Patent ID: 7339469

Claim:
A system for monitoring a container for transporting cargo, the system comprising: a. an onboard device attached to the container comprising: i. a processor/sensor component comprising: 1. a processor for controlling the device; 2. one or more sensors in communication with the processor for sensing container conditions; 3. a satellite modem in communication with the processor for transmitting satellite communications comprising alerts relating to container conditions; and 4. a connection to a power source; 5. a cellular telephone modem for transmitting and receiving cellular telephone communications and the antenna unit further comprises a cellular telephone antenna; and ii. an antenna component connected to the process/sensor component, the antenna component comprising a satellite antenna connected to the satellite modem; b. a central computer system in communication with the onboard device for processing alerts received from the onboard device; and c. a fixed communications device for creating a communications hotspot to facilitate communications between the onboard device and the central computer system.