Real time monitoring of ship cargo

摘要

Remote monitoring and control of the interior environment of a refrigerated shipping container is described. A communications and monitoring device is coupled to a data communications port of a controller of a shipping container. The device is able to receive an operational parameter directly from the controller, without having to install additional instrumentation within the interior of the refrigerated shipping container, and send the operational parameter to a remote station. The device is also able to receive data to control the operation of the refrigerated shipping container from a remote station and send this control data to the controller of the refrigerated shipping container through the data communications port.

主权项

1. A removable apparatus for communicating with a shipping container comprising:
a power interface configured to be coupled to a power source that is external to the removable apparatus and the same source as used by a first controller or a second controller of the shipping container to provide electrical power directly to the removable apparatus for the operation of the removable apparatus; the power interface further configured to condition the power provided by the power source to the form needed by the removable apparatus; a data interface configured to be coupled with a data communications port on the shipping container, the data interface configured to communicate with the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container, regardless of the location of the shipping container, wherein the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container monitor an operational parameter associated with the shipping container and the first controller and the second controller are connected to one or more sensors of the shipping container; wherein the operational parameter associated with the shipping container includes set temperature, internal temperature, set humidity, internal humidity, air pressure, lighting, air quality, status of compressor, status of cooling fan, coolant flow, coolant temperature, supply voltage, door status, or faults or alarms that occur within the shipping container, a communications interface coupled to a transmitter; and a control unit configured to determine a correct protocol for communicating with the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container, the control unit is further configured to establish communications with the shipping container based on the determination of the correct protocol, the control unit further configured to receive, via the data interface, the operational parameter associated with the shipping container from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container, the control unit further configured to determine whether the operational parameter associated with the shipping container and received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container, is outside a predetermined range, based on a determination that the operational parameter is outside a predetermined range, the control unit further configured to determine if the operational parameter associated with the shipping container and received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container should be transmitted based on whether an out of range reporting has been enabled for the operational parameter, based on the determination that the operational parameter associated with the shipping container and received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container should be transmitted, the control unit is further configured to transmit the operational parameter, or a derivative thereof, associated with the shipping container, using the communications interface, the control unit configured to transmit the operational parameter real time throughout the shipping container's journey regardless of the location of the shipping container.