-volatile memory  3240  as shown  5 .  
         [0148]    Operation  3612  performs creating the packet from at least part of at least one sending-data collection member.  
         [0149]    Operation  3622  performs writing at least one sending-data collection member to a file contained in the removable non-volatile memory  3240  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0150]    Operation  3632  performs writing at least one sending-data collection member to a record contained in the removable non-volatile memory  3240  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0151]    Note that the sending-data collection includes the optical characteristic  3250  of the container code  110  and the positional identification  3260  of the container  100  as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0152]    The invention may include one of the operations of FIG. 11A. Note that operation  3652  is preferred.  
         [0153]    [0153]FIG. 11A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3452  of FIG. 8A for generating the loading-operation.  
         [0154]    Operation  3652  performs receiving a locking indication from a programmable logic controller  2010  within the transfer container crane  2100  as shown in FIG. 4B.  
         [0155]    Operation  3662  performs determining the locking indication from a relay network  2020  within the transfer container crane  2100  as shown in FIG. 4B.  
         [0156]    The invention may include one of the operations of FIG. 11B. Note that operation  3672  is preferred.  
         [0157]    [0157]FIG. 11B illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3452  of FIG. 8A for generating the loading-operation.  
         [0158]    Operation  3672  performs determining a container hoist-trolley position based upon sensing a gray-coded hoist shaft in the transfer container crane  2100 .  
         [0159]    Operation  3682  performs determining the container hoist-trolley position based upon sensing an ultrasonic transponder  3270 .  
         [0160]    The coded hoist shaft preferably uses a gray code but the invention may use any coded hoist shaft.  
         [0161]    Note that a hoist-trolley position as used herein will refer to a hoist position and/or a trolley position.  
         [0162]    [0162]FIG. 11C illustrates a detail flowchart of operation  3452  of FIG. 8A for generating the loading-operation.  
         [0163]    Operation  3692  performs generating the loading-operation designation based upon at least one member of the collection comprising the locking signal indication and the container hoist position.  
         [0164]    [0164]FIG. 12 illustrates optical characteristic recognition system  3000  video imaging devices mechanically coupled to transfer container crane  2100  as found in FIGS.  3  to  5 .  
         [0165]    The transfer container crane  2100 &#39;s optical characteristic recognition system  3000  tracks container  100  location and movements in the terminal&#39;s stack storage areas  200  as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0166]    The optical characteristic recognition system  3000  tracks containers  100  shown in FIG. 5 as they are transferred. Each container&#39;s unique ID code is optically read as it passes through transfer container crane  2100 &#39;s legs, shown in FIG. 12. The container code information is preferably processed by computer  3200  shown in FIG. 5, installed on container crane  2200 . The updated container status is sent to a container inventory management system  1000 , shown in FIGS.  3  to  5 , often located at a central office for the container facility. The computer  3200  will interface with the container inventory management system  1000  identifying whether the container is being added or substracted from the terminal&#39;s inventory listing.  
         [0167]    Each time transfer container crane  2100  picks up a container  100  from a chassis or deposits a container onto a chassis, the container code  110  shown in FIG. 5 will preferably be read. The container identification is received by computer  3200  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0168]    The computer  3200  determines whether the container  100  is being added to storage or taken from storage. If it is being added to storage, position information  3260  is preferably given to computer  3200  from container crane  2100  sensors and from an on-board Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)  3230  as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0169]    When the container  100  reaches its final location, this information is then sent to the container inventory management system  1000 , which updates the master inventory and location listing database  1100  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0170]    If the container  100  is being removed from storage to be loaded either onto a ship or moved to another location, computer  3200  shown in FIG. 5 sends this data to container inventory management system  1000  and the container&#39;s new location is entered into the inventory database  1100  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0171]    All container movements are preferably tracked and updated in real time giving terminal management essentially immediate knowledge of all containers at all times.  
         [0172]    The container code  110  is preferably read as containers  100  are placed on or removed from a chassis. The container code  110  should be identified by the optical characteristic recognition system  3000  as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5.  
         [0173]    [0173]FIG. 13 illustrates a preferred embodiment of at least part of the mechanical housing of an optical characteristic recoginition system  3000  of FIGS.  3  to  5 .  
         [0174]    The mechanical housing of the optical characteristic recognition system includes at least one video imaging device, as well as preferably including flash lighting, the triggering and systems as illustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 5. As to the triggering system, it may include a laser photo and/or a infra-red photo sensor.  
         [0175]    Other circuitry coupled with a container crane may provide additional storage location information and/or additional information regarding the container contents used by computer  3200  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0176]    [0176]FIG. 14 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a preferred optical recognition system  3000  as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5.  
         [0177]    Note that container storage areas can be individually separated and not necessarily identified as repository locations located upon a predefined grid, as is often the case in container stacking areas.  
         [0178]    The optical characteristic recognition system  3000  can be installed on quay container cranes  2200  to identify containers at wharfside, and on transfer carrier container cranes  2100 , to identify containers in single or multiple stack container storage.  
         [0179]    Note that FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate at least two and sometimes several video imaging devices ( 3100 - 3120 ) may be preferred in various applications of the inventive optical characteristic systems  3000  as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5.  
         [0180]    Each video imaging device preferably has automatic focus control accommodating both the ambient light conditions and the target located at a distance.  
         [0181]    Preferably, illumination for video imaging is provided by a flash light system. Generally, it includes strobe action to catch the image during daytime and at night in the absence of light. The trigger of the video imaging device is preferably based on at least the loading/unloading conditions on the container crane.  
         [0182]    In certain applications, the flash light system may be controlled based upon which video imaging devices are selected.  
         [0183]    The loading/unloading conditions on transfer container crane  2100  can preferably be obtained from the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)  2010  on the container crane or from sensors  3270  shown in FIG. 4A checking whether there is a container to be loaded/unloaded. The sensors  3270  can be laser, infrared, or ultrasonic sensors. Today, laser sensors are more reliable and accurate, but, more expensive than the infrared, currently making infrared sensors preferable on a cost basis and laser sensors more preferable on a reliability and accuracy basis.  
         [0184]    The video imaging device may preferably include both an optical character recognition process and an image processing unit to convert the container code images into a standard format. The standard format is preferably compatible with some version of JPEG.  
         [0185]    Storage location for a container is provided by the invention to identify the container&#39;s repository address. A DGPS unit  3230  FIGS. 4B, 5 and  14  preferably determines the Z axis location of a transfer container crane. Signals of a PLC coupled with the transfer container crane can determine the X and Y axes. This determines the overall position of the container.  
         [0186]    The DGPS unit  3230  shown FIGS. 4B, 5 and  14  is preferably used in applications with transfer container cranes  2100  due to the importance of their location. However, quay container cranes  2200  do not have the same crane location accuracy requirements, making the use of DGPS receivers  3230  less preferable.  
         [0187]    In some cases, the address identifier for the repository locations in the container terminal storage areas are not adequately marked by optical character reading, radioactivity identification, or electronic/magnetic detection.  
         [0188]    In some cases, a less sophisticated version of the invention is preferred, where the container location is operator input through a hand-held keypad.  
         [0189]    The optical characteristic recognition system  3000  is preferably mounted on a movable container crane and able to operate in all types of weather.  
         [0190]    The optical characteristic system  3000  may be automatically aimed by the container crane, remotely controlled, and/or hand-held by an operator to interrogate the address for the cargo containers.  
         [0191]    The container code  110  as optical characteristic  3250  and positional identification  3260  are sent to the container inventory management system  1000  as shown in FIG. 5 to verify whether the container is deposited at the proper address.  
         [0192]    The information may be sent by floppy disk. The data/information is downloaded onto a transportable data storage unit such as a floppy disk, and hand carried to the container inventory management computer system.  
         [0193]    As shown in FIG. 5, the container crane&#39;s optical characteristic system  3000  generates information to send to the container inventory management system  1000 .  
         [0194]    GPS unit  3230  as shown in FIG. 4B, and at least transfer container crane  2100  coupled PLC unit  2010 , are preferably used to generate the positional identification. Both signals are preferably sent to computer  3200  as shown in FIG. 14.  
         [0195]    Computer  3200  shown in FIG. 14 may also be coupled with a serial communication board to interpret the signals sent to it. Computer  3200  may also be coupled with a digital signal circuit interacting with any or all of the following: switches, buzzers, and lights.  
         [0196]    Computer  3200  preferably functions as a traffic controller, which manages the transmission of the data through the network interface or wireless modem  3220  shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, which converts and transmits the signals to the container inventory management system  1000 .  
         [0197]    Computer  3200  preferably determines which signals are to be sent and in which order. The serial communication board preferably receives signals from the outside units such as video imaging devices  3100  and  3110  as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5, as well as GPS receiver  3230  shown in FIGS. 4B, 5 and  14 .  
         [0198]    Computer  3200  translates them into a form that computer  1010  shown in FIG. 4A can process. The removable nonvolatile memory  3240  preferably stores the optical characteristic  3250  shown in FIGS. 4B, 5, and  6 B, and positional identification  3260  shown in FIGS. 4B, 5, and  6 C. Note that removable nonvolatile media includes, but is not limited to, floppy disks, zip disks, and optical disks.  
         [0199]    Assume a container crane operator directs the optical characteristic system  3000 . The operator can be provided with a hand-held computer input or keypad, allowing the input of data. The operator inputs the data when he locates a target container as well as changes to other data in the container inventory management system.  
         [0200]    The light and buzzers preferably allow the container inventory management system  1000  shown in FIGS.  3  to  5  send messages to the container crane operator as well as allow the transfer container crane  2100  equipment to communicate with the human operator.  
         [0201]    For example, the lights and buzzers may preferably indicate a malfunction in the optical characteristic system  3000  and/or the location determination and/or completion of an operation such as informing the operator that a target container has been found.  
         [0202]    Network interface  1030  may preferably include a stationary wireless modem unit connected  1032  to computer  1010  as shown in FIG. 4A. It allows the container crane&#39;s optical characteristic system  3000  and computer  1010  to exchange information. The modem  1030  receives the data transmitted by optical characteristic system  3000  and program system  1200  receives the new data and updates via  1102  database  1100  as shown in FIG. 4A.  
         [0203]    Note that the coupling  1102  shown in FIG. 4A is often preferably a Local Area Network (LAN). Note that each container inventory management system  1000  may employ different LANs  1102 . Computer  1100  translates the received container code and positional identification into the reigning language of LAN  1102 . Note that multiple workstation computers may further be connected to LAN  1102 .  
         [0204]    The invention also includes methods identifying container code and determining container locations in at least terminal storage areas. The steps can be described as follows:  
         [0205]    (1) Provide an optical characteristic recognition system  3000  on a transfer container crane  2100  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5  and  14  to interrogate the representations of the container code  110  of a cargo container  100 ;  
         [0206]    (2) Aim the optical characteristic recognition system  3000  at the container code representation  2620  shown in FIG. 5, generate at least one optical characteristic  3250  for the container code  110  and send the optical characteristic  3250  to the container inventory management system  1000  as shown in FIGS. 4B, 5 and  6 A;  
         [0207]    (3) Determine the positional identification  3260  of the container  100  as shown in FIGS. 4B, 5 and  6 A;  
         [0208]    (4) Send the positional identification  3260  from the transfer container crane  2100  to the container inventory management system  1000  as shown in FIGS. 4B, 5 and  6 A.  
         [0209]    (5) At the container inventory management  1000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5 , compare the information contained in the received signals with the database  1100  to verify whether the container  100  is deposited at the proper address.  
         [0210]    Various embodiments of the invention support some or all of the following:  
         [0211]    The optical characteristic recognition system  3000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5  and  14  reliably performs under all real-life environmental conditions including any or all of the following: weather, traffic load and power supply variations.  
         [0212]    The optical characteristic recognition system  3000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5  and  14  can read the representations of a container&#39;s code  110 , determine the current location of container  100 , and then wirelessly transmit this data back to the container inventory management system  1000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5 .  
         [0213]    The optical characteristic recognition system  3000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5  and  14  downloads and saves the optical characteristic and positional identification to an on-board buffer memory.  
         [0214]    The optical characteristic recognition system  3000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5  and  14  and/or the container inventory management system  1000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5  warn the yard clerk if the actual location is different from that listed in the yard&#39;s container inventory database  1100 , as shown in FIG. 4A.  
         [0215]    The optical characteristic recognition system  3000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5  and  14  and/or the container inventory management system  1000  shown in FIGS. 4A to  5  allow the yard clerk to conveniently change the database  1100 .  
         [0216]    The preceding embodiments have been provided by way of example and are not meant to constrain the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1