Abstract: A device attached to an outside surface of a shipping container for tracking the shipping container includes a solar panel, a battery, a GPS receiver module, a cellular data transceiver module, and a microcontroller for controlling the GPS receiver module and the cellular data transceiver module to periodically obtain the location of the shipping container and transmit the location to a tracking database of a central tracking computer. The solar panel, battery, GPS receiver module, cellular data transceiver module and microcontroller are integrated into a one-piece, watertight master control unit. The master control unit may further include a local wireless network master transceiver module. The local wireless network master transceiver module is for communicating with a wireless sensor located within the shipping container through the walls of the shipping container.

Abstract: A system for measuring and reporting changing levels of liquids in a storage tank includes a sensing device having a fluid level sensor, an accelerometer, a wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller for detecting the volume of liquid in the storage tank in response to determining that the storage tank is not moving and sending an alert message if the volume of liquid in the storage tank has changed from a previous volume by a threshold amount. The system also includes a central tracking computer having a tracking database and being interfaced to the Internet, and a master control unit attached to the storage tank. The master control unit is for: receiving the alert message from the sensing device; obtaining the location of the storage tank; and communicating the alert message and the location of the storage tank to the central tracking computer for storage in the tracking database.

Abstract: A system for measuring and reporting changing levels of liquids in a storage tank includes a sensing device having a fluid level sensor, an accelerometer, a wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller for detecting the volume of liquid in the storage tank in response to determining that the storage tank is not moving and sending an alert message if the volume of liquid in the storage tank has changed from a previous volume by a threshold amount. The system also includes a central tracking computer having a tracking database and being interfaced to the Internet, and a master control unit attached to the storage tank. The master control unit is for: receiving the alert message from the sensing device; obtaining the location of the storage tank; and communicating the alert message and the location of the storage tank to the central tracking computer for storage in the tracking database.

Abstract: A device attached to an outside surface of a shipping container for tracking the shipping container includes a solar panel, a battery, a GPS receiver module, a cellular data transceiver module, and a microcontroller for controlling the GPS receiver module and the cellular data transceiver module to periodically obtain the location of the shipping container and transmit the location to a tracking database of a central tracking computer. The solar panel, battery, GPS receiver module, cellular data transceiver module and microcontroller are integrated into a one-piece, watertight master control unit. The master control unit may further include a local wireless network master transceiver module. The local wireless network master transceiver module is for communicating with a wireless sensor located within the shipping container through the walls of the shipping container.

Abstract: A device attached to an outside surface of a shipping container for tracking the shipping container includes a solar panel, a battery, a GPS receiver module, a cellular data transceiver module, and a microcontroller for controlling the GPS receiver module and the cellular data transceiver module to periodically obtain the location of the shipping container and transmit the location to a tracking database of a central tracking computer. The solar panel, battery, GPS receiver module, cellular data transceiver module and microcontroller are integrated into a one-piece, watertight master control unit. The master control unit may further include a local wireless network master transceiver module. The local wireless network master transceiver module is for communicating with a wireless sensor located within the shipping container through the walls of the shipping container.

Abstract: A device attached to an outside surface of a shipping container for tracking the shipping container includes a solar panel, a battery, a GPS receiver module, a cellular data transceiver module, and a microcontroller for controlling the GPS receiver module and the cellular data transceiver module to periodically obtain the location of the shipping container and transmit the location to a tracking database of a central tracking computer. The solar panel, battery, GPS receiver module, cellular data transceiver module and microcontroller are integrated into a one-piece, watertight master control unit. The master control unit may further include a local wireless network master transceiver module. The local wireless network master transceiver module is for communicating with a wireless sensor located within the shipping container through the walls of the shipping container.