Granted Patent B2

US 7,475,814 · App. 11/287,600 · Granted Jan 13, 2009

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A system for tracking a shipping container or a trailer within a monitored environment, comprising:

a tag mounting device adapted to be temporarily mounted to a container or trailer within the monitored environment, said tag mounting device comprising a mounting frame having a support leg with opposing ends, a clamp mechanism comprising a latch member carried by an end of the support leg and comprising a tongue member for extending into a rim on the container and lever carried by the latch member and adapted for clamping the support leg onto a rim of the container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of the container or trailer, a tag support member extending outward from the other end of the support leg opposing the clamp mechanism, and a tag transmitter carried by the tag support member and operative for transmitting wireless signals;

at least one receiver positioned at a known location within the monitored environment that receives the wireless signals from the tag transmitter; and

a processor in communication with the at least one receiver for locating the tag transmitter and determining the location of the shipping container or trailer.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said mounting frame is substantially L-shaped, and said tag support member extends transverse from said support leg.

3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said latch member comprises a biasing member for biasing the support leg against a surface of the container or trailer when the tongue member engages the rim of the container or trailer.

4. A system according to claim 1 , and further comprising a container insert removably mounted on the support leg and sized to be inserted into an opening on a container and securing the tag mounting device on the container with the support leg engaging a surface of the container.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein said container insert is sized to space the clamp mechanism from a surface of the container such that the container insert supports the tag mounting device on the container.

6. A system according to claim 4 , wherein said container insert tapers from the support leg outward to facilitate insertion of the container insert within an opening of the container.

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said location processor is operative for correlating a wireless signal as a first-to-arrive signal and conducting differentiation of first-to-arrive signals for locating the tag transmitter.

8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said wireless signals comprise spread spectrum wireless RF signals.

9. A tag mounting device adapted for temporarily mounting a tag transmitter on a shipping container or trailer for tracking location of a shipping container or trailer, comprising:

a mounting frame having a support leg with opposing ends;

a clamp mechanism comprising a latch member carried by the support leg at one end and comprising a tongue member for extending into a rim on the container and a lever carried by the latch member for clamping the support leg onto a rim of a container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of a container or trailer;

a tag support member extending outward from the other end of the support leg opposite the clamp mechanism; and

a tag transmitter carried by the tag support member and operative for transmitting wireless signals.

10. A tag mounting device according to claim 9 , wherein said mounting frame is substantially L-shaped and said tag support member extends transverse from said support leg.

11. A tag mounting device according to claim 9 , wherein said latch member comprises a biasing member for biasing the support leg against a surface of a container or trailer when the tongue member engages the rim of a container or trailer.

12. A tag mounting device according to claim 9 , and further comprising a container insert removably mounted on the support leg and sized to be inserted into an opening of a container and securing the mounting frame on a container with the support leg engaging a surface of a container.

13. A tag mounting device according to claim 12 , wherein said container insert is sized to space the clamp mechanism from a surface of a container such that the container insert supports the mounting frame on a container.

14. A tag mounting device according to claim 12 , wherein said container insert tapers from the support leg outward to facilitate insertion of the container insert within an opening of a container.

15. A tag mounting device according to claim 9 , wherein said wireless RF signals comprise spread spectrum wireless RF signals.

16. A method for tracking a shipping container or a trailer within a monitored environment comprising:

temporarily mounting a tag mounting device on a container or trailer by clamping a support leg of a mounting frame forming the tag mounting device onto a rim of the container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of the container or trailer, wherein a tag support member extends outward from the support leg and carries a tag transmitter that transmits wireless signals;

receiving the wireless signals emitted from the tag transmitter within at least one receiver positioned at a known location within the monitored environment;

locating the tag transmitter and determining the location of the cargo container or trailer to which the tag mounting device is temporarily mounted; and

removably mounting a container insert on the support leg and inserting the container insert within a cavity on a container for securing the tag mounting device to the container.

17. A method according to claim 16 , which further comprises pivoting a latch member for extending a tongue member into the rim of the cargo container or trailer.

18. A system for tracking a shipping container or a trailer within a monitored environment, comprising:

a tag mounting device adapted to be temporarily mounted to a container or trailer within the monitored environment, said tag mounting device comprising a mounting frame having a support leg with opposing ends, a clamp mechanism carried by an end of the support leg and adapted for clamping the support leg onto a rim of the container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of the container or trailer, a tag support member extending outward from the other end of the support leg opposing the clamp mechanism, and a tag transmitter carried by the tag support member and operative for transmitting wireless signals;

at least one receiver positioned at a known location within the monitored environment that receives the wireless signals from the tag transmitter; and

a processor in communication with the at least one receiver for locating the tag transmitter and determining the location of the shipping container or trailer, and further comprising a container insert removably mounted on the support leg and sized to be inserted into an opening on a container and securing the tag mounting device on the container with the support leg engaging a surface of the container.

19. A system according to claim 18 , wherein said container insert is sized to space the clamp mechanism from a surface of the container such that the container insert supports the tag mounting device on the container.

20. A system according to claim 18 , wherein said container insert tapers from the support leg outward to facilitate insertion of the container insert within an opening of the container.

Assignments (8)