NL1010007C2 - Goods tracking and tracking system. - Google Patents

Description

5

Goods tracking and tracking system.

In the transport of freight goods, such as, for example, air freight, where the transported goods 10 generally represent a high value, there is a need for a system with which it is possible to track and if necessary trace the transported goods.

Solutions for this in the form of 15 computer software, with which it is possible to plan and supervise transports, are available. However, if there is a deviation from the pre-planned route and times, it is often not possible from the networks to trace the current location of the goods.

20 The delays that arise in the transport of goods are often due to poor communication between the various transport nodes and the central computer system. The "human factor" plays an important role in this, as a result of which goods that are delayed are not reported to the central network.

The present invention aims to provide a solution to this and will be described below with reference to a block diagram.

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the system according to the invention.

The system for tracking and tracing goods transports according to the invention is partly based on the use of public or other infrastructure, such as for instance the so-called Global System Mobile (GSM) wireless telephone network, which is already spread worldwide in more than 80 countries.

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According to the invention, valuable freight packages are provided with a communication device which in the further description is called "Boxy" by analogy with the! so-called Handy for wireless telephone traffic via the GSM 5 network.

A Boxy according to the invention is a device with part of the functions of a GSM telephone, which is packed together with more expensive (air) freight goods, in order to be able to trace these goods on the transport route to be traveled from sender to receiver.

In areas fully or partially covered by a GSM network, the Boxy is able to determine if a predetermined deviation is exceeded from the pre-planned transport routing and 15-timing. In case of a pre-set exceeding of the planned transport times, in relation to the locations, the Boxy reports autonomously via the GSM network to the central computer, to report this delay. In this case, the computer can search for a modified schedule and return it to = 20 the Boxy or instruct the relevant Boxy to no longer report any messages.

<In this way, delays or route changes will be known to the central computer very quickly, so that customers can be informed early = 25 about impending delays. Alternative transport options can also be initiated at an early stage.

A Boxy according to the invention, as schematically indicated in figure 1, contains as functional modules 30 a battery module (1), a GSM transmitter / receiver with modem and dialing machine (2), a GSM chip module (3) from the provider with a GSM number, a processor with memory (4) for logging transport planning and route, a local communication facility (5) between one or more Boxies 35 and a date and time module (6). i The dimensions of a Boxy are comparable to that of a small GSM telephone.

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Tracing of the traveled routes is done with the Boxy on the basis of GSM transmitter identification codes which are received en stored in the memory of the Boxy or on the basis of a so-called "fingerprint" of this transmitter identification code, without the meaning of this " fingerprint "is known. The transmitter identification codes or "fingerprints" thereof, as far as they are known, are loaded into the Boxy at the start of the transport from the central computer. Unknown GSM transmitter identification codes 10 are collected on the way and also passed on to the central computer after the transport has ended.

The system is self-learning in this way and does not need to be supplied with the transmitter identification information beforehand.

15 During the tracking and tracing procedure using a Boxy, the transport planning and possibly product information are successively loaded into the Boxy, whereby the memory of the Boxy is filled with times, permitted margins and expected GSM transmitter identification codes.

20 The Boxy then listens, depending on the schedule, to GSM transmitter identification codes, which are compared with the expected codes and the time window that was previously planned. Exceeding the scheduled time window is only reported to the central computer if the Boxy detects a transmitter identification code that appears in the pre-entered list and if this transmitter identification code has been observed for at least 30 minutes, in order to prevent communication during a flight.

All codes not observed in the pre-entered list and sensed codes are recorded along with the time window of this observation.

At the receiver, all stored information in the Boxy is read and passed on to the central computer system. If the transport has gone according to plan, this extra information can be used for subsequent shipments.

Because it may occur during packaging of the Boxies 1010007 -4-, that one or more boxies in a load cannot communicate with a GSM network transmitter / receiver, a provision has been made in the Boxy according to the invention for local communication between the Boxies. possible.

5 This communication has a limited range of a few meters under poor communication conditions, such as metal packaging material.

The purpose of this local communication capability is to • have the necessary GSM communications handled by the "10 Boxy which is in the best position to communicate with the nearest GSM network = transmitter / receiver and transmit transmitter identification codes.

“Give to Boxies nearby, who have the relevant cell phone

cannot receive or reach the transmitter / receiver.

Obviously, the same precondition for observing the same transmitter identification code for at least 30 minutes applies to the taking over of the communication function by another Boxy.

The local communication option can also be used to load the information into the boxy upon departure.

If a relatively low carrier frequency is chosen for this local communication, in order to be less troubled by metal as packaging material, then optionally the battery of the Boxy can also be charged in a contactless manner via this interface.

Media can also be used for the local network which do not cause disturbances in the environment and which are readily permitted for international application, such as, for example, infrared communication or communication via (ultra) sound or electromagnetic communication with very low frequencies.

Optionally, a motion sensor or other sensors can optionally be fitted as an additional provision to prevent communication during a flight.

Also, for example, a signal r "can be given via the local network to suppress reports from Boxies for a certain period.

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Claims (8)

1. A goods tracking and tracking system characterized in that a commodity device (Boxy) is packaged or connected together with the goods, which is capable, based on information obtained from public or other communications networks and planned transportation path information with an associated time window, determining whether a predetermined deviation is exceeded from the planned transportation path and the associated time window and then passing this information through the public or other communications network. to the central planning computer, with which the freight transport is planned and continued. A goods tracking and tracing system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the current position of the goods is determined by the communication device on the basis of transmitter identification codes of the communication network, or on the basis of a so-called "fingerprint" of these transmitter identification codes, without the substantive meaning of these codes having to be known. A goods tracking and tracking system according to one or both of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device is provided with a possibility, in addition to communicating with the central planning computer via the public or other communication channel, via a local communication channel. to communicate in order to exchange data with similar communication devices, which are located in the immediate vicinity. »1010007 -6- A goods tracking and tracking system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that any communication via the public or other network with the central planning computer is taken over by the communication device, which is situated relative to the other communication devices is in the most favorable position in the immediate vicinity and with which the communication device concerned can communicate via the local communication option. : 10 A system for tracking and tracing of goods r according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that any communication via the public or other network with the central planning computer takes place only if the transmitter identification code provided by the communication device received, whether a "fingerprint" thereof has been recorded in the pre-entered scheduling list of the communication device and is therefore known and if this code has been detected for a preset period to prevent communication during a flight. A system for tracking and tracing of goods according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central planning computer after a notification from a communication device (Boxy) about a deviation from the planned transport route and the related time window, searches for an alternative transport option for the goods in question and passes on the associated new planning information to the relevant communication device. lü J '1 1010007 -7- A goods tracking and tracing system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that all transmitter identification codes, or 5 "fingerprints" of these codes received by the communication devices during transport, at the end of the transport to the central planning computer. are passed on, making the system self-learning for identical transports that will take place in the future. 10 A system for tracking and tracing of goods according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the local communication between the communication devices (Boxies) a different, non-radio-frequency, medium is used, such as, for example, infrared communication or acoustic communication. p1010 0 0 7