Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal's operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2011
Date of Patent:
May 22, 2012
Assignee:
APS Technology Group, Inc.
Inventors:
Patrick Thomas, John Charles Alvarez, Leroy E. Scheppmann, II
Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal's operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 2007
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2011
Assignee:
APS Technology Group, Inc.
Inventors:
Patrick Thomas, John Charles Alvarez, Leroy E. Scheppmann, II
Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and computer-program products for tracking and locating shipping containers in rail car unloading operations in a railway switchyard using a rail mounted gantry crane. The systems, methods, and computer program products configured to establish the position of shipping containers loaded on rail cars within a rail yard. The position of the shipping containers can be conveyed in terms of relative or absolute coordinates. The systems, methods, and computer program products can use a variety of inputs, rules, and calculations to establish the final resting places of containers mounted on rail cars. The position information may be used to provide various functionality, including creating a log or record of the location of containers or to guide rail mounted gantry (RMG) cranes to unload and work the train(s) of interest.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 21, 2010
Publication date:
January 27, 2011
Applicant:
APS Technology Group, Inc.
Inventors:
Patrick Thomas, Allen Thomas, Leroy Scheppmann, II
Abstract: The invention provides for systems and methods for location-identification and monitoring of objects, such as shipping containers, at a transit terminal using an automated vision based tracking system. Such a system is ideally suited to provide minimal error rates, low cost implementation, real-time data and automatic merging of data with corresponding object identification systems and terminal operating systems. The systems and methods of the present invention provide for location-tracking of objects without the need to retrofit the objects with a tagging or marker device. The vision-based system incorporates the use of multiple imaging devices and a hand-off method for tracking the location of the objects over extended distances.
Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal's operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 13, 2007
Publication date:
October 16, 2008
Applicant:
APS Technology Group, Inc.
Inventors:
Patrick Thomas, John Charles Alvarez, Leroy E. Scheppmann
Abstract: The invention provides for systems and methods for location-identification and monitoring of objects, such as shipping containers, at a transit terminal using an automated vision based tracking system. Such a system is ideally suited to provide minimal error rates, low cost implementation, real-time data and automatic merging of data with corresponding object identification systems and terminal operating systems. The systems and methods of the present invention provide for location-tracking of objects without the need to retrofit the objects with a tagging or marker device. The vision-based system incorporates the use of multiple imaging devices and a hand-off method for tracking the location of the objects over extended distances.