RU2788582C2 - Tracking system and method for monitoring and security of parts - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: cargo transportation.

SUBSTANCE: invention generally relates to security systems and processes in the field of cargo transportation. A system is proposed for automatically tracking each or a plurality of items related to a shipment as a group of co-located marks that are monitored to provide improved security of the shipment from influences or unauthorized or illegal actions that may jeopardize the safety of the shipment. The data processing system receives a plurality of location tracking signals of a plurality of shipment-related objects, associates the location tracking signals as a shipment group assigned a unique shipment tracking identifier, and presents the shipment group as a plurality of co-located marks in the shipment tracking user interface. The DPS monitors any unplanned deviations in at least one of the expected collocation/geography of location tracking signals, identifies specific types of unplanned deviations, and initiates a response sequence to protect the shipment. Unplanned deviations may include jamming signals, erroneous loading or theft of a shipment assigned to an operator, and unexpected separation of tracked objects.

EFFECT: increasing the safety of valuable cargo transportation at all stages of its transportation.

27 cl, 20 dwg

Description

PRIORITY AND RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under U.S. Patent Application No. 62/540,659, filed August 03, 2017. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

1. FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002] The present invention generally relates to security systems and processes in the field of cargo transportation and, in particular, to a method and system for monitoring the status and ensuring the reliability of shipments using location-based tracking.

2. STATE OF THE ART

[0003] A large number of cargoes are transported by freight carriers daily in the continental United States and in most other industrialized countries. The use of tractor-trailers provided in the field of trucks takes into account a significant part of the carriers used for the transport of goods, including such goods that can then be transferred from a tractor-trailer and placed in air transport, on a cargo ship or vice versa. In the field of trucks, the cargo is designed to be transported from the origin to the destination using a specific tractor-trailer driven by an operator. The transporters (or truck drivers/operators) who provide direct services to move this cargo from origin to destination are usually private transporters whose sole purpose is to safely move the cargo from origin to destination and collect payment upon completion of delivery. .

[0004] Each shipment is a value for the parties involved in the delivery process from the deliverer, broker, transporter (or truck driver/operator) to the recipient. Thus, the safety of the cargo once it has left its origin/delivery point is a matter of concern. The safety aspects of cargo in known transportation are generally based on the good faith of the operator when the tractor/trailer is moving along the chosen delivery route.

[0005] Unfortunately, the same cargo is often of value both to those who are not involved in its delivery, and to those who may steal the cargo and/or truck for various reasons, including financial or other reasons. Even a conscientious operator is not able to determine when activities occur in or around a shipment and a tractor with a trailer or truck that adversely affect the shipment and / or endanger it or prevent the delivery of the shipment from being completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] A description of illustrative embodiments may be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, for simplicity and clarity of presentation, the elements shown in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements are increased relative to other elements. Embodiments containing the ideas of the present invention are shown and described in relation to the drawings presented here, in which:

[0007] FIG. 1A is an example of a data processing system (DPS) in which various aspects of a security and tracking system for a shipment can be applied, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0008] FIG. 1B is a block diagram representation of an example of functional modules that support various functions provided by the shipment location tracking and security utility (SLTSU) in the DPS of FIG. 1A, in accordance with one or more implementation options;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an example of a shipment tracking communication environment that includes shipment related objects implemented in location tracking devices that transmit location signals to a monitoring computer via a communications network, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0010] FIG. 3A illustrates an example input stream from a variety of different shipment-related objects and environmental sources that are received, collected, and/or combined to provide specific operating instructions to a driver/operator mobile communication device transporting the shipment, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0011] FIG. 3B shows an example of a jamming signal in the communication environment of FIG. 3A and response impact identification and notification of relevant entities triggered by the enforcement of the SLTSU by the aggregation server, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 4A shows the contents of a block diagram view of an example of a shipment tracking user interface (STUI) for tracking groups of shipments using co-located visual representations in accordance with a variety of implementations;

[0013] FIG. 4B is a second STUI that is a more detailed view of a selected specific group of items, in accordance with one or more implementations;

[0014] FIG. 5A-5D and 6A-6D, respectively, are exemplary flag tracking user interfaces that provide a more detailed view of co-located consignment-related objects of a particular monitored consignment, including alerts/notifications identifying any anomalies occurring with a consignment in accordance with one or more more implementation options;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for monitoring shipments using co-located marks and responding to an anomaly or deviation in expected movement and/or presentation of marks, in accordance with a variety of implementations;

[0016] FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing a method for identifying an anomaly type and responding to splitting co-located marks outside expected split zones, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0017] FIG. 8B is a flowchart showing a method for identifying when a shipment is being moved by someone other than an authorized and designated driver/operator, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing a method for identifying and responding to jamming effects and loss of location signals, in accordance with one or more embodiments; and

[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a mobile communication device used by an operator/driver that is provided with a tag tracking application to provide real-time tracking of a group of items and receive notifications of potential issues with the group of items, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In accordance with one or more aspects, illustrative embodiments of the present invention are a data processing system, a shipment security tracking and monitoring system, and a mobile communication method and apparatus for electronically tracking a shipment to provide improved security and security of a shipment, and resist theft and other illegal actions, including the effects of deliberate interference. The system electronically tracks each or more items related to a shipment as a group of co-located flags that are monitored to provide enhanced security for the shipment against influences or unauthorized or unlawful acts that could compromise the security of the shipment. A data processing system (DPS) receives a plurality of location tracking signals of several ship-related entities, combines the location tracking signals as a ship group assigned a unique ship tracking identifier (STID), and presents the ship group as a set of co-located marks in the Shipment Tracking User Interface (STUI). The DPS monitors for any unplanned deviations of at least one expected co-location/geography of location tracking signals, identifies certain types of unplanned deviations, and initiates a response sequence to secure the shipment. Unplanned deviations may include jamming signals, mistaken pickup (or theft) of an operator's assigned shipment, and unexpected separation of tracked objects.

[0021] In general, illustrative embodiments further provide various forms and methods of automatically tracking items based on marks with computerized detection of violations in the movement of co-located marks and subsequent response to detected violations by automatically computerized generation of one or more notifications and / or initiation of responses. actions. In a first aspect, one embodiment of the present invention generally provides secure tracking of a shipment by providing representation and monitoring of the movement of a plurality of co-located marks, where each mark represents one or more items related to the shipment. The movement of the co-located marks is further analyzed to enable the detection of potentially bad actions directed towards the cargo vehicle/vessel and/or consignment or cargo, such as leaving the consignment by the operator/driver as a single use. Other applications of the present invention provide embodiments for generating alerts and/or notifications in real time of a potential theft of a cargo and/or a transport vehicle, such as a tractor-trailer, when the theft is accompanied by jamming or location sensor tampering signals.

[0022] The present invention also extends to the use of location tracking systems for one or more shipping related entities involved in shipping. For example, in one embodiment, to track the location of a load and/or a tractor/trailer, a location tracking device (such as a transponder) may be attached to the tracking object. The location tracker wirelessly transmits a location signal indicating the geographic location of the tracked object. The location of the single item associated with the shipment can then be tracked through the single mark on the tracking/monitoring computer that receives geographic signals from the location tracker.

[0023] With known shipments that include a single transponder to track the location of the shipment and/or the tractor and trailer, thieves and others who want to take or otherwise interfere with the cargo/shipment or tractor and trailer resort to the use of deliberate techniques. interference to block outgoing transponder signals. When the signals are blocked, a thief can remove the cargo from the tractor/trailer or steal the tractor and/or trailer itself, or a combination of them with the cargo, realizing that the location of the shipment can no longer be tracked. By exploiting such interference effects on the transponder signal, wireless tracking is not transmitted to the monitoring computer to further locate stolen items when the theft is subsequently detected. By the time the theft was discovered, the thief had long since left with the shipment. The present invention solves the problem of this use of signal noise by providing a monitoring system that quickly identifies when a jamming signal has occurred and a response system to notify the appropriate parties to respond and prevent the cargo or container from being stolen.

[0024] Additionally, a load or trailer containing a load randomly designated by the shipper for collection by a selected/authorized driver/operator from a loading point, such as a loading dock. There are cases where a load or trailer is intentionally or unintentionally hitched to another operator's vehicle (e.g. truck) and taken from the loading point by the wrong/unauthorized operator. When the loyal/authorized operator arrives, there is no load/trailer to pick up, and the unauthorized operator may have left with the shipment long ago. The sender and other related/interested parties must accept the loss of the shipment, resulting in loss of time and money, especially if the cargo or trailer was deliberately taken by an unauthorized operator and not returned. Again, aspects of the present invention address each of the above scenarios and provide a solution that provides early detection of such activities and triggers notifications and responses that mitigate the effects of certain detected activity.

[0025] In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced are described in sufficient detail to enable those of skill in the art to apply the disclosed embodiments. For example, specific details are provided here, such as specific orders of methods, structures, elements, and connections. However, it should be understood that the specific details presented are not necessarily to be used in the practice of the present invention. It should also be understood that other implementations may be used and that logical, architectural, software, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the general scope of the invention. Therefore, the following detailed description should not be construed in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0026] References in the description to "one implementation", "an implementation", "an implementation", or "one or more implementations" are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an implementation are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. The appearance of such phrases at various places in the description does not necessarily refer to the same implementation variant, nor are separate or alternative implementations mutually exclusive with respect to other implementations. In addition, various features are described that may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some implementations but may not be for other implementations.

[0027] It is understood that the use of a particular component, device names and/or parameters, and/or their respective abbreviations, such as execution tools, logic, and/or firmware described herein, is for example only and is not intended to be limiting in any way to the embodiments described. implementation. Thus, embodiments herein may be described without limitation with other nomenclature and/or terminology used to describe components, devices, parameters, methods, and/or functions. References to any particular protocol or product brand name when describing one or more elements, features, or concepts of embodiments are provided solely as examples of a single implementation, and such references do not limit the extension of the claimed embodiments to implementations that use different names for elements, functions, protocols or concepts. Thus, each term used in this document should be given the broadest possible interpretation, taking into account the context in which the term is used.

[0028] Throughout the description of the features of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, embodiments are presented in terms of a tracking-based shipment model, in which the term “carriers” is presented to refer to (i) a private operator with a single equipment, (ii) a private operator or a small private a multi-truck business that may employ multiple drivers, and (iii) a large commercial organization/company that includes a large number of trucks, such as hundreds of trucks and drivers. Additionally, the term “equipment” generally refers to a combination of “tractor and trailer”, and covers various types of equipment available, including but not limited to loading platforms, standard dry cargo containers, refrigerated trucks, etc. In accordance with one embodiment, the relevant details of the monitored equipment include the type of equipment as well as the available capacity of the particular equipment to load additional cargo. It is understood that the term equipment can also be applied to various types of trucks or vehicles without limitation, although specific types of trucks carrying goods fall under the term equipment. In addition, the main features of the present invention are fully applicable to other transport and/or shipping locations, such as sea shipments (for example, sea cargo or river cargo), where the carriers are private ships, or captains of cargo ships, equipment of watercraft or amphibious ships. , and the sender can be any registered person or enterprise that has a cargo that can be transported by a carrier by water from the point of loading of the cargo to the destination of delivery. Air transport is also a supported area, which may include a structure designed for the interaction of air cargo shippers and pilots with aircraft, etc. In addition, it can be envisaged that the functionality of the presented structure / environment can be extended to the transport area, including shipments by drones , for example, when drone operators (pilots) are not positioned near the drone equipment.

[0029] For simplicity and to provide better implementations, the present invention is described from the point of origin, which is transported by a tractor-trailer combination known in the field of trucks, where the carrier is a transporter, and the equipment is a truck or tractor (land motorized vehicle ) to which the trailer or container is hooked. It is understood that the features and functionality described herein may also be applied without limitation to various types of terrestrial motorized equipment such as automobiles, off-road vehicles, buses, motorcycles, and the like. An extension to bicycles and other non-motorized modes of transport may also be applied.

[0030] Certain selected terms are used here in describing the functions and functionality of the invention. For example, the term “consignment-related object” is used to mean, without limitation, each of the following: cargo, freight container, tractor (e.g., motorized vehicle), trailer or container, tractor and trailer as combined operator equipment, operator, mobile device operator. Each shipment item has a split location tracking mechanism that provides the geographic location of the item to be determined. In one or more embodiments, the location tracking mechanism is a transponder. The location tracking mechanism provides a unique location signal for a particular shipment item. The term "shipment group" generally represents any two or more items related to a shipment that are assigned to a single shipment. The objects in a send group must be physically co-located at the time the send is being delivered. Certain limited exceptions or deviations from the co-location of one or more objects are contemplated and accounted for by the algorithm given in this document. The grouping of objects assumes that they are within a certain range/radius of each other, and moving in the same direction with each other, with some limited exceptions (for example, when a truck driver/truck operator leaves a truck/tractor with a trailer at a truck stop or loading location or shipping shipment).

[0031] Throughout the description, references made to the term departure refer primarily to cargo that is being transported from a point of origin to a point of delivery. Other terms used throughout the description are provided with functional descriptive names that represent the meanings and/or context in which the terms represent and/or are used.

[0032] The appended figures represent various aspects and/or functions of the described embodiments; however, specific functions may be implicitly represented in the figures and/or their description. In the description of the various kinds of figures, like elements are given the same names and references as in the previous figure(s). Thus, the description of illustrative embodiments should be read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. It should be understood that, for simplicity and clarity of illustration, the elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements are exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating the ideas of the present invention are shown and described with reference to the figures presented here.

[0033] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the hardware, firmware/software and software components and their basic configuration depicted in the following figures may vary. For example, the illustrative components of the data processing system 100 (FIG. 1A) and the mobile communication device 1000 (FIG. 10) are not exhaustive, but are a representation to highlight some of the components that are used to obtain the specific embodiments described. For example, various components of the user's computing device 100 or mobile communication device 1000 may be represented as including other devices/components that may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware shown and/or described, and may be otherwise configured. Thus, the examples shown do not imply the use of architectural or other restrictions regarding the implementation options and/or general innovations described here.

[0034] With reference to the figures and starting from FIG. 1A shows an example of a Data Processing System (DPS) server 100 within which various aspects of the present invention, and in particular tracking of a shipment/shipment, can be executed, with identification and notification of potential violations that are indicative of harmful action according to with one or more implementations. In one embodiment, the DPS 100 may be a single server in a server cluster, where the servers may be co-located in a single location and/or geographically distributed across multiple locations. In other implementations, the DPS 100 may be any electronic device such as, but not limited to, a desktop computer, laptop, or a single server. Additionally, in one embodiment, the DPS 100 may be implemented as a virtual machine that shares the hardware resources of a physical server. In one implementation, the DPS 100 operates as a networked computing device providing a cloud infrastructure that supports the execution of Carrier And Shipper Interfacing And Shipment Tracking (CSIST) firmware. In general, the DPS 100 can operate as both a data aggregator and/or a central monitoring computer. As a data aggregator, DPS 100 receives additional amounts of information from shipping-related entities to provide other features and functionality, including those described in the primary application. As a central monitoring computer, the DPS 100 may be configured with additional methods and components to generate notifications in response to certain circumstances.

[0035] An example DPS 100 includes at least one processor, and potentially a plurality of processors, generally hereinafter referred to as a central processing unit (CPU) 105. CPU 105 is connected to system memory 110, non-volatile storage 125, and input controllers 130 /output (input/output, I/O) via interconnect 115. Interconnect 115 may interchangeably refer to a system bus in one or more implementations. One or more software and/or firmware models may be loaded into system memory 110 (from storage 125 or other source) while DPS 100 is operating. hardware models, including firmware (firmware, F/W) 112, basic input/output system 114 (basic input/output system, BIOS), operating system (operating system, OS) 116, and application(s) 118. Additionally, system memory 110 includes CSIST tools (CSIST Utility, CSISTU) 120, which contain a service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment (shipment location tracking and security utility, SLTSU) 122. Being shown as separate modules, in alternative implementations, CSISTU 120 can be provided as one of the applications 118 and/or as an executive component of F/W 112 or OS 116. Additionally , while shown within CSISTU 120, in alternative implementations, SLTSU 122 may be separated into separate modules and may be implemented independently of (i.e., not requiring a separate implementation of) CSISTU 120. Software and/or firmware models within system memory 110 provide the DPS 100 to present various functions and functionality when their respective program code is executed by the CPU 105 or a secondary processing device (not shown) within the DPS 100.

[0036] The input/output controllers 130 support connecting via and processing signals from one or more connected input device(s) 132, of which a microphone 134, a keyboard 136, and a pointing/touch device 138 are shown as an example. The pointing/touch device 138 may be, for example, a mouse or touch pad, or a stylus. It is understood that the input devices may include, without exception, hardware key(s), a touch screen 146, an infrared (infrared, IR) sensor, a fingerprint scanner, etc. In addition, the I/O controllers 130 support connection through and transmission of output signals to one or more connected input devices, including display device 144 and other output devices 148. Display device 144 may include a touch pad 146 that serves as a tactile input device. In addition, in one embodiment, DPS 100 includes a graphics processing unit (GPU) 146, which is connected to the display device 144 and the processor 105 with the ability to data transfer (or physically). GPU 146 controls the generation and presentation of certain user interfaces (UIs) that are created when executing CSISTU 120 and/or SLTSU 122 by CPU 105. ) that is presented on the display device 144, and on which a grouping of co-located signal marks are presented and monitored to determine security breaches in related items. In one or more implementations, STUI 145 may interchangeably refer to a tag tracking UI that describes the main functionality provided by STUI 145 for co-locating and tracking tags assigned to origin-related objects to a origin group.

[0037] FIG. 1B shows a block diagram representation of some of the functional modules (software) that perform various functions and operations of the SLTSU 122 when executed by the processor 105. The SLTSU 122 includes a shipment mapping and security monitoring module 184, which in turn , contains, without limitation, the module 185 communication/reception of the signal location, the module 186 selection characteristics of marks, the module 187 assignment, mapping and joint location of marks, the module 188 separate determination of marks, analysis, notification, the module 189 determine the impact of deliberate interference and response, the module 190 threshold time period and time, an authorized operator and response determination module 191, a background map source (selection) module 192, a notification module 193, and an abnormal event history tracking and recording module 197 that provides database update functions. In the notification module 193, there is a notification of the parties and contact details 194, a notification setting and generation module 195, and a notification transmission module 196. It is understood that in other implementations, the functions performed by one or more modules may be suppressed and that the presentation of specific modules with specific, functionally descriptive names applied to modules is not intended to limit or define the actual composition of the SLTSU 122 in any way. In addition to the module 184 shipment mapping and security monitoring, SLTSU 122 contains a law enforcement connection module 198 and other security functions module 199, which serves as a generic concept for other possible modules in STLSU 122.

[0038] Referring again to FIG. 1A, in one or more implementations, one or more device interfaces 140 such as an optical reader, a universal serial bus (USB), a memory card reader, a PCMIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association slot), and/or multimedia high-definition interface (HDMI) may be combined with DPS 100. Device interface(s) 140 may be used to provide data to be read from or written to an appropriate removable storage device(s) 142 (removable storage device, RSD), such as compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), flash memory, or flash memory card. In one or more implementations, device interfaces 140 may further include general purpose I/O interfaces such as Inter-Integrated Circuit (I ² C), System Management Bus SMBus, and Peripheral Interconnect Buses. components (PCI-buses). In accordance with one embodiment, the functional modules (eg, SLTSU 122) described herein and various aspects of the present invention may be provided as a computer program product. The computer program product includes removable storage device(s) 142 as a computer-readable storage medium that stores program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the various functions described herein, including those shown in the block diagrams of FIG. 7, 8A, 8B, and 9, but not limited to.

[0039] The DPS 100 further includes a network interface device (NID) 160, which may include both a wired communication device and a wireless communication device (not shown). NID 160 allows DPS 100 and/or components within DPS 100 to communicate and/or interface with other devices, services, and components that are located outside DPS 100. In one implementation, DPS 100 may directly connect to one or more such external devices, via NID 160 through a direct wired or wireless connection. In one or more implementations, the DPS 100 connects to a particular external device, service, and/or component, such as an information server(s) 175 and a cloud database (database, DB) 180, via an external network 170 using one or more communication protocols. . In an exemplary implementation, cloud DB 180 includes a corresponding data store for CSISTU and SLTSU, namely CSISTU DB 151 and SLTSU DB 182. Network 170 may be a local area network, a wide area network, a personal area network, etc., and a connection to and/or between network 170 and DPS 100 may be wired or wireless (via access point 165), or a combination thereof. For purposes of discussion, network 170 is shown as a single, common component for simplicity. However, it will be appreciated that network 170 may include one or more direct connections to other devices as well as other more complex sets of connections that may reside on a wide area network such as the Internet. In one implementation, CSISTU 120 provides an interactive structure that can be accessed via the Internet (170) as a website having one or more domain names associated with it.

[0040] As one aspect of the present invention, CSISTU 120 and SLTSU 122 comprise a plurality of functional modules that are implemented on the CPU 105 to perform specific functions, and such functional modules use and/or generate specific data that is stored as information and/or data in storage 125 and/or in cloud database 180. As an example, storage 125 is shown with CSISTU 120 and CSISTU DB 150 containing various blocks of data including cards 152, carrier and operator data 154, equipment data 156, and sender data 158. In addition, the cloud database 180 is shown containing a copy of the CSIST DB 150. Both the locally stored CSISTU DB 150 and the remotely stored CSISTU DB 150 store the necessary data used by the CSISTU 120 to perform personalization of specific UIs and locate the tractor/trailer and/or departures on the displayed map. Access to the CSIST DB 151 for the remote cloud DB 180 is provided through a connection over the network 170.

[0041] Similarly, store 125 contains a copy of SLTSU 122 and SLTSU DB 182. In addition, both locally stored SLTSU DB 182 and remotely stored SLTSU DB 182 store the necessary data used by SLTSU 122 to perform flag mapping and monitoring to identify security breaches and other notification features described here. In one or more implementations, the SLTSU DB 182 contains historical data of previous shipments, including external and other events such as certain anomalies/deviations in mark co-location and movement that correspond to particular types of security breach. In addition, SLTSU DB 182 contains information about notifications and other response actions that lead to the successful resolution of detected anomalies/deviations and/or confirmed security violations.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an example of a communications infrastructure 200 (or communications network environment) that extends the functionality of the CSIST framework to provide various features and functionality provided by the present invention. Such features and functionality include, providing location tracking based on the tagging of originating entities, monitoring anomalies indicative of a potential security breach, and identifying anomaly types based on changes in location signals received via communications infrastructure 200 from various originating entities. , but not limited to, in accordance with one or more implementation options. The communications infrastructure 200 generally comprises a data processing system 100B (remote CSIST server) in which SLTSU 122 and an associated SLTSU DB 182 are provided. SLTSU DB 182 contains an example dispatch group 140 that contains four dispatch related objects 242, 246, 248, 250. The SLTSU 122 assigns a unique tracking identifier (STID) 241 to the departure group 140.

[0043] In addition, the communications infrastructure 200 includes a communications/data network 210 (which may be synonymous with network 170). The communications/data network 210 includes a plurality of communications devices and subnets that provide voice, data, and other communications. The communication/data network 210 supports the transmission of wireless signals through intermediate receiving devices such as antennas and access points. In addition, the communication/data network 210 includes a cloud storage 220 for storing necessary carrier and departure data and other statistical data used by the SLTSU 122. The network interface 215 enables the transmission of location signals and other data and/or information between the data processing system 100 and the network 210 communications/data. The communication infrastructure 200 further comprises a GPS system 225 as an example of one technology for determining the current geographic location of a dispatch related object, as described herein. The communications infrastructure 200 includes a communications link 232 over which the sender 230 controls the shipment of the cargo 242 from the origin 232 of origin. The cargo (or shipment) 242 is transported as part of the departure group 240 to the departure delivery point 270 along the departure route 235 .

[0044] The communication infrastructure 200 further comprises a plurality of communication links 232a-232d, each of which provides location signals transmitted from (or to) a respective shipping entity in the shipping group 240 . As shown within the communications infrastructure 200, a shipment group 240 as a whole comprises a shipment/cargo 242 along with tractor-trailer equipment 245, an operator 255, and an operator communications device(s) 250, each of which contains a location tracking mechanism to provide a unique location signal that transmitted to data processing system 100 via network 210. In one alternative implementation, each tractor (vehicle) 246 and trailer (container) 248 is provided with a separate location tracking mechanism so that each can be tracked separately.

[0045] As shown, the location tracking engine 262 of the shipment 242 transmits the first location signal 232a to the network 210, the location tracking engine 266 of the trailer/container 248 transmits the second location signal 232b to the network 210, the location tracking engine 266 of the operator's mobile communication device 240 transmits the third signal 232c location to network 210, and location tracking mechanism 264 of tractor/trailer 246 transmits a fourth location signal 232b to network 210. unique transponder signal. In other implementations, the location tracking mechanism may be a more complex device, as generally known to those skilled in the art. For example, an operator's mobile communications device may rely on triangulation of cell towers for location determination or GPS-based location determination.

[0046] As shown, the operator's mobile communications device 250 is configured with one or more applications, including a shipment location tracker, a tag generation and tracking application that provides local tracking of a shipment 242 and an operator's tractor-trailer 245, as described in more detail in connection with FIG. . 10.

[0047] In accordance with one or more implementation options, the transponder 262 of the location of the item 242 can be attached both inside and outside the case or package for the item 242, or directly on the cargo itself. In accordance with one or more embodiments, data is collected from a plurality of transponders and the signals/data collected by the transponder are transmitted to the CSIST server 1000 . In one implementation, all transponder data is redirected to a single collection point within the tractor and trailer 245, and the data already collected is compiled using a registered compilation method and redirected via a registered protocol for processing by CSIST and/or SLTSU 122 120. In one implementation, the transponder is part of a sensor system that captures various information about or related to a shipment, including real-time positioning; environmental parameters of the cargo, such as temperature and humidity; an emerging event; movement, penetration, and other actions affecting the cargo, but not limited to them. In one implementation, the operator equipment (ie, tractor 245 with trailer) contains a mobile access point 260, which provides communication from the equipment (245) operator with CSIST server 10B through the communication network 210.

[0048] The communication infrastructure 200 provides efficient communication with carriers or operators and supports monitoring and tracking of various departure-related objects of the departure group 240 . In one embodiment, communications infrastructure 200 is further configured to receive real-time or predictive environmental information, such as weather conditions along route 235, that may affect equipment and/or cargo safety, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0049] As one aspect, the structure tracking system CSIST contains various types of information about carriers, operators, tractor-trailer equipment, and departure routes to facilitate the selection by the sender of a particular carrier to transport a particular shipment, using a selection process to identify and select the best operator and equipment for a specific shipment based on carrier profiles and other received external input data. In one embodiment, some important data used in carrier/operator/equipment selection includes the location of the transponder on the tractor/trailer and the location tracking capabilities of the operator's mobile communication device 250. Although not shown, it is contemplated that, in one embodiment, operator 255 may be provided with a separate transponder to provide an estimate of the operator's location relative to a departure, such as where operator 255 may leave his mobile device 250 inside a tractor or other location separate from the location. operator. The level of security required for a particular shipment may force the operator 255 to agree to wear a tracking device while transporting the shipment.

[0050] In one embodiment, the operator's mobile communications device is configured to request biometric input as a security measure, and biometric input authorization is required before accepting a shipment and at each point where the operator stops the equipment along the route. This prevents another person from leaving with the shipment by stealing the operator's mobile communication device (MCD) 250 . Additional security measures may be associated with the equipment, including the ability to remotely disable the tractor engine when equipment theft is confirmed and/or the operator does not provide biometric verification within a certain period of time.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 3A, which shows a Shipment Information Aggregation And Communication Environment (SIACE) environment 300 in which specific aspects of the present invention are implemented. SIACE 300 contains a data aggregation platform 320 that accepts many different types of data, including consumer-specific data 310 and carrier/operator and environment data 315. In one or more implementations, data aggregation platform 320 is a data processing system or server, such as DPS 100 and/or CSIST server(s) 100B. The consumer specific data 310 comprises data received from one or more sensors attached to the items being tracked related to the shipment and/or information received via the client terminal. Carrier/operator and environment data 315 is data received about the carrier and operator (including the operator's MCD) and the weather, road conditions, and other monitorable conditions that are available and may affect shipments. The data aggregation platform 320 provides a set of information related to the shipment, including shipment data and operating instructions for the operator's mobile device, shown as MCD 100 (FIG. 10). In one embodiment, the information is downloaded to the operator's MCD 100 via an operator application that is added to the MCD. In one implementation, such an application contains basic settings and monitors each item assigned to the operator. Departure-related details are presented through the Departure User Interface (UI) 330, which provides a sequence of various functions and functions and information that is available to the operator through the application.

[0052] In at least one described and illustrative embodiment, a trucking communication interface system (TCIS) module executing on a computing device is configured to contain a tag tracker that enables the computing device to perform tag tracking and functions. and functionality presented here for the operator, as a downloadable application.

[0053] In an exemplary implementation, a set of departure parameters and work requirements is presented to the operator's MCD, with the application verifying that the operator was within the recommended parameters and tasks. When a nonconformity is detected, a specific nonconformity event is flagged and/or identified, and corrective action is provided at the second origin UI 335. The specific inappropriate actions of the consumer are contained in the information presented by the first departure UI 330, identified by the data aggregation platform or the local application execution. Real-time corrective actions are contained in the information provided by the second departure UI 335 and issued to the operator to correct inconsistencies. Additionally, a set of user-selected options 340 related to various workflows are available through the operator application and displayed by the first departure UI 330 or another UI that is accessible from the first departure UI 330.

[0054] In accordance with one implementation option, in response to determining the non-compliance of the consumer with one of the specified parameters of the departure or operational requirements, a notification is generated and transmitted to key structures (i.e., interested parties, such as the sender, recipient, carrier, monitored object, etc. .) associated with a shipment generally represented as structures 350. According to the implementation presented, the operator violated critical requirement 332, which requires the operator to drive continuously before making a minimum distance stop (e.g., (200 miles) or the minimum amount of time (4 hours) from when a shipment is loaded and acknowledged by the operator/carrier In response to the determination by the MCD or background monitoring system (CSIST server 100B) that the shipment is stopped within the critical distance, the critical requirement 332 is flagged and/or indicated on the first UI 330 sent detection, and a notification is generated and issued. The notification 337 is displayed via the second departure UI 335 to inform the operator of a critical requirement for the departure. Additional details about a particular shipment may be available on the second departure UI 335 and the operator is able to view such details by selecting related icons or menu items. Additionally, when corrective action is available for the monitoring system, the notification may also include such corrective action. For example, an alternative route can be provided to the operator if the environmental data received by the data aggregation platform indicates that the designated departure route is overloaded with a large amount of traffic and that an alternative route exists that will allow the operator to meet critical requirements. The occurrence of discrepancies is recorded in the tracking database for use in future assignments of the item to the carrier/operator and/or subsequent evaluation of the routes of the item, etc.

[0055] FIG. 3B shows an example of a blocked/noisy signal transmission scenario in which the communications infrastructure server or the computing item tracking device (i.e., DPS 100 or CSIST server 100B) loses reception of geolocation signals associated with a plurality of item-related single item group objects. As stated earlier, geolocation signals are used to generate and map an appropriate visual representation, such as a mark, that enables tracking and monitoring of a shipment. When interference occurs, the data aggregation platform 320 is prevented from transmitting to and receiving all co-located location signals in a send at once. This scenario usually occurs when the operator is not in the tractor/trailer or close to the departure, such as at a truck stop. In such an example, interference exposure does not affect the operator's MCD. In response to determining such a collective loss of multiple signals from co-located departure-related objects, the data aggregation platform 320 generates an appropriate notification that is forwarded to the selected one or more key structures 350. the tractor and the load are blocked and thus the data aggregation platform 320 does not receive this data. However, since the operator's MCD 1000 is not in close proximity to the shipment/trailer, and is not blocked, the data aggregation platform 320 sends a generated notification to the operator's MCD 1000 to alert the operator via the operator's MCD 1000 that the shipment is being interfered with.

[0056] FIG. 4A shows the components and functions of the STUI 145 displayed on the display device 144 of the DPS 100. As shown in FIG. 4, STUI 145 includes an SLTSU settings portal 402 in which a variety of settings can be entered to control the characteristics of the SLTSU 122 and STIU 145. Included in the SLTSU settings portal 402 are settings related to departure rules 404, operator security protocols 406, communications 408, variance types. and associated thresholds 410, security breach notification/response protocols 412, security event statistics store 414, and other security-related functions 414.

[0057] In addition, the STIU 145 includes a mark tracking UI 420, which in some implementations may be synonymous with the interchangeable STIU 145 presented and described. The mark tracking UI 420 contains a legend 422 that identifies the type of visual representation (i.e., visible marker) from a plurality of different types of visual representations that are assigned to each item related to the item in the item group. For simplicity, the visual representations are referred to interchangeably as “marks” throughout this specification. Five different visual representations are shown, respectively related to the shipment or load, trailer, tractor, operator MCD, and operator. Each shipment group 240, 440a-440zz has a unique STID 241, 441a-441zz assigned. However, not all shipment groups contain all five visual representations, and in particular, most shipment groups do not contain an operator visual representation. In addition, as represented by a group of items 440a, many different items (cargo) can be tracked as one group 440a. In particular, as shown, a second shipment (eg, another shipment 244) transported by the same tractor-trailer and having its own unique location signal can be simultaneously tracked in the formed group of shipments 440a. Different distinguishing characteristics (eg, a cross-hatched pattern representing a different color) may be assigned to different marks in the common item group 440a. In one implementation, each item of cargo can be visually represented by a different type of marks (eg, color or shape) that allows selection and identification of a particular cargo relative to another cargo tracked by associated marks. In another implementation, each operator is uniquely identified with respect to other operators (eg, assigned a unique operator ID), and each truck or other cargo vehicle is provided with a unique identity and thus can be tracked through such a unique identity. The location signal unique identities are wirelessly transmitted to a monitoring station such as the CSIST server 100B via a network entity such as a base station or access point.

[0058] Additionally, as shown by the last two groups of entries 440yz, 440zz, the tractor-trailer can be represented by a single visual representation when only one transponder is combined with the combined equipment of the tractor-trailer. Thus, the SLTSU 122 configures the DPS 100 to visually represent each item in the item group as visually distinguishable marks on the item tracking UI using one or more of the following (i) different types of marks and (ii) different characteristics of the same item. same marks.

[0059] In addition, STIU 145 provides a representation of the detection of deviations in the two presented groups of items. In the embodiment shown, the SLTSU 122 generates a deviation detection/notification icon 445 and designates a group for which a deviation has been detected. It will be appreciated that in other implementations, the presentation of icon 445 may be optional and SLTSU 122 may configure DPS 100 to only indicate one or more STIDs 241, 441 or group 240, 440 of items that have been deviated. In yet another implementation, a rejection signal may be signaled by designating one particular mark (e.g., one visual representation 450a/450b/450c/450d) from a plurality of co-located visual representations 450a, 450b, 450c, 4150d of a group of items 444c for which a deviation. As shown in FIG. 4A, the SLTSU 122 further causes the DPS 100 to generate and display on the display device a first shipment tracking user interface (UI) displaying each of the plurality of shipment groups that are simultaneously tracked, and indicating on the first shipment tracking UI when an anomaly is detected in one of the plurality of shipment groups. departures.

[0060] In one implementation, a list of groups of items is presented. However, in alternative implementations, groups of shipments are presented according to their geographic locations on a map of the area or areas being tracked. In an alternative implementation, the ability to switch between a geographic map view and a list view is provided, with the list that populates the list view being mapped to groups of items within a particular selected geographic location (eg, Austin, Texas). In one embodiment, the SLTSU 122 may present within the STUI selectable options for entering a street address or other geographic coordinates to narrow down the area of item groups represented in the STUI. Additionally, in one or more implementations, different search views can be programmed. For example, SLTSU 122 may be programmed to search by carrier, sender, recipient, type of shipment, source origin, origin destination, selected route, or a simple text query (word or contextual match). It is understood that the list is no exception and is not intended to convey any limitations on the possibilities provided for generating specific lists of groups of items tracked/monitored by co-located visual representations or marks.

[0061] As further shown in FIG. 4A, the DPS presents each item group item location track signal as a separate view co-located with other views each corresponding to the item item item item location tracker of the item group. In addition, in one embodiment, the DPS 100 co-locates and presents visual representations representing each of the received location signals in a spatial arrangement indicating the separation distance of origin-related objects. Based on the type of location signaling mechanism, the DPS 100 periodically receives updated location signals from one or more send-related objects and updates the representation of the plurality of co-located visual representations in the UI based on the updated location signals.

[0062] Additionally, in one embodiment, the SLTSU further provides a DPS 100 to provide geographic mapping of multiple co-located tags in the UI (e.g., by marking a map of a specific area) and comparing the present location of the col- lected marks with at least one intended delivery destination. departure and the current expected location of the departure. The DPS 100 identifies, based on the present location, whether the operator has made a route deviation that is outside the acceptable deviation range from the pre-planned route, and the DPS 100 generates and transmits at least one notification signal to inform one or more of the operator, carrier , the sender, or other interested parties about the deviation and to correct the deviation.

[0063] FIG. 4B shows an example of a second STUI for a single item group that is selected (eg, by pointing device 470) from a plurality of available signal groups in the first STUI 145 of FIG. 4A. The second STUI 450 is opened on the display device 144 as a new window or a window embedded in the first STUI 145. The second STUI 450 contains a legend 422b representing a mapping of the dispatch related object that is tracked by the corresponding visual representation or marks that are assigned to that related object. to send the object. In addition, the second STUI 450 includes a tag tracking screen 455 that displays a set of tags related to one or more items within the same geographic location. In the embodiment shown, the geographic location is a truck stop or gas station, and the first group of shipments to be tracked, for which the second STUI 450 has been opened, is presented on the tracking marks screen 455 with the relative position of the item related to the shipment identified on it. Additionally, for security and other reasons, marks combined by the second group of items that are in the same main location with the first group of items are presented on the screen 455 tracking marks of the first group of signals. The second group of items is identified by shaded marks. In one implementation, if the operator mark of the second group of items becomes co-located with and moves with the marks of the equipment and items of the first group of items, an anomaly is detected and a sequence of response actions is taken to protect the item from being taken in error ("unauthorized") operator. The mark tracking screen 455 contains a geographic location coordinate string that shows the current geographic location and/or GPS and/or location on a map of a group of departures.

[0064] At the bottom of the STUI 450 is a send security status notification screen 460 that provides the current notification status of the send. The notification status may contain one or more detected anomalies and their corresponding notifications/alerts 562, 564, 566, which are displayed on the STUI 450. Three possible scenarios are presented that can trigger the corresponding notifications 562, 564, 566. Although in the illustrated implementation in STUI shows all three notifications 562, 564, 566 at the same time, it is understood that in actual execution, only one notification will be generated and displayed based on the actually detected anomaly, until multiple anomalies are detected at the same time.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 5A-5D and 6A-6D, which show several different examples of the types of deviations that can be determined by SLTSU 122 based on the representation and relative spacing of marks in STIU 145. FIG. 5A-5D and 6A-6D show a plurality of examples of mark tracking user interfaces (UIs) presenting more detailed views of a single shipment group that is selected from the plurality of shipment groups represented in the STIU 145 of FIG. 4. In FIG. 5A-5D, each tag tracking UI 500 includes a notification status line 510 that represents the current status of the corresponding item based at least in part on the presence, relative location, and movement of tags representing the items of the item group related to the item. In addition to the notification status line 510, each tag tracking UI 500 contains additional information/data about the specific shipment, operator and equipment of the tractor-trailer, geographic location data, and movement tracking data, each of which can be selected by the user to provide additional relevant details about selected element. Throughout the various figures, instant visual notification of an anomaly, anomaly, or other condition that triggers a security breach is represented in bold type. In a real-world implementation, a visual notification may be flagged with color or blinking of specific content in the UI 500. In addition to the notification or flagged alert, relevant sets of tracking information relating to one aspect of the shipment may be flagged (highlighted) to direct the attention of monitoring personnel, to access that relevant/related tracking information.

[0066] In one or more embodiments of FIG. 5A-5D and 6A-6D are generated in response to the selection of one STID 241, 441, the selection of one grouped item 240, 440, or the selection of a rejection notification icon 445 in STIU 145, or in particular in the mark tracking UI 420. Thus, the SLTSU 122 configures the DPS 100 to provide the functions of: in response to detecting a selection of a unique STID or a visual representation of a specific shipment group displayed in the STIU, generating and displaying on the display device a second shipment tracking UI that shows detailed information about the corresponding shipment and the current or the last recorded location of each consignment item of the group of items relative to the location of each other item of the item group and relative to geographic or location coordinates of the items related to the item. In one embodiment, in response to placing the item in a heightened surveillance/monitoring state, the DPS 100 automatically generates and displays a second tag tracking UI (e.g., UI 500a of the tag tracking, FIG. 5A), providing additional details of the item, corresponding to the item and related to the item objects in the departure group.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 5A, which shows examples of mark tracking UI 500a in which marks are spatially distributed in the correct order and within an acceptable range of distance from each other. Additionally, the marks move together with each other at a reasonable speed along the origin route towards the delivery destination. Under such conditions, SLTSU displays an "ALL GOOD" notification until deviations or anomalies are detected that pose a threat to the security of the shipment. It is understood that the spatial distribution of marks and separation distance are parameters that may differ from one shipment to another. In the implementations shown, the origin mark is expected to be near the trailer mark, while the tractor mark is expected to be ahead of both marks while moving towards the intended delivery destination (assuming the route information is known and contains origin information stored in SLTSU DB 182 ). Additionally, the operator's MCD mark and/or operator's mark is expected to be within or near the tractor mark when the shipment is moving.

[0068] In each embodiment shown, the operator's location is tracked by a location signal received from the operator's MCD, each of which is meant to be synonymous with the other and is in the same common location. To account for times when an operator may stop for refueling, rest, or other expected reasons, space diversity is provided for at least one of the two: co-located marks and operator/operator MCD marks and vice versa. As an example, a spatial separation of 100 meters is provided as the maximum threshold distance an operator can move away from a tractor/trailer and/or departure during normal transport periods. Any detection of a spatial diversity value that exceeds this threshold will be considered an aberration and will cause the SLTSU 122 to execute a DPS 100 to trigger notification of a potential security threat.

[0069] In one embodiment, the present invention monitors and tracks an unplanned and/or unexpected separation event in which one or more marks that should maintain a co-location in one geographic location move away from other marks. As one example, the split event may comprise removing the tractor/trailer from the trailer. As another example, a split event may comprise removing one load mark from the trailer, or vice versa, from the intended loading or shipping location for a particular load. The proper set/sequence of notifications and/or responses is generated based on the collected data related to the event.

[0070] FIG. 5B shows a second mark tracking UI 500b in which the operator has left the tractor, but is at an acceptable distance from the origin. More specifically, based on the geographic location map of the area in which the tractor-trailer is parked, SLTSU 12 2 concludes that the operator has stopped at the truck stop and/or is refueling. Alternatively, in one implementation, the shipment could arrive at a known/expected drop point (or operator's rest area) such that the operator, separated from the shipment and/or the tractor/trailer, remains at an acceptable distance.

[0071] FIG. 5C shows a third mark tracking UI 500c in which the location signals for the entire group of departure-related objects become undetected for a period of time. In at least one embodiment, the combined loss of all location signals triggers the SLTSU 122 to generate a jamming alert and notify the operator and others of the detected impact. Thus, notification status line 510c explicitly indicates such notification status. In accordance with one aspect, this period of time is a programmable parameter that may depend on other information related to the route of departure, geographic location, etc. For example, when the loss of visible marks (i.e., location signals) occurs during when the shipment is moving in the tunnel, the time period can be set as the amount of time after which the tractor/trailer is expected to leave the tunnel. Other environmental scenarios will trigger different time periods, or there will be no delay. In the embodiment above, potential problem determination is made (and response actions are taken) only if signal loss conditions continue/last longer than a predetermined threshold time interval. This allows the system to take into account the detected signal loss, which may be caused by a transmitter failure or by entering a tunnel along the route, etc.

[0072] FIG. 5D shows a fourth mark tracking UI 500d in which location signals become undetected for only some groups of originating objects. In this particular scenario, the operator is in a truck stop and away from the tractor/trailer. Thus, notification status line 510d shows a warning about the impact of intentional interference, but also provides additional details related to the environment and/or location that may be useful in countering this impact.

[0073] FIG. 6A shows a fifth mark tracking UI 600a in which the directional movement of the marks of a departure group indicates that the departure is being transported off-route. The SLTSU 122 triggers an alert, which is displayed on notification status line 610a, indicating that the shipment is being shipped off-route. In one implementation, such triggering requires the departure to be at a minimum threshold distance (eg, (1 mile)) from the route before the notification status bar is updated to reflect the alert. In addition, checking road conditions and other environmental conditions can be built into the process to determine if an operator has a valid reason for rerouting.

[0074] FIG. 6B-6C show two scenarios that involve unscheduled mark splitting in respective mark tracking user interfaces. FIG. 6B, the sixth mark tracking UI 600a shows the operator and trailer moving away from the trailer and load at a speed in a period of time that indicates that the operator may have left the shipment. The notification status line 610b is updated to show this warning/alert. FIG. 6C, a similar alert can be displayed via notification status line 610c; however, in this embodiment, the shipment has been moved from the trailer and left at a location that is not the delivery destination. Thus, DPS 100 determines that separation may mean leaving the load. Alternatively, depending on the location where the load was moved from the trailer, the SLTSU 122 may determine that the shipment has been improperly unloaded. In either scenario, the SLTSU 122 initiates a response sequence that may include sending such an error to the operator's or carrier's MCD.

[0075] In one or more implementations, separation event monitoring is further extended to include monitoring and identifying an unattended vehicle scenario in which the driver leaves the truck/trailer at a location that is outside the expected driver compartment area. For example, a driver may leave a shipment/load and/or simply make an unscheduled stop in a shipment's transport by leaving the truck and trailer in a truck stop or other parking space and move out of the expected "safety zone" (e.g. 50 yards/meters) away from the truck /trailer. The speed at which the driver is moving away from the departure (which is identified by how fast the driver's mark is moving) may indicate that the driver is in another vehicle that is moving away from the location of the truck/trailer/load. An appropriate set/sequence of notifications and/or responses is generated based on the collected data related to this event.

[0076] FIG. 6D, by way of the sixth mark tracking UI 600d, shows a scenario in which, an erroneous operator takes a shipment (ie, either a load or a trailer loaded with a load). Such a situation may arise at a cargo port or point of transit of an origin where the consignment remains to be loaded by an authorized operator. When a shipment starts moving out of the port and the authorized operator is not the one loading the cargo, STLSU configures the DPS 100 to determine that the origin location signal is co-located with the erroneous driver or that the origin location signal is moving away from the transit point without being co-located (thus moving together) with the position signal of the authorized operator. It should be understood that such a scenario applies to the theft of a tractor-trailer with a shipment on board, in which the operator is at a truck stop or other location that is outside the tractor, but the shipment is found to be moving away from the operator. STLSU 122 configures the DPS 100 to generate a notification of possible theft of a shipment and displays this notification on the notification status line 610d.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 7, which is a flow diagram of one way in which the devices and infrastructure of the preceding figures are used to represent specific aspects of the shipment monitoring and security features of the present invention. In the preceding figures, and in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a data processing system 100 is shown that includes a memory 110 having a dispatch location and reliability tracking utility (SLTSU) 122 stored therein. In addition, the DPS 100 includes a display device 144, which provides a visual representation of at least one graphical user interface (user interface, UI) 145 generated by the SLTSU 122. The DPS 100 further comprises at least one network interface device (NID) 160 that receives and transmits information DPS 100 through one or more communication networks 170/210. DPS 100 further comprises at least one processor 105 coupled to memory 110, display 144, and at least one NID 160. Processor 105 drives SLTSU 122 to enable DPS 100 to perform the functions shown by method 700 of FIG. 7.

[0078] For simplicity, each of the presented methods (ie, 700, FIG. 7, 800, FIG. 8, and 900, FIG. 9) is described in terms of performing the DPS 100 of the various described functions. It is understood that the DPS 100 is configured to perform various functions based on the actuation of the SLTSU 122 by the processor 105. Additionally, specific functions are performed by other components of the DPS 100 such as receiving and transmitting location signals and notifications, respectively, which are in turn partially performed by the NID. 160 (FIG. 1).

[0079] As shown in FIG. 7, SLTSU 122 provides/configures DPS 100 to receive, by means of at least one NID, a plurality of location tracking signals indicating the location of a plurality of shipment-related objects that are tracked together as a group of shipments (block 702). The SLTSU 122 configures the DPS 100 to combine the location signals as a group of items and assign a unique item identifier (STID) to the group of items to track the movement of the location signals (represented as co-located marks) with respect to other signals and to the route 235 of the item (block 704). At block 706, with reference to FIG. 4-6, the SLTSU 122 configures the DPS 100 to provide a group of shipments 240 as a plurality of co-located visual representations 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d in the shipment tracking user interface (UI) 145 (FIG. 4), in which each location tracking signal is represented by one a visual representation 450a/450b/450c/450d from a plurality of co-located visual representations 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d.

[0080] The DPS 100 is further configured to monitor any unplanned deviations in at least one expected collocation and expected geographic location of received location tracking signal updates of each group of items to be tracked (block 708). In response to detection (decision block 710) of an unplanned deviation, DPS 100 is further configured to identify a specific type of unplanned deviation (block 712) and initiate, in part based on said identified specific type of unplanned deviation, a response sequence to protect the shipment (block 714 ). The DPS 100 is further configured to record data associated with the event (block 716). Method 700 then ends with an end block.

[0081] It should be understood that the cycle of monitoring a shipment will continue until the shipment is delivered to its final destination or until other measures are taken to stop monitoring a group of shipments. In addition, in one implementation, the deviation detection and the deviation response comprise a determination by the DPS 100, by metrics associated with the detected change and previous incoming signal behavior patterns, whether the detected changes indicate a potential bad and/or harmful and/or illegal and/ or financially negative action in relation to the shipment. In response to determining that a detected change is indicative of a bad action associated with a send, DPS 100 initiates response actions to one or more of the following: (i) preventing the harmful action from occurring or (ii) mitigating/reducing (a) time response to and/or (b) the impact on the shipment caused by bad actions.

[0082] Referring to the functional diagram of FIG. 8A-8B, an example of a method 800 is shown in which a specific type of deviation is determined and the appropriate response actions are triggered. FIG. 8A-8B extends to the processes of blocks 706-714 of FIG. 7 in accordance with one or more embodiments. Starting at block 802, the DPS 100 receives location signal updates, assigns updates to appropriate flags, and repositions batch group flags based on the location signal updates, and monitors updates for any unplanned or unexpected deviations or anomalies in the flag pattern or received location signals. In block 804, STLSU 122 configures the DPS 100 to detect the occurrence of an anomaly, which may include one or more of the following (i) loss of location signal reception from one or more origin-related objects, (ii) unplanned changes in the spatial relationship of origin-related objects or corresponding visual representations in STUI or (iii) moving the mark of departure from the loading location to the start of co-location and grouping with the mark of the operator indicative of the unauthorized receipt of the shipment. The DPS 100 determines, through blocks 806, 808, and 820, whether the anomaly is (i) a loss of location signal reception from one or more departure-related objects (decision block 806), (ii) unplanned changes in the spatial relationship of the departure-related objects or corresponding visual representations in the STUI (decision block 808), or (iii) moving the departure mark from the download location to start collocating and grouping with the mark of the operator indicative of unauthorized receipt of the departure (decision block 810). In response to a loss of reception anomaly (as determined at block 806), method 800 proceeds to the process of method 900 shown in FIG. nine.

[0083] In response to determining (at decision block 808) that the detected anomaly is/contains an unplanned change in the spatial relationship (i.e., separation) of co-located marks (and thus related to sending objects) from each other friend before the shipment is delivered to the intended destination, DPS 100 determines if there is a valid reason for the unplanned split by evaluating historical data and received data about the items related to the shipment, the route, the geographic location where the unplanned split occurs, and the resulting environmental conditions (block 810). In response to identifying that there is no valid reason for the unplanned split, as determined at block 812, method 800 comprises an SLTSU that configures the DPS 100 to flag the shipment for enhanced monitoring (block 814), initiate security measures to notify appropriate parties of the occurrence of an anomaly (block 816 ), and creates and stores an anomaly occurrence record (block 818).

[0084] Returning to block 808, in response to an anomaly, which is an unplanned change in the directional movement of marks relative to each other, method 800 proceeds to method 850 of FIG. 8A. Assuming that the detected anomaly is not one of the above anomalies, method 800 proceeds to decision block 820, in which DPS 100 determines whether separation of shipments and associated marks occurs relative to each other or disappearance of marks from the tracking system at the delivery destination. In one implementation, in response to a split or disappearance of marks occurring at the delivery destination of the item (as determined at block 820), DPS 100 disconnects the location signals of the group of items and updates the item tracking system to indicate that the item has been delivered (block 822 ). In addition, the DPS 100 updates the item tracking UI to remove the item group and the set of co-located visuals used to track the item group (block 824). Method 800 then ends.

[0085] In accordance with one implementation, to enable the DPS 100 to monitor an unplanned deviation, the STLSU configures the DPS 100 to perform at least one of the following: (a) comparing the present geographic location of the visual representation on the geolocation mapping with the expected geographic location, based on a predetermined departure route; and identifying whether a deviation from the route was made by the operator; (b) monitoring changes in the alignment pattern and separation distance of visual representations corresponding to each shipment-related object of the group of shipments relative to the expected location and separation distance; and (c) monitoring specific changes in the reception of incoming location signals, the specific changes being changes that are indicative of the anomaly.

[0086] Referring to FIG. 8B, an example of a method 850 is shown in which the anomaly/deviation includes a misinterpretation of a shipment, as shown above in the example of the sixth mark tracking UI 600d of FIG. 6d. Continuing to refer to that shown in FIG. 6D, method 850 begins at block 852 with a send destination and association (eg, via a CSIST server, DPS 100, sender, or other associated entity) with an authorized operator (and operator equipment). The assignment/association is stored in the SLTSU DB and the dispatch is then monitored for colocation with the authorized operator's location signal (block 854). The subsequent detected movement of the shipment at least the minimum distance from the cargo port at a speed that indicates that the shipment has moved out of the port (block 856), a determination is made (block 858) that the shipment was co-located with an authorized operator (i.e. , the shipment is not moved by someone who is not an authorized operator). In response to a shipment not being co-located with an authorized operator, the STLSU configures the DPS 100 to determine/recognize that the origin location signal is co-located with the erroneous driver, or that the origin location signal is moving away from the transit point without co-locating with the signal. the location of the authorized operator (block 860). STLSU 122 configures the DPS 100 to identify a security breach that the shipment has been accepted by someone who is not the authorized operator for that shipment (862). STLSU 122 configures the DPS 100 to generate a notification that a possible theft of a shipment is occurring (block 864) and to display the notification on the notification status line 610d or on the authorized operator's MCD user interface (block 866).

[0087] In accordance with one implementation related to the assignment of an operator for a future shipment and the loading of a future shipment by an operator, the SLTSU configures the DPS 1000 to identify the intended operator and cargo ship assigned to the future shipment waiting to be loaded by the appropriate operator having an operator ID and device a link that provides a unique device location signal that is associated with an operator ID, and the item also has a unique item location signal. The DPS 100 associates an operator ID with a future shipment. The DPS 100 then monitors the location according to the geographic coordinates of the future shipment prior to loading by the operator. In response to a received signal indicating that the operator has loaded the shipment, the DPS 100 associates and shares a unique operator device (MCD) location signal and a unique shipment location signal to create and track a new group of shipments (block 868).

[0088] When monitoring loading, the DPS 100 is configured to identify an anomaly from the following: (i) detecting a change in the location of the geographical coordinates of the departure by a value greater than the first threshold distance, before the alignment of the tracking signal of the unique item with the location signal of the unique device; and (ii) detecting that a second operator device signal other than the unique device location signal is co-located with and begins to move with the unique shipment tracking signal, where the second operator device signal is not associated with the operator or the second operator that is assigned to shipment transportation. In response to identifying the anomaly, the DPS 100 is configured to initiate a series of response actions to prevent or stop the unauthorized operator from accepting the shipment.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the method includes receiving a signal from one or more items related to a shipment, including a shipment/cargo tracking device, and optionally including a trailer transmitter/responder. The method includes identifying, as the intended driver for the departure, a specific driver having a corresponding operator MCD (eg, smartphone) that provides a unique operator signal, and further comprising associating the unique operator signal with associated entity(s) associated with the departure; monitoring the signals received from the departure-related objects and the driver's unique signal to identify if the signals become co-located and begin to move together. In addition, the method includes identifying that various driver signals are approaching and/or starting to move along with other tracked signals. In response to identifying that the various driver signals are co-located with other signals, the method includes performing a series of responses based on determining that the erroneous driver is receiving the shipment. Response actions may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: notifying the correct driver, recording the incident, signaling to another driver, notifying law enforcement, etc.

[0090] FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram of a method for responding to an anomaly that includes the loss of one or more location signals of at least one item associated with a group of items, as shown in FIG. 5C and 5D. Method 900 begins at block 902, in which DPS 100 detects a complete loss of at least one location signal of corresponding one or more origin objects. In response to a specific total loss, DPS 100 removes or modifies (reducing visibility or flicker) a visual representation corresponding to the location signal of this departure object in the STUI (block 904). In decision block 906, the DPS 100 determines, in part based on the characteristics associated with the loss of at least one signal, that the loss is the result of interference at the origin's location. In response to determining that the resulting loss is the result of interference, DPS 100 generates and issues, to the appropriate parties, a specific notification that identifies the determination of interference and possible attempts to steal the item and/or equipment (block 908). Notifications may be visual on-screen notifications and/or an acoustic alarm, etc. The DPS 100 initiates one or more actions to counteract the effects of interference and protect one or more related items from bad actions (block 910). The DPS 100 records the event and any decision made by the SLTSU DB (916).

[0091] In accordance with one implementation, the DPS 100 determines in block 912 whether the loss is a partial loss of received location signals affecting only a subset of origin-related entities of a departure group. In response to the loss of signal being a partial loss, the DPS 100 triggers a low level alarm event and sets a timer to track the amount of time that passes after the partial loss of signal is determined (block 914). The DPS monitors (through decision block 916) that the potential loss of the received location signal is resolved before the expiration of a predetermined time window. In response to partial loss resolved within a predetermined time window, DPS 100 generates and stores an event record, as recovered, of a partial loss event occurring at the originating entity's geographic location when the loss occurs (block 920). However, in response to a partial loss condition that was not resolved in a predetermined time window, method 900 proceeds to block 908 and DPS 100 initiates a high level alarm status and generates real-time alarms and notifications of potential theft of one or more items related to the item. objects. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, in response to one of the following: (i) all marks simultaneously disappear for more than a predetermined time window, and (ii) not receiving a de-escalation signal before the expiration of the predetermined time window, when only a subset of location signals disappeared from the monitoring system, the DPS places the dispatch in a high alert condition and initiates a high-level alarm to initiate a sequence of response operations and actions.

[0092] In one implementation, DPS 100 sets a timer to a predetermined time window before a notification is issued (block 914). At decision block 916, the DPS 100 checks to see if a de-escalation signal has been received from a trusted party providing confirmation of the integrity of the shipment before the expiration of a predetermined time window. In response to receiving a de-escalation signal before the predetermined time window expires, the DPS 100 removes the sender from the heightened watch/monitoring state if necessary (as shown by dashed border lines) (block 918), and records the event and its subsequent de-escalation in the SLTSU DB (block 920 ).

[0093] According to one or more embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 2 and 5B-5D and 6A-6D, when executing a sequence of responses based on a particular type of deviations identified, DPS 100 does at least one of the following: highlighting in the shipment tracking UI an appropriate visual representation or unique ID of one of the group of shipments for which a deviation is detected; outputting at least one of a visual notification on the screen and an acoustic notification for alerting monitoring personnel of the detected deviation; and transmitting a notification to the remote communication device of at least one operator and sender associated with the shipment to provide real-time notification of the rejection. Additionally, in response to an aberration, which is a joint or substantially simultaneous loss of multiple location signals of one group of items, the DPS 100 issues a notification that contains an alert to one or more connected parties of the potential impact of intentional interference, which may indicate harmful intent against one or more objects of departure.

[0094] In accordance with one aspect, the storage DPS contains SLTSU DB, which stores used and periodically updated by SLTSU departure data. SLTSU provides DPS 100 to track many different shipment groups together across multiple geographic locations, update the shipment history of each of the many different shipment groups throughout each shipment's life cycle, and store the update in a storage/SLTSU DB. Additionally, DPS 100 aggregates, merges, and/or matches detected actions, location, and triggered responses in a learning module that simplifies future resolution of similar detected events that may occur.

[0095] In accordance with one aspect, a security and monitoring system for shipments is provided. The shipment monitoring and security system (SMSS) comprises at least one computing device that is in communication with at least one network. The computing device may be similarly configured to perform similar operations as the DPS 100. More specifically, the computing device includes at least one communications module that supports communication over at least one network, and that receives a plurality of location signals, each of which is associated with a corresponding shipment-related object from a plurality of geographically co-located shipment-related objects that together form a group of shipments that is tracked until the shipment is completed. Additionally, the computing device is configured to generate, based in part on the geographic coordinates of the received location signals, a shipment tracking user interface (UI) that displays the current location of each item related to the shipment via visual representations that are presented in spatial arrangement relative to each other and relative to coordinates. geographic location. Additionally, the computing device is configured to detect the occurrence of an anomaly comprising one or more of the following: (i) loss of location signal reception from one or more departure-related objects, (ii) unplanned changes in the spatial relationship of the departure-related objects or corresponding visual representations in STUI, (iii) an unplanned change in the directional movement of visual representations associated with the same group of items relative to each other, and (iv) the movement of the departure mark from the loading location before being co-located and grouped with the operator mark, indicative of unauthorized acceptance of a shipment.

[0096] In accordance with one embodiment, the SMSS comprises a plurality of location tracking mechanisms associated with each of a shipment, a shipment container, an operator user equipment, and a cargo ship/vehicle. A plurality of location tracking mechanisms are capable of determining location coordinates and transmitting, via an intermediate tracking system, location coordinate data to the computing device via one or more communication networks with which the computing device is in communication capability.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the method includes monitoring a DPS of an operator's location relative to a shipment by means of one or more sensor signals received for the shipment-related objects of a group of shipments. The method includes detecting a separation of at least one of the following: (i) an operator signal from a trailer/tractor signal, (ii) a departure signal from a trailer/tractor signal; and (iii) the operator's signal from the departure signal. The method further includes, in response to a separation that exceeds a predetermined acceptable separation distance, generating and issuing a notification that informs the recipient of the occurrence of a determined separation that exceeds the predetermined acceptable separation distance.

[0098] In accordance with one embodiment, the method includes, in response to splitting, which is splitting at least one of the following: (i) an operator signal from a trailer/tractor signal, or (ii) an operator signal from a departure signal over a period, when separation is not planned: defining a separation according to an abandoned or abandoned vehicle scenario in which the operator left the tractor and trailer at a location that is not in the expected safe zone of the operator's separation; and triggering an out of service scenario notification to at least one interested party.

[0099] In accordance with another implementation, the method includes determining, based on the analysis of changes in the geographic location of the received location signal over time, the speed of removal of the operator from the origin relative to the previous combined coordinates. The method further includes determining, based on the speed of the operator moving away from the load, that the operator is in another vehicle that is moving away from the shipment, and notifying at least one of the operator, the sender, and security personnel that the operator deviates from acceptable departure plan in relation to the departure and may refuse to send before delivery is completed.

[00100] In addition, the method includes: extracting, for the identified shipment, information about the departure associated with the destination, preferred or recommended routes, and the estimated schedule of the departure, including expected stops, for the recommended delivery route; sending data about the shipment to the operator's device; and monitoring unplanned separation. In accordance with one implementation, the split event comprises one or more of the received location signals and associated visual representations expected to remain aligned at the same geographic coordinates location, moving away from other visual representations at the geographic coordinates location. In accordance with one or more implementation options, the unscheduled separation event may comprise at least one of the following: (i) removal of the tractor/trailer from the departure; (ii) removal of the shipment from the trailer, or vice versa, but not at the intended pick-up or drop-off location for that shipment; and (iii) moving the operator away from the consignment or the tractor/trailer beyond the allowable separation distance.

[00101] Referring to FIG. 10, an example of a user communication device is shown, which is represented as a mobile communication device (MCD) 1000. MCD 100 is an operator device and can be interchangeably described as such. In particular, in FIG. 10 is a 3D view as well as a block diagram representation of a mobile communication device (MCD) component composition. The MCD 100 operates in a wireless communications network and serves as an electronic device in which some of the operator-related disclosure functions can be implemented. According to the General view of the MCD 1000 is a communication device that is designed to communicate with other devices through one of the wireless networks, which may be included in the network 210 data (FIG. 2). The MCD 1000 may be one of many different types of devices, including, but not limited to, a mobile cellular phone or smartphone, laptop, netbook, ultrabook, and/or tablet (eg, iPAD®), or other computing device with wireless access. Devices used include the necessary hardware and software to enable wireless communication between the MCD 1000 and the network over which information and/or data and voice is required, to implement the various features described in this document to facilitate the security of shipments through signaling common location environment 200 and enforcement of SLTSU 122.

[00102] Turning now to the specific composition of the components and the corresponding functionality of the presented components, the MCD 1000 includes a processor 1010 that is connected via a plurality of interconnects (shown by bidirectional arrows) to a plurality of other functional components of the MCD 1000. The processor 1010 may be an integrated circuit that includes one or more programmable microprocessors and a digital signal processor (DSP). Processor 1010 controls communications, program code execution, power management, time synchronization, and other functions and/or operations of MCD 1000. These functions and/or operations include, but are not limited to, application data processing and signal processing.

[00103] Storage 1015, memory 1020, input/output devices, and communication mechanisms 1055 are coupled to processor 1010. Memory 1008 may include volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory. During device operation, one or more executable applications may be stored in memory 1020 for execution by processor 1010. For example, a memory 1020 is illustrated containing a local SLTSU application 1022 , which is a downloadable application or tool that runs on the MCD 1000. SLTSU application 1022 contains a user interface 1024 item tracking (STUI) and a biometric verification module 1026, which is used to confirm the operator access to certain secure features of the MCD 1000. For example, voice or fingerprint verification may be required before allowing the carrier/driver to pick up a valuable item, so that only a specific an authorized carrier may carry this shipment. Thus, for example, the DOD of a shipment will only be handed over to an authorized DOD carrier.

[00104] The memory 1020 further comprises a dispatch match tracker 1028 that can access available maps and that uses a GPS sensor or other location sensor or MCD function to send the exact location of the MCD 1000 back to the CSIST (DPS) server 100B. Within the item match tracker 1028 is a mark tracker (or SLTSU) 1030, which is a local version of the operator's device and performs functions similar to the SLTSU 122 (FIG. 1). The dispatch match tracker 1028 also includes a match module 1032 that provides the match monitoring and response functions presented in the description of FIG. 3A-3B. The two 3D views of the MCD 1000 present an example of a consistent user interface 1005 with the tag tracker function/section 1006 to track an onboard group of items. In one implementation, selecting this tag tracker function 1006 from the negotiation user interface 1005 initiates the opening of a second user interface 1007 that provides the tracking user interface with location tags for each sender related object located relative to each other on a geographic map. During normal operation, the operator owns the MCD 1000 and either the operator and/or the MCD is typically in close proximity to the operator's equipment onto which the shipment has been loaded. In one or more implementations, additional tracking functionality is implemented in the equipment and/or shipment that allows the CSIST (data aggregation) structure 200 to identify in real time when the carrier and/or MCD 1000 is out of acceptable range from the shipment or equipment.

[00105] The memory 1020 also includes a send and acknowledge data means 1034, a jammer detection module 1036, and an unauthorized operator detection module 1038. The functionality associated with each of the software models and/or their use will become apparent from the descriptions provided herein. It will be understood that the various software models may be independent modules communicating with each other through the execution of respective program codes by the processor.

[00106] Referring back to the figure, storage 1015 can be any type of available storage device capable of storing one or more application programs, firmware, and data. In addition, it should be understood that in one or more alternative implementations, the storage device may actually be or may contain remote storage, such as cloud storage, and need not be fully integrated into the device itself. As provided, the store 1015 contains a local version of the SLTSU DB 1018, which may contain some operator credentials and biometric information to allow local processing of the operator's entry into the CSIST structure, in one or more implementation implementations. The store may also contain a database of device settings associated with a particular subscriber.

[00107] The MCD 1000 also contains a plurality of input/output (I/O) devices 1040. The input/output devices 1040 include a camera 1042, a microphone 1044, a touch screen and/or touch pad and/or keyboard 1046, and a biometric sensor 1052 as an input device, and a presentation device 1048 and a speaker 1050 as an output device, and others. The MCD 1000 may also include a subscriber identification module (SIM) or other similar function that provides unique identification information for the carrier that owns or uses the MCD 1000. To allow the MCD 1000 to synchronize operations and/or provide time data, the MCD 1000 also includes system clock (not shown).

[00108] In accordance with one aspect of the invention and illustrated in FIG. 10, MCD 1000 supports at least one and potentially a plurality of forms of wireless communication, over-the-air communication, which allows MCD 1000 to send and receive communications, including location signals, through at least one second device and/or an externally located network. To support wireless communication, the MCD 1000 includes one or more of the following communication components: a wireless network communication module 1060 (which may include a transceiver with a coupled antenna, both are not explicitly provided), a short range communication (NFC) transceiver module 1062, WiFi module 1064 and Bluetooth® transceiver 1066. It is understood that the MCD 1000 may also include components for wired communication such as a modem and Ethernet modules (not shown). Together, these wireless and wired components provide the mechanism 1055, or communication means, by which the MCD 1000 can communicate with other devices and networks. To provide location-based services to/on a device, the MCD 1000 also includes, without limitation, a location service module, such as a GPS module.

[00109] The MCD 1000 communicates with fewer other devices via signaling over the air after exchanging specific authentication data and/or access credentials. Communication between the MCD 1000 and second devices may be via short range communications, Bluetooth, infrared (IR) transmission, and others without limitation. As a wireless device, the MCD 1000 can communicate over a wireless network (such as a Wi-Fi network, cellular network, Bluetooth® network (including Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) networks), wireless ad hoc network (WANET), or personal area network ( PAN)). In one embodiment, the MCD 1000 may optionally be equipped with an infrared (IR) device (not shown) for communicating with other devices using an IR connection. In one embodiment, the MCD 1000 may include a short range wireless device including, but not limited to, a short range communication (NFC) device. In yet another implementation, the MCD 1000 may communicate with one or more other devices using a wired or wireless USB connection.

[00110] In accordance with one embodiment, the MCD 1000 includes a display device providing a user interface and memory having a dispatch location tracking service (SLTU) stored therein. The MCD 1000 also includes a processor coupled to the display device and memory that uses the mark tracker 1020 to provide the user with a communication device for performing the processes of the method of FIG. 7, 8A-8B, and 9 with modifications to the receiving and location tracking processes to include a remote aggregator in one implementation analysis and a direct connection to the MCD 100 in other implementations. In addition, in the MCD-based implementation of the methods 700, 800, 850, 900, further modifications are made to provide a generated notification for immediate display on the MCD 1000 display. /or the recipient of the notification, since the operator owns the MCD, is physically closest to the shipment and can therefore take positive steps to secure the shipment. Thus, the notification is either generated locally and displayed on the MCD 1000, or the notification comes from the DPS 100, CSIST server 100B or data aggregator 320 and displayed on the MCD 1000.

[00111] Similar to the implementation of STLSU 122 by processor 105 of DPS 100, MCD processor 1010 1000 is a local STLSU or tag engine 1030 that allows MCD 1000 to track a sequence of tags corresponding to a shipment assigned to an operator/carrier for transfer to one or more appropriate destinations. . The MCD 1000 receives a location signal for each of the shipments and the tractor/trailer. The MCD 1000 combines and groups marks (each representing unique tracking representations) of a shipment (first tracking representation) with a picture of a cargo ship (operating equipment or tractor/trailer) (second tracking representation) and MCD (third tracking representation). Thus, the marks of the MCD 1000 correspond to the authorized operator for the shipment. In one embodiment, the location signals and other data related to the shipment are received from a data aggregator (320, FIG. 3), such as CSIST server 100B. In accordance with one implementation option, the data for all other objects of the group of departures is locally processed and aggregated at the execution of the processor means 1030 marks.

[00112] The MCD 1000 presents, in the user interface, a group of ticks representing the relative co-location of each load and tractor/trailer. The MCD 1000 automatically updates the relative location of each mark in the group to match the current real-time location. The MCD 100 detects an unplanned mark separation and compares the distance to a predetermined high threshold distance. The MCD 1000 determines when the detected break distance of one of the tracking views is greater than the predetermined average distance, and in accordance with the requirements for the detected distance to exceed the predetermined high threshold distance, the MCD 1000 generates and outputs a notification signal to alert at least one operator and remote monitoring devices that an anomaly has been detected with movement from the direction that may affect the safety of the departure. It is understood that the tracking of the item and the updating of the co-located marks continues until the item is delivered or another terminal is even received. For example, an operator deletes or removes a group of shipments from the STUI. In one implementation, assignment and deletion is performed by a remote system (e.g., CSIST servers 100B) that downloads updates to the SLTSU application operator copy with a new origin assignment and deletes the completed origin assignment after delivery confirmation is received on the computers of the remote system.

[00113] The MCD 1000 is also configured to track an assigned future shipment. The MCD 1000 obtains the destination of the shipment by providing information about the shipment to be loaded and delivered by the operator from the specified location, and provides a unique tracking view corresponding to the shipment. The MCD 1000 displays a unique tracking view of the current location of the shipment on a map located on the tracking interface. The MCD 1000 also receives movement data combined with a unique tracking view and updates the display on the displayed map. The MCD 1000 monitors anomalies at the current location of the shipment before the operator arrives at the origin to receive the shipment, and as a response to detecting an anomaly at the current location, the MCD 1000 generates and issues an anomaly notification to the user interface. Specifically, in response to detecting an anomaly, the MCD 1000 sends a disappearance notification to the monitoring server to initiate tracking of the item's location relative to known carriers to determine if one of the known carriers has mistakenly received the item. In one implementation, the message is directly communicated to the carrier or sender when the shipment is held at the port of shipment for loading.

[00114] In addition, as one aspect, a third party notification may be initiated from a remote server that receives initial notifications from the MCD 1000. Thus, the MCD 1000 serves as a localized security sensor that identifies anomalies affecting only those shipments that assigned to the MCD 1000, and the MCD 1000 immediately reports the anomaly to the remote system for action to be taken.

[00115] In accordance with one embodiment, anomaly detection may employ a unique tracking representation of a shipment moving from its origin at a speed that is indicative of a shipment loaded by another moving vessel. In this implementation, the MCD 1000 starts tracking the location of a shipment with respect to known carriers to determine if one of the known carriers has received an erroneous shipment. Tracking of a shipment can be done by a remote system with a wider range of sensors and tracking capabilities, as well as access to the MCD of other carriers and law enforcement.

[00116] According to another implementation, the MCD 1000 detects an anomaly that includes the disappearance of a plurality of unique tracking representations where signal positions are no longer detected. In response to detecting the disappearance of marks, the MCD 1000 generates and issues an alert indicating that the consignment may be subject to interference, and the MCD 1000 sends a message with information about the disappearance to the remote monitoring server (server 100B CSIST).

[00117] In one embodiment, the MCD 1000 is a smartphone, tablet, or other driver/operator communication device that is equipped with (or programmed with) a mark tracking application (app). The MCD 1000 tag tracking application must be capable of tracking a sequence of tags corresponding to a load assigned to a driver for transportation to one or more appropriate destinations. There may be several different ways to enter a unique special cargo signal in an application. Once entered (or loaded), the location of the load relative to the operator is determined and displayed on the MCD user interface. The driver can then control their departure locally on their device. Any incorrect movement (or other activity) of the tracked marks can then be detected locally and a notification is provided to the driver, which allows the driver to immediately check the status of the load and/or his truck. New departure information can also be given to the driver prior to loading so that the driver can be alerted if another driver mistakenly or intentionally attempts to take the truck and/or departure from the loading point.

[00118] In one implementation, special configuration of the operator's MCD 1000, and in particular the SLTSU application 1030 running on the MCD 1000, is required to provide operator tracking and perform some aspects of the shipment tracking functions described here. Similar to the DPS implementation of SLTSU 122 (FIGS. 1 and 4), the SLTSU application 1030 may provide visual tracking of multiple designated items, and may also provide a selection function that provides zoning on one of the designated items to view specific details about that item on the STUI device. .

[00119] As a paid application, the use of the tracking functions can be added to the basic communications infrastructure module as an additional service and/or premium offering. In addition, security features may be provided that include one or more of temperature monitoring, door lock control, with/without remote lock, and on-board video surveillance. These functions can be provided as add-ons with service-related costs payable when added to a basic service such as coordinating the assignment of items to operators. The operator can choose to install the full version of the 1030 application or only the location tracking version. In the full version, additional features can be provided on the MCD 1000, such as localized tracking of the assigned shipment, etc.

[00120] As further described herein, the implementation of the functionality of the invention described herein may include the use of a combination of hardware, firmware, and several software layer constructs (e.g., program code and/or software instructions and/ or pseudocode) providing a sequence of methods that use the various features and functions of the invention.

[00121] In the foregoing description, exemplary embodiments in which various aspects of the description may be implemented are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that other implementations may be used, and that logical, architectural, software, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The above description is an expanded description and, therefore, should not be considered in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention will be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[00122] While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular system, device, or component thereof to the teachings of the disclosure without going beyond its essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not indicate any order or importance, but is used to distinguish one element from another.

[00123] One or more embodiments of the described invention may be implemented, at least in part, using a programmable, programmable processing device, such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, or other processing device, data processing device, or system. Thus, it is understood that a computer program for configuring a programmable device, device or system to implement the methods described above is considered an aspect of the present invention. The computer program may be implemented in source code or compiled for execution on a processing device, device, or system. Accordingly, the computer program is stored on the storage device in a machine-readable or device-readable form, such as solid-state memory, magnetic memory, disk or magneto-optical readable memory, compact disc or digital versatile disk, memory, etc. A processing device, device, or system uses a program or part of it to configure a processing device, device, or system to operate.

[00124] While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular system, device, or component thereof to the teachings of the disclosure without going beyond its essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not indicate any order or importance, but is used to distinguish one element from another.

[00125] The terminology used here is only intended to describe specific implementations and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further it will be understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" when used in this description determine the presence of the claimed features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not exclude their presence, or the addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or their groups.

[00126] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention as disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. The described embodiments have been selected and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and practice, and to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention in various embodiments with various modifications that are suitable for the particular intended use.

Claims (123)

1. A data processing system, comprising: a memory having a service program stored therein for tracking the location and reliability of a shipment; a display device that visually represents at least one graphical user interface generated by the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment; at least one network interface device that allows the data processing system to receive and transmit information via one or more communication networks; at least one processor connected to the memory, the display device and at least one network interface device and configured to execute a service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment for configuring the data processing system, providing: receiving, by at least one network interface device, a plurality of location tracking signals indicating the location of a plurality of departure-related objects that are tracked together as a departure group; associating the location tracking signals as a departure group and assigning a unique departure tracking identifier to the departure group for tracking the movement of the location tracking signals relative to each other; presenting the departure group as a plurality of co-located visual representations on the first departure tracking user interface, each received location tracking signal being represented by one visual representation of the plurality of co-located visual representations; monitoring any unplanned deviations in at least one of the expected co-location and the expected geographical location of the received updates for the origin group location tracking signals and in response to detection of an unplanned deviation: identifying a specific type of unplanned deviation and initiating a sequence of response actions based on said specific type of unplanned deviation. 2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the location and reliability tracking tool further causes the data processing system to perform the following: generating and displaying on a display device a first item tracking user interface displaying each of a plurality of item groups that are simultaneously tracked; and indicating in the first shipment tracking user interface when an anomaly is detected in one of the plurality of shipment groups. 3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein presenting the shipment group as a plurality of co-located visual representations in the shipment tracking user interface includes further configuring the data processing system by the dispatch location and reliability tracking service to: presenting each location signal of the departure group object as a separate visual representation co-located with other visual representations corresponding to the corresponding location signal of the departure group object related to the departure; co-locating and presenting visual representations representing each of the received location signals in a spatial arrangement showing the relative spatial spacing of origin-related objects; periodically receiving updated location signals from one or more originating entities; updating the presentation of the plurality of co-located visual representations in the user interface based on the updated location signals. 4. The data processing system of claim. 3, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system to visually represent each shipment-related item group object as visually distinguishable marks on the user interface for tracking the shipment using one or more of the following (i) different types of marks and (ii) different characteristics assigned to marks of the same type. 5. The data processing system according to claim. 1, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system to perform the following functions: in response to detecting a selection of a unique item tracking identifier or a visual representation of a particular item group displayed by the item tracking user interface, generating and displaying on the display device a second item tracking user interface that provides detailed information about the corresponding item and the last recorded location of each object related to the item departure group with respect to the location of each other departure-related object of the departure group and with respect to geographic or location coordinates of the departure-related objects, and the departure route. 6. The data processing system according to claim 1, in which: the plurality of co-located visual representations comprising a plurality of co-located marks, each of which represents the location of a dispatch-related object, as determined from a respective one of the received location signals; and moreover, to monitor any unplanned deviations, the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system to: detection of the occurrence of an anomaly from the group consisting of: (i) loss of location signal reception from one or more items related to the shipment, (ii) unplanned changes in the spatial relationship of the items related to the shipment or the corresponding visual representations in the shipment tracking user interface, and (iii) unplanned moving the origin location signal from the origin loading location to co-locating and grouping with the location signal of an operator indicative of tampering with the origin; and in response to the detection of an anomaly that contains an unplanned separation of co-located marks from each other prior to delivery of the item to the intended destination: determining the presence of a valid reason for the unplanned separation by evaluating the historical data and received data about the objects related to the departure, the route, the geographic location at which the unplanned separation occurs, and the accepted environmental conditions; and in response to the lack of identification of a good reason for an unplanned separation: departure marks for improved monitoring; initiating security measures to notify relevant parties of the occurrence of an unplanned separation of co-located marks; and creating and storing a record of the occurrence of an anomaly. 7. The data processing system of claim 6, wherein, in order to monitor unplanned deviations, the location and reliability tracking tool is configured to configure the data processing system to perform at least one of the following: comparing the present geographic location of a visual representation against a mapped geographic location with the expected geographic location based on the given departure route; and identifying whether a deviation from the route was committed by the operator; monitoring changes in the alignment pattern and spatial diversity of visual representations corresponding to each departure-related object of the group of origin, relative to the expected location and spatial diversity; and monitoring specific changes in the reception of incoming location signals corresponding to known specific changes that are indicative of security issues. 8. The data processing system according to claim 6, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system for: in response to a deviation, which is the separation of the objects of the departure from each other, occurring at an unscheduled time before the departure has reached the delivery destination of the departure; estimates, using statistical data and geographic mapping data, of the geographic location where the division occurs; placing the departure in a state of improved surveillance/monitoring; initiating the execution of one or more security functions that inform at least one of the operator and the sender of the item; and creating and maintaining a record of the separation event and the response actions taken; and in response to a separation occurring at the delivery destination of the item: disconnection of the location signals of the item's group of items; updates to the shipment tracking system to indicate that the shipment has been delivered; and Updates to the Shipment Tracking UI to remove multiple co-located visuals for tracking a Shipment Group. 9. The data processing system of claim. 8, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system to: additional details of the shipment corresponding to the shipment and the objects related to the shipment that contain the shipment group. 10. The data processing system according to claim 6, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system for: checking whether a de-escalation signal has been received from a trusted party, providing confirmation of the safety of the item before the expiration of a predetermined time window; in response to receiving the de-escalation signal before the expiration of the predetermined time window, deleting the departure from the enhanced surveillance/monitoring state; a in response to one of the following: (i) the disappearance of all marks simultaneously for more than a predefined time window, and (ii) not receiving a de-escalation signal before the expiration of a predefined time window, when only a subset of the location signals disappear from the monitoring system: placing the departure into the state increased danger and triggering a high-level alert to initiate a sequence of response operations and actions. 11. The data processing system according to claim 6, in which the unplanned deviation includes the loss of the location signal of at least one object of the departure associated with the group of departure, and the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the departure is configured to configure the data processing system for: detecting a total loss of at least one location signal from the respective one or more origins; in response to the detection of a total loss, changing the presentation in the tracking user interface of the departure of a visual representation corresponding to the location signal of this object of departure; determining, in part based on the characteristics associated with the loss of at least one signal, that the loss is the result of interference with the location of the departure; and in response to determining that the resulting loss is the result of interference: generating and issuing a specific notification that identifies the interference detection; and initiating one or more actions to counteract the effect of intentional interference and to protect one or more related objects from bad action. 12. The data processing system according to claim 11, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system for: in response to a loss of signal representing a partial loss of received location signals affecting only a subset of origin-related objects of the origin group: triggering a low level alert event; setting a timer to a predetermined time window to track the amount of time that elapses after detecting a partial signal loss; monitoring that the partial loss of the received location signal is resolved before the expiration of a predetermined time window; and in response to the partial loss resolved within a predetermined time window, recording an event containing the geographic location of the item to be sent when the partial loss occurred; and in response to a partial loss that was not resolved within a predefined time window, generating real-time alerts and notifications of a detected problem with an appropriate location tracking mechanism, which may indicate tampering and potential theft of the item related to the shipment. 13. The data processing system of claim. 1, in which, in order to perform a sequence of response actions based on a particular type of identified deviation, the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the departure is configured to configure the data processing system for at least one of the following: highlighting in the shipment tracking user interface an appropriate visual representation of the unique identifier of one shipment group for which a deviation has been detected; displaying at least one of visual notifications on the screen and an acoustic notification for alerting monitoring personnel of the detected deviation; and transmitting a notification to a remote communication device of at least one of the operator and the sender associated with the shipment to provide real-time notification of the deviation. 14. The data processing system according to claim 1, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system for: in response to a deviation, which is the joint or substantially simultaneous loss of multiple location signals of one group of origin, issuing a notification that contains an alert to one or more connected parties about the potential impact of intentional interference, which indicates malicious intent against one or more departure objects. 15. The data processing system according to claim 1, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system for: identifying the intended operator and the cargo ship assigned to the future shipment waiting to be loaded by the appropriate operator having the operator ID and a communications device that provides a unique device location signal that is associated with the operator ID, the shipment also having a unique shipment location signal; associating an operator identifier with a future shipment; monitoring the location of the geographical coordinates of the future departure before loading by the operator; in response to the received signal indicating that the operator has downloaded the shipment, linking and co-locating the unique device location signal and the unique location signal of the shipment to create and track a new shipment group. 16. The data processing system according to claim 15, in which the service program for tracking the location and reliability of the shipment is configured to configure the data processing system for: identifying an anomaly from the following: (i) detecting a location change in the geographic coordinates of the item by more than a first threshold distance before the unique item tracking signal is co-located with the unique device location signal; and (ii) detecting that a second operator device signal, other than the unique device location signal, is co-located with and begins to move with the unique item tracking signal, wherein the second operator device signal is not associated with the operator or second operator that is assigned to shipment transportation; and in response to the identification of an anomaly, initiating a sequence of response actions aimed at preventing or stopping the receipt of a shipment by an unauthorized operator. 17. A method for monitoring and ensuring the security of shipments, including: receiving by the computing device a plurality of location signals, each of which indicates the location of one of the plurality of objects having the same geographic location, which are jointly tracked as a shipment group associated with a particular shipment; linking the location tracking signals as a shipment group and assigning a unique item identifier to the shipment group to track the movement of the location tracking signals relative to each other; presenting the departure group as a plurality of co-located visual representations on the departure tracking user interface, each location tracking signal being represented by one visual representation of the plurality of co-arranged visual representations; monitoring any unplanned deviations in at least one of the expected co-location and the expected geographical location of the received updates of the origin group location tracking signals, and in response to detection of an unplanned deviation: identifying a specific type of unplanned deviation and initiating a sequence of response actions based on the specific type of unplanned deviation. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: generating and displaying on the display device a first item tracking user interface that displays respective locations of each of the plurality of concurrently tracked item groups; and an indication in the first shipment tracking user interface when an anomaly is detected in one of the plurality of shipment groups. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein presenting a shipment group as a plurality of co-located visual representations on a shipment tracking user interface includes: presenting each location signal of the departure group as a separate visual representation co-located with other visual representations, each of which corresponds to the location signal of the departure group of the departure object; collocating and presenting visual representations representing each of the received location signals in a spatial arrangement showing the spatial diversity of origin-related objects; periodically receiving updated location signals from one or more origin-related entities; updating the presentation of the plurality of co-located visual representations in the user interface based on the updated location signals. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of co-located visual representations comprises a plurality of co-located marks, and the method further comprises: providing geographic mapping of a plurality of co-located marks in a user interface; comparing the present location of the co-located marks with at least one of the intended delivery destinations of the item and the current expected location of the item; identifying, based on the present location, whether the operator has committed a deviation from the route that is outside the acceptable range of deviation from the pre-planned route; and generating and transmitting at least one notification signal to correct the deviation. 21. The method according to claim 17, in which: a plurality of co-located visual representations comprising a plurality of co-located marks, each of which represents a location related to the departure of the object, as determined from each respective received location signal; wherein the method further comprises: detection of the occurrence of an anomaly from the group consisting of: (i) loss of location signal reception from one or more items related to the shipment, (ii) unplanned changes in the spatial relationship of the items related to the shipment or the corresponding visual representations in the shipment tracking user interface, and (iii) unplanned moving the origin location signal from the origin loading location to co-locating and grouping with the location signal of an operator indicative of tampering with the origin; and in response to the detection of an anomaly that contains an unplanned separation of co-located marks from each other prior to delivery of the item to the intended destination: determining the presence of a valid reason for the unplanned separation by evaluating the historical data and received data about the objects related to the departure, the route, the geographic location at which the unplanned separation occurs, and the accepted environmental conditions; and in response to the lack of identification of a good reason for an unplanned separation: departure stamp for improved monitoring; initiating a security measure to notify relevant parties of an anomaly occurrence; and creating and storing a record of an anomaly occurrence. 22. The method of claim 17, wherein, to monitor any unplanned deviations, the method further comprises: comparing the present geographic location of the visual representation on the mapped geographic location with the expected geographic location based on the predetermined departure route; and identifying whether a deviation from the route was made by the operator; monitoring changes in the alignment pattern and separation distance of visual representations corresponding to each departure-related object of the departure group with respect to the expected location and spacing; and monitoring specific changes in the reception of incoming location signals corresponding to known specific changes that are indicative of the anomaly. 23. A mobile communication device, comprising: a display device providing a user interface; a memory having a service program stored therein for tracking the location of a shipment; and a processor communicatively coupled to the display device and memory, and configured to execute a service program for tracking the location of a shipment to enable the user's communications device to perform the following: tracking the sequence of marks corresponding to the shipment assigned to the driver for transportation to one or more corresponding destinations; reception of a position signal for each departure and a tractor with a trailer; representations in the user interface of a group of marks representing the relative joint location of each load and the tractor with the trailer; automatically update the relative location of each group mark to snap to the current location in real time; identifying unplanned elevation splits; comparing the spatial diversity with a given maximum threshold spatial diversity; determining when a certain spatial diversity of one of the tracked representations exceeds a given maximum spatial diversity; and in response to determining a spatial diversity that exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold spatial diversity, generating and issuing a notification signal to notify at least one of the operator and the remote monitoring device that an anomaly in the movement of the item is detected, which may affect the security of the item. 24. The mobile communications device of claim 23, wherein the package location tracking utility is further configured to configure the user's device to: co-locating and grouping the unique tracking view with at least one of the second tracking view associated with the cargo ship and the third tracking view associated with the user communication device, the first unique tracking view of the user communication device corresponding to the location of the authorized operator. 25. The mobile communications device according to claim 23, further comprising: a wireless transceiver that supports wireless communication; moreover, the service program for tracking the location of the shipment is configured to configure the user's communication device for: receiving the destination of the item, providing information about the item, which is to be loaded and transported by the operator from a given point of loading the item to the point of delivery of the item; provide a unique tracking representation that matches the shipment; mapping the unique tracking view to the current location of the shipment on a co-location map presented in the tracking user interface; receiving movement data associated with the unique tracking view and updating the mapping on the displayed collocation map; monitoring anomalies at the current location of the shipment before the operator has reached the origin to receive the shipment; and in response to detecting an anomaly at the current location, generating and issuing an anomaly notification. 26. The mobile communications device of claim 23, wherein the package location tracking utility is configured to configure the user's communications device to: detecting an anomaly that contains the movement of the unique tracking representation from the origin at a speed that indicates that the shipment is loaded by another moving vessel; and in response to the detection of the anomaly, sending a notification to the monitoring server of the disappearance to initiate tracking the location of the item in relation to the known operator to identify that one of the known operators mistakenly accepted the item. 27. The mobile communications device of claim 23, wherein the package location tracking utility is configured to configure the user's communications device to: detecting an anomaly that includes the disappearance of a plurality of unique tracking representations, with location signals no longer detectable; and in response to detection of the disappearance, generating and issuing an alert indicating that the shipment is likely to be under the influence of intentional interference; and transmitting at least the monitoring server a notification with information about the disappearance of signals.

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