This presentation describes a sensor-based solution for real-time monitoring of high-value assets in-transit so shippers can react quickly to unplanned events such as delays, cargo damage, and even thefts. Selected as one of the best presentations at the 2012 Vail Computer Elements Workshop. For 42 years, this 4-day workshop has served leading architects of the computer industry. The agenda is 100% invited technical talks and the audience is mostly previous speakers.

1. Shipping Container Monitoring
Vipul Gupta, Oracle Labs
vipul.x.gupta@oracle.com
Vail Computer Elements Workshop, IEEE Computer Society, 2012

2. The Internet of Things
Romkey & Hackett’s Internet Toaster, Interop ’99
http://www.savetz.com/yic/YIC11FI_6.html
2

3. The Internet of Things
“
’’
10 fool-proof predictions for the Internet in 2020
3. The Internet will be a network of things,
not computers.
... By 2020, it's expected that the number of
Internet-connected sensors will be orders of
magnitude larger than the number of users.
2

4. Smart Phones
?
• Hard to imagine using phones that
only make calls!
• Mobile phones continuously
integrating new functionality: PDA,
cameras (still/video), navigator ...
• Many built-in sensors: microphone,
camera, accelerometer, light,
proximity, GPS, compass ...
• Growing interest in connecting other
sensors/actuators:
• Android Open Accessory Dev Kit
• Redpark breakout pack for iOS
3

5. 4.6 Billion Mobile Phone Subscribers
By 2015, Mobile Phones will Generate 6.3 Exabytes Data/month*
*Source: Cisco Systems
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6. Consumer Electronics becoming smart objects
Source: Randy Krum’s blog, http://www.coolinfographics.com/blog/2010/2/15/my-digital-life-20-a-consumer-gadget-map.html
5

7. Utility Metering Evolution
Predict and respond
intelligently to the dynamic
behavior of all power
suppliers and consumers
Utility
HAN
Devices connect to central
control panel, through which
utility can schedule or control
devices individually
Home
Smart Grid
Smart Metering: Monthly/Daily/15-min
collection via fixed or cell network.
Two-way communication, utility can
ping meter, send “time-of-use” pricing
information or stop service remotely
Home Area
Network
One-way meter reads,
typically monthly via net,
hand-held or drive-by
AMI
"If people do not have any idea how much
energy they are using, how can you expect
them to change their behavior?"
Mechanical Meters
AMR
Jonathan Stearn, Energywatch

8. The Long Tail ...
Quantified Self, M2M etc.
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9. Motivation
• Better efficiency -- resource management (lower cost of heating/cooling)
• Improved security and peace of mind -- accurate, responsive tracking of
valuable assets
• Timely access to information -- smart phones, traffic/environmental sensors
• Proactive health management -- both people and things (maintenance/repair)
• Comfort and entertainment -- smart environments (buildings, homes)
Empowering people with data
to make better decisions
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10. Big Data
Source Proprietary and Confidential
© 2011 Oracle Corporation – : Economist Magazine
Special Report
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11. The Need for Analytics
From Data to Actionable Information
What’s the best that can happen?
Optimization
What will happen next?
Competitive Advantage
Predictive Modeling
Forecasting/Extrapolation
What if these trends continue?
Why is this happening?
Statistical Analysis
What actions are needed?
Alerts
Query/drill down
Where exactly is the problem?
Ad hoc reports
How many, how often, where?
What happened?
Standard Reports
Degree of Intelligence
Source: Competing on Analytics, by T. Davenport & J. Harris
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12. SPOT Device
• Basic device has three layers
• Battery
• Processor Board with Radio
• Sensor Board (application specific)
• Processor Board alone acts as a
base-station
• User programs the device entirely in
Java using standard tools, e.g.
NetBeans
• Java on bare-metal (no OS)
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13. SPOT Capabilities/Technologies
Embedded Development Platform
Extremely flexible hardware and software package
Use standard Java IDE
Mobile
Built in Lithium Ion battery charged through USB
Easy to program - Java top to bottom
Java Device Drivers
Aware and Active
Able to sense and affect surroundings
Connected - Wireless Communication
Mesh Networking
Over the Air Programming
Secure
Built-in high grade ECC public key cryptography,
user-friendly key management
Built to Inspire!
(search for “spaughts” on
Flickr/YouTube)
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14. Sun SPOT Developer’s kit
• Two full SPOTs with sensor boards and batteries
• One base-station SPOT
s
POT
S
,000 -wide
20
ld
ver
O
wor
se
in u
• Software
• Squawk VM
• Java SDK
• Netbeans
• USB cable, mounting clips
• Both hardware and software is open source
• www.sunspotworld.com (forums, SDK download, kit purchase)
• spots.dev.java.net
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15. YouTube Videos
• > 200 videos
• Mike’s Flying Bike viewed >175,000 x
• Keyword SPAUGHTS
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16. Shipping Containers
• Shippers want to improve logistics, cut expenses, eliminate shrinkage
• US cargo losses reported annually: > $15 Billion,
Total cost > $45 Billion
• 24M containers make ~200M trips/yr
• Average cargo value estimates (TEU):
Pharmaceuticals
Hi-tech (electronics)
Finished shirts
T-shirts
Baled cotton
~$ 12M
~$ 10M
~$115K
~$ 45K
~$ 15K
• Insurance cost: ~1% of cargo value
15

17. Smart Container Solution Architecture
ail
Oracle Monitoring
Service Portal
Em
Satellite Network
er
Al
ts
Logistics Personnel
CMD-Mounted
Container
Shipper's
Command & Control
16

18. Container Monitoring Device
• Based on the Sun SPOT platform
• Multiple sensors:
• Environmental: temperature, humidity, light
• Intrusion: light, PIR, door coil, UWB radar
• Location: GPS
• Dual-mode long-range wireless communication
• Quad-band GPRS
• Satellite communication
• Short-range low-power mesh networking:
• 802.15.4
• Secure communication
• Long-lasting battery
17

19. 18

20. Networking Challenges
• Network bandwidth is limited, costly
• 340 byte/packet, $1.40/KB !!! (satellite communication)
• precludes sending raw data
• Devices are duty-cycled to preserve energy
• can not push data
• re-establishing network can take tens of seconds
• Device may not have a long-term network address
• mobility (real or perceived)
• NAT/firewall
Requires a gateway-based network architecture*
*Gupta et al., “A Network Architecture for the Web of Things”, Second Int’l Web of Things Workshop , Pervasive 2011
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21. Sensor Fusion Example
A
B
C
Light
Infra-red
Proximity
PIR (motion)
Door sensor
UWB Radar
3-axis
Accelerometer
{
{
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22. Device v/s Back-end Alerting
• Intrusion notifications sent with higher priority than periodic reports
• Both include location. Out-of-order processing at portal causes
unexpected alerts behavior
• Device-side alerting can be smarter, e.g. adaptive sampling
Waypoint
21

23. Sensor Recalibration
• Sensor readings vary across devices, impacted by environmental
variations:
A metal detector based
on pulse-induction, the
same technology used
in our door sensor.
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24. Story of the GPS Module
9.5mA
12mA
13.1mA
3.3mA
•
•
•
•
GPS low-power mode, device off but retains almanac/ephemeris data
Allows valid “fix” in as little as 6 sec after power-on
Early “fix” quality is poor, can be improved in subsequent readings
How long to stay on?
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25. Story of the GPS Module
9.5mA
12mA
13.1mA
3.3mA
•
•
•
•
GPS low-power mode, device off but retains almanac/ephemeris data
Allows valid “fix” in as little as 6 sec after power-on
Early “fix” quality is poor, can be improved in subsequent readings
How long to stay on?
23

26. Other Challenges
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27. Cloud-based Monitoring Portal
• Stores and analyzes sensor data and alerts received from all CMDs
• Dashboard and timeline views show current data and history
• Allows users to commission and decommission trips
• Lets users define geofences of interest
• Generates notifications for registered events
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28. Summary
• The Internet of Things represents the future of data and is a key area
of interest at Oracle
• A flexible sensor platform emphasizing ease-of-use and rapid
prototyping
• End-to-end integrated solutions (hardware, software and services)
for specific markets
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29. Questions?
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