Abstract: A method for monitoring the status of a container for transporting goods, wherein the container includes sensors includes receiving data at a processing system within the container from at least one sensor within the container, implementing a controller within the processing system for comparing the received sensor data against a predetermined condition stored in a memory of the processing system, initiating a message from the controller in response to comparison between the received sensor data and the predetermined-condition related to the measured sensor data, and transmitting the initiated message as an RF signal from within the container to a satellite transceiver element outside the container, thereby initiating unprompted communication from inside of the container, wherein the RF signal is transmitted outside of the container via a passive antenna system.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of network nodes in an ad hoc mesh network utilizes a data communication device that includes a two-way communications component, comprising a first receiver and transmitter, and a second receiver. The second receiver activates the communications component from a dormant state when it receives a broadcast including a wake-up identifier of the communication device.

Abstract: A wireless data communications network system for establishing communication between a server and a plurality of containers that are loaded onto a cargo vessel. The system includes a data communications device configured to establish and manage a pre-configured wireless data communications network and to communicate with the server through a local area network, and a plurality of electronic tracking devices each having a wireless transceiver and routing capabilities and configured to be joined to a container and to connect to the wireless data communications network upon being activated. The data communications device is configured to intermittently perform a network scan to locate each tracking device connected to the network and reconfigure the network topology to include each connected tracking devices such that the data communications device maintains mutual communication with each connected tracking device using the routing capabilities of the tracking devices.

Abstract: A wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

Abstract: In a wireless network that includes a plurality of nodes, a method of communicating a message from an originating node, intended for receipt by a destination node, via one or more intermediate nodes, includes the steps of: (a) communicating with just a single node within the communications range of the originating node—including sending the message and the known network pathway—if a network pathway to the destination node is known by the originating node, the single node being the first intermediate node identified in the known network pathway; and (b) communicating with one or more first intermediate nodes within the communications range of the originating node—including sending the message—if a network pathway to the destination node is unknown by the originating node.

Abstract: In a wireless network that includes a plurality of nodes, a method of maintaining, by a first node, information regarding communications links between nodes in the wireless network includes: for each communications link that is established with another node, recording an identification of the other node; and for each message received by the first node from the other node through the communications link with the other node, recording a network pathway by which the message has been sent in the wireless network, the network pathway identifying the nodes and the communications links therebetween by which the message has been sent. Another method includes recording, by a server, for each message that is received by the server from the wireless network, a network pathway by which the message has been sent, the network pathway identifying the nodes and the communications links therebetween by which the message has been sent.

Abstract: A method of providing network communications includes receiving, at a second device via a virtual network connection that virtualizes network capabilities of the second device, a packet transmitted by a first device, the packet including protocol information; determining a third device to which to transmit the packet, said determination being informed by the protocol information; and transmitting the packet to the third device using a virtual network connection, which virtualizes network capabilities of the second device, in accordance with the protocol information.

Abstract: A method includes detecting, at a device, a request for a network connection from an application running on the device; spawning first and second virtual machines for network connections that virtualize network capabilities of the device such that first and second virtual network connections are provided; using the first virtual network connection, establishing a first connection with another device over a first path; using the second virtual connection, establishing a second connection with the other device over a second path; determining that the second path represents a trusted path; determining that a first packet does not need to be routed via a trusted connection; transmitting the first packet using the first virtual network connection for communication via the first path; determining that a second packet needs to be routed via a trusted connection; and transmitting the second packet using the second virtual network connection for communication via the second path.

Abstract: A method includes, first, communicating by first and second devices, to a server, network contact information; and thereafter, communicating data from the first device to the second device by communicating, by the first device, a request to the server to engage in communications with the second device, communicating, by the server, the request received from the first device, communicating, by the second device, acceptance to the server of the request to engage in communications with the first device, communicating connection information, by the server, to one or more of the first and second devices for enabling an open network connection between the first and second devices, using virtualized network capabilities of a virtual machine of the first device, establishing a network connection with the second device using the connection information, and communicating data, from the first device using the virtualized network capabilities of the virtual machine, to the second device.

Abstract: A method of reducing server overhead in responding to requests for downloads from devices includes the steps of receiving, at a first device, a communication from a server regarding a request for download that the server has received from a second device; in response thereto, using virtualized network capabilities of a virtual machine of the second device, establishing a network connection with the first device using connection information received from the server; fulfilling the request for download by transferring data via the established network connection; and communicating an indication of fulfillment of such request to the server.

Abstract: A method includes communicating network connection information from a control server to each of a first subset of devices for enabling an open network connection between each of the devices of the first subset; spawning, by each of a plurality of devices, a plurality of virtual machines for network connections that virtualize network capabilities of the device; establishing, by each of the devices, a respective open network connection with each of the other devices using a respective spawned virtual machine and network connection information received from a control server; receiving, by each device, data from a hosting server and data from one or more of the open network connections that are established with that device; processing, by each device, the received data; and providing a user experience, by each device, based on the processed data.

Abstract: A method for validating packets in network communications includes receiving, at networking hardware of a device, a packet communicated from another device over a network; intercepting, by virtual dispersive routing (VDR) software loaded on the device, the packet as it is passed from the networking hardware; determining, by the VDR software, that a destination address of the packet corresponds to an address associated with the device; and determining, by the VDR software, using a virtual machine for a network connection that virtualizes network capabilities of the device, that the packet belongs to a valid application running on the device.

Abstract: A method includes communicating, by a first device, a request to a server to engage in communications with a second device; communicating, by the server, the request received from the first device to the second device; communicating, by the second device, acceptance to the server; communicating information associated with a third device to the first device; using a virtual network connection of the first device, establishing network communications with the third device; communicating information associated with the third device to the second device; using a virtual network connection of the second device, establishing network communications with the third device, wherein the third device is configured to act as a switch and provide cross-connect functionality between the first virtual network connection of the first device and the second virtual network connection of the second device.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a request for a network connection from an application running on a device; spawning a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a first virtual network connection is provided; selecting a first routing protocol for the first virtual network connection; spawning a second virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a second virtual network connection is provided; selecting a second routing protocol for the second virtual network connection; communicating with another device over a first network path using the first virtual network connection with the first routing protocol; and communicating with the other device over a second network path using the second virtual network connection with the second routing protocol. The first network path and the second network path are different.

Abstract: A method of providing network communications using virtualization includes steps of creating a virtual machine instance that runs on a device and that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a virtual network connection is provided, detecting a request for a network connection from an application running on the device, determining application-specific information associated with the application, using the application-specific information associated with the application, selecting a routing protocol from among a plurality of available routing protocols for communicating data from the application over a network using the virtual network connection, and, using the selected routing protocol, communicating data from the application over the network to a device using the virtual network connection of the virtual machine instance.

Abstract: A wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

Abstract: A wireless data communications network system for establishing communication between a server and a plurality of containers that are loaded onto a cargo vessel. The system includes a data communications device configured to establish and manage a pre-configured wireless data communications network and to communicate with the server through a local area network, and a plurality of electronic tracking devices each having a wireless transceiver and routing capabilities and configured to be joined to a container and to connect to the wireless data communications network upon being activated. The data communications device is configured to intermittently perform a network scan to locate each tracking device connected to the network and reconfigure the network topology to include each connected tracking devices such that the data communications device maintains mutual communication with each connected tracking device using the routing capabilities of the tracking devices.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the contents of a closed container includes one or more sensors for monitoring the container contents, a signal receiving element positioned, and a processing system. The signal receiving element receives sensor data from the sensors. The processing system has a memory for storing predetermined conditions and a control element for analyzing received sensor data by comparing the received sensor data to stored predetermined conditions. The control element includes capabilities for declaring a security alert based on the comparison. The communications system includes a first transceiver inside the closed container for receiving signals containing sensor data from within the container and for transmitting those signals outside of the container, and a satellite transceiver, physically linked to the first transceiver and disposed outside the closed container, for receiving signals from the first transceiver and for forwarding the received signals via satellite uplink to a remote location.

Abstract: A network communications method utilizing a network watermark for providing security in the communications includes creating a verifiable network communications path of nodes through a network for the transfer of information from a first end node to a second end node; verifying the network communications path of nodes, by the first end node, before communicating by the first end node information intended for receipt by the second end node; and once the network communications path of nodes is verified by the first end node, communicating by the first end node, via the verified communications path of nodes, the information intended for receipt by the second end node; wherein the network watermark represents the verifiable network communications path of nodes.

Abstract: A RF data communication device operates in at least two states. In a first state, the device transmits a response to an RF transmission if specific data therein represents an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and if specific data therein corresponds to a class maintained by the device. The device does not transmit a response if specific data in the RF transmission is not representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices, or if specific data therein does not correspond to at least one maintained class. In a second state, the device does not transmit a response when specific data is included therein that is representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and specific data therein corresponds to at least one maintained class.