Patent ID: 12214643

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered the same. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although examples of construction, dimensions, and materials are illustrated for the various elements, those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the examples provided have suitable alternatives that may be utilized.

Description of Embodiments

FIGS.1A and1Bdepict an embodiment of a system100, for determination of required environmental conditions for transport and storage of goods, that comprises one or more boxes102(102a,102b,102c) to be placed in a storage compartment of a vehicle104. In some instances, the storage compartment of a vehicle can be a transport container placed on the vehicle, for example, a transport container placed on a truck, or it can be an integrated cabin of a vehicle, for example, the storage space in a van. The boxes102can be of any shape and size and can be made of any conventionally used materials, such as cardboard, plastic, metals, etc.

As used herein, the vehicle may comprise the transport refrigeration system (TRS) and may be a four-wheeler, a two-wheeler, a bus, a truck, a caravan or any such vehicle which is well known in the art.

Each box102of the one or more boxes102has an indicator code106(106a,106b,106c) on the exterior surface of the box102. The indicator code106can be any of a printed text106a, a barcode106b, Quick Response (QR) code106c, or an image which may be scanned to decipher further information.

Each indicator code106comprises information related to environmental conditions required to be maintained in the storage compartment of the vehicle104. The environmental condition can be the temperature and humidity level of the compartment of the vehicle104in which the boxes102are stored. For example, a good, such as, a vaccine, may be required to be stored and transported within the temperature range of 5-10° C. and at a humidity level of 10-20%, then said information is stored on the indicator code106placed on the box102which is relevant for storing that good. The indicator code106can be imprinted on the box102directly. Alternatively, the indicator code106can be imprinted on a sticker and then placed on the box102.

The system100includes a scanning device108associated with the vehicle104and configured to read said indicator code106from each box102. The scanning device108can be a camera or a laser scanner/barcode reader placed at the roof or wall panel or a door of the storage compartment of the vehicle104. The scanning device108uses image processing techniques to read the information stored in the indicator code106. In some embodiments, there can be a plurality of scanning devices placed within the storage compartment of the vehicle104.

The system includes a control circuitry110operationally connected to the scanning device108. The control circuitry110can include a microprocessor or microcontroller programmed to receive and process information read by the scanning device108. The control circuitry110is configured to compute the readings of the indicator codes106from each box102to determine the required environmental conditions to be maintained inside the vehicle104. In case of plurality of boxes102, the control circuitry110determines an average acceptable set of environmental conditions of the indicator codes106of the one or more boxes102having different environmental condition requirements. The control circuitry110is also configured to determine the average acceptable set of environmental conditions relative to environmental conditions external to the vehicle104. In some embodiments, the control circuitry110can be connected to temperature or humidity sensors present on the outside of the vehicle104to measure the external environmental conditions.

In some embodiments, where the scanning device108is a camera, the control circuitry110can include an image processing system that can identify characteristics, such as, the size, shape, dimensions, type of boxes102and goods placed inside the vehicle104. The control circuitry110may use the information received from the image processing system to determine the average acceptable environmental conditions for the storage compartment of the vehicle104.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry110may be connected to one or more weight sensors placed at the floor of the storage compartment of the vehicle104to determine the weight of the one or more boxes. The control circuitry110may use the information received from the weight sensors to determine the average acceptable environmental conditions for the storage compartment of the vehicle104.

In some embodiments, the control circuitry110may use data from several sources such as, external temperature or humidity sensors, the image processing system and the weight sensors to determine the average acceptable environmental conditions for the storage compartment of the vehicle104.

The system comprises a user device112, such as an infotainment system of a vehicle or a hand-held device of the vehicle operator or a remotely connected computer, tablet, smartphone, or a wearable device such as a google glass, or a smart watch. The average acceptable set of environmental conditions computed by the control circuitry110are transmitted to the user device112. For example, the average acceptable range of temperature that needs to be maintained in the storage compartment of a van is communicated to the driver of the van on the infotainment system of the van via a wired or wireless connection. As another example, the average acceptable temperature and humidity level required to be maintained within a transport container being transported on a truck or ship or any other vehicle is communicated to a remote computer of a centralized transport management system via wireless communication such as internet. As another example, the average acceptable temperature and humidity level required to be maintained within the cargo-hold of a truck is communicated to a hand-held or wearable device of the driver of the truck via localized wireless modalities such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. The acceptable temperature and humidity level may also be provided to a vehicle infotainment system.

There may be instances, where the environmental conditions of the storage compartment fall outside the average acceptable threshold range, in such instances, the control circuitry110provides a warning indication to the user device112if the scanning device110data indicates that the environmental condition of the storage compartment of the vehicle104is outside the threshold range.

In some embodiments, the system100includes an environmental condition regulation system114. The environmental condition regulation system can be any of a fan, a cooler, a refrigerator, a humidifier or a dehumidifier, or a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system placed in the vehicle104. For example, an HVAC system attached to a storage compartment of a truck. The user device112can set the environmental condition of the vehicle104via the environmental condition regulation system114. For example, the driver of a vehicle can set the temperature and humidity level of the storage compartment of the vehicle via the vehicle infotainment system of the truck.

In several instances the environmental condition regulation system can be powered by the drive system of the vehicle, for example, an internal combustion engine, an electric drive train, etc., or it can have an independent power source such as a generator or battery storage. In instances where the environmental condition regulation system is powered by the drive system of the vehicle, there may be circumstances, where the driver of the vehicle may turn off the drive system, or the drive system may shut down automatically, due to any reason such as a malfunction or low fuel or energy capacity, for a period of time long enough that the environmental conditions of the storage compartment of the vehicle104falls beyond the average acceptable threshold limits. In such instances, the control circuitry110provides a warning indication to the user device112, for example, a message for the driver to turn on the drive system, or remedy the malfunction or top-up fuel or charge of the system, so that environmental condition regulation system becomes operational again.

FIG.2depicts a method200that comprises a step202of reading, via a scanning device108an indicator code106from each box102of one or more boxes102placed inside a vehicle104. The method also comprises a step204of computing the readings of the indicator codes106from each box102to determine the required environmental conditions inside the vehicle104. In some embodiments, the method includes a step of determining, by the control circuitry110, an average acceptable set of environmental conditions when the scanning device108reads indicator codes of a plurality of boxes102having different environmental condition requirements. The method further comprises a step206of communicating the information related to environmental conditions required to be maintained inside the vehicle104to a user device112.

In some embodiments, the method includes an additional step of providing, by the control circuitry110, a warning indication to the user device112if the scanning device108data indicates that the environmental condition of the vehicle104is outside a threshold range.

In some embodiments, the method includes an additional step of providing, by the control circuitry110, a warning indication to the user device112, when the power system (for example, an internal combustion engine) of the vehicle104is off for a threshold period of time. The power system provides power to an environmental condition regulation system that regulates the environmental condition inside the vehicle104.

The present invention is applicable to various fields such as, but not limited to, transport of goods, storage of goods, and any such application that is well known in the art.

The order of execution or performance of the operations in examples of the invention illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and examples of the invention may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention discussed herein are exemplary and various modification and alterations to a person skilled in the art are within the scope of the invention.

Exemplary computer readable media includes flash memory drives, digital versatile discs (DVDs), compact discs (CDs), floppy disks, and tape cassettes. By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media are tangible and mutually exclusive to communication media. Computer storage media are implemented in hardware and exclude carrier waves and propagated signals. Computer storage media for purposes of this invention are not signals per se. Exemplary computer storage media include hard disks, flash drives, and other solid-state memory. In contrast, communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media.

Although described in connection with an exemplary computing system environment, examples of the invention are capable of implementation with numerous other general purposes or special purpose computing system environments, configurations, or devices.

Examples of the invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices in software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof. The computer-executable instructions may be organized into one or more computer-executable components or modules. Generally, program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the invention may be implemented with any number and organization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the Figures and described herein. Other examples of the invention may include different computer-executable instructions or components having more or less functionality than illustrated and described herein. Aspects of the invention transform a general-purpose computer into a special-purpose computing device when configured to execute the instructions described herein.

The order of execution or performance of the operations in examples of the invention illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and examples of the invention may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.

As it employed in the subject specification, the term “controller” can refer to substantially any processor or computing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited to comprising, a direct digital control of a HVAC system, a zone controller of the HVAC system, single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or the examples thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The term “exemplary” is intended to mean “an example of.” The phrase “one or more of the following: A, B, and C” means “at least one of A and/or at least one of B and/or at least one of C”.

Having described aspects of the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of aspects of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims and other equivalent features and acts are intended to be within the scope of the claims.