Apparatus for managing transportation vehicles
View Patent ↗Apparatus for managing transportation vehicles includes a plurality of containers each attached to a respective one of the vehicles and containing a memory, a wireless transmitter, a receiver and a writer for storing data in the memory, where data includes a secure section of data defining for the vehicle cargo packing slip information and a non-secure section of data defining for the vehicle safety information relating to the current vehicle contents. The apparatus further includes a first reader for receiving the data in the secure section and second portable reader for receiving the data in the non-secure section where the second reader is arranged to provide to a person in possession of the second reader only data from the non-secure section defining for the vehicle said safety information relating to the current vehicle contents and not the data from the secure section.
1. Apparatus comprising:
a plurality of transportation vehicles each arranged to transport contents contained therein;
a plurality of containers each having a mounting arrangement by which the container is attached to a respective one of the transportation vehicles;
the container containing a data control system comprising:
a memory for storing received information;
a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting required information from the memory when requested;
a receiver for receiving a wireless request signal;
a power supply;
a writer for storing data in the memory, the writer being arranged to create in the memory of a respective one of the transportation vehicles data including:
a secure section of data defining for the respective one of the transportation vehicles cargo packing slip information;
a non-secure section of data defining for the respective one of the transportation vehicles safety information relating to the contents currently contained in the respective transportation vehicle;
at least one first reader device arranged to generate a first request signal sent by the first reader device to the receiver of the data control system;
and a plurality of second portable reader devices each arranged to generate a second request signal sent by the second reader device to the receiver of the data control system;
the first reader device and the data control system operating to transmit to the first reader device in response to said first signal the vehicle cargo packing slip at least said information from the secure section of data for the vehicle which information is disclosed on a first display of the first reader device to an authorized person in possession of the first reader device;
the second reader devices and the data control system operating in response to said second signal to disclose on a second display of the second reader device to a person in possession of the second reader device only data from the non-secure section defining for the vehicle said safety information relating to the current vehicle contents and not the data from the secure section.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container includes a GPS system for detecting a current location of the container.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter has a range greater than one mile.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first reader device comprises said writer for writing the secure and non-secure sections of the data.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data in the secure section is prevented from being disclosed on the second display of the second reader device by encryption.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the data in the secure section is encrypted by said writer which stores the data into the memory.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the data in the secure section is decrypted by the first reader device.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle cargo packing slip information includes: a waybill, a bill of lading, loading and offloading instructions, product description and any hazardous materials warnings.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle safety information includes: vehicle identification, load-empty status, current or previous cargo description and code, and emergency contact information.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first reader device is located at a loading access terminal.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second reader device is carried by first responders accessing the vehicles in an emergency.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first reader device is arranged to disclose on said display to said authorized person information from the secure section of data of all of said transportation vehicles within a range of said transmitter to indicate imminent arrival of said transportation vehicles at a location of the first reader device.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the container includes a GPS system for detecting a current location of the container.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the transportation vehicles is one of a rail car, road tanker or barge.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises an exterior weather proof and secure shell.