SkyTel: The is a recent-years example of a major transport location and tracking company use or planned use of MBC: their

patent application is
attached at the end, below, and describes the values of MBC for wide-area and global asset-container secure tracking. - Nov 2010.

A Comprehensive Solution for

Global In-Transit Asset Visibility
Presented to:
Aerospace Auto-ID Programme
Founders EXPO

Joe McKinney
SkyTel: Globaltrack's corporate owner is: Systems Planning Corporation. See--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Planning_Corporation 20 June, 2007
1
 Agenda

• Introduction
• SPC history in Auto-ID
• The GlobalTrak ® Asset Monitoring
Solution
• Commercial Market Drivers and
Security Initiatives
• Questions?

2
 SPC – Over 37 Years Of Excellence
• Corporate Overview
– Advanced technology innovator
– Scientific, engineering, technical assistance
– Systems engineering and refining total business process
– Systems development, acquisition, test and evaluation
– World class radar development
– 300 employees, $60 million annual sales
1000 Wilson• Selected areas of technical expertise
– Radar Physics
– Homeland Security
– Communications & Information Solutions
– Intelligence Support & Analysis One Virginia Square
– Security Design and Integration
– TriData: Fire & Emergency Services Consulting
– Asset Visibility and Supply Chain Management/Security--GlobalTrak
3
 Advertisement appearing in the April, 2007 issue of Inbound
Logistics

What will happen if you lose this load?

Will you know proactively, or must you wait
for shipment unloading?

Do you know the condition of it and of it’s contents? Has the container remained sealed?
Is the temperature staying in the proper range? Have other conditions been
meeting parameters? Have you been notified? Has action been taken? 4
 GlobalTrak: A Historical Perspective
SPC Initiatives in Container Monitoring and Security

Events of
September 11th 2001 V3
GlobalTrak
Worldwide
Deployment
Operation
Safe
V2 Container Commerce
Automated Trials
Sensor Kit
First V1 Hardware
Development
Alpha Test
G rangemouth
R uncor n
Felixstow e H ambur g
Vancouver, BC
Everett, WA
Barby
Tacoma /Se attle Kent, WA Minnesota Fr eeport ,ME
Halifax
Wisconsin

B usan
Yokohama SeaTac O akland, CA
A urora, CO
Chicago
Boston
Istanbul
Carson,CA New
N York//
e w York
Tokyo
N agoya
Los Angeles/
Multiple Destinations
NY&NJ
New
N Jersey
e w Je rs e y
K ar achi
G uandongTaiwan
Lon g Beach
G uangz hou

V3
H ong K ong
Manz anillo
Manilla
Bangkok San Jose

Tanjung Pele pas

Singapore

GlobalTrak Santos
Rio de Janeiro

Durban
Development
is Conceived as And Field Trials
Global Container
Security
System (GCSS),

9/11/01 9/13/01 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

SPC was among the first working towards container security and monitoring
monitoring
5
GlobalTrak® System Architecture

Zigbee
Zigbee
WLAN
WLAN

6
 Asset Monitoring Unit (AMU)
Highest communications availability in the industry

• 3 modes of 2-way communication

– Satellite - Integrated Orbcomm Modem
• Real-time & global coverage
– Cellular - Quad-band GSM
• Global SMS and GPRS
– WLAN – Ad-Hoc ZigBee Wireless
• 1500 ft range, peer connectivity
• Remote sensors
• No additional infrastructure required
• Total weight 5 lbs including batteries
• Environmentally sealed for operation from – 40C to + 85C
• Configurable messaging levels for up to 4 year battery life
• Ultra low power/computation powerhouse
• Freescale u-Proc (885 MIPS) and Blackfin DSP (1200 MIPS)
• Multiple mounting options
7
 Asset Monitoring Unit (AMU)
Open Sensor Architecture

• Built-in Sensors Optional Sensors:

– Global positioning – RFID
(location, speed, direction) – Shock and Impact
– Infrared
– Door position
– Vibration
– Temperature – Chem/Bio
– Acoustics – Radiation
– Light source – EJ Brooks Wireless
Door Seal
– Tampering – Wireless Barcode
Reader
– Customer Specific

8
 GlobalTrak
Information Management Bureau (IMB)
STAKEHOLDERS

• Web Based
• Java Based
• Asset Management
• Mapping and Geozoning
• Document centric
• Complex Business Rules
• Open and scalable architecture
• Event driven
• Flexible and adaptable interfaces
to legacy systems (XML, SMS,
SAP, Excel)

9
 GlobalTrak
Information Management Bureau (IMB)

-Alarms
- XML, CSV, SAP,
Excel -Associations
-Examples: Documents Rules -Data Privacy
-PO -Publication
-BOL
-ASN
-Manifest Events

- Location - Sensor Data

- Timestamp - Door State
10
 GlobalTrak® is an Integrated
“Sense and Respond Solution

Legacy or EDI, XML, ASCII, Excel, Access, JMS, Email, SMS, etc.
Intelligent Business Document Exchange
Other Electronic Electronic
Document Document
From User To User

Business
Rules

The IMB Receptionist Publisher

®
Business
Intelligent Application
Project Document Agent
Agent (Role based)
Manager
(Information source)
Agent

Event Manager

Signal Collector
The AMU or RFID or Bar Code Reader

GlobalTrak® is powered by VI 6D® from VI Agents

11
 Visibility to the Item Level
via Integrated Auto-ID
! In-Transit Visibility—Smart Asset Tracking—a form of Auto-ID
which complements item, case, and pallet level RFID tags
! In-Transit Visibility directly impacts daily operations, providing
real-time knowledge and proactively managing
!cargo location, cargo condition, and operational response
The Integrated Solution:
! Container or Trailer tagged with
• Purchase Order 1234 SPC’s GlobalTrak® ,
! Contents are tagged with required labels:
• Trailer
• Pallet RFID, barcode, and/or human readable
• Case
• Item
• Item
• Item
• Case
• Case
• Pallet
• Trailer
• Case
• Case
• Trailer
• Pallet
• Case
• Item
12
 Value Network—Multiple Participants

Discovery Service / ONS

Value Network A-B-’N’ Each Org. (A-C)
has its own secure
Value Network A-B-C
workspace within
GlobalTrak®
Org. A Org. B Org. C
Information is
shared via
Org. A Org. B Org. C
Documents Documents Documents information
published to the
particular
Org. A Events Org. A Events Org. A Events
Value Network

Data managed at
VI SixD™ Managed Services Platform the element

13
Tracking barges from Portland, OR, USA to Lewiston, ID,
USA and back:
The river cliffs made having both cell and satellite
communications essential. Red and purple Icons are
cellular messages. Green and blue are satellite messages.

14
 GlobalTrak
Information Management Bureau (IMB)

Cell

Door
Event

Satellite

15
GlobalTrak - Intellectual Property Strategy

• SPC made early strategic decision to develop core

See page 18 below

technology lead and to pursue an aggressive

Intellectual Property protection program
• Broad technology window
– Provides product edge
– Prevents-raises the bar of difficulty for existing competitors
from selling system in this marketplace
– Increases entry barriers for new competition
– Provides licensing revenue stream
• Patents
– 1 Granted
– 10 Patents pending
– 2 Provisionals in process

16
 GlobalTrak - Intellectual Property Strategy
• Granted (July 2006):
– US Patent #7,098,784 Core Container Monitoring System – very broad patent for
container monitoring system using sensors, data fusion, and communication
channels
• Patent Pending
– A Data Fusion Center (GlobalTrak IMB) that collects data from a multitude of
sensor and units and performs intelligent processing of the data to determine the
occurrence of complex events.
– Using wireless ad-hoc networks communications in the GlobalTrak system to allow
containers to communicate directly with each other as part of a dynamically assigned
network to share common assets and information.
– An flock algorithm and system tracking methodology for containers together being
transported in groups or lots where containers “watch” each other.
– A method and system for allowing various sensors to be used in the GlobalTrak
system through an open architecture sensor design – analogous to Windows XP
automatically recognizing and accepting peripherals such as a printer or mouse into
the system.

17
 GlobalTrak - Intellectual Property Strategy
• Patent Pending (continued)
SkyTel: the Meteor Burst Communications- related patent
application is attached below.

– A distributed processing architecture where each computing element of the

GlobalTrak system forms an aggregate massively parallel computer.
– A fully integrated wireless and satellite antenna actually into the wall of roof of
the container to increase performance, reduce cost, and make it stealthier.
– A fully integrated solar panel using a special spray film coating on the wall or
roof of the container to power and recharge the GlobalTrak system batteries.
– A Meteor Burst communication channel to operate the GlobalTrak system which
would require no wireless towers or satellites, but exploits communication
properties naturally present in the earth’s atmosphere.
– Low cost CCD devices for a visible and infrared image processing to detect
and record intrusions and security violations, monitoring contents of a container,
and thermal profiling to detect things such as living persons or WMDs.
– Integrating the entire GlobalTrak unit into the walls of the container “G-Wall” ,
including electronics, sensors, and power systems. We expect this to be the future
trend for all smart containers.
• 2 other provisional patents in process

18
 Embracing Regulatory Trends

• Added security will facilitate supply chain speed, efficiency

resulting in cost benefits
• Take on CBP and C-TPAT requirements as partners
• Turn the national security information requirements into a
management tool for your international supply chain
• Initial focus on most penetrable market segments
– Reefers
– Pharmaceuticals
– Chemicals and HAZMAT
– Rail
– Other high value cargo

Supply chain efficiency and security become a partnership

19
Supply Chain Management Benefits

• Companies using SCM vs. no SCM

– 2X as likely to achieve 97% on time and complete delivery
– 3X more likely to have faster delivery cycles
– 13.6 day reduction in Days Payable Outstanding (DPOs)
– 20-30% reduction in inventory
– 2X more likely to increase market share
• SCM is growing
– 52% companies will spend more in 2007 than 2006
– 43% will spend more than $500K
– 55% have SCM as #1 priority

Source: Aberdeen Group, 2007

20
 Quantitative Benefits of
Supply Chain Management

Benefit per Container Trip % $

Increased manufacturing uptime 16 184.00

2%1%
3%2%1%
Reduced lead-time variance 17 195.50 16%
31% 17%
Reduced out-of-stocks 30 345.00
30%
Reduced inventory 31 356.50
Reduced labor and fees 3 34.50
Increased container security 2 23.00
Prevention of lost containers 1 11.50
Totals 100 $1,150

Reference: Smart Boxes, ATKearney®, pub. Copyright 2005

21
 Relative Benefits of
Supply Chain Management

More efficient customs clearance:

Reduction in cargo inspections 60%
Improved product safety: Reduction
in theft 50%

Improved inventory management: 50%

48%
Reduction in excess inventory 40%

Improved supply chain visibility: 38%

30%
Increased access to data
30% 29%
Resilience: Improvement in 20% 25%
reported on-time shipping to
customers 10% 15%
Speed Improvements: Reduction
in transit time 0%

Higher customer satisfaction:

reduction in customer attrition
Reference: Smart Boxes, ATKearney®, pub. Copyright 2005

22
 GlobalTrak Applications

! Current portfolio
" Several Global Pharmaceutical firms
" Major US inland barge operator
" US importer of retail goods
" Ocean-going container shipping line
" Customs Agency overseas (Middle East)
" Global Third Party Logistics Provider (3PL)
" Major US defense sector supplier
" Several major US Railroads

23
 Summary - Market
• The container/reefer tracking and monitoring market is
gaining significant momentum based on:
– Multiple studies indicate strong and rapid return-on-investment for
increasing supply chain efficiency, cargo condition monitoring,
and enhancing cargo quality
– Carriers and container/reefer manufacturers recognize the
ubiquitous future of tracking and monitoring in supply chain
management and are embracing this concept into their strategic
plans
– Regulatory trends and security initiatives such as Safe Port Act,
C-TPAT and 10+2 are coming and tracking technology will play a
strong role with in carriers meeting and embracing these
requirements
– Reefer control, remote diagnostics, and enhanced maintenance
offers significant advantages to carriers who are current “flying
blind”

24
Initiative: Container Physics Research Forum

Container Physics Research Forum

(CPRF)
Government Industry Education

• Problem: Embryonic market, technology adoption barriers, and slow pace of

regulation has inhibited much of the core research related to solving container
security problems
• Solution: Pool resources
• Charter:
– Establish priorities in core research areas related to container security and supply chain
management
– Foster collaboration between government, industry, and education
– Share resources and technology
– Offer a single voice to community
– Contribute to and drive standards
25
Thank-you for your time
attention
and input
Joe McKinney
VP Business Development
GlobalTrak
System Planning Corporation
Arlington, VA, USA

+1.703.351.8284 (office)
+1.703.338.9041 (mobile)
jmckinney@sysplan.com

26
At the time of this upload, the website of this company was
not operating. For a description see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Planning_Corporation

(19) United States

1 2 ) Patent Application Publication (10) pub. NO.:US 2007/0115114 A1
Meyers et al. (43) Pub. Date: May 24,2007

(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING
METEOR BURST COMUNICATIONS IN A
CONTAINER TRACKING SYSTEM
(75) Inventors: Richard C. Meyers, Arlington, VA
(US); Roy Smith, Arlington, VA (US)
Related U.S. Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 601735,886, filed on Nov.
14, 2005.
Publication Classification

(51) Int. Cl.

Correspondence Address: GOSB 1/08 (2006.01)
Baker & Daniels LLP H04B 7/185 (2006.01)
Ste.700 GOSB 13/08 (2006.01)
805 15th Street, N.W. suite 700 (52) U.S. Cl. ................ 3401539.13; 3401545.6; 455112.1
Washington, DC 20005 (US)
(57) ABSTRACT

(73) Assignee: System Planning Corporation, Arling- A system and method for communications between a plu-
ton. VA rality of shipping containers and a central monitoring station
using a meteor burst communication method is provided.
The system may also be used as a redundancy scheme as a
(21) Appl. No.: 111598,825 backup communications device for a primary satellite or
cellular channel. The channel also uses an error protection
protocol, and proposes a method to conserve battery power
(22) Filed: Nov. 14, 2006 for the system.

-
Central Monitoring Station
1200 .- 1200
Remote Container
.
SkyTel: Not discussed in this patent application is delivery by MBC of N-RTK correction data for GPS-GNSS integrated
with the radios on the containers (the combination Meteor Burst Comm/ terrestrial comm/ satellite comm multi-mode
radios). With said N-RTK correction data (and N-RTK equipped GPS-GNSS receivers and engines) the containers
location can be precisely tracked, far more accurately than with GPS-GNSS without the correction data. High Accuracy
Location ("HALO") adds substantial additional security for shipping containers (this patent assignee company is seeking
secure tracking). See the SkyTel HALO collection on SCRIBD.
Patent Application Publication May 24,2007 Sheet 2 of 3 US 2007/0115114 A1

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING METEOR
BURST COMUNICATIONS IN A CONTAINER
TRACKING SYSTEM
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] The present invention claims priority to U.S. Pro-
visional Patent Application No. 601735,886, filed Nov. 14,
2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to container
security and supply chain management and, more particu-
larly, to the communications systems used by a shipping
container security system.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] In today's security conscious transportation envi-
ronment, there is a strong need to cost-effectively and
accurately monitor the contents of containerized shipments.
This need exists both in the United States and abroad.
[0006] Despite the strong need, until recently few solu-
tions, if any, have been able to provide the protection and
accuracy needed to suit the transportation industry and the
government agencies charged with monitoring shipments.
This lack of an acceptable solution is due to many factors
which complicate interstate and international shipping.
Shipping containers are used to transport most of the com-
merce entering, leaving, and transiting or moving within the
This data cannot United States. It is estimated that there are over 6 million
be fully correct: if 6 containers moving in global commerce. Shipping containers
mil in world,
have revolutionized the transportation of goods by greatly
cannot be 6 mil in reducing the number of times goods must be loaded and
US. unloaded during transport. However, at the same time, this
same advantage has created a major problem in that it is very
The Wiki article difficult to monitor and track the contents of each container
says 18 million in during transport.
world in 2005.
http://en.wikipedia. [0007] Beyond their basic construction, monitoring the
org/wiki/ content of shipping containers is also difficult because these
Containerization containers are carried through numerous transit points and
depots all over the world and it is impractical to stop and
check the contents of each container individually at each
point of transit. Dealing with this problem, the U.S. Customs
Service estimates it can inspect just 5% of the 6 million
containers entering and reentering the U.S. each year.
Accordingly, agencies such as the United States Customs
Service are seeking improved ways to achieve cargo con-
tainer security and integrity upon arrival at the ports of entry
of the United States.
[0008] A container tracking system must be able to moni-
tor the location, contents or bill of lading, and the data from
any number of sensors to detect tampering or compromise of
any given container. In order to accomplish this, each
container in the system may be equipped with a mechanism
to collect, analyze, and communicate this data to a central
collection and processing location. However, the communi-
cation of this data over long distances via wireless methods
is often problematic using conventional methods due to the
lack of existing infrastructure such as cellular towers and
even in some cases satellite coverage. For example, even
some of the largest mobile satellite communication systems
May 24,2007
have coverage gaps which do not allow communications in
these areas. In addition, where satellite coverage is available
and a clear look angle to the satellite is provided, it is often
quite expensive to lease satellite transponder capacity which
can render these types of systems economically impractical,
especially when more than a few messages are sent per day.
[0009] In these cases an alternative communication
method can be used which can communicate over the
horizon and long distances know as meteor burst commu-
nications. Meteor burst communication was discovered
roughly 50 years ago initially for military communications
use. It uses the millions of particles, tiny "meteors" 1 gram
or larger, that bum up in the atmosphere 50 to 75 miles
above the earth as they enter the earth's gravitational field.
These tiny particles are present for a short period of time and
create ion paths, and the particle and resultant path may be
used to relay radio signals via scattering effects back to the
earth a similar manner that a conventional satellite would.
Meteor burst allows communication to occur between sites
up to 1200 miles away without any other terrestrial or
satellite based infrastructure. Once a transmission is made,
the remote station data is usually checked and an acknowl-
edgment message is sent over the same path and the central
hub station. The entire transmission protocol usually occurs
in less than 100 ms. While a reliable path is not always
available when the data is first ready to be transmitted,
statistical measurement and atmospheric models have dem-
onstrated that meteor burst can be extremely reliable.
[0010] In the case of container security, it would be highly
advantageous for a communications system to avoid reliance
on foreign cellular networks or public use satellite systems.
In addition, the cost benefits of avoiding a recurring satellite
space segment or cellular network usage charge could be
quite significant in large numbers.
[0011] Thus, a solution is needed that provides a safe and
reliable alternative method of communication using meteor
burst communication techniaues when the cellular and sat-
ellite communication are not practical or available.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0012] Acontainer security system as described by System
Planning Corporation (SPC) (U.S. Pat. No. 7,098,784)
herein referred to as "the SPC Invention", performs many of
the functions to monitor containers, their content, and to
detect tampering within a container during transit. This is
accomplished through a device which is located on a con-
tainer and performs multiple functions. Some of these func-
tions may include controlling various sensors, collecting the
data from these sensors and transmitting this data back to a
central monitoring station. The central monitoring stations
may also send commands and information to individual
containers equipment with this device.
[0013] To enable information to be transmitted to and
from the container, there are several communications sub-
systems including a satellite or cellular communications
device, or both. The system utilizes the satellite or cellular
communications channel to communicate and send status
and alarms to a central monitoring station, as well as relay
information collected from the sensors, location, and other
information related to the container back to a central moni-
toring station located in a different geographical area, in
most cases some distance away.

[0014] In some cases the satellite or cellular communica-
tions channel as described in the above invention by SPC is
not capable of providing reliable communications. This may
occur for the satellite mode when a container does not have
a direct line of sight to an overhead satellite, or a there is
some obstruction where the satellite link cannot be closed.
[0015] On the cellular side, this may also occur because of
weak or no radio frequency signals at all, if a particular
container may be or out of range of a cellular tower or base
station.
[0016] The limitation of this and other inventions is that
they rely on existing infrastructure for critical communica-
tions. In many cases this infrastructure being cellular towers,
or satellites with proper coverage may not be available and
the system will not work. In addition, due to the sensitivity
and critical nature of the information sent over this system,
it may not always be preferable to use foreign satellite or
cellular networks for reasons of security. Finally, service
fees especially for satellite can significantly increase the cost
of operation, especially when more than a few messages are
sent per day.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] To address the problem and limitations noted
above, a system which can provide an alternative commu-
nications path over long distances from any given container
to the central monitoring station is provided.
[0018] The preferred embodiments of this invention
include a meteor burst transmitter and receiver used in a
container monitoring and security system application.
[0019] Meteor burst communications is a technique that
allows communications over long distances without the need
for orbiting satellites or other wireless infrastructure. This
technique exploits natural phenomena of small particles
entering the earth's atmosphere and creating an ionized path
as a reflective means for transmitted signals. Also since no
equipment has to be placed in orbit, it is not susceptible to
satellite failure, satellite ephemeris and orbit corrections,
and conventional/nuclear war side-effects.
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorpo-
rated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate
various embodiments of the invention and, together with the
description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of the
container monitoring system using the meteor burst appli-
cation.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the container monitoring system
using the meteor burst application in a relay mode.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a method for saving power in the
container monitoring system using the meteor burst.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
[0024] The present invention provides a unique system for
providing more robust communications for systems which
monitor and report environmental information regarding the
status of a plurality of shipping containers.
May 24,2007
[0025] Throughout this specification, preferred embodi-
ments of the invention are described in detail below with
reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodi-
ments, various examples and illustrative embodiments are
provided. It should be understood that these embodiments
and examples are provided purely for purposes of illustra-
tion. The present invention is limited solely by the claims
appended hereto.
[0026] Since embodiments of the present invention com-
prise using meteor burst communications in the container
security application as opposed to the communications tech-
nique itself, theory and implementation specifics of meteor
burst are not described in detail herein. Examples of suitable
implementation techniques may be found for example in the
text "Meteor Burst Communications: Theory and Practice"
by Donald L. Schilling.
[0027] With reference now to FIG. 1, and for the purposes
of explanation, tiny particles which form a meteor field 104,
enter the area of the earth's atmosphere approximately, but
not limited to an altitude of between 50 and 75 miles, and
result in the temporary ability for radio signals to transmitted
in the direction of this field be scattered back toward earth.
This phenomenon is known as meteor burst and is more
clearly described in the noted reference of Schilling. The
meteor burst communications device consist of the trans-
mitter 101 and a complementary receiver 103. In a given a
valid time interval when the meteor field path may allow a
valid communications path, a central monitoring station 102
using the meteor burst communication method, may trans-
mit radio frequency signals to a container 106, and receive
signals sent from the container 106. In the same time interval
that container 106 may transmit and use this path, other
containers in the monitoring network may also transmit and
receive radio frequency signals to and from the central
monitoring station 102.
[0028] As an alternative, the meteor burst communications
system in the preset invention may also be used as a
secondary or backup channel, providing redundancy to a
primary conventional satellite or cellular communications
device.
[0029] The transmission range of the meteor burst com-
munication technique is limited to a distance of approxi-
mately 1200 statute miles. In some cases this distance may
not be sufficient to reach the central monitoring station. For
these cases a system may be used, wherein the transmission
from any given container is relayed though either another
container in range, or through dedicated relay station.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, a central monitoring station
202 transmits a message to a container 206, which in turn
relays this message to a container 208 which is the final
destination. FIG. 2 additionally illustrates implementation of
a meteor field 204. In the displayed embodiment, the central
monitoring station 202 is illustrated as being located 1200
miles from the container 206 and the container 208 is
illustrated as being located 1200 miles from the container
206.
[0031] Since meteor burst communications is based on
natural phenomena which occur at somewhat random times,
it is possible that complete messages may not be received
during the short transmission windows when the phenomena
occurs. As such, a preferred embodiment of the present
SkyTel notes: as this application notes, the Meter Burst Communications technology and system architecture, error protection and other
aspects described are within the existing art. SkyTel does not comment on the merits of this claim for a patent for this application of MBC to
shipping container tracking, but include this as an example of the value of MBC for the majority of the worlds goods transport (other than bulk
goods like grains, coal, etc., the vast majority of goods transport is by these cargo containers. See, e.g. The Wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Containerization -- "Today, approximately 90% of non-bulk cargo worldwide moves by containers stacked on transport ships...."
invention may use a method for providing error protection,
wherein, an error detection and correction protocol may be
used to verify that the transmissions using- the meteor burst
communication technique in a container security application
are successful. Since embodiments of the vresent invention
comprise using error protection methods for meteor burst
communications in the container security application, the
detailed theory and implementation specifics of said error
protocols are not described in detail herein. While there are
many variations of error protection techniques, at the most
basic level a simple message acknowledgement scheme
would suffice. Examples of suitable implementation tech-
niques may be found for example in the reference of
Schilling noted in the preceding paragraph as well.
[0032] A preferred embodiment of this present invention
proposes a method to conserve power wherein the meteor
burst communications may be performed at predefined peri-
odic intervals, or in accordance with another selective trans-
mission algorithm or technique, as to conserve battery life of
the wireless and sensor equipment.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, a power saving method may
maintain the containers, such as those containers shown in
FIG. 2, in a low power meteor burst receive only mode, as
illustrated at 302, listening for continuous transmission
attempts from the central monitoring station. Only in 304,
when such signal may be received from the central moni-
toring station, a protocol may be initiated at 306 on the
container to turn on the higher power transmitter circuitry
and complete the transmission at 308. The container may
wait for an acknowledgement message back from the central
monitoring station to assure that the transmission was suc-
cessful. If this message is not received, the process may be
repeated a predetermined number of "n" times, after which
the container may return to a receive only mode at 302
waiting for the central monitoring station.
What is claimed is:
1. A system for providing robust communications for a
container monitoring system for a plurality of containers
comprising:
a central monitoring station controlling a container moni-
toring and security network which sends and receives
messages to and from a plurality of containers being
monitored in the network;
a meteor burst communications device communications
device associated with each container:
May 24,2007
a control element which controls the meteor burst channel
and data handling.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the meteor burst
communications device comprises a communications device
including a meteor burst transmitter element and a comple-
mentary meteor burst receiver element located on each
container, capable of transmitting data and messages to a
central monitoring station, and receiving data and messages
from said central monitoring station.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the meteor burst
communications device comprises a redundancy communi-
cations channel, as a backup communications channel to a
satellite, cellular, or other wireless communications link.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the meteor burst
communications device comprises an aggregate relay sta-
tion, wherein a meteor burst relay station sends and receives
information from a group of containers and relays said
information to another relay station or to a central monitor-
ing station.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the meteor burst relay
station is another container in the monitoring network sup-
porting the relay function.
6. A method for improving performance in a meteor burst
communication system, the method comprising:
monitoring media burst communication transmissions in a
container security application; and
implementing an error detection and correction protocol
to verify that the transmissions using the meteor burst
communication technique in the container security
application are successful.
7. A method for conserving power in a container security
system, the container security system including a plurality of
sensors having wireless and sensor equipment, the method
comprising:
Controlling performance of meteor burst communications
in the container security system in accordance with a
selective transmission technique, as to conserve battery
life of the wireless and sensor equipment.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising maintaining
the containers in a low power meteor burst receive only
mode listening for continuous transmission attempts from
the central monitoring station, and only when a signal is
received from the central monitoring station, initiating a
protocol on said container to turn on the higher power
transmitter circuitry and complete the transmission.
* * * * *