EP0984418B1 - Méthode pour le repérage et le traçage de marchandises - Google Patents

Méthode pour le repérage et le traçage de marchandises Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0984418B1
EP0984418B1 EP19990202906 EP99202906A EP0984418B1 EP 0984418 B1 EP0984418 B1 EP 0984418B1 EP 19990202906 EP19990202906 EP 19990202906 EP 99202906 A EP99202906 A EP 99202906A EP 0984418 B1 EP0984418 B1 EP 0984418B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
communication
network
public
tracking
goods
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19990202906
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0984418A3 (fr
EP0984418A2 (fr
Inventor
Johannes Harm Lukas Hogen Esch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek NEDAP NV
Original Assignee
Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek NEDAP NV
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Publication date
Application filed by Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek NEDAP NV filed Critical Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek NEDAP NV
Publication of EP0984418A2 publication Critical patent/EP0984418A2/fr
Publication of EP0984418A3 publication Critical patent/EP0984418A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0984418B1 publication Critical patent/EP0984418B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/123—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams
    • G08G1/127—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G9/00—Traffic control systems for craft where the kind of craft is irrelevant or unspecified

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for tracking and tracing goods being transported, wherein at least one communication set is packed or linked together with the goods, which communication set comprises memory means in which, prior to transport, information about the planned transportation route along with at least one associated timeframe is stored, and which communication set is further arranged for wirelessly receiving information from a public or other communication network and for determining, on the basis of that information from the public or other communication network, whether a predetermined deviation from the planned transportation route and/or the associated time frame is exceeded.
  • the invention also relates to a system for practicing this method, the system comprising a central planning computer and a number of mobile communication sets, the planning computer and the mobile communication sets being arranged for wireless communication with each other via a public or other communication network. Furthermore the invention relates to a communication set arranged for use in such a method.
  • U.S. Patent 5,751,245 discloses a system for following trucks or shipping containers, utilizing communication devices mounted on the trucks or shipping containers.
  • These known communication devices have, in addition to communications means for communicating with a central station via the public or other communication network, locating means arranged for cooperation with GPS satellites or a Loran-C navigation system for determining its locations, and the like. If the deviation exceeds a predetermined limit, the communication set communicates to a central station via a communication.
  • the delays that occur in the transportation of goods are often caused by poor communication between the different changeover points and the central computer system.
  • the human factor plays an important role, due to which, for instance, goods that sustain delay are not reported to the central network.
  • a method for tracking and tracing goods being transported is characterized in that the communication set is further arranged for determining, on the basis of that received information from the public or other communication network, whether a predetermined deviation from the planned transportation route and/or the associated time frame is exceeded, and, if such deviation is exceeded, for transmitting via said public or other communication network a corresponding message to a central apparatus where the transport of the goods is planned and monitored.
  • a system for practicing a method according to the invention is characterized by the mobile communication sets comprise a memory for storing transportation route information in the form of identification codes or fingerprints of transmitters of the communication network that are located along the transportation route, and associated timeframes, as well as receiving means for receiving the identification codes or fingerprints from the communication network, and comparator means for comparing the received identification codes or fingerprints and the associated timeframes with each other, and transmitting means for transmitting a message to the central planning computer via the communication network when a predetermined deviation is exceeded.
  • the information received for determining whether a deviation exceeds and if such a deviation exceeds transmitting a corresponding message to a central apparatus is carried out by means of one and the same public or other communication network.
  • Separate locating means as disclosed in US 5,751,245 are not utilized according to the present invention, because according to the invention locating occurs on the basis of the signals provided by the communication network which is used for the communication anyway.
  • WO 97/17623 discloses a system wherein the location of a mobile telephone is determined. The location is however not determined by the mobile telephone on the basis of information received from the network. The location is determined on the basis of, amongst others, known information of base stations which have communicated with the mobile telephone in order to perform triangulation calculations.
  • Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a system according to the invention.
  • a system for tracking and tracing transports of goods according to the invention is at least partly based on utilisation of public or other communication infrastructure, such as, e.g., the so-called Global System Mobile (GSM) wireless telephone network, which is spread worldwide over more than 80 countries, or any other cellular network.
  • GSM Global System Mobile
  • valuable freight shipments are provided with a communication set B which will also be referred to as 'Boxy' in the following description, by analogy with the so-called Handy for wireless telephone traffic through the GSM network.
  • a Boxy according to the invention is an apparatus having a part of the functions of a GSM telephone set or similar telephone set, which is packed together with more expensive (air) freight, in order to be able to trace the goods along the transportation route to be traveled from source to destination.
  • the Boxy In areas that are partly or wholly covered by a GSM network, the Boxy is capable of determining whether a predetermined deviation from the planned transportation route and schedule is exceeded. The Boxy is capable of detecting when the planned transportation times, in relation to the locations, are exceeded by a predetermined amount. The Boxy then contacts autonomously a central office A via, for instance, the GSM network, to report the delay. At the central office, for instance a central computer C can search for a modified planning and send it back to the Boxy, or instruct the Boxy in question not to communicate any further reports.
  • delays or changes in the route will be known to the central computer at a very early stage, so that customers can be informed at an early stage about the delays to be expected. Also, alternative transportation possibilities can be explored and initiated at an early stage.
  • An example of a Boxy according to the invention contains as functional modules, as schematically indicated in Figure 1, a battery module 1, a GSM transmitter/receiver with modem and automatic dialer 2, a GSM chip module 3 of the provider having a GSM number, a processor with memory 4 for logging transport planning and route, means 5 for local communication between one or more Boxies, and a clock module with date and time 6.
  • the means 5 can comprise, for instance, a transmitting/receiving coil 7, which, if desired, can also serve as an interface for storing route information and the like via the means 5 in the memory in module 4.
  • the tracing of the routes travelled is done by the Boxy with the aid of GSM transmitter identification codes, which are conventionally transmitted periodically or continuously and which are received underway and stored in the memory of the Boxy, or with the aid of a so-called fingerprint of these transmitter identification codes, without the meaning of this fingerprint being known.
  • the transmitter identification codes, or fingerprints thereof, as far as they are known, are loaded from the central computer into the Boxy at the beginning of the transport. Unknown GSM transmitter identification codes are received underway and, following transport, also passed on to the central computer.
  • the system is self-learning and does not need to be supplied beforehand with the transmitter identification information, which in fact is often not known in advance.
  • the transportation planning and possibly product information are loaded into the Boxy, whereby the memory 4 of the Boxy is supplied with times, permissible margins, and GSM transmitter identification codes to be expected. Subsequently, en route, the Boxy, depending upon the planning, listens to the GSM transmitter identification codes, which are compared with the expected codes and the timeframe that was planned for them.
  • Communication during a flight can also be prevented, however, by having a communication system on board of the airplane transmit a suitable blocking signal which can be received, for instance, via the module 5, 7 of the Boxy.
  • Such local communication facility can comprise, for instance, the module 5 with a transmitting/receiving coil 7, mentioned earlier.
  • This local communication facility has a small range of a couple of meters under poor communication conditions, as in the case of packaging material of metal.
  • This local communication possibility is to enable the required GSM communication to be handled by the Boxy in the most favorable position to communicate with the nearest GSM network transmitter/receiver and to communicate transmitter ID codes to neighboring Boxies unable to receive or reach the GSM transmitter/receiver in question.
  • the taking over of the communication function by another Boxy is likewise subject to the condition requiring that the same transmitter identification code has been received during a minimum period of time of, for instance, at least 30 minutes.
  • the local communication possibility can also be used to load the information into the Boxy prior to departure.
  • the charging of the battery of the Boxy can, if desired, also be done in a contactless manner through this interface.
  • media can be used that do not cause disturbances in the surroundings and which are unconditionally admitted for international use, such as, e.g., infrared communication or communication through (ultra)sound or electromagnetic communication with very low frequencies.
  • a movement sensor or other sensors may be provided to prevent a Boxy from starting to transmit during a flight.
  • a signal can be generated, for instance via a local network, e.g. a board communication system, to suppress communications from Boxies for a defined period of time.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Procédé de repérage et de traçage de marchandises transportées, dans lequel au moins un poste de communication (B) est conditionné ou associé aux marchandises, poste de communication (B) comprenant un moyen de mémoire (4) dans lequel est enregistrée, avant le transport, une information concernant la route de transport programmée ainsi qu'au moins une trame de temps associée, poste de communication qui est également agencé, en outre, pour recevoir sans fil une information provenant d'un réseau de communication public ou autre et pour déterminer, en se basant sur cette information provenant du réseau de communication public ou autre, si un écart prédéterminé est dépassé par rapport à la route de transport programmée et/ou la trame de temps associée, caractérisé en ce que le poste de communication est agencé en outre, pour transmettre un message correspondant par l'intermédiaire du réseau de communication public ou autre, à un dispositif central (A) où le transport de marchandises est programmé et surveillé si un tel écart est dépassé.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le réseau de communication est un réseau de téléphonie mobile.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'on choisit le réseau GSM comme réseau de communication.
  4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif central (A) comprend un ordinateur central de programmation (C).
  5. Procédé de repérage et de traçage de marchandises selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que la position réelle des marchandises est déterminée par le poste de communication (B) en se basant sur des codes d'identification de l'émetteur du réseau de communication, ou en se basant sur une empreinte dite digitale de ces codes d'identification des émetteurs, sans qu'il soit nécessaire de connaître la signification du contenu de ces codes.
  6. Procédé de repérage et de traçage de marchandises selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le poste de communication (B) comprend, en outre, un moyen (5, 7) pour permettre à des communications locales à courte distance d'échanger des données avec des ensembles de communication similaires (B) situés dans l'environnement proche.
  7. Procédé de repérage et de traçage de marchandises selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, utilisant deux ensembles de communication (B) ou plus, situés à courte distance l'un de l'autre, caractérisé en ce qu'une communication avec le dispositif central (A), s'il y a lieu, via le réseau public ou autre est effectuée par l'intermédiaire du poste de communication (B) qui est disposé dans la position la plus favorable par rapport aux autres postes de communication (B) dans l'environnement proche avec lequel le poste de communication (B) en question peut communiquer par l'intermédiaire de la possibilité de communication locale.
  8. Procédé de repérage et de traçage de marchandises selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'une communication avec le dispositif central (A), s'il y a lieu, par l'intermédiaire du réseau public ou autre, s'effectue si le code d'identification de l'émetteur qui est reçu par le poste de communication, ou une empreinte digitale de celui-ci, se trouve sur une liste de programmation du poste de communication (B) entrée à l'avance et est ainsi connue, et si le code a été reçu durant une période de temps de préréglage, de façon à empêcher une communication durant un vol.
  9. Procédé de repérage et de traçage de marchandises selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'ordinateur central de programmation (C), après un rapport provenant d'un poste de communication (B) (Boxy) concernant un écart par rapport à la route de transport programmée et/ou la trame de temps associée, recherche une autre possibilité de transport pour les marchandises en question, et transmet au poste de communication (B) en question la nouvelle information de programmation correspondante par l'intermédiaire dudit réseau de communication.
  10. Procédé de repérage et de traçage de marchandises selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que tous les codes d'identification des émetteurs reçus par les postes de communication (B) durant le transport, ou les empreintes digitales de ces codes, sont enregistrés dans le poste de communication et, à la suite du transport, sont transmis au dispositif central (A), qui restitue l'auto-apprentissage du système pour avantager des transports similaires devant avoir lieu dans l'avenir.
  11. Procédé de repérage et de traçage de marchandises selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que, pour la communication locale entre les ensembles de communication (B) (Boxies), on utilise un support différent qui n'est pas une fréquence radio, tel que par exemple, une communication infrarouge ou une communication acoustique.
  12. Système pour mettre en pratique un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un ordinateur central de programmation (C) et un certain nombre d'ensembles de communication mobiles (B), l'ordinateur central (C) et les ensembles de communication mobiles (B) étant agencés pour une communication sans fil entre eux par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau de communication public ou autre, caractérisé en ce que les ensembles de communication mobiles (B) comprennent chacun une mémoire (4) pour enregistrer des informations de route de transport sous la forme de codes d'identification ou d'empreintes digitales des émetteurs du réseau de communication public ou autre qui sont situés le long de la route de transport, et des trames de temps associées, ainsi qu'un moyen de réception (2) pour recevoir les codes d'identification ou les empreintes digitales depuis le réseau de communication public ou autre, et un moyen comparateur (4) pour comparer entre eux les codes d'identification ou empreintes digitales reçus et les trames de temps associées, et un moyen de transmission (2) pour transmettre un message à l'ordinateur central de programmation (C) par l'intermédiaire du réseau de communication public ou autre lorsqu'on dépasse un écart prédéterminé.
  13. Système selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins un certain nombre d'ensembles de communication (B) sont munis de moyens (5, 7) pour communication à courte distance avec des ensembles de communication similaires.
  14. Poste de communication (B) agencé pour être utilisé dans un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11 et/ou un système selon la revendication 12 ou 13.
EP19990202906 1998-09-04 1999-09-06 Méthode pour le repérage et le traçage de marchandises Expired - Lifetime EP0984418B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1010007A NL1010007C2 (nl) 1998-09-04 1998-09-04 Systeem voor het volgen en traceren van goederen.
NL1010007 1998-09-04

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0984418A2 EP0984418A2 (fr) 2000-03-08
EP0984418A3 EP0984418A3 (fr) 2001-10-24
EP0984418B1 true EP0984418B1 (fr) 2007-07-11

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EP19990202906 Expired - Lifetime EP0984418B1 (fr) 1998-09-04 1999-09-06 Méthode pour le repérage et le traçage de marchandises

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EP (1) EP0984418B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69936496T2 (fr)
NL (1) NL1010007C2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6281797B1 (en) 2000-04-04 2001-08-28 Marconi Data Systems Inc. Method and apparatus for detecting a container proximate to a transportation vessel hold
US6734796B2 (en) 2000-04-04 2004-05-11 Ian J. Forster Self-check for a detector detecting the proximity of a transportation vessel
WO2004063766A1 (fr) * 2003-01-08 2004-07-29 Envirotainer Ab Activation d'un dispositif de localisation
EP2856201A1 (fr) 2012-06-01 2015-04-08 Petari Usa, Inc. Procédé et système de suivi de conteneurs d'avion

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5826195A (en) * 1992-01-27 1998-10-20 Highwaymaster Communications, Inc. Data messaging in a communications network
US5751245A (en) * 1994-03-25 1998-05-12 Trimble Navigation Ltd. Vehicle route and schedule exception reporting system
TW303444B (fr) * 1994-11-22 1997-04-21 Traffic Object Supervision Systems
DE19504733A1 (de) * 1995-02-06 1996-08-08 Siemens Ag Einrichtung zum Lokalisieren von Gegenständen
IL118283A (en) * 1995-06-07 2000-06-29 Gen Electric Tracking system for assets subject to movement
US5686888A (en) * 1995-06-07 1997-11-11 General Electric Company Use of mutter mode in asset tracking for gathering data from cargo sensors
AUPN637495A0 (en) * 1995-11-06 1995-11-30 Borundi International Pty Ltd Multi layer vehicle tracking system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69936496D1 (de) 2007-08-23
NL1010007C2 (nl) 2000-03-15
EP0984418A3 (fr) 2001-10-24
EP0984418A2 (fr) 2000-03-08
DE69936496T2 (de) 2008-03-13

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