System and method for communications of cargo containers in a container security system using wireless ad-hoc networking techniques
View Patent ↗A system and method for communications between a plurality of shipping containers using a short range or local area wireless communication device is provided. The system also contains a cellular communications device, a satellite communications device, or both, which are used to transmit information to, and receive commands from remote central monitoring station. The system includes a method which creates dynamic links between the containers using the short range channel. Containers are organized in networks and sub networks, and have built in redundancy features.
1. A system for providing robust communications for a container monitoring system for a plurality of containers comprising:
a short range wireless communications device associated with each container, wherein each short range wireless communication device comprises a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element;
at least a long range communication device communications device associated with each container; and
a control element which dynamically determines a plurality of short range wireless communications channels between the short range wireless communication elements located on the plurality of containers using a peer-to-peer control method.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the short range wireless communication device located on each container is capable of transmitting and receiving data and messages via a radio frequency signal at a maximum predetermined distance from a few feet to a several hundred feet.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a short range wireless communication protocol includes a protocol selected from the group of protocols including Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.11 series, and a proprietary short range wireless channel.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the long range communications device comprises a cellular communications device including a transmitter element and a complementary receiver element located on each container.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the long range communications device is capable of transmitting data and messages to a central monitoring station, and receiving data and messages from the central monitoring station.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the cellular communications device implements one of a cellular standard or a proprietary wireless protocol and operates on a network suited to transmit data over a network between long distances of at least hundreds of miles.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the long range communications device comprises a satellite communications device including a transmitter element and a receiver element, wherein the satellite communications device communicates with either a geosynchronous (OEO) or Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite in a network.