Cargo theft prevention using text messaging

摘要

Method for monitoring a cargo container in which a transmitter is arranged on the container and periodically transmits messages to a remote site or location according to a schedule of messages. When a message is not received according to the schedule, which may be the result of tampering with the transmitter or another nefarious action involving the container, it may be considered that the container has been stolen. A rate of transmission of the messages may be modified based on a condition of the vehicle, such as the presence of a driver inside the vehicle, a distance between a driver inside the vehicle and the vehicle, the vehicle being at rest after motion of the vehicle stops, a location of the vehicle, biometric identification of a driver of the vehicle and deviation of the vehicle from an expected route, and/or based on current time and weather around the vehicle.

主权项

1. A method for monitoring a cargo container, comprising:
providing a transmitter on the container and a remote location apart from the container with an initial schedule of messages to be transmitted by the transmitter from the container to the remote location; transmitting messages from the transmitter to the remote location according to the initial schedule of messages; creating, using a processor, a new schedule of messages that is different from the initial schedule of messages when one of a pre-determined plurality of conditions of contents of the container, the container or an environment around the container is detected; providing the remote location with the new, different schedule of messages to be transmitted from the container to the remote location; and providing the new, different schedule of messages to the transmitter and transmitting messages from the transmitter to the remote location according to the new, different schedule such that the transmitter transmits messages to the remote location according to the new, different schedule of messages instead of according to the initial schedule of messages, whereby theft of the container is determinable when one of the messages in the initial schedule of messages is not received at the remote location after it should have been transmitted according to the initial schedule of messages provided to the remote location or when one of the messages in the new, different schedule of messages is not received at the remote location after it should have been transmitted according to the new, different schedule of messages provided to the remote location.