System for monitoring and control of transport containers

A detachable unit for monitoring and controlling one or more conditions in a transport container, comprising:

• a microprocessor coupled to a first bidirectional communication port for communication with a container's controller disposed inside the container, to a second port for long range wireless communication, and to a third port for communication with a at least one unit's sensor of a condition in the container;
• a global positioning module having an antenna and a connector for coupling to the unit, the module being controlled by the microprocessor and determining a location of the container;
• a transceiver of local wireless communication controlled by coupled to the microprocessor;
• a transceiver of long-range wireless communication controlled by the microprocessor;
• and
• means for monitoring and controlling communication by detecting availability of one or more types of communication networks based on the location of the container determined from the global positioning module, selecting one or more available types of communication networks based on the location of the container determined from the global positioning module and establishing communication with or switching over to one or more available types of communication networks between the detachable unit and one or more remote computer means via a communication gateway;
• wherein the detachable unit is capable of receiving human input data, data from at least one unit's sensor of a condition in the container, data from one or more remote computer means, and data from the global positioning module, communicating those data to one or more remote computer means via one or more available types of communication networks, and receiving instructions based on those data from one or more remote computer means and allowing one or more remote computer means to remotely monitor and control one or more conditions in the container or the container's controller during transportation of the container using the transceiver of local wireless communication and the transceiver of long-range wireless communication.