WO2024042096A1

WO2024042096A1 - An apparatus for monitoring of transport containers

Info

Publication number: WO2024042096A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/073062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Walter; Michael Fitzgerald; Neilus O'SULLIVAN; Yoshiaki Ito
Original assignee: Net Feasa Limited
Priority date: 2022-08-25
Filing date: 2023-08-22
Publication date: 2024-02-29

Abstract

A monitoring apparatus (1) is for an intermodal transport container. A proximity sensor (12, 13) is mounted to a door actuator (3) and to a door (2) or container panel. A tamper-evident local circuit (10) with a processor detects relative movement of the actuator and the panel. A transmitter (14, 15) transmits an alert radiation signal with an alert of if there is movement of the actuator indicating opening of a container door or tampering with the apparatus. The sensor has a first component (12) for mounting to an intermodal container locking bar (3), and a second component (13) part of the local circuit 10 for mounting to a door panel (2). The first component in some examples snap fits to the bar and has a rotatable component (115) which is retained by a retainer (114) attached to a housing (116) which is in turn attached to a container door (2). There is therefore no need to attach anything to the bar.

Description

“An Apparatus for Monitoring of Transport Containers”

Introduction

The present invention relates to security of containers, especially Intermodal shipping containers or the like. More specifically, the invention relates to the field of intermodal cargo container asset tracking and cargo security.

It is known to provide a device with an accelerometer on a container door to provide information about movement of the door. However, such a device can provide false positives due to the movement of the container and g forces applied to the container while loading and off-loading from the different intermodal methods of transportation utilized during the shipment of the container. It is also known to provide a device with a pressure switch, however, because all the electronics are on the inside of the container door, this limits the device to a battery for power, which means that this type of device is only applicable to a single trip business model.

US2009/0102649 (Diener et al) and US6400266 (Brown) describe such apparatus.

The present invention is directed towards providing for improved monitoring of opening of containers during transport or storage, such as on ships, truck, and trains.

Summary of the Invention

In various examples we describe a monitoring apparatus for a transport container, the apparatus comprising a proximity sensor configured for mounting to a door actuator and to a door or container panel, a local circuit with a processor configured to detect relative movement of the actuator and the door or panel, a transmitter to transmit an alert radiation signal with an alert if there is said relative movement indicating opening of a container door.

In some preferred examples, the proximity sensor is configured to be mounted to a locking bar of an intermodal container, to detect rotation of the locking bar. In some preferred examples, the sensor comprises a first component for mounting to an intermodal container locking bar, a second component for mounting to a door panel of said container, and the local circuit is linked with said components and is configured to determine a condition of relative movement of said components indicating opening of the door, and the local circuit transmitter is configured to transmit said alert radiation signal upon occurrence of said condition.

In some preferred examples, the first component includes one or more selected from a magnet, a Hall effect sensor, and a rotational sensor, and the second component is selected from one or more of a magnet, a Hall effect sensor, and a rotational sensor. In some preferred examples, the second component is configured to be mounted in a recess of an intermodal container door.

In some preferred examples, the transmitter is configured to be mounted along an edge of an intermodal container door, preferably a top edge. In some preferred examples, the local circuit comprises a housing containing circuit boards and being configured for attachment to an intermodal container door with a tamper-detecting sensor, and the processor is configured to send an alert upon attempted tampering with said housing. In some preferred examples, the local circuit comprises a circuit board mounted in a housing configured to be mounted to an intermodal container door. In some preferred examples, the local circuit is linked to the transmitter by a tamper-evident cable such as an armoured cable.

In some preferred examples, the apparatus comprises a housing configured to be mounted to a container door and to support a component of the proximity sensor. In some preferred examples, the housing is configured to be mounted in a recess of a container door. In some preferred examples, the housing comprises a tamper detector. Preferably, the tamper detector comprises a light detector arranged to detect light entering the housing via a window or port which should be covered by the container door in normal use, and the light detector may be aligned with a light pipe in the housing wall.

In some particularly preferred examples, there is no need to mount a dedicated component to the locking bar, and all components are mounted to the housing which is mounted to the door. To achieve this, in some examples, the apparatus comprises a housing for mounting to a container door, the first component which is mounted to said housing and comprises a rotatable component configured to grip a locking bar and to rotate with said locking bar while still being linked with said housing.

In some particularly preferred examples, the first component comprises a retainer configured to guide rotation of the rotatable component with rotation of a locking bar. The retainer may comprise at least two axially spaced-apart curved arms configured to guide rotation of the rotatable component. The arms may each comprises a slot and the rotatable component may comprise guides for engaging and being retained by said slots. The rotatable component may extend between and engage said arms.

In some particularly preferred examples, the rotatable component comprises a curved wall and a flange at each end of the wall and said flanges are configured to engage with and to be guided by the arms.

In some particularly preferred examples, the rotatable component is configured to grip a locking bar by friction. Preferably, the rotatable component comprises a curved wall having an internal surface configured to engage by friction a locking bar external surface. In some particularly preferred examples, the internal surface comprises longitudinal ridges or teeth, and the ridges or teeth preferably have ratchet configurations for one-directional gripping of a bar.

In some particularly preferred examples, the rotatable component wall comprises an aperture for retention of a magnet or a Hall effect sensor, and preferably the aperture is located centrally between circumferential ends of the wall. In some particularly preferred examples, the rotatable component is configured to grip a locking bar by snap fitting and is configured to extend more than 180° around a locking bar.

In some particularly preferred examples, the apparatus comprises a housing arranged to be secured to a container door. The housing may comprise a fastener at one end for engaging a door and the first component is configured to engage a locking bar to support the housing at an opposed end. The fastener may comprise a magnet of sufficient strength to engage a container door and hold the housing in place without an additional fastener at its end.

In some particularly preferred examples, the apparatus further comprises an accelerometer and the circuit is configured to upload sensing data from said accelerometer.

In some particularly preferred examples, the apparatus further comprises a location detector and the circuit is configured to upload position/location data.

We also describe an intermodal container system comprising an intermodal container with a door, a monitoring apparatus of any example described herein mounted to the container, and a server configured to receive and to process said alerts. In some particularly preferred examples, the server is configured to identify door open events according to uploads from the circuit derived from sensing of rotation of a locking bar, and to log said events.

In some particularly preferred examples, the server is configured to associate door open events with location of the apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a location detector and the server is configured to associate location data derived from apparatus upload of both door open events and apparatus location, said location data being determined with or without additional location data derived from uploads from a transport vehicle such as a lorry, a train, or a ship.

In some particularly preferred examples, the apparatus comprises an accelerometer, the circuit is configured to upload accelerometer sensing data, and the server is configured to determine additional container status data based on said accelerometer sensing data in combination with door open event data.

In some particularly preferred examples, said container status data includes one or more selected from: container height change data; data quantifying changes in direction of container movement and/or speed of movement.

In some particularly preferred examples, the server is configured to derive information from said container data, said information including identification of a type of container lifting equipment used.

In some particularly preferred examples, the server is configured to use Machine Learning techniques to process said container data and over time to automatically learn how to determine a next mode of transport for a container.

In some particularly preferred examples, the server is programmed to determine an authorized route for a container, said route including authorized stop locations including a geo fence start location, intermediate stop locations, and a destination location, and the server is programmed to generate an output according to door open events at said locations.

In some particularly preferred examples, the server is programmed to generate a security alert for a door opening event at an intermediate stop location. In some particularly preferred examples, the server is programmed to automatically direct an increase in data uploading frequency upon detection of movement of a container out of a geo fence area.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front view of an intermodal container door incorporating a security monitoring apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view showing the monitoring apparatus in more detail,

Fig. 3 is a front view of an alternative apparatus installed on a container door, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the apparatus in more detail,

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views showing the apparatus being installed on a door,

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and perspective exploded views of the apparatus,

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus, showing the side facing the door’s recess in use,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a rotatable component of the apparatus’ sensor, Fig. 11 is a plan view, Fig. 12 is a front view, and Fig. 13 is a side view,

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the top of the sensor, and Fig. 15 is a similar view but with a flange removed to show engagement of the rotatable component with a retainer, and Figs.

16 and 17 are similar views for the rotatable component being in a different position,

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view showing components which are mounted internally within the housing and the relative position of a Hall effect sensor and a movable magnet, Fig. 19 is a block diagram of the apparatus,

Figs. 20(a) to 20(f) are a series of plan views showing the apparatus being installed and how it is configured to detect a door opening event,

Fig. 20 is a rear perspective of an alternative apparatus, and

Fig. 21 is a flow diagram for operation of a server in communication with the device, in which a number of the devices and the server forming a monitoring system.

The invention provides an apparatus to reliably detect whether an ISO intermodal cargo container door is open or closed and to report this event and alarm status via a radio network to a computer- based monitoring platform. The invention also includes a container incorporating one or more such apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 an intermodal container door system 1 comprises a door panel 2 and a pair of vertical locking bars 3 with handles 4, as is conventional for such containers.

A security monitoring apparatus 10 comprises a first monitoring device 10 linked by an armoured cable 11 with a second monitoring device 12.

The first device 10, as described in more detail below, has a local signal processing circuit for a sensor and RF communications control, and it performs ambient light detection, temperature sensing, and humidity sensing. It has a linear antenna, that provides RF coverage to cargo monitoring devices inside the container.

In the vertical plan view of Fig. 2 the monitoring apparatus comprises securing bands 16 supporting a first sensing component, in this case a magnet 15, to one of the locking bars 3 and facing towards the door panel. In other examples there may be multiple magnets mounted in this manner. The device 10 includes a second sensing component, namely a Hall Effect sensor 17 (may be a rotational sensor or other proximity sensor in other embodiments), and the first device 10 is secured to the door 2 by magnets 22 (or in other examples, industrial Velcro or double-sided tape or adhesive bonding). Importantly the Hall effect sensor 17 is mounted directly or indirectly to the door 2 to be facing the bar-mounted magnet 15 and being separated from it by a suitable gap, which in this example is 14 mm, depending on the size of the magnet. The first device 10 includes a local data processing circuit 18, a battery 24 powered by a solar PV panel 23, and an optical sensor 20 aligned with a light pipe 21. The circuit 18 is arranged for monitoring the sensor 17 for a change by outputting a high or low signal due to a change in the magnetic field. The local circuit 18 includes a processor to determine as an alert condition a relative movement of the first and second sensing components 15 and 17 or tampering with the local device 10. The second device 12 has a housing incorporating an RF antenna.

Any change detected by the circuit 18 gives rise to an alert to cause an RF message to be transmitted via the antenna in the device 12 to indicate a condition such as that the door has been opened, the rotation of the bar 3 causing the magnet/sensor separation to increase beyond a threshold.

The device includes a circuit configured to detect tampering. In this example, this is achieved through the use of an ambient light sensor installed inside the device 10, namely the PD 20 aligned with the light pipe 21. The light pipe 21 is in the base of housing of the device 10. If the device 10 is removed from the container door, then the intensity of the light inside the device 10 will increase by light entering the device 10 via the light pipe 21 and this will be sensed by the ambient light detector 20 and trigger an RF message to be transmitted to the cloud monitoring platform.

The apparatus 10 provides the cargo owner, shipper, government agency, or steamship line with an indication of whether the intermodal cargo container door 2 has been opened during the transit between the point of origin, which could be, but is not limited to, a factory or distribution centre and the destination which could be, but is not limited to, a warehouse or retail store. The mode of transport during the transit of the container and cargo between the point of origin and the destination could be maritime vessel, train, plane, and truck, or any combination of these modes of transport. The triggering of the door open/close alarm during transit would indicate a potential theft of the cargo, or smugglers placing illicit goods or stowaways inside the container and other potential breaches of the container and cargo security.

When the device detects that the door has been opened, an alarm event is sent by the transceiver 11, 12 via a radio network such as NB-IoT (both terrestrial and satellite networks), LTE CAT-M, LoRaWAN (both terrestrial and satellite networks), ZigBee, Bluetooth to a computer-based monitoring network. If no radio network is available, the alarm event is stored in memory of the circuits 10 with an exact time stamp and transmitted to the computer-based monitoring network the next time a radio network is available.

As noted above the apparatus includes in one example a Hall Effect sensor 17 and a single pole magnet 12. The apparatus may alternatively or additionally include an Incremental Output sensor and a multi pole magnet to detect the rotational movement of the container door locking bar 3 and therefore detect if the door has been opened. Also, alternatively or additionally there may be an RFID tag attached to the door locking bar. The Hall Effect sensor is built into the enclosure of the device 10. The tracking device is preferably mounted in the container door 2 corrugation so that the Hall Effect senor 17 is directly below the vertical run of the container locking bar 3. The single pole magnet 15 is attached to the locking bar, so that when the locking bar is in the closed position and the door is locked, the magnet is in close proximity to the Hall Effect senor 13 mounted on the PCB in the enclosure of the tracking device 10. When the locking bar 3 is moved to the open position, the magnet is rotated away from the sensor, which triggers an alarm condition which is then transmitted via a radio transmitter or multiple radio transmitters to the computer-based monitoring platform.

In another example, the apparatus comprises an Incremental Output senor in the enclosure of the tracking device, and the device is mounted in the container door corrugation so that the Incremental Output senor is directly below the vertical run of the container locking bar. A multipole magnet of the apparatus is then attached to the looking bar, such that when the locking bar is rotated from the closed to open position and vice versa the Incremental Output sensor can detect the clockwise or counter clockwise rotational movement of the locking bar. Software within the processor of the tracking apparatus processes this clockwise or counter clockwise rotational movement to generate a door open alarm which is then transmitted via the radio transmitter to the computer-based monitoring platform.

In a further example, the apparatus includes a low power RFID reader in the enclosure of the tracking device which is then mounted in the container door corrugation so that the RFID reader is directly below the vertical run of the container locking bar. An RFID tag is attached to the locking bar, such that when the locking bar is moved to the open position the RFID tag is rotated to the RFID reader which then energizes the RFID tag allowing it to transmit an unique identity that is used by the trackers processor to indicate that the container door is open and to generate a door open alarm which is then transmitted via the radio transmitter to the computer-based monitoring platform. In another example the apparatus does not have a second device such as the device 12. In this case the antenna is built into the housing of the first device or is separately affixed to the door. Where there is a second device then it preferably has a tamper detector, which may be akin to the detector 20/31 of the device 10.

As noted above, the tracking device 10 embodies a sensor on its underside to provide an alarm event if the device is removed from the container door. This sensor can be an ambient light detector that detects an increase in the light level entering the enclosure via a light pipe in the base of the device. This alarm event is transmitted via the radio transmitter to the computer-based monitoring platform.

Further sensors can be deployed inside the container via an armoured flying-lead that is attached to the enclosure of the tracking device. These additional sensors may be ambient light or temperature or pressure or humidity or carbon dioxide sensors to provide secondary sensing capability to the Hall Effect, Incremental Output sensors or RFID tag. This flying lead would also contain an antenna for the one of the radio transmitters to be able to link to various sensors attached to the cargo or the cargo pallets.

Apparatus with Snap-fit Sensor Carrier

Referring to Figs. 3 to 19 an alternative monitoring apparatus, 100, is illustrated. The apparatus 100 is for a transport container, has a proximity sensor 111 configured for mounting by snap fitting to a locking bar 3 and a main component 110 with a housing 116 for mounting to a door or container panel. The main component 110 contains local circuits (Figs. 18 and 19) with a processor configured to detect relative movement of the bar actuator and the door, and a transmitter to transmit an alert radiation signal with an alert of if there is said relative movement indicating opening of a container door.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the housing 110 affixed to a container door 2 within a recess 5 and adjacent a locking bar 3 with a handle 4. Advantageously, as shown in Fig. 5 the sensor 111 can be easily manually snap fitted to the bar 3 and the main component 110 is rotated about the bar 3 and affixed to the panel by way of a screw fastener through a tab 117, and Fig. 6 shows the home (installed) position. There is no need for attaching anything separate to the bar. In fact, the bar acts as a support for the housing 116, retaining the housing at the end opposed to the tab 117. As shown in Figs. 7 to 9 the sensor 111 comprises a pair of spaced apart C-shaped retainers 114 which are fixed to the housing 110. The sensor 111 also comprises a rotatable component 115 which rotates about the axis of the bar in use independently of the housing 116 but within the confines of a groove in each of the retainers 114. This is described in more detail below. Fig. 8 also shows that the exposed surface of the housing 116 has a pair of solar panels 112, and there are tapered rear surfaces 118 terminating in a rear surface 119 to allow the housing 16 to fit neatly within the door’s recess 5.

Referring to Figs. 10 to 13 the rotatable component 115 comprises a pair of opposed end flanges

125 at the ends of a curved wall 126 having a ridged internal surface 127, the ridges extending in the longitudinal direction between the flanges 125. The wall 126 has a curvature matching that of a locking bar 3 with which it is to be used, so that there is a friction fit when engaged. The material of the wall 126 is a flexible polymer with a good frictional coefficient and also of a type which does not fracture over time. The ridges 127 are directional (ratchet shaped) which allows the locking bar 3 to rotate relative to the wall rotatable component 115 in one direction only.

The main purpose of the rotatable component 115 is to support a magnet, and this is achieved by an aperture 130 centrally located between circumferential ends of the wall 126. The aperture 130 is configured to retain by a friction fit and/or adhesive a magnet. Due to the friction fit of the wall

126 with the bar, rotation of the bar 3 causes rotation of the component 115 and hence the magnet moves circumferentially, this movement causing it to move further from a corresponding Hall effect sensor in the housing 116.

Referring to Figs. 14 to 17, the flanges 125 retain a pair of grub screws 131 the ends of which are engaged within a groove 135 of the retainer 114. Figs. 15 and 17 show the engagement with the flanges 125 removed, for ease of understanding. It will be appreciated that the arrangement is very simple, the retainers 114 and the rotatable component 115 being sufficient resilient to be together snap-fitted to the bar as a unit, and this causing the internal ridged surface 127 to grip the bar 3 exposed surface.

Referring to Figs. 18 and 19 the main component comprises, within the housing 116, the following components.

A PCB 150,

A fixed Hall effect sensor 151 mounted to the PCB 150 and positioned to be in a line extending from a radius from the longitudinal axis along the centre of curvature of the wall 126, through the magnet 140 within the aperture 130. It is thus at the closest position of the PCB 150 to the magnet 140.

A GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver 152 for location detection.

An energy harvesting network interface card 158.

An accelerometer 154.

A temperature and pressure sensor 155.

A memory 156.

A microcontroller 157 with integrated cellular modem and LoRa modem. In other examples these may be external to the MCU.

A power management integrated circuit PMIC 158 linked with a primary battery 159, a solar panel 160, and a secondary battery 161.

Figs. 20(a) to (d) inclusive illustrate installation of the main component 110 to the door 2, with:

(a) Introducing the main component 110 towards the bar 3 with the axis of the sensor 111 aligned with the bar.

(b) Pressing the sensor 111 against the bar 3 so that it snap fits to the bar.

(c) Rotating the main component 110 about the bar 3.

(d) The main component engaging the door 2 at the recess 5 while still having the sensor 111 engaged with the bar and inserting a fastening screw through the tab 117 and into the door 2.

Figs. 20(e) and (f) show how the apparatus detects rotation of the bar 3: while the retainer 114 does not move, the rotatable component 115 rotates with the bar, causing the magnet 140 that it is holding to move further from the Hall effect sensor 151.

Fig. 21 illustrates another embodiment, an apparatus 250 which is similar to the apparatus 100 except that it does not have a tab, rather there is a housing 251 having a magnet 252 for non intrusively fixing to the container door 2 at the end opposed to the end which is supported by engagement with the bar. This has the advantage that it is simpler to install and does not risk any damage, however small, to the container door.

In use any of the apparatus 1, 100, or 200 provide detection of door open/close anomaly events. To avoid sending false door alarm status, the microcontroller records locally 10 door status samples (this number is configurable), calculates their mean value, and determines a binary decision for open or closed state. For example:

9 door open (1), and 1 door closed (0) = 9 + 0 = 9, in total 10 samples and 9/10 = 0.9 average. Converting the mean value to its nearest integer value (which may be small or large), 0.9 converts to 1 which indicates that the door is open.

Basically, If the decimal value of the number provided is less than or equal to 0.5, then the value returned will be the integer smaller than the number provided in the argument, which means 0 (door closed) and conversely, if the decimal value of the number provided is greater than 0.5, then the value returned will be the integer greater than the number provided in the argument, which means 1 (door open).”

The data which is detected is uploaded by the modems 157 together with overall data concerning position of the container (derived from the GNSS receiver 152). The following is an example of a data upload, the main information being incorporated being in this example the SIM card details, hardware version, software version, connected cellular network information, GNSS data, temperature, humidity, pressure, X,Y,Z accelerometer data, door event and battery voltage.

{

"ts": 1685437227442,

"batch": 0,

"dev": [

{

"imei": "351516173341025",

"iccid": "89882390000304615100",

"modV": "mfw_nrf9160_1.3.4",

"brdV": "netfeasa_fungie_nrf9160_v2",

"appV": "0.0.8",

"mpV": "0.1",

"ts": 1685437117603

)

],

"roam": [

{ "band": 20,

"nw": "NB-loT",

"rsrp": -75,

"area": 9010,

"mcc": 272,

"mnc": 1,

"cell": 89604641,

"ip": "10.149.175.204",

"suppBand": "(20)",

"ts": 1685437117643

)

],

"gnss": [

{

"Ing": -6285909,

"lat": 52703433,

"acc": 116674,

"alt": 2110077,

"spd": 9812,

"hdg": 353055296,

"fixt": 3,

"sattrck": 4,

"srchtm": 74,

"yr": 2023,

"hr": 8,

"min": 59,

"ts": 1685437192124

)

],

"env": [

{

"temp": 1835,

"hum": 5625, "atmp": 10133,

"als": 0,

"prx": 0,

"ts": 1685437117480

)

A system includes multiple apparatus’ 1 and a server, and the server implements Machine Learning algorithms using the uploaded data to establish common container movement patterns over time. This is used to determine if a container has had an Open/Close Door anomaly event outside of normal movement patterns on roads, beside factories and/or in ports at which point a higher level of importance will be applied to the anomaly event. This gathers important data to alert shipping owners/users to high probability of theft, people smuggling, asset smuggling, terrorism and other criminal activities.

The microcontroller 157 is programmed to send emergency alert information to the servers of the container owners/users in a format that can be used by security agencies. That message may include but is not limited to; container identity, GNSS location information, Google Street Map™ images for that location, history of the journey of the container, history of the door open events and the locations that those events occurred, picture of the truck (which may be loaded to the memory 156 in advance), overview summary of the contents of the container. If there is no Open/Close door event but a shipping container deviates from common container movement patterns, outside of normal movement patterns on roads, beside factories and/or in ports then the device will send an alert with a lower level of importance.

The servers can also determine movement and door Open/Close events to determine a next mode of transport (next modality).

In some embodiments meta data is gathered from sensors including the accelerometer 154 within the tracking device related to actual movement of the container. Information such as: height changes, changes in direction of movement and speed of movement can be used to determine the type of lifting equipment used. Machine Learning is applied to this data and over time the system will learn how to determine the next mode (next modality) of transport the container has been placed on. Over time valuable context aware container movement data is gathered, allowing granular knowledge of the container movement and location in real time without requiring access to legacy third party information systems. Examples:

- Empty container on a stack (3 containers high) is moved and placed on a truck (chassis).

- Empty container door Open/Close event at factory indicates the beginning of the journey.

- Container moved to a new height in a railway yard and movement of train identified.

- Container moved back to truck (chassis) beside port.

- Container lifted by crane and placed on ship.

This output will allow the introduction of operational efficiencies for each mode of transport and the ability to generate recommendations to improve future operations.

Meta data such as: location, Open/Close alert, time, weight, context aware movement to next modes of transport and the type of truck, type of train, type of ship the container has been moved to and their respective carbon footprints, can be gathered. Machine Learning algorithms establish key patterns of shipping container movements across different modes of transport (next modality). The output will enable accurate carbon footprint diagnostics of journeys over time, where the Open/Close door event at the beginning and at the end established the full journey and Machine Learning has assisted in determining the movement events between the respective modes of transport.

Knowing the next modality of the container movement enables the tracking device to adapt to varying frequency of messaging. Each mode of transport will have different messaging requirements. This optimal energy usage or smart power management is critical to extending the lifecycle of the device.

When in a port and on a shipping vessel the device can generate valuable meta data for shipping companies to allow them to know exactly where each container is located and if a container does not get loaded onto a vessel the shipping company will know exactly where this container is located before/after the vessel leaves the port. In the case where a container was supposed to be on a ship but is still reporting from a land location then a high level of importance alert can be sent.

Movement and door Open/Close events enable self-generating Geofences. Meta data will be gathered for all locations of Open/Close door events and all places where containers spend an extended period of time. There is a finite number of container shipping ports and rail yards but there is an infinite number of factories, distribution centres, retail outlets, container storage yards across the globe where shipping containers may be located at anytime. When common patterns of events, such as repeated Door Open/Close or container height changes, occurs at a location then the system will generate a specific geofence for that location.

Referring to Fig. 22 operation of the server of the system in one example is illustrated as a method 300, as follows:

301, a door close event is received from the device 100.

302, in response, the server determines an updated route by interrogating a remote server in step 303.

304, the server receives location updates from the GNSS receiver 152, thereby allowing it to track in real time the position of the container with which the device 110 is registered. Importantly, the server can record when the container leaves the defined geo fence, which may for example be the factory or warehouse from which the container departs.

305, upon leaving the geofence the server automatically updates the reporting frequency. This may be implemented by the server requesting a frequency change, or the microcontroller 157 doing this automatically by having the geo fence recorded in its memory 156. In the illustrated example, the update is in response to an interrogation of a remote server 306, which may for example be operated by the shipping company.

307, ongoing monitoring of location of the container and its association with the preplanned route, again according to the GNSS receiver 152 updates.

308, detection that the container has stopped.

309, according to pre-recorded allowed stop location and a destination, the server determines if the container has stopped at an authorised, expected, location.

315, if the location is a rest location the server determines if there is a door opening event. If so, it generates in step 316 a critical alarm and in step 317 transmits an alert to law enforcement systems.

320, the method 300 ends if the stop location is the pre-recorded destination.

330, a warning alarm is generated if the stop location is neither an authorized rest stop nor the destination, even if there is no door opening event. Depending on the system configuration this may simply be an internal alert which is retained until the next step, see below.

331, a determination is made as to whether there is a door opening event, and if not, the server just continues to monitor container progress. However, if there is, an alert to law enforcement is generate din step 317. It will be appreciated that a combination of the door opening detection and the positioning data allow the server to process door opening events in an intelligent manner according to the circumstances. It can automatically access geo fence (journey start), authorised rest, and destination locations and relate them to the detected events. Also, it can dynamically adjust the updating frequency according to position, thereby optimizing power usage.

Components of embodiments can be employed in other embodiments in a manner as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail within the scope of the claims. For example, the sensor movable component may grip onto the bar other than by snap fitting. For example, there may be a pair of jaws which are moved by an actuator to grip the bar on diametrically opposed sides during installation. Such jaws may be spring loaded to retain grip in addition to being pressed by an actuator such as a threaded actuator.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus (1) for a transport container, the apparatus comprising a proximity sensor (15, 17) configured for mounting to a door actuator (3) and to a door (2) or container panel, a local circuit (18) with a processor configured to detect relative movement of the actuator and the door or panel, a transmitter (18, 11, 12) to transmit an alert radiation signal with an alert if there is said relative movement indicating opening of a container door.

2. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor (15, 17) is configured to be mounted to a locking bar (3) of an intermodal container, to detect rotation of the locking bar.

3. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises a first component (15) for mounting to an intermodal container locking bar (3), a second component (17) for mounting to a door panel (2) of said container, and the local circuit (18) is linked with said components and is configured to determine a condition of relative movement of said components indicating opening of the door, and the local circuit transmitter is configured to transmit said alert radiation signal upon occurrence of said condition.

4. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first component (15) includes one or more selected from a magnet, a Hall effect sensor, and a rotational sensor, and the second component is selected from one or more of a magnet, a Hall effect sensor, and a rotational sensor.

5. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein the second component (13) is configured to be mounted in a recess of an intermodal container door.

6. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transmitter (14, 15) is configured to be mounted along an edge of an intermodal container door, preferably a top edge.

7. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the local circuit comprises a housing (10) containing circuit boards (18) and being configured for attachment to an intermodal container door (2) with a tamper-detecting sensor (20, 21), and the processor is configured to send an alert upon attempted tampering with said housing. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the local circuit comprises a circuit board (18) mounted in a housing (10) configured to be mounted to an intermodal container door (2). A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the local circuit is linked to the transmitter (12) by a tamper-evident cable (11) such as an armoured cable. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a housing configured to be mounted to a container door and to support a component of the proximity sensor. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the housing (10) is configured to be mounted in a recess of a container door. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a tamper detector. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tamper detector comprises a light detector arranged to detect light entering the housing via a window or port (21) which should be covered by the container door in normal use. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the light detector (20) is aligned with a light pipe (21) in the housing wall. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 14, wherein the apparatus comprises a housing (10, 116) for mounting to a container door (2, 5), the first component is mounted (114) to said housing and comprises a rotatable component (115) configured to grip a locking bar (3) and to rotate with said locking bar while still being linked with said housing.

16. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first component comprises a retainer (114) configured (135) to guide rotation of the rotatable component (115) with rotation of a locking bar.

17. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the retainer comprises at least two axially spaced-apart curved arms (114) configured to guide rotation of the rotatable component (115).

18. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the arms each comprises a slot (135) and the rotatable component comprises guides (131) for engaging and being retained by said slots (135).

19. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the rotatable component extends between and engages said arms. 0. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rotatable component comprises a curved wall (126) and a flange (125) at each end of the wall and said flanges are configured to engage with and to be guided by the arms. 1. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any of claims 15 to 20, wherein the rotatable component is configured to grip a locking bar by friction. 2. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the rotatable component comprises a curved wall (126) having an internal surface configured to engage by friction (127) a locking bar external surface. 3. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the internal surface comprises longitudinal ridges (127) or teeth. 4. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the ridges or teeth have ratchet configurations. 5. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any of claims 22 to 24, wherein the rotatable component wall (126) comprises an aperture (130) for retention of a magnet (140) or a Hall effect sensor. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the aperture (130) is located centrally between circumferential ends of the wall (126). A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any of claims 15 to 26, wherein the rotatable component is configured (126) to grip a locking bar by snap fitting and is configured to extend more than 180° around a locking bar. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a housing arranged (116, 251) to be secured to a container door. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the housing comprises a fastener (117, 252) at one end for engaging a door and the first component is configured to engage a locking bar to support the housing at an opposed end. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the fastener comprises a magnet (252) of sufficient strength to engage a container door and hold the housing in place without an additional fastener at its end. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises an accelerometer (154) and the circuit is configured to upload sensing data from said accelerometer. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises a location detector (152) and the circuit is configured to upload position data. An intermodal container system comprising an intermodal container with a door, a monitoring apparatus of any preceding claim mounted to the container, and a server configured to receive and to process said alerts. An intermodal container system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the server is configured to identify door open events according to uploads from the circuit derived from sensing of rotation of a locking bar, and to log said events. An intermodal container system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the server is configured to associate door open events with location of the apparatus. An intermodal container system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the apparatus comprises a location detector (152) and the server is configured to associate location data derived from apparatus upload of both door open events and apparatus location, said location data being determined with or without additional location data derived from uploads from a transport vehicle such as a lorry, a train, or a ship. An intermodal container system as claimed in any of claims 34 to 36, wherein the apparatus comprises an accelerometer, the circuit is configured to upload accelerometer sensing data, and the server is configured to determine additional container status data based on said accelerometer sensing data in combination with door open event data. An intermodal container system as claimed in claim 37, wherein said container status data includes one or more selected from: container height change data; data quantifying changes in direction of container movement and/or speed of movement. An intermodal container system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the server is configured to derive information from said container data, said information including identification of a type of container lifting equipment used. An intermodal container system as claimed in any of claims 34 to 39, wherein the server is configured to use Machine Learning techniques to process said container data and over time to automatically learn how to determine a next mode of transport for a container. An intermodal container system of any of claims 36 to 40, wherein the server is programmed to determine (302) an authorized route for a container, said route including authorized stop locations including a geo fence start location, intermediate stop locations, and a destination location, and the server is programmed to generate an output (316, 332, 317) according to door open events at said locations. An intermodal container system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the server is programmed to generate a security alert (316, 332) for a door opening event at an intermediate stop location. An intermodal container system as claimed in any of claims 36 to 42, wherein the server is programmed to automatically direct an increase (305) in data uploading frequency upon detection of movement of a container out of a geo fence area.