Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20070096899?dq=7,173,247
Timestamp: 2017-08-21 22:00:37
Document Index: 194572777

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 119', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60']

Patent US20070096899 - System and method for tracking ships and ship cargo - Google Patents
The subject invention relates to systems and methods of tracking ships and ship cargo. In one embodiment, the system includes a central processor, a position tracking system, and a database. According to one aspect of the invention, the method includes registering, tracking, and confirming the arrival...http://www.google.com/patents/US20070096899?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20070096899 - System and method for tracking ships and ship cargo
Publication number US20070096899 A1
Application number US 11/432,298
Publication number 11432298, 432298, US 2007/0096899 A1, US 2007/096899 A1, US 20070096899 A1, US 20070096899A1, US 2007096899 A1, US 2007096899A1, US-A1-20070096899, US-A1-2007096899, US2007/0096899A1, US2007/096899A1, US20070096899 A1, US20070096899A1, US2007096899 A1, US2007096899A1
Original Assignee Johnson Daniel T
Patent Citations (66), Referenced by (50), Classifications (13), Legal Events (1)
US 20070096899 A1
The subject invention relates to systems and methods of tracking ships and ship cargo. In one embodiment, the system includes a central processor, a position tracking system, and a database. According to one aspect of the invention, the method includes registering, tracking, and confirming the arrival of a plurality of ships or ship containers.
1. A system for tracking a container, the system comprising:
a position tracking system configured to track a position of the container, the position tracking system being in communication with the central processor; and
a database configured to store tracking information for the container, the database being in communication with the central processor,
wherein the central processor is configured to process information from the position tracking system and the database.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor is configured to process registration information for the container.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor is configured to process the tracking information for the container.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor is configured to process arrival information for the container.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an asset tracking system configured to receive container information, the asset tracking system being in communication with the central processor.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the asset tracking system comprises a wireless tag reader configured to receive container information.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the container comprises a wireless container tag associated with the container, the wireless container tag configured to be capable of communicating with the wireless tag reader.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein the asset tracking system comprises a handheld computer configured to receive container information.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein the asset tracking system is configured to process the container information.
10. The system of claim 5, wherein the container information is selected from a group consisting of contents of the container, inspection information, destination information, expected arrival date, and itinerary information.
11. A method of tracking a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
registering each of the plurality of containers;
tracking each of the plurality of containers in transit; and
confirming arrival of the plurality of containers at a destination.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein registering the plurality of containers comprises examining and certifying the plurality of containers at a point of origin.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein tracking the plurality of containers in transit comprises tracking the plurality of containers between a point of origin and the destination.
14. A method of tracking a plurality of ships, the method comprising:
examining and certifying each of the plurality of ships at a point of origin;
tracking the plurality of ships in transit between the point of origin and a destination; and
confirming arrival of each of the plurality of ships at the destination.
The application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Ser. No. 60/679,761, filed May 11, 2005 (Attorney docket number 186384/US), entitled “System and Method for Tracking Ships and Ship Cargo”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This patent application also claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/768,957, filed Jan. 30, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/444,091, filed Jan. 31, 2003, and which a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/883,779, filed Jun. 18, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/212,234, filed Jun. 16, 2000 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/288,827, filed May 5, 2001, the contents of which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The present application is also a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/429,619, filed May 5, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/432,120, filed Dec. 9, 2002, and the present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/734,725, filed Dec. 12, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/433,179, filed Dec. 13, 2002, and the present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/771,090, filed Feb. 3, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/444,437, filed Feb. 3, 2003, and the present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/922,364, filed Aug. 20, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/496,432, filed Aug. 20, 2003, the contents of which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to tracking of ships and ship cargo and also to increasing security of ports.
In the new environment created by terrorism, it is clear that the United States of America may be attacked at any time and in any way. One method of transporting a weapon of mass destruction into the United States is by using any ship or container that approaches or penetrates our borders. Presently, the contents of less than 2% of all ocean-going container ships are examined for security purposes.
The present invention, according to one embodiment, is a system for tracking a container. The system includes a central processor, a position tracking system, and a database. The position tracking system is configured to track a position of the container and is in communication with the central processor. The database is configured to store tracking information for the container and is in communication with the central processor. The central processor is configured to process information from the position tracking system and the database. According to one alternative embodiment, the system also includes an asset tracking system configured to receive container information, the asset tracking system being in communication with the central processor.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting schematically the various components of a cargo and ship tracking system, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The present invention relates to a system and method for tracking ships and ship cargo, including, for example, container ships or ship containers. In one aspect of the invention, the tracking system can increase the security of ports and reduce the risk of ship- or ship container-borne threats such as terrorist threats.
“Ship” as used herein shall mean any vessel for travel or transport of any type of cargo on water.
Generally, the overall structure and operation of the system is similar to and operates under the same general principles as that disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/883,779, entitled “Method and System for Managing Enterprise Assets” and filed on Jun. 18, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The central processor 14 includes software programs or instructions that operate to process information from the position tracking system 16, the asset tracking system 18, and/or the database 12. These software programs or instructions can receive or exchange information with the position tracking system 16 or the asset tracking system 18, carry out container or ship tracking functions, utilize the database 12 to perform compilation and storage functions, generate reports that may be used by either the clients or the headquarters of the enterprise, or functions. Alternatively, either or both of the position tracking system 16 and the asset tracking system 18 can be integral with the central processor 14, such that certain software programs or instructions integral with the processor 14 perform the functions of either or both systems 16, 18. The software may be software applications commercially sold and normally used by those skilled in the art or they may be specific applications coded in a standard programming language. Further details of the functions performed by the software are provided below. According to one embodiment, the central processor 14 has geographic information systems (“GIS”) software and/or global positioning system (“GPS”) software that can operate within the system 10 to assist with tracking a container or ship.
The database 12, in one aspect of the invention, is a database for storing tracking information relating to the container or ship. The database 12 may be of any type generally known in the art. In one embodiment, the database 12 is configured to retain information relating to any container arriving by ship at any port in a particular country. In one example, the database 12 is a large secure Oracle™ database. In one embodiment, a scaleable database (e.g., Oracle) is used to allow for expansion as the amount of information tracked increases.
The asset tracking system 18, in accordance with one aspect, provides for identifying and tracking the location of a container or ship and providing that information for use within the system of the present invention 10. According to one embodiment, the system 18 utilizes radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology to “tag” or uniquely identify any container or ship and thereby track that container or ship to its destination. In one aspect of the present invention, the system 18 also allows for associating information about the container or ship, including, for example, its contents, with the unique identification for that container or ship.
After passing inspection, each container can be sealed, according to one embodiment. Alternatively, portions of the ship, such as certain cargo holds that have passed inspection, can be sealed. Thus, when the container or ship arrives at the destination port, a simple sight inspection can show whether the container or portion of the ship has been entered or “compromised” since the inspection at the origination port.
For registration of a ship 32, the step of gathering and entering information 40 can include entering information about each container on the ship, which might include all the container information, and might further include entering information regarding the origination port, ship registry and ownership information, departure date, intermediate port information, destination port, and arrival date. According to one embodiment, the central processor 14 can process this information using, for example, the GIS software, to create a projected “itinerary” for the ship and its cargo.
According to one embodiment, the container information or ship information or both can be gathered using a handheld computer using methods and systems similar to those disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/771,090, filed on Feb. 3, 2004 and entitled “Site Equipment Survey Tool,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The data can then be transferred via a secure link to the asset tracking system 18 or the central processor 14 where the container and ship information can be linked such that it is possible to determine which containers are on which ship. The linked information can then be loaded into the database 12 for tracking.
The container survey software would allow the container to be “cubed” which would allow better management of incoming containers.
After the container or ship has left the origination port, the container or ship can be tracked 34 using the global position tracking system 16. The tracking system 16 can identify the location of the container or ship and provide that information to the central processor 14. According to one embodiment, the central processor 14 can then compare the location information provided by the tracking system 16 with the itinerary information provided by the asset tracking system 18 to determine whether there is any difference between the two and identify any container or ship that is not traveling its planned course. That is, the system 10 provides for “exception management” relating to any inbound ships.
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Cooperative Classification G06Q10/08, F25B2500/222, G08B21/02, F25B49/005, F25B2500/19, F25B2600/07, G08B31/00
European Classification G06Q10/08, G08B31/00, F25B49/00F, G08B21/02
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:JOHNSON, DANIEL T.;REEL/FRAME:020123/0967