Real time monitoring of ship cargo

Abstract

Remote monitoring and control of the interior environment of a refrigerated shipping container is described. A communications and monitoring device is coupled to a data communications port of a controller of a shipping container. The device is able to receive an operational parameter directly from the controller, without having to install additional instrumentation within the interior of the refrigerated shipping container, and send the operational parameter to a remote station. The device is also able to receive data to control the operation of the refrigerated shipping container from a remote station and send this control data to the controller of the refrigerated shipping container through the data communications port.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A removable apparatus for communicating with a shipping container comprising:
 a power interface configured to be coupled to a power source to provide electrical power to the removable apparatus;   a data interface configured to be coupled with a data communications port on the shipping container,   the data interface configured to communicate with a first controller and a second controller of the shipping container, wherein the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container monitor at least one operational parameter associated with the shipping container and the first controller and the second controller are connected to one or more sensors of the shipping container;   a communications interface coupled to a transmitter; and   a control unit configured to receive, via the data interface, an operational parameter associated with the shipping container from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container,   the control unit further configured to determine that the operational parameter associated with the shipping container and received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container, should be transmitted,   the control unit is further configured to transmit the operational parameter, or a derivative thereof, associated with the shipping container, using the communications interface.   
     
     
         22 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the control unit is configured to determine that the operational parameter associated with the shipping container and received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container, should be transmitted by determining that the operational parameter is outside a predetermined range. 
     
     
         23 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the data interface is configured to communicate with the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container, regardless of the location of the shipping container. 
     
     
         24 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the operational parameter associated with the shipping container includes set temperature, internal temperature, set humidity, internal humidity, air pressure, lighting, air quality, status of compressor, status of cooling fan, coolant flow, coolant temperature, supply voltage, door status, or faults or alarms that occur within the shipping container. 
     
     
         25 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21 , the control unit configured to transmit the operational parameter real time throughout the shipping container's journey regardless of the location of the shipping container. 
     
     
         26 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the power interface is external to the movable apparatus and the same source as used by the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container. 
     
     
         27 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the control unit is further configured to determine that the operational parameter associated with the shipping container and received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container should be transmitted based on an out of range reporting that has been enabled for the operational parameter. 
     
     
         28 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising:
 the communications interface coupled to a receiver; and 
 the control unit further configured to receive, from the communications interface, control data to alter the operation of the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container and transmit the control data to the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container through the data interface. 
 
     
     
         29 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the removable apparatus is physically isolated from an interior of the shipping container. 
     
     
         30 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the apparatus is configured to be installed and removed from the shipping container without permanently altering the container. 
     
     
         31 . The removable apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the control unit is further configured to determine the most effective communications available based on a mode of transport being used. 
     
     
         32 . A method for communicating with a shipping container comprising:
 receiving, at a removable communications and monitoring device, an operational parameter associated with the shipping container from a first controller or a second controller of the shipping container, wherein the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container monitor at least one operational parameter associated with the shipping container and the first controller and the second controller are connected to one or more sensors of the shipping container;   determining, by the communications and monitoring device, that the operational parameter received from the first controller or the second controller of the of the shipping container and associated with the container should be transmitted to a receiving station; and   transmitting the operational parameter, or a derivative thereof, associated with the shipping container to the receiving station based on the determination that the operational parameter received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container and associated with the container should be transmitted to a receiving station.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising:
 receiving, at a removable communications and monitoring device, power via a power interface configured to be coupled to a power source that is external to the removable communications and monitoring device and the same source as used by a first controller or a second controller of the shipping container to provide electrical power directly to the removable communications and monitoring device for the operation of the removable communications and monitoring device. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising:
 determining a correct protocol for communicating with the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container, wherein the removable communications and monitoring device is configured to communicate with the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container, regardless of the location of the shipping container. 
 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising:
 establishing communications with the shipping container based on the determination of the correct protocol. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the communications and monitoring device is able to receive the operational parameter directly from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container real time during the shipping container's journey regardless of the location of the shipping container, without having to install additional instrumentation within the interior of the refrigerated shipping container. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising:
 determining that the operational parameter associated with the shipping container and received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container, is outside a predetermined range. 
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising:
 determining, by the communications and monitoring device, that the operational parameter received from the first controller or the second controller of the of the shipping container and associated with the container should be transmitted to a receiving station by determining that an out of range reporting has been enabled for the operational parameter. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising:
 determining, by the communications and monitoring device, the most effective communications available based on a mode of transport being used. 
 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the operational parameter is transmitted via the most effective communications available. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising:
 receiving control data, the control data used to control the operation of the shipping container; and 
 sending the control data to the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container, wherein the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container alters the operation of the shipping container based on the control data. 
 
     
     
         42 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing thereon a set of instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to:
 receive an operational parameter associated with the shipping container from a first controller or a second controller of the shipping container, wherein the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container monitor at least one operational parameter associated with the shipping container and the first controller and the second controller are connected to one or more sensors of the shipping container;   determine that the operational parameter received from the first controller or the second controller of the of the shipping container and associated with the container should be transmitted to a receiving station; and   transmit the operational parameter, or a derivative thereof, associated with the shipping container to the receiving station based on the determination that the operational parameter received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container and associated with the container should be transmitted to a receiving station.   
     
     
         43 . A system for communicating with a shipping container comprising:
 a monitoring a communications controller configured to:
 receive an operational parameter associated with the shipping container from a first controller or a second controller of the shipping container, wherein the first controller and the second controller of the shipping container monitor at least one operational parameter associated with the shipping container and the first controller and the second controller are connected to one or more sensors of the shipping container; 
 determine that the operational parameter received from the first controller or the second controller of the of the shipping container and associated with the container should be transmitted to a receiving station; and 
 transmit the operational parameter, or a derivative thereof, associated with the shipping container to the receiving station based on the determination that the operational parameter received from the first controller or the second controller of the shipping container and associated with the container should be transmitted to a receiving station; 
   a data server configured to:   receive an operational parameter associated with the shipping container from the monitoring and communications controller; and   send the operational parameter associated with the shipping container to a user.