Appartus for establishing a mesh network for reefer sensor architecture

An apparatus for establishing a mesh network of two or more sensor elements for monitoring conditions within a closed container, the apparatus comprising:

• a central processing element within the closed container for receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors elements within the closed container;
• wherein the plurality of sensor elements comprise a sensor, a processing element and a transceiver co-located within a common housing;
• further wherein the plurality of sensor elements are configured to monitor one or more aspects of the closed container;
• and further wherein the sensor elements are configured to interrogate and communicate with one or more of the sensor elements within the same closed container;
• wherein the central processing element is configured to analyze sensor data from the plurality of sensor elements and to transmit sensor data to a remote monitoring station;
• wherein the central processing element is configured to determine whether measured aspects of the container's interior exceed predetermined thresholds;
• wherein the sensor data is received from the plurality of sensor elements within the closed container;
• further wherein a sub-set of sensor data is selected for retransmission from within the closed container to outside of the closed container based on the analysis of the central processing element within the closed container;
• further wherein the central processing element is configured to adjust sensor settings based on the analysis of the central processing element;
• further wherein the central processing element is configured to received data from a remote data source and change one or more sensor parameters based at least in part on the data received from the remote data source.