Modular pallet assemblies and modular pallet architectures

Abstract

A modular pallet assembly formed of a plurality of physically interconnected pallet modules that are each configured to nest one within another. At least one of the pallet modules is designed as an active, primary pallet module including primary hardware configured to actively handle and manage at least one primary functionality of the entire pallet assembly. The remaining pallet modules, beyond the primary pallet module, delegate the primary functionality to the primary pallet module. The remaining pallet modules may be passive, secondary pallet modules configured to supplement or enable part of the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware.

1 .- 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A modular pallet assembly formed of a plurality of physically interconnected pallet modules that are each configured to nest one within another,
 wherein at least one of the pallet modules is designed as an active, primary pallet module comprising primary hardware configured to actively handle and manage at least one primary functionality of the entire pallet assembly,   and wherein the remaining pallet modules, beyond the primary pallet module, delegate the primary functionality to the primary pallet module.   
     
     
         55 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein the remaining pallet modules, beyond the primary pallet module, are passive, secondary pallet modules configured to supplement or enable part of the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware. 
     
     
         56 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes active control and/or monitoring of refrigeration. 
     
     
         57 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 55 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes active control and/or monitoring of refrigeration,
 wherein the primary hardware includes hardware to provide a refrigerant,   and wherein each of the pallet modules forming the pallet assembly includes thermal insulation designed to support refrigeration.   
     
     
         58 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes active control and/or monitoring of humidity. 
     
     
         59 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 55 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes active control and/or monitoring of humidity,
 and wherein each of the pallet modules forming the pallet assembly includes humidity insulation designed to assist humidity control.   
     
     
         60 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes provision of wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with at least one remote station. 
     
     
         61 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 55 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes provision of wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with at least one remote station,
 wherein the primary hardware is further configured to provide wireless local interconnectivity with other pallet modules of the pallet assembly,   and wherein the secondary pallet modules comprise secondary hardware configured to wirelessly interconnect with said primary hardware.   
     
     
         62 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein the primary functionality of the entire pallet assembly is actively handled and managed exclusively by the primary hardware,
 and wherein the remaining pallet modules, beyond the primary pallet module, are functionally inactive modules with no hardware or added functionality beyond the ability to physically interconnect with other pallet modules.   
     
     
         63 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , comprising more than one primary module each comprising primary hardware configured to actively handle and manage a dedicated primary functionality of the entire pallet assembly. 
     
     
         64 . A modular pallet assembly formed of a plurality of physically interconnected pallet modules that are each configured to nest one within another,
 wherein the pallet modules comprise hardware that is configured to provide the pallet assembly with wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with at least one remote station, as well as wireless local interconnectivity amongst the pallet modules forming the pallet assembly.   
     
     
         65 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 64 , wherein one of the pallet modules is designed as an active, primary pallet module comprising primary hardware configured to provide wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with the at least one remote station, as well as wireless local interconnectivity with other pallet modules of the pallet assembly,
 and wherein the remaining pallet modules, beyond the primary pallet module, are passive, secondary pallet modules comprising secondary hardware configured to wirelessly interconnect with said primary hardware.   
     
     
         66 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 65 , wherein the primary hardware includes at least:
 a source of energy, such as a battery, to supply energy to the primary hardware;   a processing unit or controller configured to control operation of the primary hardware;   a long-range communication interface configured to communicate with the at least one remote station; and   a short-range wireless communication interface configured to establish a wireless local connection with the secondary hardware,   and wherein the secondary hardware includes at least a short-range communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the short-range wireless communication interface of the primary hardware over the wireless local connection.   
     
     
         67 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 66 , wherein the primary hardware further includes at least one geolocalization device configured to ascertain a geographical position of the primary pallet module, and thus of the pallet assembly comprising the said primary pallet module. 
     
     
         68 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 67 , wherein the geolocalization device is a satellite positioning device, such as a GPS device. 
     
     
         69 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 66 , wherein the long-range communication interface includes a cellular transceiver configured to establish a connection with the remote station via a cellular network. 
     
     
         70 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 69 , wherein the cellular transceiver is configured to establish a cellular connection with the cellular network based on a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) standard, such as the LTE-M (Long-Term Evolution for Machines) standard, the NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) standard, or the EC-GSM-IoT (Extended Coverage GSM Internet of Things) standard. 
     
     
         71 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 66 , wherein the short-range communication device is an RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) device or a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) device. 
     
     
         72 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 71 , wherein the short-range communication device is a passive RFID tag energized by a radio-frequency interrogating signal produced by the short-range wireless communication interface of the primary hardware. 
     
     
         73 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 66 , wherein the short-range communication device is selectively interrogatable by an operator using an external reader device. 
     
     
         74 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 66 , wherein the primary hardware is configured to allow an operator to establish a wireless local connection between the primary hardware and an external communication device, such as a smartphone or tablet, preferably by means of Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. 
     
     
         75 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 66 , wherein the primary hardware further includes one or more sensors and/or one or more dedicated sensor interfaces connectable to sensors configured to sense at least one physical or environmental parameter such as temperature, pressure, humidity, acceleration, or inertial or angular momentum. 
     
     
         76 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 65 , wherein the secondary hardware is primarily configured to communicate a unique identifier to the primary hardware which uniquely identifies each secondary pallet module. 
     
     
         77 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 76 , wherein the primary hardware is configured to periodically trigger the secondary hardware to communicate the unique identifier. 
     
     
         78 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein at least part of the hardware is embedded into a structural body of the associated pallet module. 
     
     
         79 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 64 , wherein at least part of the hardware is embedded into a structural body of the associated pallet module. 
     
     
         80 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein each pallet module includes:
 a mating system configured to allow nesting of another pallet module to form the pallet assembly; and   a securing system configured to allow the pallet module to be secured to or released from another pallet module of the pallet assembly.   
     
     
         81 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 64 , wherein each pallet module includes:
 a mating system configured to allow nesting of another pallet module to form the pallet assembly; and   a securing system configured to allow the pallet module to be secured to or released from another pallet module of the pallet assembly.   
     
     
         82 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 54 , wherein the pallet modules are pallet modules of different sizes. 
     
     
         83 . The pallet assembly according to  claim 64 , wherein the pallet modules are pallet modules of different sizes. 
     
     
         84 . A modular pallet architecture comprised of a plurality of physically interconnectable pallet modules that are each configured to allow formation of a nested pallet assembly of at least two pallet modules, wherein the modular pallet architecture includes:
 a first type of pallet modules, namely active, primary pallet modules comprising primary hardware configured to actively handle and manage at least one primary functionality of the nested pallet assembly; and   at least a second type of pallet modules, namely passive, secondary pallet modules configured to supplement or enable part of the primary functionality of the nested pallet assembly that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware.   
     
     
         85 . The modular pallet architecture according to  claim 84 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes:
 active control and/or monitoring of refrigeration;   active control and/or monitoring of humidity; and/or   provision of wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with at least one remote station.   
     
     
         86 . The modular pallet architecture according to  claim 84 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes provision of wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with at least one remote station,
 wherein the primary hardware is further configured to provide wireless local interconnectivity with other pallet modules of the nested pallet assembly,   and wherein the secondary pallet modules comprise secondary hardware configured to wirelessly interconnect with said primary hardware.   
     
     
         87 . A modular pallet architecture comprised of a plurality of physically interconnectable pallet modules that are each configured to allow formation of a nested pallet assembly of at least two pallet modules,
 wherein the pallet modules comprise hardware that is configured to provide the nested pallet assembly with wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with at least one remote station, as well as wireless local interconnectivity amongst the pallet modules forming the nested pallet assembly.   
     
     
         88 . The modular pallet architecture according to  claim 87 , including:
 a first type of pallet modules, namely primary pallet modules comprising primary hardware configured to provide wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with the at least one remote station, as well as wireless local interconnectivity with other pallet modules of the nested pallet assembly; and   at least a second type of pallet modules, namely secondary pallet modules comprising secondary hardware configured to wirelessly interconnect with said primary hardware.   
     
     
         89 . The modular pallet architecture according to  claim 88 , wherein the primary hardware includes at least:
 a source of energy, such as a battery, to supply energy to the primary hardware;   a processing unit or controller configured to control operation of the primary hardware;   a long-range communication interface configured to communicate with the at least one remote station; and   a short-range wireless communication interface configured to establish a wireless local connection with the secondary hardware,   and wherein the secondary hardware includes at least a short-range communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the short-range wireless communication interface of the primary hardware over the wireless local connection.   
     
     
         90 . A pallet assembly built of multiple pallet modules in accordance with the modular pallet architecture of  claim 84 , wherein the pallet assembly includes at least one primary pallet module physically interconnected with one or more secondary pallet modules. 
     
     
         91 . A pallet assembly built of multiple pallet modules in accordance with the modular pallet architecture of  claim 87 , wherein the pallet assembly includes at least one primary pallet module physically interconnected with one or more secondary pallet modules. 
     
     
         92 . A pallet assembly built of multiple pallet modules in accordance with the modular pallet architecture of  claim 86 , wherein the pallet assembly includes at least one primary pallet module physically interconnected with one or more secondary pallet modules and capable of establishing wireless connection to and long-range communication with at least one remote station. 
     
     
         93 . A pallet assembly built of multiple pallet modules in accordance with the modular pallet architecture of  claim 87 , wherein the pallet assembly includes at least one primary pallet module physically interconnected with one or more secondary pallet modules and capable of establishing wireless connection to and long-range communication with at least one remote station. 
     
     
         94 . A pallet assembly built of multiple pallet modules in accordance with the modular pallet architecture of  claim 86 , wherein the pallet assembly includes at least one primary pallet module physically as well as wirelessly interconnected with one or more secondary pallet modules. 
     
     
         95 . A pallet assembly built of multiple pallet modules in accordance with the modular pallet architecture of  claim 87 , wherein the pallet assembly includes at least one primary pallet module physically as well as wirelessly interconnected with one or more secondary pallet modules. 
     
     
         96 . A crate or box comprising a pallet assembly in accordance with  claim 54  physically interconnected with wall members. 
     
     
         97 . A crate or box comprising a pallet assembly in accordance with  claim 64  physically interconnected with wall members. 
     
     
         98 . A closed box comprising a pallet assembly in accordance with  claim 54  physically interconnected with wall members and closed by a top cover member. 
     
     
         99 . A closed box comprising a pallet assembly in accordance with  claim 64  physically interconnected with wall members and closed by a top cover member. 
     
     
         100 . The closed box according to  claim 98 , wherein the primary functionality that is actively handled and managed by the primary hardware includes active control and/or monitoring of refrigeration and/or humidity,
 and wherein the pallet assembly, wall members and top cover member are designed to maintain a controllable environment inside the closed box with respect to temperature and/or humidity.   
     
     
         101 . The closed box according to  claim 98 , wherein the wall members and the top cover member are each configured to supplement or enable part of the primary functionality of the pallet assembly. 
     
     
         102 . The closed box according to  claim 101 , wherein the wall members and the top cover member each comprise dedicated hardware configured to interact with the hardware of the pallet assembly. 
     
     
         103 . The closed box according to  claim 98 , wherein the wall members and top cover member are each constructed as modular elements. 
     
     
         104 . A data collection and management system comprising:
 a data collection and management server; and   a plurality of geographically distributed pallet assemblies in accordance with  claim 61  in long-range communication with the data collection and management server.   
     
     
         105 . The data collection and management system according to  claim 104 , wherein the data collection and management server is a cloud-based server. 
     
     
         106 . The data collection and management system according to  claim 104 , configured to collect data about and provide update regarding a status of the pallet assemblies including:
 a load status indicative of whether each pallet assembly is fully or partially loaded with material or goods or fully unloaded;   a transit/storage status indicative of whether the pallet assembly is in transit or in a stored location; and   an assembly status indicative of whether the pallet assembly is assembled or disassembled.   
     
     
         107 . The data collection and management system according to  claim 106 , further configured to collect data about individual pallet modules and their assembly status. 
     
     
         108 . A process of collecting status data relating to a status of modular pallet assemblies each consisting of a plurality of physically interconnected pallet modules configured to nest one within another, including:
 a load status indicative of whether each pallet assembly is fully or partially loaded with material or goods or fully unloaded;   a transit/storage status indicative of whether the pallet assembly is in transit or in a stored location; and   an assembly status indicative of whether the pallet assembly is assembled or disassembled,   wherein the status data of any given pallet assembly are first collected locally in a dedicated pallet module of the pallet assembly and then communicated to a remote data collection system.   
     
     
         109 . The process according to  claim 108 , wherein the dedicated pallet module is designed as an active, primary pallet module comprising primary hardware configured to provide wireless connectivity to and long-range communication with the remote data collection system, as well as wireless local interconnectivity with other pallet modules of the pallet assembly,
 wherein the remaining pallet modules, beyond the primary pallet module, are passive, secondary pallet modules comprising secondary hardware configured to wirelessly interconnect with said primary hardware,   and wherein status data relating to the secondary pallet modules is collected locally by the primary hardware for communication to the remote data collection system.