A METHOD OF LOCALIZING STORAGE DEVICES, A MONITORING SYSTEM FOR LOCALIZING STORAGE DEVICES FOR GOODS, AND USE OF THE MONITORING EQUIPMENT

PROCEDE SERVANT A LOCALISER DES DISPOSITIFS DE STOCKAGE, SYSTEME DE SURVEILLANCE PERMETTANT DE LOCALISER DES DISPOSITIFS DE STOCKAGE DE MARCHANDISES, ET UTILISATION DE L'EQUIPEMENTDE SURVEILLANCE

English Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a monitoring system, in
particular for use in the monitoring of containers (4). Each container has a
radio connection to positioning satellites of the GPS type (5), the SatCom
type (6) as well as near field communications equipment from which data may be
transferred to a data processing unit. Thus, according to the invention
several possible radio connections are provided between the individual near
filed communications equipment, it being first checked whether a connection
can be established to the position satellite, and if this is not possible, it
is attempted to establish a radio connection to the communications satellite.
If this cannot be done either, then a radio connection is established to
another near field communications equipment. The containers can hereby be
monitored and tracked currently if for some reason they loose a radio
connection. If the containers are placed at particularly difficult places, an
embodiment of the invention comprises near field communications equipment
which is not placed on any container and which can communicate with the
containers and with the satellites.

French Abstract

La présente invention a trait à un procédé et à un système de surveillance, utilisés en particulier dans la surveillance de conteneurs (4). Chaque conteneur comporte une connexion radio à des satellites de localisation du type GPS (5), du type Satcom (6), ainsi qu'un équipement de télécommunications en champ proche permettant un transfert de données vers une unité de traitement de données. Ainsi, selon cette invention, plusieurs connexions radio possibles sont prévues entre des équipements individuels de télécommunications en champ proche; il est d'abord vérifié qu'une connexion peut être établie avec le satellite de localisation, et, si tel n'est pas le cas, une tentative d'établissement de radiocommunication avec le satellite de télécommunications est effectuée. Si celle-ci échoue également, une radiocommunication est alors établie avec un autre équipement de télécommunications en champ proche. Les conteneurs peuvent ainsi être surveillés et localisés à tout moment si, pour une raison donnée, une connexion radio est perdue. Si les conteneurs sont placés à des emplacements particulièrement difficiles d'accès, un mode de réalisation de l'invention comporte un équipement de télécommunications en champ proche qui n'est pas placé sur un conteneur, et qui permet de communiquer avec les conteneurs et avec les satellites.

Claims

Claims:
1. A method of localizing storage devices, e.g. containers
(4), wherein each storage device is equipped with a
data processing unit programmed to try to position the
unit concerned at determined intervals by establishing a
connection to a positioning satellite, and further
equipped with a near field radio being part of a near
field radio, system comprising at least two storage
devices, and wherein each storage device is moreover
equipped such that a message on observed positions may be
emitted via a communications satellite, character
ized in that the data processing unit in each
container will individually try to determine its position
and communicate information on this via a communications
satellite, and which, when connection to the positioning
satellite cannot be established, is adapted to transfer
data to a communications satellite containing the
information that a connection to the positioning
satellite cannot be established, and in that the data
processing unit activates the near field radio system and
tries to connect to another near field radio which is
capable of creating or has contact to the positioning and
communications satellite via one or more data processing
units, when contact to the communications satellite
cannot be established.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized
in that precisely as matey radio connections
between near field communications devices on a plurality of
storage devices are established as are necessary to set
up a radio connection to the positioning satellite and
the communications satellite, respectively.

2
3. A monitoring system for localizing storage devices for
goods, e.g. containers (4), wherein each storage device
is equipped with a data processing unit connected to a
first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna,
wherein
the first antenna is adapted to try to connect to a
positioning satellite for receiving positional
information,
the second antenna is adapted to communicate with a near
field radio system which enables communication between
the data processing units of each storage device,
the third antenna is adapted to communicate information
to a communication satellite, and
wherein the data processing unit is adapted to produce a
unique ID number and to determine the time and obtain
positional information via said first antenna,
characterized in that said data processing
unit is adapted to transmit information containing
positional information, ID number and time via said third
antenna, and in that
said data processing unit, when no connection to the
positioning satellite can be established, is further
adapted to transmit information, indicating that a
connection to the positioning satellite cannot be
established, via said third, antenna,
and in that said data processing unit is further adapted
to activate said near field radio system and try to
connect to another near field radio system which is
capable of creating or has contact to the positioning and
communications satellites via one or more data processing

3
units when a connection to the positioning satellite
cannot be established, and in that
said data processing unit is further adapted to test for
one or more other data processing units via said second
antenna.
4. A monitoring system according to any one of the
preceding claims, characterized in that each
storage device tries to set up a connection to the
positioning satellite at suitable predetermined
intervals.
5. A monitoring system according to any one of the
preceding claims, characterized in that said
second antenna is further adapted to communicate with at
least one central near field radio system.
6. A monitoring system according to claim 6, charac
terized in that said central near field radio
system is located on yards, ships, trains or ether
transporting or storing units.
7. A monitoring system according to any one of the
preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning
satellite is formed by a GPS system (Global Positioning
System) (5) and the communications satellite
(Satellite, Communications System) (6) is formed by a
Sat-Com system, while the near field communications equipment
is an SR (Short Range) system.
8. Use of the method and the storage device according to
any one of claims 1-9 on a containership (21).
9. Use of the method and the monitoring system according
to any one of claims 1-9 on a goods train (3).

4
10. Use of the method and the storage device according
to any one of claims 1-9 oh a storage site for
containers.

Description

CA 02285930 1999-10-04
WO 98/48396 PCT/DK98/00144
A method of localizing storage devices, a monitoring sys-
tem for localizing storage devices for goods, and use of
the monitoring equipment
The invention relates to a method of localizing storage
devices, e.g. containers, where each container is
equipped with a data processing unit programmed to try to
position the unit concerned at determined intervals by
establishing a connection to a positioning satellite, and
where each container is moreover equipped such that a
message on observed positions may be emitted via a commu-
nications satellite.
The invention moreover relates to a monitoring system for
localizing storage devices for goods, e.g. containers,
where each container is also equipped with a near field
radio system which enables communication between the data
processing units in the individual containers and between
the containers and near field radio systems on yards,
ships, trains or other transporting or storing units.
Finally, the invention relates to uses of the method and
the monitoring system.
US Patent No. 5 5f5 858 discloses a localization system
for use in connection with the monitoring of containers
comprising a group of containers which are e.g. stored.
Each container has communications equipment which con-
sists of a satellite communications device and a near
field communications device. The satellite and near field
communications devices are capable of communicating with
each other so that an arbitrary container can communicate
its position directly via other containers to a GPS posi-
tioning system, or indirectly via a connection to an in-
terrogator.

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Another monitoring system is known from the applicant's
own International Patent Application WO 96/16387.
This known monitoring system, which is used e.g. in con-
s nection with the monitoring of containers, in principle
consists of a communications system in which exchange of
information with the surrounding world takes place via
communications satellites, e.g. of the GPS type. Each
container has a radio connection to a data processor sys-
tem. Each container additionally has a data connection to
a tag, which cooperates with the radio connection of the
container in such a manner that if the data connection of
the container is removed from the container, a connection
to a satellite will be established via the data processor
system.
The system operates fully satisfactorily as long as there
is a good connection between the satellite and the data
processor system. However, the data processor system re-
quires that there is a line of sight between the data
processor system and the satellite. This cannot always be
satisfied, e.g. if containers and the data processor sys-
tem connected to it are stored on the bottom of a ship or
on a train which drives through a tunnel. Furthermore, it
is a drawback that if a radio connection fails, it may be
difficult to find the reason for the failure.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a
system which, in an even faster manner, is capable of
monitoring storage devices for goods, e.g. containers,
and of providing an indication of what is wrong if a con-
tainer cannot be positioned.
The object of the invention is achieved by a monitoring
system of the type defined in the introductory portion of
claim 1 which is characterized in that the data process-

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3
ing unit in each container will individually try to de-
termine its position and communicate information on this
via a communications satellite, and which, when no con-
nection to the positioning satellite can be established,
is adapted to transfer data to a communications satellite
containing the information that a connection to the posi-
tioning satellite cannot be established.
When contact to the communications satellite cannot be
established, the data processing unit, as stated in claim
2, activates the near field radio system and tries to
connect to another near field radio which is capable of
creating or has contact to the positioning and communica-
tions satellite via a data processing unit or in another
manner. It is ensured hereby that all containers posi-
tioned within the overall operating range of the near
field radio system can position and communicate their po-
sitions to the surrounding world.
The individual containers can hereby transfer data be-
tween each other and to the surroundings via the radio
connections, thereby achieving a greater certainty that
the desired positioning of the individual container can
be established, and information on this can be applied
and enable tracking of any containers with faulty equip-
ment for the satellite-based positioning and communica-
tion.
It is moreover expedient, as stated in claim 3, that pre-
cisely as many radio connections are established between
near field communications equipment on a plurality of
storage devices as are sufficient to set up radio connec-
tion to the positioning satellite and the communications
satellite, respectively.

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As mentioned, the invention also relates to a monitoring
system.
This monitoring system is characterized in that each
storage unit, container, is provided with equipment
which, in combination, enables positioning and tracking
of the individual unit, also when it is not possible to
create contact to the satellites concerned for position-
ing and communication because of functional restraints or
because parts of the equipment are out of order.
As stated in claim 5, each container is equipped with a
data processing unit which is programmed to initiate a
procedure for producing ID as well as for determining
the position and time of it and for presenting this in-
formation via communication with satellite or near field
radio system.
In order to be able to identify the individual containers
additionally, it is expedient, as stated in claim 6, that
the container which establishes a connection to one or
more other containers is adapted to produce its own iden-
tification data.
In order to additionally ensure careful monitoring of the
containers, it is an advantage, as stated in claim 7,
that each container tries to set up a connection to the
positioning satellite at suitable intervals.
For use of the monitoring equipment according to the in-
vention in connection with locations where no container
can establish a connection to a satellite, it is an ad-
vantage, as stated in claim 8, that the near field commu-
nications equipment of the containers is in communication
with further near field communications equipment which is
not positioned on the containers.

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As mentioned, the invention also relates to uses of the
monitoring system according to the invention.
5 These uses are defined in claims 10 - 12.
The invention will now be explained more fully with ref-
erence to an example shown in the drawing, in which
fig. 1 shows examples of the storage of containers under
various conditions,
fig. 2 shows a basic sketch of the mode of operation of
the monitoring system according to the invention, and
fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the mode of opera-
tion of the system according to the invention.
In fig. 1, 5 designates a GPS positioning satellite for
providing position data, while 6 designates a SatCom com-
munications satellite for providing communications data.
As will be seen in the figure, the satellites 5, 6 can
establish data transfer to a truck 1, a containership 2
with several containers 4, or a train 3 with carriages
12. Each container has an antenna capable of reading in-
formation from a tag which is positioned on an underlying
container, e.g. as shown on the ship 2, at the reference
numeral 10. This system is described in detail in the
previously mentioned WO application. In brief, the mode
of operation of the system is such that if one of the
containers is unlawfully removed, then a radio connection
between the bridge of the ship and the container will en-
sure that a connection is set up to e.g. a police author-
ity. Fig. 1 moreover shows a train with a plurality of
carriages 12, each of which communicates with a locomo-
tive, which in turn communicates with the satellites 5,

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6. Finally, fig. 1 shows a plurality of containers which
are stored at a site where they are in radio connection
with a stationary data connection unit 9 which communi-
cates with the satellites 5, 6.
In fig. 2, 5 and 6 again designate the GPS positioning
satellite and the SatCom communications satellite, re-
spectively. The figure also shows a plurality of contain-
ers 4 which are placed in a space schematically shown at
14, which might e.g. be on board a ship. It is moreover
shown schematically that the satellites 5, 6 are in radio
connection with the containers which are designated by 4C
and 4I. All the containers are moreover equipped with a
positioning satellite system, a communications satellite
system, and near field communications equipment, which,
however, are not shown in detail in the figure. The near
field communications system is capable of establishing a
connection between the individual containers. As a result
of this, if e.g. the container 4A is to be able to commu-
nicate with the satellites 5, 6, then near field communi-
cation will be established from the container 4A via 4B
to 4C, which communicates with the satellites 5, 6. The
position of the container 4A may hereby be determined
reasonably accurately. To make the system even more
flexible, it is possible to set up relay stations 16 so
that e.g. a connection from the container 4D may be es-
tablished via the radio connections 17 and the relay sta-
tion 16, further via the radio connection 17A and the
container 4I, which, as mentioned, communicates with the
satellites 5, 5. The same connection might be set up be-
tween the containers 4D and 4I, as shown.
It is noted that each container, if there is a line of
sight, has the possibility of communicating directly with
the positioning satellite as well as the communications
satellite.

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Fig. 3 shows a variant of the embodiment of fig. 2, a
near field communications device 18 being established
here, which is not positioned on a container, but has a
good connection to the satellites 5, 6. Such a set-up may
be useful if e.g. the containers are placed so deep down
in a ship that is impossible for any satellite communica-
tions equipment of any of the containers to establish a
connection. Of course, more near field communications de-
vices of the type 18 than shown in the drawing may be set
up .
As will be appreciated, the invention provides a system
which is capable of monitoring any container in a very
safe manner no matter where in the world it is located.
The principles of the invention have been explained par-
ticularly in connection with containel;s, but basically
they may be used in connection with all movable objects
where security against theft and vandalism is desired.

Representative Drawing