US 2017/0366625 A1 · SOFTWARE-DEFINED SENSORS

Abstract

This disclosure provides for a system and method for managing network-connected industrial assets. The network-connected assets include a sensor controller affixed to a shipping container, where the sensor controller is communicatively coupled to one or more sensors. The one or more sensors monitor the shipping container and/or the contents stored therein. When located at an origin location, the sensor controller is communicatively coupled to a first Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) machine via a first network. A client device can communicate with the sensor controller via the first IIoT machine. When the shipping container is shipped to a destination location, the sensor controller connects to a second network at the destination location. At the second network, another IIoT machine communicates with the sensor controller. The client device then receives sensor data from the sensor controller via the second IIoT machine.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A sensor controller for managing one or more sensors in communication with the sensor controller, the sensor controller comprising:

a machine-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions;
and
at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled to the machine-readable medium that, when the computer-executable instructions are executed, configures the sensor controller to perform operations comprising:
receiving sensor configuration data via a first network located at a first geographic location, the sensor configuration data specifying one or more sensors to be active during transit from the first geographic location to a second geographic location;
receiving network connection data specifying one or more network credentials for connecting to a second network located at a second geographic location;
monitoring the one or more sensors specified as active by the sensor configuration data;
receiving sensor data from the monitored one or more sensors;
connecting to the second network in response to a determination that the second geographic location has been reached;
and
transmitting the received sensor data to a client device communicatively coupled to the first network.

7 more elements

A machine-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled to the machine-readable medium that, configures a sensor controller to perform operations comprising:

receiving sensor configuration data at a first network located at a first geographic location, the sensor configuration data specifying one or more sensors to be active during transit from the first geographic location to a second geographic location;
receiving network connection data specifying one or more network credentials for connecting to a second network located at a second geographic location;
monitoring the one or more sensors specified as active by the sensor configuration data;
receiving sensor data from the monitored one or more sensors;
connecting to the second network in response to a determination that the second geographic location has been reached;
and
transmitting the received sensor data to a client device communicatively coupled to the first network.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Software-defined sensors

Life of this patent

Software-defined sensors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20