Patent Description:
In the sector of transport of goods and raw materials, the products are normally transported in chambers, also referred to as containers or boxes, which may require specific environmental conditions during the time the shipping lasts. For example, the transported goods may need particular temperature, humidity or light conditions inside the containers. The exporter usually introduces equipment (also referred to as recorders or recording devices) to ensure that these specific environmental conditions are met. These recording devices measure and record temperature and other parameters, and the importer receives the recording devices when opening the container or cargo. At present, there exist a large number of recording devices of various parameters, such as temperature, relative humidity and/or other parameters. These recording devices are normally composed of electronic elements that record and store the data, for example temperature data, and communication systems to transmit the gathered data to another medium such as a PC, laptop, mobile telephone, etc..

Certain recording devices and related systems enable the data gathered and stored in the recording device to be sent to the cloud, where data is associated with an identifier of the device for later consultation or data processing by authorized persons. For example, European patent application <CIT> discloses a system for recording and managing parameters associated with the transport of perishable products in a refrigeration container. In the disclosed system, a recording device is housed in the interior of a refrigeration container. The recording device comprises: one or more sensors for measuring corresponding parameters at repeated instances during transportation, electronic storage means for storing data captured by the sensors and input/output means. The system works as follows: when the container, including the recording device, arrives at its destination, an operator collects the recording device and transfers the stored data from the recording device to an electronic device. In turn, the data is also sent to the cloud where it is stored, managed and made available to authorized persons, for example importers, exporters or any person involved in the transportation and delivery of the products. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose further examples in the prior art.

Currently, the vast majority of these recording devices, which are usually simple and low-cost, either analog or digital, are discarded after a single use between exporter and importer, despite having a battery and working perfectly, because of the logistical difficulty of re-use. Usually, the receiver of the monitoring devices does not need to monitor temperature or other parameters in future trips, thus has no interest in keeping and re-using the device. Then, the only possibility for the receiver would be shipping the devices back to the sender, but this implies logistic costs. A last option would be developing a pooling system by the manufacturer of the devices or a third party, but reusable devices store data that can be considered sensitive by some users and until now, this confidentiality issue has not been solved.

This is a serious environmental problem, as millions of components and batteries are not even recycled, but simply thrown into a wastebasket of many offices on a regular basis.

At present, and with the rise of data transmission systems, recording devices are capable of continuously transmitting data, such as temperature data. In this text, the term continuously should be interpreted as at periodic or non-periodic time intervals, such as every several minutes, hours or days. A skilled reader will understand that the degree of continuity will depend, among others, on the technology employed and on the limitations of the transmitting and receiving equipment, such as capacity, coverage or others. This continuous transmission of recorded data may be done, for example, through GPRS, UMTS or any other available wireless communications systems suitable for Narrowband-IOT (NB-IoT) devices, together with geographical positioning systems providing the geographical position of the recording devices, for example captured by signal triangulation or GPS modules embedded in the recording devices. Thus, the recording devices send the sensed data and associated geographical position, which are also recorded in an internal memory, to the cloud, together with an identifier of the device to which the data are associated.

These devices aggravate the aforementioned one-time use problem because the functionality of continuous sending to the cloud of captured data generates valuable added information that users are not willing to share. In addition to data on environmental variables (temperature, relative humidity, light, etc.), these devices store and send information about the route that have been followed at any given time, which implies that they store and send confidential information about an importer or buyer (such as origin and route of a container from its departure) and sales (such as arrival at destination at the importer's premises).

Therefore, there is a need to preserve confidentiality of the data recorded and transmitted to the cloud, without which exporters and importers will not decide to reuse the recording devices.

The present invention aims to solve the previous drawbacks by means of a device, method and system for sensing, recording and transmitting at least one parameter associated to the transport of goods in containers. The at least one parameter, such as a parameter of the cold chain for refrigerated products, mat be the temperature in the interior of the container. Optionally other parameters may be sensed, recorded and transmitted.

In order to protect the confidentiality of data and therefore, allow reuse of a given device in order to reduce the environmental impact of single-use equipment, the device of the present disclosure uses a code (use code or transit code) associated to a particular transport or shipping stage of the container, so that the data collected by the device during said transport stage is associated with that use code, and not with the identifier of the device itself. In this way, only an authorized user, who knows a particular use code, is able to access the information retrieved from the cloud through the use code. In other words, the information gathered during a specific transport stage is only available for authorized persons who have access to the use code associated to that transport stage. Therefore, each user is not able to access the information associated to other use codes of the same device. The identifier of the device keeps on performing its task of, for example, identifying location, billing uses, battery management, etc., but is not linked to the information captured by the recording device and associated positioning data.

In a first aspect of the invention, a device for sensing and recording data associated to at least one parameter associated with the transport of products in a container is disclosed. The device, that is to be housed inside a container, comprises at least one sensor to measure the at least one parameter, positioning means for determining the location of the device, e.g. a GPS module or a signal triangulation system, and data storage means to store data measured and gathered by the at least one sensor. Each particular data measured by the at least one sensor may be associated to a corresponding current location information gathered by the positioning means at the moment in which said particular data is measured. The device further comprises input/output means to transmit the data stored in the data storage means and processing means to, for each transport stage followed by the device, associate a use code to data stored in the data storage means during the time said transport stage lasts, said use code being associated to a particular transport stage, wherein each use code associated to each transport stage is different from use codes associated to other transport stages. Each use code is therefore linked to each particular transport stage. The data associated to a use code is accessible for a particular user, this user having this use code, when said use code is provided by the user as an access code. This use code, that is a single-use code, may be selected from a group comprising a random use code, a pseudo-random use code or a user-generated use code.

As used herein, a transport stage refers to the period of time between the activation of the device and its subsequent deactivation, substantially corresponding to the period of time between the departure of the container from the departing location and the arrival of the container at its respective delivery location. In some examples, the delivery location may be the final delivery location or some intermediate location in the path towards its final delivery location.

In some examples, the device comprises means for generating a different use code every time the device is activated, for example the device may integrate a Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) or a True Random Number Generator (TRNG) to generate a pseudo-random use code or a random use code, respectively. In this way, a different use code is generated when the device is activated and said different use code is unequivocally linked to a particular transport stage.

In some examples, the device comprises means to enable the introduction of a user-generated use code, that for example might be selected from a list of available use codes, that is to be associated to a particular transport stage. These means can be one or a combination of elements such as a screen, start/stop buttons, tactile screen, keyboard, or even a web or mobile application through which the user-generated use codes can be transmitted to the devices.

In some examples, the input/output means are configured to send the use code to the cloud from where the user, for example at the delivery location, may retrieve it. Some examples of input/output means that the device may implement are GPRS, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, LTE, CatM, NB-IoT, Sigfox, Lora communication subsystems or any combination thereof, to allow a remote connection to the cloud. Other communication subsystems may be also implemented in the device. In some other examples, the device comprises means for receiving, via the input/output means, the use code, for example, from the cloud. The device when activated may send an alert to the cloud that may cause the cloud to generate the use code. In such examples, the cloud, e.g., a cloud server, may incorporate means for generating a use code, such as a PRNG or a TRNG for generating a pseudo-random or a random use code, respectively. The communication between the cloud and the device may be carried out using GPRS, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, LTE, CatM, NB-IoT, Sigfox, Lora communication subsystems, any combination thereof or any other communication subsystem to allow remote connection to the cloud.

Alternatively, once the device is active, the use code may be remotely or locally sent, via the input/output means, to the device. This use code may be previously generated by a user in an external device having communication subsystems to remotely or locally communicate to the input/output means of the device.

In some examples, the device has associated thereto an identifier for unequivocally identifying the device, said identifier being different from the use code. The identifier may be used for invoicing purposes or battery management, among others.

In some examples, the at least one sensor is selected from a group comprising: a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a humidity sensor, an accelerometer, a gas sensor and any combination thereof.

In some examples, the input/output means are configured to transmit the data associated to the use code to the cloud via a remote connection, e.g., to a cloud server or to a remote server via GPRS, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, LTE, CatM, NB-loT, Sigfox, Lora communication subsystems or any other remote communication subsystem.

In some examples, the input/output means are configured to transmit the data associated to the use code to an external device via a local connection, e.g., to a PC, smartphone or PDA via a Wi-Fi, USB, micro USB, NFC, RFID, Bluetooth or any other local communication subsystem. These local communication subsystems are especially useful when the remote communication systems or the network for remote communications is not available or when a firmware update is required. In some other examples, the input/output means may incorporate a local and a remote communication system to be able to locally and/or remotely transmit said data.

In another aspect of the invention, a system for recording and managing at least one parameter associated with the transport of products in a container is disclosed. The system comprises at least one device as previously described. This at least one device, once it is activated, is housed inside the container. The device is to associate a particular use code to the data gathered by the at least one sensor and the positioning means during the time a particular transport stage of the container lasts. The system further comprises a cloud server to receive from the device the data associated to the particular use code and to store said associated data.

The system also comprises at least one electronic device, for example a laptop, smartphone or PDA, configured to enroll as an authorized user for accessing data associated to the particular use code. This enrolling operation may be performed in at least one of the at least one device and the cloud server. In order to be granted as an authorized user, the particular use code is provided by the user as a valid access code to the respective at least one device and the cloud server. In some examples, the cloud sever and the device may incorporate respective access control systems to grant access to the data stored when the corresponding use code is provided as a valid access code. Thus, a user managing said electronic device and knowing the use code associated to the requested data may retrieve said data from the device or from the cloud server by providing said use code as a valid access code.

In some examples, the at least one electronic device is configured to receive the data and use code delivered by the input/output means of the at least one device by means of a local connection established between the electronic device and the input/output port of the device, said local connection being a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or RFID, or a wired connection, such as USB, mini USB or micro USB, etc. This local connection may be especially useful if a failure in the network or the remote connection happens and for firmware updating purposes.

In some examples, the reception of data in said at least one electronic device is carried out after executing a computer application in said at least one electronic device.

In some examples, the device provides the data associated to the use code by way of a web page or a computer application downloaded in at least one electronic device of said user having an internet connection.

In another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method for sensing and recording data associated to at least one parameter associated with the transport of products in a container is described. Once at least one device as previously described is housed in a container and during the time said transport lasts, the method comprises measuring, by the at least one sensor, a particular parameter at repeated instances during the transport of the container. It further comprises determining, by the positioning means, a location of the device at the repeated instances and associating the measured data to the corresponding locations and to a particular use code. Then, this associated data is stored in the data storage means of the device and automatically transmitted, via the input/output means, to the cloud where it is also stored. Further, the at least one electronic device accesses the data associated to a particular use code and stored in at least one of the cloud and the at least one device by providing the particular use code as access code.

In some examples, the use code is generated by the device, stored in the data storage means of the device and sent, via the input/output means, to the cloud.

In some examples, upon activation of the device, the method comprises sending, by the device and via its input/output means, an alert to the cloud informing of its activation. In response to reception of the alert, the means for generating the use code in the cloud generates the use code that is sent to the device. Alternatively, once the device is active, the method may comprise remotely or locally sending the use code to the device. This use code may be previously generated by a user in an external device having communication subsystems to remotely or locally transmit said use code to the device via its input/output means.

In some examples, the device is reused by being housed in the same or a different container and generating a new use code associated to a new transport stage monitored in the same or a different container, and therefore by the device housed therein, and repeating the steps previously disclosed. Therefore, the data associated to measurements captured during said transport stage are associated to said new use code.

The device, system and method of the invention allow to keep the confidentiality of the recorded and transmitted data, in such a way that only the authorized person is allowed to access the data. As a consequence, the fear of unwanted access from third parties to confidential data is no longer an obstacle to the reuse of the recording devices. In addition, the devices can be reused many times since every time the device is reactivated for a new shipping, a new use code is used to associate data measured during said new shipping.

The advantages of the invention become apparent in view of the description which is given below.

In order to complement the description and with the aim of aiding a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a practical exemplary embodiment of the same, a set of figures are attached as an integral part of the description, in which the following is depicted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:.

The recording system of the invention is formed by different physical and logical elements. The main physical element is a monitoring device <NUM> for recording and locally storing parameters measured inside a container, chamber or box. In some examples, the container may be a temperature-controlled container, a humidity-controlled container, a watertight or airtight container, etc. Containers are usually transported in trucks, aeroplanes, ships, trains, vans or other transport means. For recording parameters relating to the conditions of transport of the goods, for example the temperature inside the container, the device <NUM> needs to be located in each one of the containers which are sought to be monitored. The recording device <NUM> can be located in any place in the interior of said container. The device <NUM> is able to measure temperatures which may vary between -<NUM>° C and <NUM>° C. The device <NUM> is capable of monitoring at least the temperature inside the temperature-controlled container. The precision of the temperature sensor may be at least <NUM>° C and preferably about <NUM>° C. Other parameters that the device <NUM> may monitor, depending on the sensors installed thereon, are the relative humidity, the level of one or more gases (such as CO<NUM>, ethylene or others) or impacts that the goods transported may have received, amongst others. Based on the parameters to be monitored, the device may comprise light sensors, humidity sensors, accelerometers, gas sensors or any combination thereof. These sensors may be integrated within the monitoring device casing or may be external sensors communicatively coupled to the monitoring device.

The parameter or parameters of interest may be recorded by the device <NUM> in a continuous manner, that is to say, they are not recorded in an isolated or exceptional manner, but repeated times during the time which the transport of the container lasts. The measurements of each parameter can be taken either periodically or in a non-periodic manner, for example randomly. Depending on the parameter to be measured, the period with which the parameters are gathered and recorded may vary. Besides, the device <NUM> may be programmed to maintain a constant period for gathering and storing data during the transport of the container or may change the period depending, for example, on the distance covered by the container or the time consumed since the device <NUM> was activated. In some examples, the measurements may be taken in a periodic manner, for example every <NUM> or <NUM> minutes.

In some embodiments, the device <NUM> has at least one sensor to measure at least one parameter. Examples of sensors may be temperature sensors, light sensors, humidity sensors, accelerometers and gas sensors. Preferably, the device integrates at least one temperature sensor to measure the temperature inside the container. The device <NUM> also comprises input/output means compatible with any conventional communication interface, such as Bluetooth, RFID, USB, GPS, GPRS, GPRS, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, LTE, CatM, NB loT, Sigfox, Lora and other communications protocol standards, preferably in the form of an input/output subsystem, including the corresponding antennas, transceivers, controllers, connectors, ports, etc., to provide the information recorded in the device <NUM>. Optionally, the input/output means can be used to introduce information, such as information to program or configure the device <NUM>, or even a use code generated by a user. The device <NUM> may transmit the recorded information either periodically, in a non-periodic manner, for example randomly, or when it is in a specific network coverage.

The device <NUM> also incorporates a battery, preferably non-rechargeable and removable, to power the electronic components within the device <NUM>. The device <NUM> further comprises storage means, for example any of Random Access Memory (RAM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, flash memory, a storage drive (e.g., a hard drive), a solid state drive and the like, or a combination thereof, to store the data measured by the sensor(s). The device <NUM> also comprises processing means, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, or any hardware device suitable for performing the functionalities herein described.

The device <NUM> may comprise electronic means, such a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), on which all the electronic components within the device <NUM> are attached to. The electronic board may have attached other conventional elements (not described herein) which as an expert understands may be necessary for recording, storing and transmitting the data captured by the sensor.

Turning now to the figures, <FIG> shows an exploded view of a monitoring device <NUM> according to a possible implementation of the invention. The monitoring device <NUM> of this embodiment incorporates a PCB <NUM>, one temperature sensor <NUM>, such as a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor, storage means <NUM>, a processor <NUM> and a GPS module (not shown in this figure) to locate the geographical position of the device at any time. The monitoring device <NUM> also incorporates other elements which provide the device with optimised features. These additional elements can be (one, various or all of them): a battery (not shown in this figure), a GPRS communication unit <NUM>, a display or screen <NUM> to display the use code <NUM>; a mini-USB port <NUM> to locally download data stored in the storage means <NUM>, a case or casing, preferably made of plastic and also preferably in the form of an upper case (upper casing) <NUM> and a lower case (lower casing) <NUM> to protect and isolate the PCB from the exterior (dirt, humidity, etc.). The device <NUM> may further comprise means for generating the use code <NUM>, such as a PRNG or TRNG, or may comprise means, for example the GPRS communication unit <NUM>, the mini-USB port <NUM> or any other communication systems, for remotely or locally receiving said use code <NUM> from the cloud or from an external device such a laptop, a tablet, smartphone, etc..

The PCB <NUM> has an activation/deactivation mechanism (not shown in this figure) to turn on and off the monitoring device <NUM>. This activation/deactivation mechanism is actuated by pression the on/off button <NUM> on the upper casing <NUM>. In some examples, instead of having one activation/deactivation button, two different buttons may be used, one for activate, another for deactivate, allowing other options like for example navigating in the screen.

In some examples, instead of having a protective case, the monitoring device <NUM> has a protective film, preferably made of plastic. While in the implementation of <FIG> the at least one sensor is inside the device, thus facilitating the water-tightness and reducing the response speed to reach the exact measurement of temperature or other values, in some other examples the at least one sensor may be attached to an external surface of the case to improve data measurement or may be integrated into external probes communicatively coupled to the device <NUM>. The monitoring device <NUM> has been designed to meet at least IP65, preferably IP67, protection grade of the international standard, IEC <NUM> Degrees of Protection against water and dust particles.

While the local connection unit shown in <FIG> is a mini-USB port <NUM>, the monitoring device <NUM> may incorporate other local connection units such as a Wi-Fi module or a combination of both. The monitoring device <NUM> may also incorporate remote connection units, other than the GPRS communication unit, such as, GSM or Nb-loT communication units. As used herein, a local connection may refer to a connection that requires the presence of the sending device and the receiving device in proximity. In other words, a local connection is understood to be a connection which is not remote, but both devices are separated at a maximum distance of a number of meters. As used herein, a remote connection may refer to a connection that does not require the presence of the sending device and the receiving device in proximity. The local connection can be wired or wireless while the remote connection is wireless. The local connection is normally activated in the event of failure in the network, in the remote connection or for firmware updating purposes. In some other cases, firmware update can also be done remotely.

The device to which the data are downloaded can be any device which comprises at least data input/output means compatible with the input/output means of the device <NUM> and storage means (for example, a RAM memory) for storing said information. Non-limiting examples of such a device to which the information stored in the device <NUM> is downloaded are: portable or desktop computer, PDA, tablet, mobile telephone, smartphone, etc. The device <NUM> allows the downloading of the individualised and manageable data. The data are preferable binary coded.

The monitoring device <NUM> has a maximum period of recording imposed by the electronics (e.g. memory capacity). Optionally, a minimum recording time can be imposed. Once the monitoring device <NUM> is turned on, immediately or after a brief transitory period, the monitoring device <NUM> starts gathering data, whether periodically or not periodically, according to how it has been programmed.

<FIG> shows a diagram of the internal architecture of the monitoring device <NUM> according to a possible embodiment of the invention. The monitoring device <NUM>, that is to be located in the interior of a container for transporting products, comprises at least one sensor <NUM> to measure the at least one parameter, for example the temperature inside the container, a memory <NUM> to store the gathered data, a battery <NUM> to power all the electronic elements within the monitoring device <NUM> and at least one input/output device <NUM>. The input/output device <NUM> incorporates the local and remote connections including the mini-USB port <NUM>, the GPRS communication unit <NUM> and the respective controllers for managing them.

The monitoring device <NUM> further comprises a processor <NUM> to associate a particular use code, corresponding to the shipping stage of the container, to the data gathered during operation of the monitoring device <NUM>. This data is gathered by the sensor <NUM> and the GPS <NUM>. The associated data is accessible for a user when the particular use code associated to this data is provided by said user as a valid access code. In such example, the use code may be generated in the monitoring device <NUM>. The monitoring device <NUM> may comprise a use code generator module <NUM>, e.g. a PRNG, connected to the processor <NUM>, such that, for example every time the device <NUM> is turn on (that will correspond with a different transport stage), the use code generator module <NUM> generates a new use code that the processor <NUM> associates to the data gathered by the sensor <NUM> and the GPS <NUM>. This data already associated to the generated use code is stored in the memory <NUM> and, simultaneously may be transmitted to the cloud by means of the GPRS communication unit <NUM>. In this way, the information gathered by the monitoring device <NUM> is available for an authorized user in a local and remote manner. In general, there will be a different use code for each shipping stage in which the same monitoring device <NUM> may be involved.

<FIG> shows a diagram of the architecture of the recording system according to an embodiment of the invention. The products travel in the container <NUM>, the parameters of which products are sought to be monitored. The device <NUM> is activated and a use code17 is generated for that particular transport stage. The use code <NUM> will be in general different from any other use code associated to other transport stages involving the same device <NUM>. This use code <NUM>, that has been generated in the device <NUM>, is shown in the display <NUM> so that the user <NUM> located at the departure location can see it and send it <NUM> to the user <NUM> located at the destination location. For example, user <NUM> may send <NUM> an email or message to user <NUM> using respective electronic devices <NUM> such as PCs, smartphones or PDAs. The use code <NUM> is also sent <NUM> by the GPRS communication module <NUM> to the cloud <NUM> from where it is also retrievable by user <NUM> by using the use code <NUM> received from user <NUM>. Once activated, the device <NUM> is placed inside the container <NUM> during the transport stage of the same, whether inside a box of the cargo or outside. Once the device <NUM> is activated and after a brief transitory period, the device <NUM> begins to gather environmental information, such as the temperature inside the container <NUM>. The data gathering may be performed at any rate depending on how the processor <NUM> that manages the sensor <NUM> and the GPS <NUM> has been programmed. The use code <NUM> remains associated to the shipping of the cargo until the container <NUM> arrives to its destination and the device <NUM> is deactivated by user <NUM>.

Alternatively, the use code <NUM> can be generated directly in the cloud <NUM> and sent to the device <NUM>. If the device has a display <NUM>, the use code <NUM> can be displayed to the user <NUM> who may send it to user <NUM>. On the contrary, in implementations lacking the display <NUM>, the user <NUM> may directly retrieve the use code <NUM> from the cloud <NUM>.

The data gathered is associated to the use code <NUM> and stored in the memory <NUM> of the device <NUM>. The device <NUM>, by means of its GPRS connection module <NUM>, sends <NUM> the associated data to the cloud <NUM> where it is stored. For example, the sensors of the device <NUM> may sense and store data at a particular rate, e.g. every minute, but may send the gathered data already associated to the corresponding use code <NUM> at a different rate, e.g. every ten minutes, to optimize resources, in particular battery. This information is stored both in the device <NUM> and in the cloud <NUM>, unless the user <NUM> provides the code or the user <NUM> downloads it from the cloud as an authorized user. Alternatively, the user <NUM>, instead of receiving the use code <NUM> from the user <NUM> or getting it from the cloud <NUM>, may get it from the display <NUM> of the device when the container <NUM> has arrived to its destination. In another alternative, user <NUM> may generate the use code <NUM> for a specific transport stage in a device different from the device <NUM> or the cloud <NUM>, such that this use code <NUM> could be printed in a sticker and attached to the device <NUM> before the transport is carried out.

At the arrival of the container <NUM> to the destination, user <NUM> accesses to the cloud <NUM> and downloads <NUM> the data gathered during the transport stage of the container <NUM> by using the corresponding use code <NUM> as a valid access code. Alternatively, upon arrival of the container <NUM> at the destination and before removing the cargo from the container <NUM>, in the event of failure in the network or in the remote connection user <NUM> removes the device <NUM> to proceed with the downloading of the data recorded during the entire journey. The user <NUM>, when accessing the device <NUM> that travels within the container <NUM>, carries an electronic device <NUM>, for example a laptop. The electronic device <NUM> can be for example a portable or desktop computer, a PDA, a tablet, a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a portable reader device or any electronic device which comprises a memory and a processor. By means of the mini-USB port <NUM> of the device <NUM>, a connection is established with a corresponding port of the electronic device <NUM>. The connection between the device <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> may established by means of any other conventional data transmission system or technology, whether wireless (for example Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, etc.) or wired (USB, micro USB or any other conventional interface). The device <NUM> transmits the data associated to the shipping to the electronic device <NUM> when the user <NUM> provides identification of the corresponding use code <NUM> to the device <NUM>. The information (data) relating to the measurements of one or more parameters taken at different moments in time during the journey travelled by the container <NUM>, is downloaded by the user <NUM> in their conventional electronic device <NUM> thanks to a specific software for such purpose.

In an alternative embodiment, the user <NUM> access the recording device <NUM> associated with the container <NUM> being located in the vicinity of said container <NUM>, for example accessing from a warehouse or from the port. Thus, when the electronic device <NUM> detects the recording device <NUM> in its wireless coverage area (for example, Wi-Fi), it automatically accesses the device <NUM> by providing the use code corresponding to that shipping of the container <NUM> to download the data from the same to.

In addition, another user <NUM> not having direct access to the device <NUM> located within the container <NUM>, may receive <NUM> the use code <NUM> from the user <NUM> located at the departure location (alternatively the use code <NUM> may be received from user <NUM> or from any other user or system having access to that particular use code <NUM>), for example via an email or message using respective electronic devices <NUM> such as PCs, smartphones or PDAs. Then user <NUM> accesses to the cloud <NUM> and downloads <NUM> the data gathered during the transport stage of the container <NUM> by using the corresponding use code <NUM> as a valid access code. From the moment in which any data gathered during the transport stage of the container <NUM> is uploaded to the cloud <NUM>, said data becomes remotely accessible only for those users having the use code.

In such implementation, data retrieved from the cloud or the device by user <NUM> relate mainly to the series of temperature/time which has been produced during the transport and which are contrasted with the temperature which the products should have theoretically maintained in the cold chain. Although in <FIG> a single container <NUM> including a single device <NUM> is depicted, a single container with a plurality of devices to measure different parameters or to measure the same parameter in order to double check data measurements by the user at the destination may be implemented.

Besides, once user <NUM> has accessed to the gathered data <NUM> subsets of data of interest may be selected in order to compare them, combine them and/or draw conclusions with respect to one or more parameters selected by the user himself, and manage them by means of creating alarms and/or filters associated with one or more containers.

In this text, the word "comprises" and its variants (such as "comprising", etc.) are not to be interpreted in an exclusionary manner, that is to say, they do not exclude the possibility that what is described includes other elements, steps etc..

In the context of the present invention, the term "approximately" and the terms in its family (such as "approximate", etc.) are to be understood as indicative values which are very close to those which accompany the previously mentioned term. That is to say, a deviation within the acceptable limits based on an exact value should be accepted since the person skilled in the art understands that said deviation based on the indicated values is inevitable due to the imprecisions of the measurement, etc. The same applies to the terms "around" and "substantially".

Claim 1:
A device (<NUM>) for sensing and recording data associated to at least one parameter associated with the transport of products in a container, the device (<NUM>) comprising:
at least one sensor (<NUM>) to measure the at least one parameter;
positioning means (<NUM>) for determining a location of the device (<NUM>);
data storage means (<NUM>) to store data measured by the at least one sensor (<NUM>), the data being associated to the location of the device (<NUM>) at the moment in which a particular data is measured;
input/output means (<NUM>) to transmit the data stored in the data storage means (<NUM>);
characterized in that the device (<NUM>) comprises processing means (<NUM>) to, for each transport stage followed by the device (<NUM>) that corresponds to a period of time between the activation of the device (<NUM>) and its subsequent deactivation, associate a use code to the data collected and stored in the data storage means (<NUM>) during the period of time said transport stage lasts, said use code being associated to a particular transport stage, wherein the use code associated to a particular transport stage is different from use codes associated to other transport stages; and
wherein the data associated to a use code is accessible for a user having the use code, when the use code is provided by the user as an access code.