Control system for automatic controlling reefer container resources

A control system for controlling reefer container resources, the system comprising:

• a plurality of reefer containers, each reefer container being subjected to release requirements including physical pre-trip inspection, each reefer container comprising:
• a refrigeration system configured to control a climate of an interior cargo compartment of the reefer container, and
• a refrigeration system controller configured to provide refrigeration system parameter data;
• and
• a remote server computer being configured to:
• obtain the refrigeration system parameter data as acquired during operation of the refrigeration system from at least one reefer container via a server communication unit,
• analyze the refrigeration system parameter data to estimate a condition of the reefer container, the condition of the reefer container comprising a physical pre-trip inspection determination, and
• provide the reefer container condition including the physical pre-trip inspection determination to a reefer container resource control unit to allocate the reefer container based on the reefer container condition,
• wherein the physical pre-trip inspection determination is negative when the remote server computer determines that a physical pre-trip inspection must be performed and the physical pre-trip inspection determination is positive when the remote server computer determines that a physical pre-trip inspection can be skipped.

A method of automatically controlling reefer container resources in a reefer container system comprising a remote server computer in communication with a plurality of reefer containers, each reefer container comprising a refrigeration system configured to control a climate of an interior cargo compartment of the reefer container, the refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration circuit, including at least a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a cooling space, and sensors, each reefer container being subjected to release requirements including physical pre-trip inspection,

• the method comprising, at the refrigeration system:
• measuring by the sensors, refrigeration system readings including at least one of ambient air temperature, supply air temperature, return air temperature, refrigerant suction pressure, refrigerant discharge pressure, set-point values, temperature set-point, humidity set point, fresh air ventilation values, refrigerant temperature, discharge temperature, or suction temperature, and
• transmitting, from the refrigeration system, refrigeration system parameter data based on refrigeration system readings,
• the method further comprising, at the remote server computer:
• obtaining refrigeration system parameter data acquired during operation of the refrigeration system from at least one reefer container via a server communication unit,
• analyzing the refrigeration system parameter data to estimate a reefer container condition, including making a physical pre-trip inspection determination to determine whether a physical pre-trip inspection can be skipped, and further including determining whether an alarm has been issued, or whether the estimated reefer container condition of the refrigeration system indicates that the refrigeration system requires maintenance or further testing, wherein the condition of the reefer container comprises the physical pre-trip inspection determination, and
• transmitting the physical pre-trip inspection determination to a reefer container resource unit, and
• the method further comprising receiving the reefer container condition including the physical pre-trip inspection determination at the reefer container resource control unit to automatically allocate the reefer container based on the reefer container condition.

A method of controlling reefer container resources in a reefer container system comprising a remote server computer in communication with a plurality of reefer containers, each reefer container comprising a refrigeration system configured to control a climate of an interior cargo compartment of the reefer container, each reefer container being subjected to release requirements including physical pre-trip inspection,

• the method comprising, at the remote server computer:
• obtaining refrigeration system parameter data acquired during operation of the refrigeration system from at least one reefer container via a server communication unit,
• analyzing the refrigeration system parameter data to estimate a reefer container condition, including making a physical pre-trip inspection determination to determine whether a physical pre-trip inspection can be skipped, the condition of the reefer container comprising the physical pre-trip inspection determination, and
• providing the reefer container condition including the physical pre-trip inspection determination to a reefer container resource control unit to allocate the reefer container based on the reefer container condition.