Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-04
2001-08-28
Lee, Benjamin C. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S572100, C340S988000, C340S438000, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281797
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to detecting the entry of a container into a transportation vessel hold and, more particularly, to deactivating a tracking device attached to the container when it enters a transportation vessel hold that is sensitive to frequency signals to prevent any potential interference with the transportation vessel systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many shipping companies attach transmitting devices to shipping containers to track their geographic location. This allows the shipping company to determine the geographic location of the container as it moves between the origination and destination points to determine whether the goods inside the container are on time, late, or somehow misplaced. For instance, the container may have been misrouted or been placed on the incorrect airline to reach its destination. The advantages of tracking the position of the goods are many and therefore have become commonplace throughout the shipping industry.
The tracking devices associated with the container transmit and receive various types of communication signals, such as electromagnetic and/or radio frequency signals, for determining the geographic position. A problem occurs when the container with the tracking device is loaded onto a transportation vessel, such as an aircraft, as the signals may potentially cause interference with the aircraft systems. Regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), place restrictions on communications signals due to their potential interference with flight systems and communications. Before the present invention, containers with tracking devices could not be loaded onto vessels such as an aircraft because of this potential interference. Containers with tracking systems may also be present in other areas that require intrinsically safe conditions. It is therefore necessary that the tracking device be deactivated while the container is on board the transportation vessel or in an intrinsically safe area.
It has been determined that for a deactivation method, it is inadequate to rely on a person to manually switch off the tracking device when it enters the aircraft. For example, human operators may forget to deactivate the tracking device when the container is entered into the transportation vessel. Additionally, these containers are normally tightly packed into the transportation vessel cargo hold in such a manner that they are not easily accessible once the transportation vessel has been completely loaded. One container with a tracking device still activated that is loaded onto a transportation vessel may require that the entire transportation vessel be unloaded to access and deactivate the trackingdevice. Further, once the container is removed from the transportation vessel at the end of its journey, the tracking device must be reactivated so the container can again be adequately tracked.
As a further consideration, the tracking device must be installed on the container such that it does not interfere with the currently existing cargo handling equipment. This includes placement of the transmitting device in a location such that it is not easily damaged by either the cargo handling equipment or a turbulent aircraft ride.
Thus, there remains a need for a reliable method and system for deactivating the tracking device once it has been loaded onto a transportation vessel such as an aircraft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a tracking device that is associated with a container for shipping of goods and/or materials. The tracking device receives information regarding the location of the container and such information is communicated remotely for tracking purposes. Sensors are provided to determine if the container is proximate to, being loaded into, or already loaded in transportation vessels (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “proximate”) so that the tracking device can be deactivated so as to not interfere with the communications systems of the transportation vessel, such as an aircraft.
There are many different manners in which the present invention senses that the container is proximate to a transportation vessel, any of which can act independently or in cooperation with each other to deactivate the tracking device. Environmental sensors may be used to sense information concerning the surrounding of the container, including but not limited to, reception of positioning information, acoustics, frequencies, pressure, altitude, motion, vibration, capacitance, and imaging. Cooperative marker sensors may also be used by placing them proximately to the transportation vessel in strategic locations such that sensors associated with the container are able to read such markers to determine that the container is proximate to a transportation vessel so that the tracking device can be deactivated. These sensors are also used to determine when the container is no longer proximate to a transportation vessel so that the tracking device can be reactivated.
Transportation vessels may have cargo holds that are shielded from reception of outside signals. In one environmental sensor embodiment, the lack of reception of positioning information inside such a cargo hold may be used to indicate that the container is inside a transportation vessel.
In a second environmental sensor embodiment, acoustic signals unique to a particular type of transportation vessel may be sensed to indicate that the container is proximate to a transportation vessel. The tracking device compares the sensed acoustic signals to predetermined acoustics signals stored in memory to determine if the tracking device is in a transportation vessel and, thus, should be deactivated.
In another environmental sensor embodiment, frequency detection is used. The transportation vessel may emit particular frequencies that are representative of the operation of the vessel. For instance, aircraft AC power systems emit a frequency around the 400 Hz range that may be detected to signify that the container is proximate to the aircraft.
In another environmental sensor embodiment, pressure readings are used. Pressure readings can determine height above sea level which in turn can be used to determine if the container is airborne and, therefore, in a transportation vessel such as an aircraft. If the pressure readings are used in combination with positioning information, the tracking device can determine the container's height above ground level to further ensure that the container is actually airborne (as opposed to above seal level, but still on the ground such as in a mountainous region) before deactivating the tracking device.
In another environmental sensor embodiment, motion and/or vibration of the container is measured. If the container is moved in a certain way or at a certain angle, this may signify that the container is proximate to a transportation vessel. Likewise, transportation vessels may have unique vibrations that can be sensed to determine when the container is proximate to a transportation vessel so that the tracking device can be deactivated.
In another environmental sensor embodiment, capacitance is used to determine if the container is proximate to a transportation vessel. Certain cargo holds of transportation vessels may be constructed of unique materials of known thicknesses that will couple with the container to form a predetermined capacitance when the container is proximate to the transportation vessel. Thus, by determining the capacitance associated with the container, the tracking device can determine whether the container is proximate to a transportation vessel so that the tracking device can be deactivated.
In another environmental sensor embodiment, an imaging sensor may be used to determine the curvature of the container's surroundings. Certain cargo holds for certain transportation vessels may have unique shapes, and, thus, identifiable curvatures, due to the vessel's construction and design. By using an imaging sensor to identify the curvature associated with the container
Forster Ian J.
Horrell Peter Robert George
McGlade Mark
Puleston David J.
Lee Benjamin C.
Marconi Data Systems Inc.
Nguyen Tai T.
Withrow & Terranova , PLLC
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