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ARINC, Impeva Unveil Real-Time Supply Chain Tracking Solution
The solution includes two main components: Global Sentinel Unit (GSU), which serves as an RFID interrogator and communications gateway, and the Remote Sensor Units (RSUs), which functions as active RFID tags. Each RSU transmits a unique ID number as well as any data collected from wired and wireless sensors communicating with the RSU. The GSU forwards all that data to servers that make up the Global Sentinel Device Management Center.
Located in an Impeva Labs data center in the United States, these servers run Web-based software that processes and stores all the data collected by the GSUs and RSUs. All cargo-related data and continuous GPS position reports are encrypted before being sent over the satellite or cellular communications link. Customers can securely access the data via a Web browser or can download the data, via secure XML, to their own transportation management systems on site. Asset Assure can be configured to send alerts via e-mail, text message and voice mail.
The GSUs are battery-powered and can be mounted directly onto vehicles or containers or above doorways of railcars or trucks. The device contains a GPS receiver to determine its location data and as well as communications modems, depending on the customer's needs. For example, it can contain an Iridium satellite modem and a multi-band cellular modem. The GSU can also include its own wireless and integrated sensors, and wireless LAN capabilities. Having integrated sensors in the GSU eliminates the need for RSUs, in some cases.
"Because the GSU is a platform, we can interface to any sensor set...some of which may not be easily accommodated by a RSU because of size or power requirements. That's one of the important design criteria for the GSU as a platform, the ability to interface with any commercial sensor set," says Potter. Also, if a customer requires, the GSU can have a built-in RFID interrogator to read other types of tags besides the RSUs. "In addition to satellite and cellular, if required, we can integrate wireless LAN to leverage those [kinds of] connections when available," he says.
Sensors communicate directly to the GSU in a number of ways, dependent on how they are connected. Integrated sensors (those that are part of the GSU) and tethered sensors (those attached by wires) communicate with the other GSU components directly over the sensor data communications bus. Wireless sensors communicate with the GSU over the 2.4 GHz mesh protocol, a customized derivative of the 802.15.4 standard.
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Located in an Impeva Labs data center in the United States, these servers run Web-based software that processes and stores all the data collected by the GSUs and RSUs. All cargo-related data and continuous GPS position reports are encrypted before being sent over the satellite or cellular communications link. Customers can securely access the data via a Web browser or can download the data, via secure XML, to their own transportation management systems on site. Asset Assure can be configured to send alerts via e-mail, text message and voice mail.
The GSUs are battery-powered and can be mounted directly onto vehicles or containers or above doorways of railcars or trucks. The device contains a GPS receiver to determine its location data and as well as communications modems, depending on the customer's needs. For example, it can contain an Iridium satellite modem and a multi-band cellular modem. The GSU can also include its own wireless and integrated sensors, and wireless LAN capabilities. Having integrated sensors in the GSU eliminates the need for RSUs, in some cases.
"Because the GSU is a platform, we can interface to any sensor set...some of which may not be easily accommodated by a RSU because of size or power requirements. That's one of the important design criteria for the GSU as a platform, the ability to interface with any commercial sensor set," says Potter. Also, if a customer requires, the GSU can have a built-in RFID interrogator to read other types of tags besides the RSUs. "In addition to satellite and cellular, if required, we can integrate wireless LAN to leverage those [kinds of] connections when available," he says.
Sensors communicate directly to the GSU in a number of ways, dependent on how they are connected. Integrated sensors (those that are part of the GSU) and tethered sensors (those attached by wires) communicate with the other GSU components directly over the sensor data communications bus. Wireless sensors communicate with the GSU over the 2.4 GHz mesh protocol, a customized derivative of the 802.15.4 standard.
