WO2016041164A1

WO2016041164A1 - System and method for facilitating logistic management

Info

Publication number: WO2016041164A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/086753
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chihung Tong; Kwong CHU; Shuman LAW; Chiwai LEUNG
Original assignee: Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies Limited
Priority date: 2014-09-17
Filing date: 2014-09-17
Publication date: 2016-03-24

Abstract

A method for facilitating logistic management comprising the steps of detecting a first object in a first waypoint, estimating a time frame for transporting the first object from the first waypoint to the second waypoint, and executing at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the first waypoint.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING LOGISTIC MANAGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system and method for facilitating logistic management， and particularly， although not exclusively， to a system and method for facilitating logistic management based on an advance arrival detection system.

BACKGROUND

Cargo containers are frequently used for transporting goods from locations to locations. A cargo terminal or a container terminal is a facility where cargo containers are transhipped between different transport vehicles for onward transportation.

In a container terminal， trucks or container tractors may have to perform a number of tasks which include loading imported containers and/or unloading loaded containers to be exported. Before these tasks can be perform， these trucks or container may have to queue for docking space as well as waiting equipment such as empty unit load device (ULD) for the loading or the unloading operations. This may increase the overall engaging time of these vehicles in the container terminal which eventually degrades the import/export efficiency of the container terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention， there is provided a method for facilitating logistic management comprising the steps of:

detecting a first object in a first waypoint；

estimating a time frame for transporting the first object from the first waypoint to the second waypoint； and

executing at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the first waypoint.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the time frame is fixed at a predetermined value assigned to represent a time period required for transporting the first object from the first waypoint to the second waypoint.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the step of executing at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the first waypoint includes arranging at least one facility required by the first object when the first object arrives at the second waypoint.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the at least one facility includes an empty space at the second waypoint allocated for parking of the first object.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the at least one facility include a container arranged to collect a second object unloaded at the second waypoint carried by the first object.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the container includes a unit load device.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the at least one facility includes a third object to be loaded to the first object at the second waypoint.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the step of detecting the first object in the first waypoint includes detecting an approach of the first object to the first waypoint.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the approach of the first object is detected by a reader installed at or approximated to the first waypoint.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the reader is arranged to read a tag connected to the first object.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the reader is further arranged to read the tag when the first object is moving.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the reader is an RFID reader and the tag is an RFID tag.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the RFID technology is in UHF Class 1 Gen 2 standard.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， the first waypoint and the second waypoint are located along a predetermined route of transportation of the first object.

In an embodiment of the first aspect， further comprising the steps of：

detecting the first object in a second waypoint； and

executing at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the second waypoint.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention， there is provided a system for facilitating logistic management comprising:

a gateway arranged to receive a detection of a first object in a first waypoint；

a processing module arranged to estimate a time frame for transporting the first object from the first waypoint to the second waypoint； and

a controller module arranged to execute at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the first waypoint.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the controller module is arranged to arrange at least one facility required by the first object when the first object arrives at the second waypoint.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the at least one facility includes an empty space at the second waypoint allocated for docking of the first object.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the at least one facility include an apparatus arranged to collect a second object unloaded at the second waypoint carried by the first object.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the apparatus includes a unit load device.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the at least one facility includes a third object to be loaded to the first object at the second waypoint.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the detection of the first object in the first waypoint is detected by a detection module.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the detection module is further arranged to detect an approach of the first object to the first waypoint.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the detection module includes a first reader installed at or approximated to the first waypoint.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the first reader is arranged to read a tag connected to the first object.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the first reader is further arranged to read the tag when the first object is moving.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the first reader is an RFID reader and the tag is an RFID tag.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the first waypoint and the second waypoint are located along a predetermined route of transportation of the first object.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the gateway is further arranged to receive the detection the first object in a second waypoint； and the controller module is further arranged to execute at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the second waypoint.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， the detection of the first object in the second waypoint is detected by a second reader of the detection module.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， further comprising a central database arranged to store a plurality of identifiers of the tags associated with a plurality of the first objects.

In an embodiment of the second aspect， at least one of the gateway， the detection module， the processing module， the controller module and the central database are implemented in a distributed computer network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described， by way of example， with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a computer server for use in a system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention；

Figure 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer server used as a system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention；

Figure 3 is an illustration of a reader in the system for facilitating logistic management of Figure 2；

Figure 4 is an illustration of a tag in the system for facilitating logistic management of Figure 2；

Figure 5 is a flow diagram showing an example operation of the system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention；

Figure 6 is an illustration of the installation positions of the readers of Figure 3 along a predetermined route to/from a cargo terminal；

Figure 7 is an illustration showing an example operation of the system for facilitating logistic management of Figure 2 with readers of Figure 3；

Figure 8 is another illustration showing an example operation of the system for facilitating logistic management of Figure 2 with of Figure 3；

Figure 9 is an illustration showing an example operation of the system for facilitating logistic management of Figure 2 with readers of Figure 3 installed in an overhead position；

Figure 10 is an illustration showing example installation positions of the readers of Figure 3 installed in an overhead position；

Figure 11 is an illustration showing example installation positions of the readers of Figure 3 installed at roadsides in a toll plaza；

Figure 12 is an illustration showing example installation positions of the readers of Figure 3 installed at roadsides of an entrance of a building；

Figure 13 is an illustration of an experimental setup of a detection module of the system for facilitating logistic management of Figure 2 positioned at an overhead bridge；

Figure 14 is an illustration of an experimental setup of a detection module of the system for facilitating logistic management of Figure 2 positioned at a roadside；

Figure 15 is a plot showing a theoretical read range of the tag in air and on glass vs the sampling frequency of the reader；

Figure 16 is a capture of the measurement software user interface showing the sensitivity of the detection module in a wide range of sampling frequency；

Figure 17 is a capture of the measurement software user interface showing the translated reading range of the detection module in a wide range of sampling frequency；

Figure 18 is an illustration of an embodiment of a system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention； and

Figure 19 is an illustration of a distributed computing network for use in the system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figure 1， an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. This embodiment is arranged to provide a system for facilitating logistic management， comprising:

-a gateway arranged to receive a detection of a first object in a first waypoint；

-a processing module arranged to estimate a time frame for transporting the first object from the first waypoint to the second waypoint； and

-a controller module arranged to execute at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the first waypoint.

In this embodiment， the processing module and/or the controller module is implemented by or for operation on a computer having an appropriate user interface. The computer may be implemented by any computing architecture， including stand-alone PC， client/server architecture， “dumb” terminal/mainframe architecture， or any other appropriate architecture. The computing device is appropriately programmed to implement the invention.

Referring to Figure 1， there is a shown a schematic diagram of a computer server which in this embodiment comprises a server 100 arranged to operate， at least in part if not entirely， the system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The server 100 comprises suitable components necessary to receive， store and execute appropriate computer instructions. The components may include a processing unit 102， read-only memory (ROM) 104， random access memory (RAM) 106， and input/output devices such as disk drives 108， input devices 110 such as an Ethernet port， a USB port， etc. Display 112 such as a liquid crystal display， a light emitting display or any other suitable display and communications links 114. The server 100 includes instructions that may be included in ROM 104， RAM 106 or disk drives 108 and may be executed by the processing unit 102. There may be provided a plurality of communication links 114 which may variously connect to one or more computing devices such as a server， personal computers， terminals， wireless or handheld computing devices. At least one of a plurality of communications link may be connected to an external computing network through a telephone line or other type of communications link.

The server may include storage devices such as a disk drive 108 which may encompass solid state drives， hard disk drives， optical drives or magnetic tape drives. The server 100 may use a single disk drive or multiple disk drives. The server 100 may also have a suitable operating system 116 which resides on the disk drive or in the ROM of the server 100.

The system has a database 120 residing on a disk or other storage device which is arranged to store at least one record 122. The database 120 is in communication with the server 100 with an interface， which is implemented by computer software residing on the server 100. Alternatively， the database 120 may also be implemented as a stand-alone database system in communication with the server 100 via an external computing network， or other types of communication links.

Alternatively， the system may be implemented as a cloud computing systems， or implemented with similar technologies to achieve the same functionality desired.

With reference to Figure 2， there is shown an embodiment of the system 200 for facilitating logistic management. In this embodiment， the server 100 is used as part of a system 200 as a processing module 202 arranged to communicate with the detection module 204 arranged to read a signal associated with a first object 206， such as but not limited to a truck or a container tractor. In this example， a detection module 204 is arranged to detect an existence or an approach of the first object 206 being tracked or monitored at certain location. Such detection may be transmitted to the gateway 208 via a communication link， and then passed to the processing module 202 for processing.

Preferably， the detection module 204 includes a first reader 210A installed at or approximated to a first waypoint 212， such that the detection module 204 is arranged to detect the first object 206 at or approaching the first waypoint 212. As shown in Figure 3， the reader 210 may be an RFID reader 302 connected to an RFID antenna 304 mounted separably from the RFID reader 302. For example， the RFID antenna 304 may be mounted on a post 306 while the RFID reader 302 may be attached to or integrated in a site server (not shown) . Alternatively， the RFID reader 302 may include the RFID antenna 304 and may be mounted at the position required to detect the first object 206， and is connected to a site server or a communication module (not shown) for communicating with the processing module 202. In some example embodiments， the RFID reader may be connected to a communication module or the communication module is integrated with the RFID reader for communicating with the processing module 202 such that a site server is not included in the system 200.

Optionally， the detection module 204 may comprise a second reader 210B installed at or approximated to a second waypoint 214， such that the detection module 204 is arranged to detect the first object 206 at or approaching to the second waypoint 214. An operation which involves multiple detection stages will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 6 to 8 in the later part of this disclosure.

The communication link between the detection module 204 and the server 100 (or the processing module 202) may be a wireless network， such as WiFi， Bluetooth， infra-red or radio frequency， an Ethernet connection， an intranet connection， an internet connection or a computer network which is operated on a telephone line or other types of communication links.

Preferably， the reader 210 is arranged to read a tag 216 connected to the first object 206. With reference to Figure 4， the tag 216 is an RFID tag and is attached to a windscreen 402 of a container tractor 206. Thus， when the container tractor 206 approach an RFID reader 210 installed at the first waypoint 212， the tag attached to the container tractor 206 is read by the RFID reader 210 which indicates the approach of the container tractor 206 to a first waypoint 212. In this example embodiment， the RFID tag 216 is a passive RFID tag having one of the dimensions (such as the thickness) of the tag optimized for attaching to a windscreen of a vehicle. Alternatively， the tag 216 may also be attached， positioned or connected to different part or surface of the vehicle 206， as long as the tag 216 is readable by a reader 210 which may indicate the vehicle 206 existing in or approaching to the predetermined location. In yet another example， the tag 216 is a tag with different operation characteristics， such as an active RFID tag， or other wireless tagging technologies such as optical tags or codes readable by a corresponding optical reader.

Preferably， a plurality of different identifiers may be assigned to different tags 216 such that different vehicles 206 may be identified when the tags 216 are read by the readers 210. As shown in Figure 2， the system 200 further comprises a central database 218 arranged to store these identifiers of the tags 216 associated with a plurality of the first object 206 (or vehicles) . This central database 218 may be integrated to the same server 100 which includes the processing module 202， or it is a standalone database in communication with the processing module 202. Each time when the gateway 208 receives an identifier， the identifier is passed to the processing module 202 and is looked up in the central database 218， after that， the processing module 202 may identify one or more attributes of the vehicle 206 associated with the identifier， such as the current job assigned to the associated vehicle 206， and further arrangements which may be prepared in advanced to facilitate the current job assigned.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2， the server 100 may also be used as part of a system 200 as a controller module 220 arranged to execute at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object 206 at the first waypoint 212. The processing module 202 and the controller module 220 may either be implemented in a same server 100 or in separate servers 100 which may communicate with each other.

Preferably， the controller module 220 may operate to arrange at least one facility 222 required by the first object 206 when the first object 206 arrives at the second waypoint 214. For example， when upon a container tractor 206 arrive at a cargo terminal 214， the container tractor 206 will have to park to an empty space for subsequence operations such as loading or unloading cargos. The controller module 220 may schedule to arrange an empty space at the cargo terminal 214 in advance， so that the container tractor 206 may immediately park to the allocated empty space without waiting in the cargo terminal 214. In addition， other facilities 222 such as unloading equipment， empty unit load device (ULD) ， cargo containers for imports may be arranged in advanced to minimize the waiting time and boosting the efficiency of the utilization of the cargo terminal 214 as well as container tractors 206 or trucks 206 for transporting cargos. Examples of operation of the system will be described in more detail in the later part of this disclosure.

With reference to Figure 5， there is shown an example of the operation of the system 200 for facilitating logistic management in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this example， the system 200 is used as an advance detection system for facilitating import or export operations of a cargo truck 206 in a cargo terminal 214.

As shown in the flow chart of Figure 5， truck A (the first object 206) is arranged to complete an import request， truck A is arranged to transport from a starting position (such as a warehouse) to the cargo terminal 214 (the second waypoint) via a predetermined route. When truck A approaches a toll plaza 212 (afirst waypoint 212) ， at step 502， truck A is detected by the detection module 204 of the system 200， and the detection is received by the gateway 208 and then passed to the processing module 202. The processing module 202 is arranged to estimate a time frame， for example 30 minutes， for transporting truck A from the toll plaza 212 to the cargo terminal 214 based on a number of parameters such as a real-time traffic condition and the distance between the two waypoints (212， 214) . Alternatively， this time frame is fixed at a predetermined value assigned to represent a time period required for transporting the first object from the first waypoint to the second waypoint in a default condition. The controller module 220 may then allocate or reserving a dock space for truck A at certain import area in the cargo terminal 214 at step 504. The controller module 220 may also arrange stage cargo for truck A to pick up at step 506A. When truck A arrives at the cargo terminal 214， truck A may immediately park to the allocated dock space in the cargo terminal 214 at step 508 and load the arranged stage cargo (a third object) at step 510A， immediately without waiting for any of these facilities， then releasing the occupied dock space and leave the cargo terminal as soon as possible at step 512. Subsequently at step 514， the system 200 may also notify forwarders that truck A has left the cargo terminal 214. The forwarders may be further arranged to allocate a storage slot for the import cargo to be transported to certain warehouse before the arrival of truck A.

On the other hand， truck A (the first object 206) may be arranged to complete an export request， and truck A may carry a loaded container (the second object 224) to the cargo terminal 214. Similarly， truck A is arranged to be detected at the toll plaza (the first waypoint 212) at step 502 and the transportation time is estimated to be about 30 minutes from the cargo terminal 214 (the second waypoint) . The controller module 220 may then allocate or reserving a dock space for truck A at certain export area in the cargo terminal 214 at step 504. The controller module may also arrange suitable unloading equipment or apparatus such as an empty ULD at step 506B. When truck A arrives at the cargo terminal 214， truck A may immediately park to the allocated dock space in the cargo terminal 214 at step 508 and unload the loaded container 224 to the cargo terminal 214 at step 510B for further export operations. Truck A is then ready for next job request at step 512， such as picking up another imported cargo from the import area and transporting the imported cargo to a warehouse， or may leave immediately upon accomplishing the export request.

In an event that truck A does not show up at the cargo terminal 214 in the estimated time frame (30 minutes in the previous examples) ， the controller module 220 may arrange to release the allocated facilities 222 for other bookings and notify the forwarders at step 516， then the forwarders may follow up the status of truck A， or to arrange another truck to take up the original job request arranged to truck A so as to catch up the original schedule as much as possible.

Preferably， the system 200 may further arrange to detect a congestion condition of the object 206， by accounting for the possibility that the object 206 may spend a prolonged period of time at a specific checkpoint such as the first waypoint along the predetermined route. In an example embodiment， a first notification is issued when a vehicle 206 is detected at a first waypoint. In an event the vehicle 206 is in traffic congestion， the vehicle 206 is kept detected by the RFID reader 210A. Then the system 200 is arranged to provide one or more congestion alert notifications issued at every predetermined time interval (for example at every 10 minutes) . Subsequently， the system may provide a leave event notification when the vehicle 206 fails to leave the first waypoint (or any other checkpoints implemented with such congestion detection feature) after a predetermined number of congestion alert notifications (for example 3 congestion alerts which represent a total time period of 30 minutes of congestion period) . The congestion information may be used for rearranging the facilities in the cargo terminal， as well as the warehouse may responds to the congestion to provide alternative arrangement to accomplish the scheduled task. The congestion detection feature may be implemented at a selected number of checkpoints along the predetermined route， i. e. only at some important checkpoints such as the at the toll plaza and the entrances of the cargo terminal where traffic at these places is more likely to become congested， and other less important checkpoints are not implemented with the congestion detection feature.

With reference to Figures 6 to 8， there is shown another example of operations of the system 200 for facilitating logistic management in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this example， multiple RFID reader 210 may be installed along a predetermined route 602 towards a cargo terminal 214， as well as at different locations 214A within the cargo terminal 214. As shown in Figure 7， a tagged truck 206 is detected by the first reader 210A which is installed at a position 50km away from a cargo terminal 214， subsequently the truck ID and the scanning time are transmitted to an advance arrival info server 100 which includes the processing module 202 of the system 200 via a public wireless network. The information including an estimated arrival time may be further passed to another server 100 which operates at the cargo terminal 214 and including a control module 220 of the system 200 for controlling one or more facilities 222 in the cargo terminal 214， such that suitable facilities 222 may be prepared in advanced for the arrival of the tagged truck 206. One or more RFID readers 210 may be installed along the predetermined route， such as an RFID reader 210C at 25 km away from the cargo terminal 214 and an RFID reader 210B at the entrance gate of the cargo terminal 214， for a more accurate estimation of the arrival time and/or a better utilization of the facilities 222 in the cargo terminal 214. For example， the cargo terminal 214 alerts the arrival of the truck 206 in 30 minutes and starts arranging facilities 222 for the arrival of the truck 206 only when the truck is scanned by reader 210C and is 15 minutes away. In this example， the first waypoint which is 30 minutes away is just a checkpoint for the estimation of the arrival of the truck 206. Alternatively， more checkpoints maybe setup along the predetermined route.

With reference to Figure 8， there is shown another example which describes the operations of the system 200 when the truck 206 is moving among different locations 214A in the cargo terminal 214. In this example， the cargo terminal includes two terminals T1 and T2. When the truck 206 is first detected by the system 200 at location A， which may be an entrance of the cargo terminal 214， T1 and/or T2 are notified by the system 200 to arrange facilities 222 for the arrival of the truck 206 such that the truck can accomplish an assign task as soon as possible when the truck 206 arrives each of these terminal. Additional notifications may be sent to a later terminal in the predetermined route， and notifications may be sent to the forwarders to notify the status of the truck 206.

These embodiments are advantageous in that the system can enhance the efficiency of the cargo terminal by arranging necessary facilities for the trucks or container tractor in advance and hence minimizing the queuing time that prolongs the time period for loading and unloading of cargos. Base on this advantage， carriers or forwarders may also utilize their trucks more efficiently.

The system does not rely on expensive and complicated navigation systems which would significantly increase the operation and maintenance costs. The system 200 for facilitating logistic management is advantageous to parties that operate with a large number of vehicles.

Advantageously， the RFID readers are also simple and reliable which would possibly minimize the implementation cost of the system， while providing promising performance and reliability for particular applications. The detection module 204 may be implemented with RFID readers or RFID antennas to be mounted on existing transportation infrastructures such as overhead road signs， while the readers or the antennas may also be installed at roadsides with simple mounting structures.

With reference to Figures 9 and 10， in this embodiment， the RFID antennas are mounted at an overhead position with certain mounting height. Based on a simple geometry as shown in Figure 9， the reader provides an effective coverage on the ground， and hence the reader 210 is arranged to detect a tag 216 within a reading range with a predetermined tagging height. The reading range varies and depends on the tagging height， since the tag 216 may be attached to different position of a windscreen of different vehicles 206. The reading range should be wide enough to allow the reader 210 to scan the tag 216 at least once when the tag 216 is travelling or when the vehicle 206 (the first object) is moving within the reading range. Referring to Figure 10， the RFID reader antennas 304 may be mounted on an overhead sign board. The antennas 304 may be connected to one or more RFID readers 302 which are further connected to a site server for transmitting the detected signal or tag identifiers to a processing module 202 of the system 200.

In another example embodiment， the RFID antennas 304 may be mounted on posts 306 installed at roadsides， as shown in Figure 11 and 12. With reference to Figure 11， the posts 306 and the antennas 304 are installed at a toll plaza which a vehicle may pass through， and the readers 210 are arranged to read the tag 216 when the vehicle 206 approaches the posts 306. With reference to Figure 12， the antennas 304 are installed at roadsides of an entrance of a building， such that the tag 216 is scanned when the vehicle 206 enters the building. Similar to detection module 204 with overhead mounted RFID antennas 304 as shown in Figure 10 and 11， the detection module 204 may include a site server for transmitting the scanned signal or identifier to a processing module 202 of the system 200 together with a timestamp.

With reference to Figures 13 and 14， there is shown two example experimental setups of a detection module 204 of the system 200 for facilitating logistic management in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The specifications of the RFID antenna， the RFID reader and the RFID tag of the experimental setups are shown in the following tables:

In a roadside test， the detection module 204 is tested to detect a moving vehicle by reading a tag placed on a windscreen. The signal strength was recorded with different moving speed (60-100 km/h) of the vehicle， and the results are as follows:

It is shown that the signal strength of the moving tags does not vary significantly with different moving speeds of the vehicle in the experiment.

Figure 15 shows the performances of the tag and the reader under different sampling frequencies and conditions. The results indicate that the tag is applicable for use with the system 200 for facilitating logistic management over a wide range of working frequencies either the tag is placed in air or positioned on glass.

Figures 16 and 17 shows another measurement result that indicates the sensitivity and the translated reading range over a range of working frequency. It is shown that the reading sensitivity of the tag is about-17.4 dBm， which is roughly equivalent to a reading range of about 10 meter in the frequency range of 920-925 Mhz.

With reference to Figure 18 and 19， there is shown an example embodiment of the system 200 for facilitating logistic management， in which at least one of the gateway 208， the detection module 204， the processing module 202， the controller module 220 and the central database 218 are implemented in a distributed computer network. In this embodiment， the servers， including the main server for processing the data received， the site server for transmitting the detected signal， and the database operate on a cloud computing platform. Moreover， server for web and mobile applications， and notifications modules may also be included or connected to the cloud computing platform to extend the scale and functionality of the system. Advantageously， such cloud implementation provides excellent system infrastructure including resilience network connections， redundant data storage， high availability of server setup and maintenance and reliable security. The cloud implementation also provided excellent flexibility and scalability which allow rescaling computer resources on demand and operating the system with different service level at different implementation stages.

Although not required， the embodiments described with reference to the Figures can be implemented as an application programming interface (API) or as a series of libraries for use by a developer or can be included within another software application， such as a terminal or personal computer operating system or a portable computing device operating system. Generally， as program modules include routines， programs， objects， components and data files assisting in the performance of particular functions， the skilled person will understand that the functionality of the software application may be distributed across a number of routines， objects or components to achieve the same functionality desired herein.

It will also be appreciated that where the methods and systems of the present invention are either wholly implemented by computing system or partly implemented by computing systems then any appropriate computing system architecture may be utilised. This will include stand alone computers， network computers and dedicated hardware devices. Where the terms “computing system” and “computing device” are used， these terms are intended to cover any appropriate arrangement of computer hardware capable of implementing the function described.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are， therefore， to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge， unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

A method for facilitating logistic management comprising the steps of：

-detecting a first object in a first waypoint；

-estimating a time frame for transporting the first object from the first waypoint to the second waypoint； and

-executing at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the first waypoint.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 1， wherein the step of executing at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the first waypoint includes arranging at least one facility required by the first object when the first object arrives at the second waypoint.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 2， wherein the at least one facility includes an empty space at the second waypoint allocated for parking of the first object.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claims 2 or 3， wherein the at least one facility include a container arranged to collect a second object unloaded at the second waypoint carried by the first object.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 4， wherein the container includes a unit load device.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 5， wherein the at least one facility includes a third object to be loaded to the first object at the second waypoint.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6， wherein the step of detecting the first object in the first waypoint includes detecting an approach of the first object to the first waypoint.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 7， wherein the approach of the first object is detected by a reader installed at or approximated to the first waypoint.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 8， wherein the reader is arranged to read a tag connected to the first object.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 9， wherein the reader is further arranged to read the tag when the first object is moving.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claims 9 or 10， wherein the reader is an RFID reader and the tag is an RFID tag.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11， wherein the first waypoint and the second waypoint are located along a predetermined route of transportation of the first object.
A method for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 12， further comprising the steps of:

-detecting the first object in a second waypoint； and

-executing at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the second waypoint.
A system for facilitating logistic management comprising:

-a gateway arranged to receive a detection of a first object in a first waypoint；

-a processing module arranged to estimate a time frame for transporting the first object from the first waypoint to the second waypoint； and

-a controller module arranged to execute at least one operation associated with thearrival of the first object at the first waypoint.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 14， wherein the controller module is arranged to arrange at least one facility required by the first object when the first object arrives at the second waypoint.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 15， wherein the at least one facility includes an empty space at the second waypoint allocated for docking of the first object.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claims 15 or 16， wherein the at least one facility include an apparatus arranged to collect a second object unloaded at the second waypoint carried by the first object.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 17， wherein the apparatus includes a unit load device.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 15 to 18， wherein the at least one facility includes a third object to be loaded to the first object at the second waypoint.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 19， wherein the detection of the first object in the first waypoint is detected by a detection module.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 20， wherein the detection module is further arranged to detect an approach of the first object to the first waypoint.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 21， wherein the detection module includes a first reader installed at or approximated to the first waypoint.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 22， wherein the first reader is arranged to read a tag connected to the first object.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 23， wherein the first reader is further arranged to read the tag when the first object is moving.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claims 23 or 24， wherein the first reader is an RFID reader and the tag is an RFID tag.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 25， wherein the first waypoint and the second waypoint are located along a predetermined route of transportation of the first object.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 26， wherein the gateway is further arranged to receive the detection the first object in a second waypoint； and the controller module is further arranged to execute at least one operation associated with the arrival of the first object at the second waypoint.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 27， wherein the detection of the first object in the second waypoint is detected by a second reader of the detection module.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with any one of claims 20 to 28， further comprising a central database arranged to store a plurality of identifiers of the tags associated with a plurality of the first objects.
A system for facilitating logistic management in accordance with claim 29， wherein at least one of the gateway， the detection module， the processing module， the controller module and the central database are implemented in a distributed computer network.