State monitoring of a container

US7196622B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Savi Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Stephen J. Lambright · San Francisco, US
• Blair B. Lacorte · Dublin, US
• David L. Shannon · State College, US
• Ravindra U. Rajapakse · San Francisco, US
• Steven J. Farrell · Sunnyvale, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 6, 2004
• Grant date: Mar 27, 2007
• Expiry date: Nov 24, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08B13/2462
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A container for locally determining a container state using a state device. The state device detects unexpected events by comparing expected event information with actual event information related to a container condition. The container condition includes, for example, environmental conditions, logistical or location conditions, and physical or security conditions. Thus, the container is able to intelligently monitor its state and raise an alert without intervention from a central system. The container can also be programmed and reprogrammed with updated logic, states, and/or expected event information. A sensor in the state device gathers input information for comparison to expected event information. A communication port in the state device receives event information. For example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver can determine a current location for comparison to an expected location at the current time. In another example, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) receiver and transmitter automatically uploads state information to a central system.