Container tracking system
Shipping containers are networked for transferring data between the shipping containers. The shipping containers include sensors for detecting conditions associated with the shipping containers. The conditions sensed by any shipping container whether transported by rail or ship is transmitted from an ad hoc network, via a gateway configured for satellite or cellular communications for example, to a container-tracking application server or equivalent computer system. The computer system is remotely located to the shipping container for central compilation, analysis, and/or display of data regarding the shipping containers.
1. A shipping container, comprising:
a sensor configured to detect a predetermined condition associated with said shipping container and, if said predetermined condition is detected, to formulate an alarm signal indicating a predetermined condition; and
a transmitter configured to transmit said alarm signal to at least one of another shipping container;
wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit a class designation for a class-based network together with said alarm signal, and
wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit said alarm signal during a duty cycle corresponding to the class designation.
2. The shipping container according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is a component of a wireless radio-frequency data communication device.
3. The shipping container according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit said alarm signal to a wireless data communication device of at least one of another shipping container.
4. The shipping container according to claim 1 , wherein said transmitter comprises a radio communication component.
5. The shipping container according to claim 1 , wherein said transmitter connects said shipping container to an ad hoc network.
6. The shipping container according to claim 5 wherein said ad hoc network is a wireless network.
7. The shipping container according to claim 1 , wherein said transmitter communicates with a cellular communications network.
8. The shipping container according to claim 7 , wherein said transmitter communicates with a cellular communications network via a gateway.
9. The shipping container according to claim 1 , wherein said transmitter transmits said alarm signal to a central database.
10. The shipping container according to claim 9 , wherein said transmitter communicates with a cellular communications network via a gateway.
11. A method of detecting a predetermined condition of a shipping container, comprising:
detecting a predetermined condition associated with said shipping container and, if said predetermined condition is detected, formulating an alarm signal indicating said predetermined condition; and
transmitting said alarm signal to at least one of another shipping container;
wherein a class designation for a class-based network is transmitted together with said alarm signal, and
wherein the said alarm signal is transmitted during a duty cycle corresponding to the class designation.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said transmitting includes transmitting said alarm signal from said shipping container, via a satellite data path, to a computer system.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said transmitting includes transmitting said alarm signal over a wireless ad hoc network.
14. A system for detecting a predetermined condition of a shipping container, comprising:
means for detecting a predetermined condition associated with said shipping container and, if said predetermined condition is detected, formulating an alarm signal indicating said predetermined condition; and
means for transmitting said alarm signal to at least one of another shipping container;
wherein said means for transmitting is configured to transmit a class designation for a class-based network together with said alarm signal, and
wherein said means for transmitting is configured to transmit said alarm signal during a duty cycle corresponding to the class designation.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said means for transmitting includes means for transmitting said alarm signal from said shipping container, via a satellite data path, to a computer system.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the computer system comprises an application server.
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the application server is configured to communicate via the Internet.
18. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the application server is configured to obtain and compile information regarding the shipping container.
19. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said means for transmitting includes means for transmitting said alarm signal over an ad hoc network.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein said ad hoc network is a wireless ad hoc network.