WO2003005277A1

WO2003005277A1 - Tracking systems

Info

Publication number: WO2003005277A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2002/000112
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Lennox Dorrington
Original assignee: Peter Lennox Dorrington
Priority date: 2001-07-06
Filing date: 2002-07-08
Publication date: 2003-01-16

Abstract

A system is disclosed for tracking a consignment which is in transit. The system includes incorporating into the consignment a tracking device which includes a radio frequency transmitter. The frequency of the transmitter is compatible with that of a mobile telephone network. The device further includes a memory having a code unique to that device stored therein, and a trigger which activates said device so that it transmits said code upon a change in the status of a condition to which the device is subjected. The condition may be a light level. When the consignment is unpacked the condition changes, and information stored in memory is transmitted to a base station via said mobile telephone network. The device can include means such as temperature sensors, shock recorders etc.

Description

TRACKING SYSTEMS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to tracking systems.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are specific problems involved in the shipping of perishable goods,

particularly goods of a seasonable nature such as fruit. Market forces dictate that the

first fruit of the new season commands higher prices, based on scarcity value, than fruit

which arrives when there is a glut in the market. From the point of view of the farmer,

he dispatches the fruit and is thereafter totally in the hands of others to feed back to him

reports on when his fruit reached the market and at what price it was sold.

Fruit is generally shipped in boxes which are themselves stacked on

pallets, the pallets being loaded into a shipping container which is usually refrigerated.

The container is not opened until it reaches its country of destination.

Similar, but even more acute difficulties are encountered with high quality

flowers. These have a shelf life far less than that of fruit, and unless they are handled

expeditiously and correctly through all phases of transport and distribution, will be spoilt

before they reach the consumer. ln addition to fruit and flowers, meat and fish, both of which spoil rapidly if

not properly handled, should be tracked to ensure that they reach the market in good

condition. It is also desirable to know where high value items such as race horses are

at all stages during a journey.

The present invention seeks to provide a system for tracking

consignments, and specifically but not exclusively palletized consignments, and for

feeding back information regarding the fate of the consignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a

tracking device which includes a radio transmitter, the transmission frequency of which

is compatible with that of a mobile telephone network, a memory having a code unique

to that device stored therein, and a trigger which activates said device so that it

transmits said code upon a change in the status of a condition to which the device is

subjected.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a

system for tracking a consignment of goods which system comprises a multitude of tracking devices each of which includes a radio transmitter the transmission frequency

of which is compatible with that of a mobile telephone network, a memory having a code unique to that device stored therein, and a trigger which activates said device so that it transmits said code upon the status of a condition to which the device is

subjected changing, and a data base having said code stored therein together with

information pertaining to the consignment in which the device is secreted.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a

method of tracking a consignment of goods which comprises placing a tracking device

in the consignment, the tracking device comprising a radio transmitter the transmission

frequency of which is compatible with that of a mobile telephone network, a memory

having a code unique to that device stored therein, and a trigger which activates said

device so that it transmits said code upon the status of a condition to which the device

is subjected changing, storing in a data base said unique code and information

pertaining to the consignment, maintaining said device in standby mode, activating said

device upon said condition changing so that said code is transmitted, picking up said

code on a mobile telephone network, using said code to identify said consignment, and

making the information available to the original supplier of the goods in the

consignment.

Said condition can be the light level. In this form the device includes a

photosensitive cell which is activated upon light falling on it as the consignment is

broken-up. The condition can alternatively be that of a mechanical trigger that is held in

an inoperative position by engagement with a surface of the consignment, and which moves to an operative position when the surface is separated from the trigger on the consignment being unpacked.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided

a system for tracking a consignment of goods which system comprises a multitude of

tracking devices, at least one of said devices being a master tracking device and at

least one other device being a slave tracking device, the master tracking device

including;

means for communicating at radio frequency with the slave tracking device;

means for communicating at radio frequency with a mobile telephone network;

a memory having a code unique to that master tracking device stored therein;

and a trigger which activates said master tracking device so that it transmits said

code; the slave tracking device including a memory having a code unique to that

device stored therein; and means for communicating at radio frequency with said master device.

Preferably there is, in a consignment, a single master tracking device and

a plurality of slave tracking devices all of which slave devices can communicate at radio

frequency with said master tracking device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Tracking devices are, at the farm or pack shed, placed in the palletized

loads as the boxes are packed and stacked to form the consignment which will be

shipped.

Each tracking device has the following characteristics:

1. A radio frequency transmitter the transmission frequency of which is

compatible with the frequency used by mobile (cellular) telephone

networks.

2. A memory in which is stored a code unique to that tracking device. This

enables all the tracking devices in use to be distinguished from the other

tracking devices in use.

3. A trigger mechanism which activates the radio transmitter when a

condition to which the device is subjected changes. The condition can be,

for example, the ambient light level. Alternatively it can be a mechanical

force to which the device is subjected by being trapped between the

surfaces of two boxes or between two other surfaces in the palletized

load.

4. A radio frequency receiver for receiving a "hand shake" and other signals.

The device does not need a keypad as this is not required to enable it to

fulfill its function. At a hub, or control centre, a data base of consignments is created. This

is achieved by the shipper sending information to the hub electronically, verbally or in

hard copy. This information comprises the unique code number of the device and such

information as is deemed desirable concerning the consignment in which the device

has been placed. This information can comprise, for example, the name of the farmer /

pack house, the date of shipment, the parties who will handle the consignment through

to its final destination, the contents of the boxes etc plus any other information deemed

desirable to enable the consignment to be tracked to its final destination.

The device is then placed in the boxes constituting the palletized

consignment in a place where it is concealed and hence invisible. One possible place

is between the vertical walls of two side-by-side boxes. These walls hold the device in

place and prevent light falling on it until the boxes are separated (if a photosensitive cell

is used) or keep the mechanical trigger in its inoperative condition if such a trigger is

used.

When the consignment reaches its destination, the shipping container is

opened and the pallets removed, usually into a cold store. At some point in the

distribution chain the strapping on the pallet is cut and the individual boxes removed

from the palletized stack. It is at this stage that the device is activated and transmits a

first part of its unique code. This first part is the telephone number of the data centre. Once a return "hand shake" signal confirms that the connection has been

made, the device transmits as a data stream all the other information stored in its

memory including the balance of the unique number.

The mobile network's own data control system reveals the tower or towers

which have picked up the signal and hence the location, within a few hundred metres,

of where the palletized consignment was broken up.

At the data centre the call is used to provide a report on the consignment.

The information already in the data base can be correlated with the information in the

incoming data stream.

This information is valuable to the farmer as it tells him when his produce

reached the market. Based on this he can judge whether the price at which the

produce was sold was compatible with market conditions at the time of sale. It also

gives him transit times etc.

It is possible to store in the memory a time period which commences at

the time of shipment. The time period is based on normal transit times to the

destination and on the estimated transit time of the consignment in question. On expiry

of the time period the device is activated and calls thereby reporting in its position if it is

in range of the tower. The memory can be programmed so that should the device fail to connect to the mobile network, it calls repeatedly at intervals until a connection is

achieved.

The timed call function can be deactivated upon the trigger being

activated before expiry of the timed period.

It is also possible to incorporate a temperature sensor in the device so

that the temperature to which it is subjected can be stored in memory at predetermined

intervals throughout the period for which the device is in transit. This information

becomes part of the data stream transmitted either when the trigger is activated or

when a successful timed call is made.

The physical conditions to which the fruit is subjected during transit have

an influence on its condition when it reaches the market. The most important

parameters, apart from temperature as discussed above, are impacts (which cause '

bruising and even physical damage) and carbon dioxide levels which influence ripening

rate. The device can have sensors for both these conditions. The readings taken can

be stored in memory and downloaded as part of the data stream.

In the system described above each tracking device is adapted to transmit

information onto a telephone network. Thus the devices "stand alone" and each reports

its position and status independently of the others. ln a further form of the invention there are two types of tracking device.

The first type is a master device and the second a slave device. There can be one or

more slave devices associated with each master device. Communication between

slaves and master is preferably based on the Blue Tooth protocol, and it is this protocol

which limits the number of slave devices per master device. Blue Tooth is a radio

frequency protocol which allows communication over relatively small distances, say, a

few meters.

Each master device includes a modem via which it can transmit

information into, and receive information from, a radio frequency based telephone^'

network. At this time GSM is the network in use for mobile phones. However, GRPS /

UMTS will be used in future, and master devices in accordance with the present

invention can include modems to enable them to communicate with such networks.

) The slave devices are in radio frequency communication with the master

device and are aware of other slave devices in their vicinity but cannot communicate

with them. All communications are routed from slave to master to telephone network

and vice versa.

The master device receives a data stream from each slave with which it is

associated. The data streams can be transmitted at timed intervals or upon a certain

condition being fulfilled, such as break-up of the palletized load. The master unit transmits the plurality of data streams as a single main stream onto the telephone

network. This can be via the SMS systems of the present mobile phone network.

Normally this will happen as the palletized load is broken-up for sale.

The tracking devices can be one-use devices and disposed of once

removed from the palletized load when it is broken-up. Alternatively the devices can be ,

re-usable. In this form they are all collected and returned to the shipper. In another

form they are built permanently into re-usable pallets or shipping containers.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tracking device which includes a radio transmitter, the transmission

device so that it transmits said code upon a change in the status of a condition to which

the device is subjected.

2. A system for tracking a consignment of goods which system comprises a

multitude of tracking devices each of which includes a radio transmitter the transmission

is subjected changing, and a data base having said code stored therein together with

information pertaining to the consignment in which the device is secreted.

3. A method of tracking a consignment of goods which comprises placing a

tracking device in the consignment, the tracking device comprising a radio transmitter

the transmission frequency of which is compatible with that of a mobile telephone

network, a memory having a code unique to that device stored therein, and a trigger

which activates said device so that it transmits said code upon the status of a condition

to which the device is subjected changing, storing in a data base said unique code and information pertaining to the consignment, maintaining said device in standby mode,

activating said device upon said condition changing so that said code is transmitted,

picking up said code on a mobile telephone network, using said code to identify said

consignment, and making the information available to the original supplier of the goods

in the consignment.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said condition is the light level.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 , and which includes a photosensitive cell

which is activated upon light falling on it as the consignment is unpacked.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 , and including a mechanical trigger that is

held in an inoperative position by engagement with a surface of the consignment, and which moves to an operative position when said surface is separated from the trigger

on the consignment being unpacked.

7. A system for tracking a consignment of goods which system comprises a

multitude of tracking devices, at least one of said devices being a master tracking

device and at least one other device being a slave tracking device, the master tracking

device including;

means for communicating at radio frequency with the slave tracking device; means for communicating at radio frequency with a mobile telephone network; a memory having a code unique to that master tracking device stored therein;

and

a trigger which activates said master tracking device so that it transmits said

code;

the slave tracking device including a memory having a code unique to that

device stored therein; and

means for communicating at radio frequency with said master device.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 and including a single master tracking

device and a plurality of slave tracking devices all of which slave devices can

communicate at radio frequency with said master tracking device.