WO2019034307A1

WO2019034307A1 - Door to door multimodal track and trace device

Info

Publication number: WO2019034307A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/066626
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc BUSSON
Original assignee: Sas Inferency
Priority date: 2017-08-14
Filing date: 2018-06-21
Publication date: 2019-02-21

Abstract

A tracker (110), and a method (400) therein for tracking of an object (100) during transportation. The method comprises receiving (401), a transponder signal of a vessel (120); extracting (402) position data of the vessel (120) and an ID reference of the vessel (120) from the received (401) transponder signal; determining (403) position of the tracker (110), based on a location system (310a, 310b, 310c, 310d); if matching, transmitting (405) information, over a terrestrial telecommunication network (210), to the tracker management node (200) comprising the ID reference of the vessel (120), triggering an association of the tracked object (100) with the vessel (120) at the tracker management node (200), thereby enabling the tracker management node (200) to track the object (100) by monitoring the vessel (120) to the vessels destination, when the position of the vessel (120) coincide with the position of the tracker (110), within a first distance.

Description

DOOR TO DOOR MULTIMODAL TRACK AND TRACE DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD

Implementations described herein generally relate to a tracker, a tracker management node, and methods therein. In particular, a mechanism is herein described, for tracking of an object associated with a tracker, with the tracker during transportation, detect when the object is loaded on-board a vessel having a transponder and thereafter triggering the tracker management node to follow the vessel, and thereby also indirectly the object, until the destination is reached. BACKGROUND

It is often desired to be able to locate and monitor a delivery of goods from point A to B possibly in real-time. A track and trace device may be used for this purpose, in particular for tracking high value products such as e.g., luxury goods, drugs, vehicle spare parts, etc., or to synchronise a supply chain by confirming with accuracy where the goods currently is sit- uated, report the current condition and status of the goods; and estimate its arrival to the destination. A known solution for tracking goods is presented in document US8284045B2.

However, these known Track & Trace solutions needs to communicate their current location and data using a wireless network that may not be present (e.g. when the goods are trans- ported on a ship), or may not be allowed (e.g. on an aeroplane). In a matter of fact: telecommunication networks such as GSM (Groupe Special Mobile/ Global System for Mobile Communications) do not work when the transportation vessel is far away from any telecommunication node such as a base station, e.g. far away from the shore or high up in the air. Satellite communication may possibly be used for communication, independent of any terrestrial telecommunication nodes. However, usage of satellite communication is expensive, and require high energy consumption (thereby also requiring a large battery pack). Further, the antenna must be sky visible. Usage of satellite communication may also be restricted by regulation on-board some vessel types, such as aeroplanes.

Thereby, the tracking of goods according to previously known technology has been restricted to terrestrial transportation over populated areas (or rather, areas having telecommunication network coverage). Recent improvements have however been made in order to by-pass the above-mentioned limitations during naval transportation. A "smart container" has been developed, as disclosed in documents WO2016151259A1 , WO2016083745A1 , and WO2016005675A1 . According to the disclosed solution, a ship container is equipped with a tracker device, able to communicate with a ship's long-range communications system (which may comprise e.g. satellite communication, VHF (Very High Frequency), or similar communication technology), directly of via other of their own containers equipped with trackers, capable of relaying signals. Fur- ther, sensors may be installed on the goods/ in the container for monitoring and reporting certain parameters. Thereby real-time location of the container may be determined, and data collections of the sensor/s may be made.

However, these described solutions have major limitations. For example, the solution does not allow to follow the goods from A to B. It allows to follow the goods only when it has been placed in the container; not in the warehouse or during pre-& post-carriage. Often, goods may be transported on several different vessels of different types, e.g., on a truck from the factory to the railway station, on a train to the harbour, on a boat to a harbour close to the recipient, then loaded on a truck for delivery to the final destination, etc. In particular, the disclosed solution does not work on aeroplanes and similar airborne transportations (drones, helicopters, etc.).

It is thus desired to improve tracking and tracing of goods when transported from point A to B, independently of the kind of vehicle, or vehicles, used during the transportation.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object to obviate at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide improved tracking of goods. This and other objects are achieved by the features of the appended independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

According to a first aspect, a tracker is provided. The tracker is associated with an object. The tracker aims at assisting a tracker management node in tracking of the object during transportation. The tracker comprises a receiver, configured to receive a transponder signal of a vessel. Further, the tracker also comprises a processing circuitry, configured to extract position data of the vessel and an identification reference of the vessel from the received transponder signal. In addition, the tracker also comprises a positioning unit, configured to determine geographical position of the tracker, based on a location system. The tracker also comprises a telecommunication unit, configured to transmit information, over a terrestrial telecommunication network, to the tracker management node, comprising the identification reference of the vessel, triggering an association of the position of the tracked object with position of the vessel at the tracker management node, thereby enabling the tracker management node to track the object by monitoring the vessel to a destination of the vessel, when the extracted position of the vessel coincide with the determined geographical position of the tracker, within a first distance.

According to a second aspect, a method is provided, for use in a tracker associated with an object. The method aims at assisting a tracker management node in tracking of the object during transportation. The method comprises receiving a transponder signal of a vessel. Further, the method also comprises extracting position data of the vessel and an identifica- tion reference of the vessel from the received transponder signal. In addition, the method also comprises determining geographical position of the tracker by a positioning unit in the tracker, based on a location system. The method, further, comprises verifying that the extracted position data of the vessel and the determined geographical position of the tracker coincide, within a first distance. The method also comprises transmitting information, over a terrestrial telecommunication network, to the tracker management node comprising the extracted identification reference of the vessel, triggering an association of the tracked object with the vessel at the tracker management node, thereby enabling the tracker management node to track the object by monitoring the vessel to a destination of the vessel, when the extracted position of the vessel coincide with the determined geographical position of the tracker, within a first distance.

According to a third aspect, a tracker management node is provided. The tracker management node aims at tracking an object, associated with a tracker according to the first aspect, during transportation. The tracker management node comprises a receiver, configured to receive information comprising an identification reference of a vessel and a confirmation that the tracker is on-board the vessel from the tracker, from the tracker, over a terrestrial telecommunication network. Further, the tracker management node also comprises a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain positioning data of the vessel via a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider. The processing circuitry is also config- ured to associate the position of the object with the position of the vessel, until the vessel reaches its destination.

According to a fourth aspect, a method is provided, for use in a tracker management node. The method aims at tracking an object, associated with a tracker, during transportation of the object. The method comprises receiving receive information comprising an identification reference of a vessel and a confirmation that the tracker is on-board the vessel, from the tracker, over a terrestrial telecommunication network. Further, the method also comprises obtaining positioning data of the vessel, via a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider. The method in addition comprises associating the position of the object with the received position of the vessel, until the vessel reaches its destination. Thanks to the disclosed solution, by letting the tracker scan for transponder signals, extract information from any detected transponder signal of a vessel and determine position of the tracker and compare the determined position and compare it with an extracted position of the vessel, it could be determined that the object has been loaded on-board the vessel. By triggering the tracker management node to track the vessel via vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider while the object is transported on-board the vessel, the signalling of the tracker could be disabled during the transportation with the vessel, which avoids disallowed signalling on-board certain vessels, yet allowing the tracker management node to follow the vessel, and thereby indirectly the object. Thereby, tracking and tracing of an object has been improved.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the described aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are described in more detail with reference to attached drawings, illustrating examples in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating transportation and tracking of an object according to some embodiments.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a tracker and a tracker management node, according to some embodiments.

Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating transportation and tracking of an object according to some embodiments.

Figure 4A is a flow chart illustrating a method in a tracker according to an embodiment. Figure 4B is a flow chart illustrating a method in a tracker according to an embodiment.

Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method in a tracker management node according to an embodiment.

Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a tracker management node according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention described herein are defined as a tracker, a tracker management node and methods therein, which may be put into practice in the embodiments described below. These embodiments may, however, be exemplified and realised in many dif- 5 ferent forms and are not to be limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these illustrative examples of embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete.

Still other objects and features may become apparent from the following detailed description, 10 considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the herein disclosed embodiments, for which reference is to be made to the appended claims. Further, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and pro- 15 cedures described herein.

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration over a scenario wherein an object 100 is tracked and traced by a tracker 1 10, during transportation from point A to point B. The object 100 may be e.g. a container such as e.g. an intermodal container, a box, a crate or similar. The object 20 100 may be any arbitrary entity which is transported, including a human, an animal, a vehicle, a piece of cargo/ freight, etc.

In the illustrated scenario, the object 100 is picked up at a starting point A by a truck and transported over land to a harbour, where it is loaded on a vessel 120. When the vessel 120 25 reaches a destination port, another truck picks up the object 100 and deliver it to its final destination B. This is however, merely a non-limiting example, many other arbitrary combinations of vehicles for transportation over land, sea, air and/ or space may be imagined.

Vessels 120 such as ships and/ or planes are equipped with collision avoidance transpond- 30 ers. These collision avoidance transponders are a requirement on commercial planes and ships, and are often present also on leasure boats, private aeroplanes, etc. However, collision avoidance transponders may also be provided on other vessels, such as terrestrial vessels, e.g. a truck, a car, a train or similar vehicle, which may be autonomous or manned in different embodiments.

35

AIS (Automatic Identification System) is used by ship more than 300 gross tonnage and passenger's ships; ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast) for most of air carriers and private or commercial operators. These transponders are using VHF (Very High Frequency) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio communications, ranging about 10 to 20 nautical miles. AIS is transmitted on 61 .975 MHz and 162.025 MHz while ADS-B is transmitted on 1090 MHz. An example of an AIS transponder for use on-board a ship is given in document US5506587. An example of an ADS-B transponder for use on aeroplanes is provided in document US7414567. These signals are normalised and as they are not encrypted or protected can be freely listened. For AIS and ADS-B messages contain: unique vessel identifier, GPS location, speed and status of the vessel 120.

When transported on earth (e.g. by a truck, car, motorcycle, trailer, bus, bike, train, tram, cable transport, aerial tramway, elevator, etc.) the tracker 1 10 may determine geographical position of the tracker 1 10/ object 100 at certain regularity. Also, a communication may be made with a tracker management node via a terrestrial telecommunication network. This is further illustrated and discussed in Figure 3 and the corresponding description text.

However, in some embodiments, also the terrestrial transportation vessel 120 may comprise a transponder. The tracker 1 10 may detect the transponder signal and then follow the same procedure as for ships/ aeroplanes.

The tracker 1 10 starts listening for AIS/ ADS-B transponder signals, extracts information such as unique vessel identifier, GPS (Global Positioning System) location, speed and status of the vessel 120 and transfer this information to the tracker management node. When the geographical position of the tracker 1 10, as determined e.g. via GPS or other positioning method using location capabilities of cellular communication networks, WiFi network recognition, triangulation etc.; and the extracted position of the vessel 120 coincide, or are situated within a margin at the same position, the tracker 1 10/ object 100 is considered loaded on the vessel 120. This information may be sent to the tracker management node. The tracker 1 10 may then enter a sleep mode until an estimated arrival time of the vessel 120. When in sleep mode, any wireless signal transmission of the tracker 1 10 is omitted; however, the tracker 1 10 may continue monitor the object 100 via sensor measurements, e.g. temperature, humidity, chocks, etc. These sensor measurements may be stored together with a time stamp and transmitted when wireless communication again is available; or when arriving at the vessel's and/ or the object's destination.

From the moment when the tracker 1 10 reports that the tracker 1 10/ object 100 is loaded on- board the vessel 120, the tracker management node associates the object 100 with the vessel 120 and follows the trajectory of the vessel 120. The position of the vessel 120 may be obtained from a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider.

5 Some examples of a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider:

https://www.marinetraffic.com, www.flightradar24.com and/ or www.radarbox24.com.

At the estimated time of arrival, the tracker 1 10 may enter active mode and starts scanning vehicle transponder signals. The vehicle status and speed may be extracted from the AIS/

10 ADS-B transponder signals, and based upon this information, the tracker 1 10 may determine that the vehicle 120 has reached its destination. The tracker 1 10 may then determine geographical position of the tracker 1 10 and send this information to the tracker management node over a telecommunication network such as e.g. GSM. The tracker management node may then deactivate the tracking of the vessel 120 and instead continue following the object

15 100 via the tracker 1 10.

The tracker 1 10 comprises a positioning unit 1 1 1 , configured to determine geographical position of the tracker 1 10, based on a satellite navigation system such as e.g. Navigation Signal Timing and Ranging (Navstar) Global Positioning System (GPS), Differential GPS 20 (DGPS), Galileo, GLONASS, or the like.

The tracker 1 10 also comprises a telecommunication unit 1 12, configured to transmit information, over a terrestrial telecommunication network, to the tracker management node.

25 The communication may be made over a wireless interface comprising, or at least being inspired by radio access technologies such as e.g. 3GPP LTE, LTE-Advanced, E-UTRAN, UMTS, GSM, GSM/ EDGE, WCDMA, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) networks, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Ac-

30 cess (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), 3GPP2 CDMA technologies, e.g., CDMA2000 1 x RTT and High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), or similar, just to mention some few options, via a wireless communication network.

35

Further, the tracker 1 10 comprises a receiver 1 13, configured to receive a transponder signal of a vessel 120. The transponder signal may be an AIS transponder signal for ships and other naval vessels while the transponder signal may be an ADS-B transponder signal for aeroplanes and similar aerial vehicles.

In addition, the tracker 1 10 furthermore comprises a processing circuitry 1 14, configured to extract position data of the vessel and perform other calculations of the tracker 1 10.

The processing circuitry 1 14 may also be configured to estimate an arrival time of the vessel 120 to the vessel's destination. Further, the processing circuitry 1 14 may be configured to monitor the transponder signal of the vessel 120 at the estimated arrival time of the vessel 120 to the vessel's destination. Also, the processing circuitry 1 14 may be configured to ex- tract position data and status of the vessel 120 from the monitored transponder signal. The processing circuitry 1 14 further comprises generate a command signal to transmit information, when the extracted position and status of the vessel 120 coincide with the geographical position of the destination, within a second distance, over the terrestrial telecommunication network, to the tracker management node, comprising a confirmation that the vessel 120 has arrived at the vessel's destination.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1 14 may also be configured to generate a command signal to switch the tracker 1 10 into sleeping mode when having transmitted information, over the terrestrial telecommunication network, to the tracker management node comprising the extracted identification reference of the vessel 120, triggering the association of the position of the tracked object 100 with the position of the vessel 120 at the tracker management node. In further addition, the processing circuitry 1 14 may be configured to generate a command signal to switch the tracker 1 10 into active mode at the estimated arrival time of the vessel 120 to the vessel's destination.

The tracker 1 10 may in some embodiments comprise an accelerometer 1 16, configured to detect any tracker movement. Also, the processing circuitry 1 14 may further be configured to estimate whether the vessel 120 is moving or has reached its destination, based on measurements of the accelerometer 1 16.

In some alternative embodiments, the tracker 1 10 may comprise at least one sensor 1 17, configured to measure at least one parameter related to the object 100. The sensor 1 17 may be for example be configured to measure temperature, magnetic fields, light, motion, gravity, humidity, moisture, vibration, pressure, electrical fields, sound, oxygen level and other phys- ical aspects of the external environment. The sensor 1 17 may also, or alternatively comprise an altimeter, a tilt sensor, a hydrometer, a barometer, a barograph, an infrared sensor, a tachometer, an odometer, an inclinometer, a gyroscope, a rain sensor, a humistor, a gas/ smoke detector, an olfactometer, a chock sensor or similar device. The expression "sensor" may be understood as a set of sensors 1 17 of the same or different types.

Further, the tracker 1 10 may comprise a memory 1 15, configured to store measurement values of the object 100, as perceived by the sensor 1 17, when the tracker 1 10 has been switched into sleeping mode.

The tracker 1 10 may in some embodiments comprise an accelerometer 1 16. By performing measurements on the optional accelerometer 1 16, it may be determined whether the tracker 1 10 (and thereby also the object 100 and the vessel 120) is stationary of not. It may thereby be avoided that telecommunication signals are emitted while the vessel 120 is up in the air/ at sea, which potentially could cause an accident.

In some embodiments, there may be at least two different and independent ways of deactivating transmission of telecommunication signals by the tracker 1 10 while being transported by the vessel 120, in order to avoid interference with the vessel's equipment; perhaps in particular when the vessel 120 is an aircraft. The deactivation of telecommunication may for example be inhibited when the air pressure is lower than a threshold limit (as measured by a pressure sensor in the tracker 1 10); by measuring acceleration with a tracker sensor; by setting a watchdog timer when being loaded on the plane, prohibiting signalling for as long as the plane trip is expected to last; by scanning and detecting transponder signals from the plane and prohibit signalling while transponder signals could be detected ; etc.

Further, the tracker 1 10 may comprise an energy source 1 18 such as e.g. a battery, for providing energy to the tracker 1 10. The energy source 1 18 may for example comprise a rechargeable battery.

The tracker 1 10 may in some embodiments also comprise a permanent magnet, in order to be easily removably attached, in case the object 100 comprises any magnetic metal or metal alloy such as e.g. steel.

In some embodiments, in case the object 100 comprises a human or an animal, the tracker 1 10 may be comprised under the skin of the object 100, mounted around a body part such as an arm or a leg, etc. Figure 2 illustrates a scenario wherein the object 100 and the therewith associated tracker 1 10 have been loaded on-board a vessel 120, and is approaching its destination harbour at the estimated arrival time. While the object 100 is on-board the vessel 120, the tracker 1 10 may be set into sleep mode, in order to not transmit any radio signals that possibly may disturb or interfere with the navigational electronics of the vessel 120. Another advantage of entering sleep mode is to save battery power and thereby extend battery life time of the tracker 1 10.

The vessel 120 continuously at predetermined time intervals emit a transponder signal, which is perceived by a satellite 230. In case the vessel 120 is a ship or other similar naval vehicle, the transponder signal may be an AIS signal. AIS was developed in the 1990s as a high intensity, short-range identification and tracking network and, at the time, it was not anticipated to be detectable from space. Nevertheless, since 2005, various entities have been experimenting with detecting AIS transmissions using satellite-based receivers and, since 2008, companies such as exactEarth (trademark), ORB- COMM (trademark), Spacequest (trademark), Spire (trademark) and also government pro- grams have deployed AIS receivers on satellites 230. The Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) radio access scheme used by the AIS system creates significant technical issues for the reliable reception of AIS messages from all types of transceivers: Class A, Class B, Identifier, AtoN (Aid to Navigation) and SART (Search and Rescue Transponder). However, the industry is seeking to address these issues through the development of new technologies and over the coming years the current restriction of satellite AIS systems to Class A messages is likely to dramatically improve with the addition of Class B and Identifier messages.

The fundamental challenge for AIS satellite operators is the ability to receive very large numbers of AIS messages simultaneously from a satellite's large reception footprint. There is an inherent issue within the AIS standard; the TDMA radio access scheme defined in the AIS standard creates 4500 available time-slots in each minute but this can be easily overwhelmed by the large satellite reception footprints and the increasing numbers of AIS transceivers, resulting in message collisions, which the satellite receiver 230 cannot process. Companies such as exactEarth (trademark) are developing new technologies such as AB- SEA, that will be embedded within terrestrial and satellite-based transceivers 230, which will assist the reliable detection of Class B messages from space without affecting the performance of terrestrial AIS.

In case the vessel 120 is an aircraft, the transponder signal may be an ADS-B signal.

ADS-B is being deployed by Aireon (trademark) on the Iridium (trademark) satellite network, a LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite network that was originally created to deliver phone and data service anywhere on the planet. Network of land based ADS-B receiving station are also collecting plane's ADS-B signal - same kind of station exist for AIS signal. By capturing ADS-B position data from aircraft flying below the satellite 230, the network will give the following capabilities: Air traffic control using surveillance based separation standards will be possible over water, in areas that radar does not currently cover. Currently, air traffic control 5 uses the larger procedural separation standard in oceanic and remote areas.

As is currently possible in radar covered areas, a position history will be available for lost aircraft, Malaysia Airlines (trademark) flight 370.

10 The system only receives ADS-B on aircraft broadcasting on the 1090 MHz frequency. This limits the system generally to airliners and business aircraft, despite the fact that small aircraft are frequently off radar due to mountains blocking the signal at low altitudes. The system could be compromised by smaller, private aircraft with exclusively belly mounted ADS- B antennas, due to the aircraft itself blocking the signal.

15

The rationale for using the Iridium satellite network for this new capability was due to: the Iridium (trademark) satellites 230 fly very low, and thus can receive the ADS-B out signals more reliably (transponders and ADS-B were designed for ground reception). Iridium satellites 230 are replaced relatively frequently due to the increased air friction at their lower alti- 20 tude, and thus lower lifespan. Thus, the system would be deployed on iridium faster. Iridium (trademark) provides worldwide coverage, including the poles.

The satellite 230 in turn forward perceived signals to a land based receiver and a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider 220.

25

The tracker management node 200 may then obtain information concerning geographical position of the vessel 120 from the vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider 220.

At the estimated arrival time, when the vessel 120 is approaching the harbour, the tracker 30 1 10 may wake up from sleep mode and start to investigate whether the vessel 120 has arrived or not. The investigation may comprise listening to the transponder signal and extract information concerning speed and vehicle status. The investigation may also, or alternatively comprise checking the movements of the object 100/ tracker 1 10/ vessel 120 via the accel- erometer 1 16, if any. Further, or alternatively, position of the vessel 120 may be extracted 35 from the transponder signal and a comparison may be made with the geographical position of the destination. If the positions coincide, a signal may be sent over the terrestrial telecommunication network 210, to the tracker management node 200, comprising a confirmation that the vessel 120 has arrived at the vessel's destination. Thereafter, the position and/ or status of the object 100 may be determined by the tracker 1 10 and reported to the tracker management node 200 via telecommunication signalling. In some embodiments, a geofencing functionality may be implemented in the tracker management node 200. Thereby, a geographical zone may be defined, in which the object 100/ tracker 1 10 is expected to be situated during the transportation. In case position of the object 100/ tracker 1 10 (and/ or the vessel 120 carrying the object 100/ tracker 1 10) is discovered outside the geofence, an alert may be triggered. The reason may be e.g. that the object 100/ tracker 1 10 has been loaded on the wrong vessel 120, that the vessel 120 has driven or been forced to land on another destination, the vessel 120 has been hijacked, the object 100/ tracker 1 10 has been stolen, etc. If the object 100 is loaded on the wrong vessel 120, it will be seen from the beginning that the vessel 120 is no going to the intended destination, e.g. by extraction of transponder signals. In any way, it will be discovered that the vessel route is not the "expected" before the vessel 120 is arriving to its destination. Thus, an early alert on a transportation delay is obtained. Also, the tracking will make it easier to trace the object 100/ tracker 1 10.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the tracker 1 10 when the object 100 is transported over land. The tracker 1 10 may then be continuously activated and the geographical position of the object 100/ tracker 1 10 may be determined continuously with a certain predetermined or configurable time intervals according to various embodiments.

Positioning by satellite navigation is based on distance measurement using triangulation from a number of satellites 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od. In this example, four satellites 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od are depicted, but this is merely an example. More than four satellites 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od may be used for enhancing the precision, or for creating redundancy. The satellites 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od continuously transmit information about time and date (for example, in coded form), identity (which satellite 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od that broadcasts), status, and where the satellite 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od are situated at any given time. The GPS satellites 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od sends information encoded with different codes, for example, but not necessarily based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). This allows information from an individual satellite 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od distinguished from the others' information, based on a unique code for each respective satellite 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od. This information can then be transmitted to be received by the appropriately adapted positioning unit 1 1 1 of the tracker 1 10 comprised in/ at the object 100. Distance measurement can according to some embodiments comprise measuring the difference in the time it takes for each respective satellite signal transmitted by the respective satellites 31 0a, 31 Ob, 31 Oc, 31 Od to reach the positioning unit 1 1 1 . As the radio signals travel at the speed of light, the distance to the respective satellite 31 Oa, 31 Ob, 31 Oc, 31 Od may be 5 computed by measuring the signal propagation time.

The positions of the satellites 31 Oa, 31 Ob, 31 Oc, 31 Od are known, as they continuously are monitored by approximately 15-30 ground stations located mainly along and near the earth's equator. Thereby the geographical position, i.e. latitude and longitude, of the object 1 00 may 10 be calculated by determining the distance to at least three satellites 31 0a, 31 0b, 31 0c, 31 Od through triangulation. For determination of altitude, signals from four satellites 31 0a, 310b, 31 0c, 31 Od may be used according to some embodiments.

However, the geographical position of the object 100 may alternatively be determined, e.g.

15 by detecting and recognising WiFi networks (WiFi networks along the route may be mapped with certain respective geographical positions in a database); by receiving a Bluetooth beaconing signal, associated with a geographical position, or other signal signatures of wireless signals such as e.g. by triangulation of signals emitted by a plurality of fixed base stations with known geographical positions; by having transponders positioned at known positions

20 around the route and a dedicated sensor in the object 1 00, for recognising the transponders and thereby determining the position ; etc. The position may alternatively be entered by a person loading the object 1 00 onto a vessel 1 20.

Having determined the geographical position of the object 1 00/ tracker 1 10, it may be trans- 25 mitted to the tracker management node 200, where it may be presented on a map, a screen or a display device where the position of the object 100 may be marked, in some alternative embodiments.

Figures 4A and 4B are a flow chart illustrating embodiments of a method 400 in a tracker 30 1 1 0, associated with an object 1 00 for assisting a tracker management node 200 in tracking of an object 100, during transportation with a vessel 1 20, and/ or a sequential plurality of vessels 1 20.

The vessel 1 20 may be a maritime vessel such as a ship; an aircraft such as an aeroplane, 35 a helicopter or a drone; or a terrestrial vessel such as a truck, a train or a car. The vessel 1 20 may be autonomous or manned. The vessel 120 may be any arbitrary vehicle having a transponder. The tracker 1 10 is arranged on or at the object 100 and associated with the object 100 by sending an identification reference of the tracker 1 10 together with an identification reference of the object 100 to the tracker management node 200, e.g. at the production site of the object 100, a place of departure or other similar place where the owner of the object 100 is in full control of the object 100.

To appropriately track the object 100, the method 400 may comprise a number of steps 401 - 413. It is however to be noted that any, some or all of the described steps 401 -413, may be performed in a somewhat different chronological order than the enumeration indicates. At least some of the steps 401 -413 may be performed simultaneously or even be performed in an at least partly reversed order according to different embodiments. Further, it is to be noted that some steps may be performed only in some particular embodiments, such as e.g. steps 404 and/ or 406-413; or may be performed in a plurality of alternative manners according to different embodiments, and that some such alternative manners may be performed only within some, but not necessarily all embodiments. The method 400 may comprise the subsequent steps:

Step 401 comprises receiving a transponder signal of a vessel 120. The transponder signal may be an AIS signal, an ADS-B signal, or a similar transponder signal. The vessel 120 may be a maritime vehicle such as a ship, an aeronautic vessel such as an aeroplane, or a terrestrial vehicle such as a truck or a car. Typically, maritime vehicles emit AIS signals while aeronautic vessels emit ADS-B signals. However, also other transponder signal protocols may be utilised in some alternative embodiments. An advantage of using the described method 500 also on a terrestrial vehicle such as a truck/ car is that the tracker battery could be saved by not having to transmit cellular communication radio signals. Also, the truck/ car may not have cellular network coverage during all the transportation path. The tracker 1 10 may be configured to receive all kinds of transponder signals; AIS signals and ADS-B signals; or only one of AIS signals or ADS-B signals in different embodiments. Thereby, the capability (and thus also the price) of the tracker 1 10 may be adapted to the expected mode of transportation of the object 100. In case it is known that the object 100 will only be transported by ship (but perhaps not when, or by which particular ship), it may be sufficient if the tracker 1 10 is only able to detect AIS transponder signals, etc.

Step 402 comprises extracting position data of the vessel 120 and an identification reference of the vessel 120 from the received 401 transponder signal. In some embodiments, also other information may be extracted, such as e.g. speed, status of the vessel 120, course, destination, estimated arrival time, etc.

Different transponder signal types may comprise different amount of information.

Step 403 comprises determining geographical position of the tracker 1 10, e.g. by a positioning unit 1 1 1 in the tracker 1 10, based on a satellite navigation system 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od. The satellite navigation system 310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od may be e.g. a GPS system, Differential GPS (DGPS), Galileo, GLONASS or similar.

Alternatively positioning may be determined in other ways, e.g. when a cellular network such as e.g. GSM/ GPRS may still (depending where the tracker 1 10 and the object 100 are loaded on the vessel 120) be reachable from a certain distance from the shore giving the opportunity to check that estimated locations (based on cellular radio signals emitted by base stations with known positions) are following / matching transponder received locations in order to give confirmation of the vessel identification number.

Step 404 comprises verifying that the extracted 402 position data of the vessel 120 and the determined 403 geographical position of the tracker 1 10 coincide, within a first distance.

The first distance may be set to e.g. 10 meters, 20 meters, 50 meters, 100 meters etc., or somewhere in between in different embodiments. This distance may be different for different vessels 120, depending on the size of the vessel 120, for example. The reason for introducing this first distance is because the positioning device of the vehicle 120 may be situated in the cockpit area while the object 100 is loaded into the cargo area.

Step 405, which only may be performed in some alternative embodiments, comprises estimating an arrival time of the vessel 120 to the vessel's destination. The arrival time may be estimated by the tracker 1 10 by obtaining information concerning the vessel's destination, knowledge of the current geographical position of the tracker 1 10/ object 100/ vessel 120, and an estimation of the cruising speed of the vessel 120.

However, in some embodiments, the estimated arrival time may be extracted from the received 401 transponder signal. In yet other embodiments, the estimated arrival time may be obtained from the tracker management node 200. The tracker management node 200 may then estimate the arrival time based on knowledge of the vessel's destination, the current geographical position and an estimation of cruising speed of the vessel 120. Alternatively, the arrival time may be estimated based on information extracted from a time table for the vessel 120, or be preset to a value based on experience from previous transportations.

An advantage with estimating the arrival time of the vessel 120 is that the estimated arrival time may be used for triggering wake up of the tracker signalling; possibly in combination 5 with accelerometer data and/ or height determination by sensors of the tracker 1 10. Thereby an extra security for avoiding cellular transmission before the vessel 120 has arrived to its destination is achieved.

Step 406 comprises transmitting information, over a terrestrial telecommunication network 10 210, to the tracker management node 200 comprising the extracted 402 identification reference of the vessel 120, triggering an association of the tracked object 100 with the vessel 120 at the tracker management node 200, thereby enabling the tracker management node 200 to track the object 100 by monitoring the vessel 120 to the destination of the vessel 120, when the extracted 402 position of the vessel 120 coincide with the determined 403 geo- 15 graphical position of the tracker 1 10, within the first distance.

In some embodiments, the information may be transmitted 406 only when the object 100/ tracker 1 10 detects via e.g. the accelerometer 1 16 that it is stationary. It may thereby be avoided that the object 100 is considered loaded on a passing vessel. Another possible so- 20 lution to this problem is to let loading personnel by a manual indication confirm that the object 100 is loaded on the vessel 120.

Step 407, which only may be performed in some alternative embodiments, comprises switching the tracker 1 10 into sleeping mode when having transmitted 406 the signal to the tracker 25 management node 200. The tracker management node 200 is thereby aware of that the object 100 is loaded on the vessel 120 and is thereby enabled to follow the travel of the object 100 by following the route of the vessel 120.

Sleeping mode of the tracker 1 10 may mean that no geographical positioning, no telecom- 30 munication signalling and no monitoring of transponder signals is made. However, the status of the object 100 may still be regularly determined by the sensor 1 17 of the tracker 1 10. The results of the sensor measurements may be stored in a memory 1 15 of the tracker 1 10, e.g. together with a time stamp. This information may later, when the tracker 1 10 has been set to active mode, be transmitted to the tracker management node 200.

35

It may thereby be confirmed e.g. that the object 100 has not been tampered with; or has been kept within a certain temperature interval, etc. by maintaining continuous sensor monitoring of the object 100 and storing the sensor values in a memory, e.g. with a time stamp. Otherwise, the point in time when e.g. a temperature limit has been exceeded can be determined and the reason may be further investigated ; and/ or the transported object 100 may be disposed.

The sensor 1 17 may be configured to measure e.g.: electrical resistivity, electrical conductivity, pressure, humidity, chocks, temperature, magnetic field, acceleration, inclination and/ or presence/ absence of a specific chemical substance in different embodiments. By keeping the tracker 1 10 in sleeping mode, energy is saved, which extend the battery life time of the batteries in the tracker 1 10. It is also avoided that telecommunication signals and/ or GPS signals are transmitted by the tracker 1 10 while the tracker 1 10/ object 100 is transported on-board the vessel 120, which may be prohibited and/ or may disturb navigation instruments or communication devices of the vessel 120.

Step 408, which only may be performed in some alternative embodiments, comprises switching the tracker 1 10 into active mode at the estimated 404 arrival time of the vessel 120 to the vessel's destination. By estimating the arrival time and autonomously activating the tracker 1 10 at the estimated arrival time, a re-activation of the tracker 1 10 may be made without requirements of receiving any external telecommunication signals, etc. , for awakening the tracker 1 10.

Step 409, which only may be performed in some alternative embodiments wherein step 408 has been performed, comprises monitoring the transponder signal of the vessel 120 at the estimated 405 arrival time of the vessel 120 to the vessel's destination.

In some embodiments, monitoring of the transponder signal may be made regularly at a predetermined or configurable time interval. It may thereby be detected that the vessel 120 has made an unplanned stop, for example. A possible, but perhaps not so frequent scenario may be that a vessel 120 has to seek another harbour/ airport than the destination due to harsh weather conditions, malfunctioning engines, grounding, navigation errors, sudden onboard disease, and various other unpredicted anomalies.

Step 410, which only may be performed in some alternative embodiments, comprises ex- tracting position data, and/ or status information, and/ or speed of the vessel 120 from the monitored 409 transponder signal.

In case the perceived transponder signal comprises information indicating that the vessel 120 has yet not reached its destination, e.g. by the status information being set to "under way using engine", the speed is significantly higher than zero, etc., the tracker 1 10 may return to sleep mode for a predetermined period of time, such as e.g. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, half an hour, etc., and then repeat steps 407-409 in a loop until it could be confirmed that the destination has been reached. It may thereby be avoided that the tracker 1 10 continue with the subsequently following method steps in case the transportation has been delayed etc.

Step 41 1 , which only may be performed in some alternative embodiments, comprises transmitting information, over the terrestrial telecommunication network 210, to the tracker man- agement node 200 comprising a confirmation that the vessel 120 has arrived at the vessel's destination when the extracted 410 position of the vessel 120 coincide with the geographical position of the vessel's destination, within a second distance.

The second distance may be predetermined or configurable and may be set to e.g. 10 me- ters, 20 meters, 50 meters, etc.

It is thereby avoided that the tracker 1 10 starts signalling when the object 100/ tracker 1 1 0 is situated on-board the vessel 120 during transportation, e.g. in case that the vessel 120 has been delayed, or has to continue to another harbour/ airfield for some unpredicted rea- son such as weather conditions, terrorist attack or similar. As mentioned several times before, it may be dangerous to allow the tracker 1 10 to start transmitting wireless cellular communication signals before it has been assured that the vessel 120 has landed.

Step 412, which only may be performed in some alternative embodiments, comprises meas- uring at least one parameter related to the object 100 by a sensor 1 17 comprised in the tracker 1 10. The sensor measurements may be made regularly at a predetermined or configurable time interval.

By making continuous sensor measurements, the status of the object 100 may be continu- ously monitored during the transportation and a set of parameters which is important for the object 100, such as temperature, humidity, integrity, etc. This may be performed continuously during the transportation and the result may be stored in a memory 1 15 or database 320, possibly associated with a time stamp. Step 413, which only may be performed in some alternative embodiments, comprises transmitting information comprising the measured 41 2 parameter, or parameters, of the object 100, over the terrestrial telecommunication network 210, to the tracker management node 200, thereby enabling the tracker management node 200 to monitor the status of the object 100.

In some embodiments, the tracker 1 10/ sensor 130 may continuously measure parameters of the object 100 and store the parameter values in the memory 1 15 while the tracker 1 10 is in sleep mode, for example together with a time stamp. When the object 100/ tracker 1 10 arrives to the destination of the vessel 120, a batch of stored parameter values and associated time stamps may be sent to the tracker management node 200. At this stage, the acquired, timestamped data matches with the location received via the data provider (satellite), in order add location to the data.

Figures 5 are a flow chart illustrating embodiments of a method 500 in a tracker management node 200 for tracing an object 100, associated with a tracker 1 10, during transportation. The tracking may be made independently of any vessel 120 or vessel types which are utilised during the transportation.

The association between the object 100 and the tracker 1 10 may be made e.g. at a production site or other similar location where the object owner is in full control over the object 100/ tracker 1 10. Thus, the tracker management node 200 may receive a unique identity reference of the object 100 and a unique identity reference of the tracker 1 10. The received iden- tity references may then be stored in a memory device of the tracker management node 200.

To appropriately track the object 100, the method 500 may comprise a number of steps 501 - 503. It is however to be noted that any, some or all of the described steps 501 -503, may be performed in a somewhat different chronological order than the enumeration indicates. At least some of the steps 501 -503 may be performed simultaneously or even be performed in an at least partly reversed order according to different embodiments. Further, it is to be noted that some steps may be performed in a plurality of alternative manners according to different embodiments, and that some such alternative manners may be performed only within some, but not necessarily all embodiments. The method 500 may comprise the subsequent steps:

Step 501 comprises receiving receive information comprising an identification reference of a vessel 120 and a confirmation that the tracker 1 10 is on-board the vessel 120, from the tracker 1 10, over a terrestrial telecommunication network 210. An identification reference of the vessel 1 20 may be a proper noun (La Nina); a proper noun combined with a standardised prefix based on the type of ship (e. g. RMS Titanic); a serial code; a unique, alphanumeric ID (e.g. A123B456C7); or an alphanumeric ID, a Hull number, an IMO (International Maritime Organisation) number, a Craft Identification Number (i.e. a permanent unique fourteen-digit alphanumeric identifier issued to all marine vessels in Europe), an ENI number (European Vessel Identification Number), a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI), an NAA (National Aviation Authority) or ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) registration number, etc. Some identification reference may be permanent, or temporary for the vessel 120. Further, the vessel 120 may have several identification references.

Step 502 comprises obtaining positioning data of the vessel 120, via a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider 220.

Some examples of vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider 220 may be e.g. www.flightradar24.com, www.radarbox24.com, www.marinetraffic.com, etc.

Step 503 comprises associating the position of the object 100 with the obtained 502 position of the vessel 120, until the vessel 120 reaches its destination.

It thereby becomes possible to follow the transportation of an object 100, also when out of reach from terrestrial telecommunication systems, or when the tracker 1 10 is forbidden to transmit telecommunication signals for security reasons, when on-board the vessel 120.

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a tracker management node 200. The tracker management node 200 is configured for tracking an object 100, associated with a tracker 1 10, during transportation, independently of the type of vessel 120 which is used for the transportation. The tracker management node 200 is configured for performing the method 500 ac- cording to at least some of the previously described method steps 501 -503.

The tracker management node 200 comprises a receiver 610, configured to receive information comprising an identification reference of the vessel 120 and a confirmation that the tracker 1 10 is on-board the vessel 120 from the tracker 1 10, from the tracker 1 10, over a terrestrial telecommunication network 210.

The tracker management node 200 also comprises a processing circuitry 620. The processing circuitry 620 is configured to obtain positioning data of the vessel 120 via a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider 220. Further, the processing circuitry 620 is con- figured to associate the position of the object 100 with the position of the vessel 120, until the vessel 120 reaches its destination.

The processing circuitry 620 may comprise one or more instances of a processing circuit, i.e. a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a processing unit, a processing circuit, a processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor, or other processing logic that may interpret and execute instructions. The herein utilised expression "processing circuitry" may thus represent a plurality of processing circuits, such as, e.g., any, some or all of the ones enumerated above.

In some embodiments, the receiver 610 may be further configured to receive information from the tracker 1 10, over the terrestrial telecommunication network 210, confirming that the vessel 120 has been loaded or has arrived at the vessel's destination and information com- prising geographical position of the tracker 1 10. In some such embodiments, the processing circuitry 620 may be configured to disassociate the position of the object 100 with the position of the vessel 120 and instead associate the position of the object 100 with the position of the tracker 1 10. In yet some embodiments, the receiver 610 may be further configured to receive information comprising at least one parameter related to the object 100 from the tracker 1 10, over a terrestrial telecommunication network 210. Also, the tracker management node 200 may comprise a memory 625, configured to store the received information comprising the parameter related to the object 100, associated with an identity reference of the object 100, a re- ceived geographical position of the object 100 and/ or a time stamp.

The memory 625 may comprise a physical device utilised to store data or programs, i.e., sequences of instructions, on a temporary or permanent basis. According to some embodiments, the memory 625 may comprise integrated circuits comprising silicon-based transis- tors. Further, the memory 625 may be volatile or non-volatile. The memory 625 is configured to store an original sensor value, or a plurality of original sensor values in embodiments where several sensors 1 17 are comprised in the tracker 120 together with other information such as e.g. a time stamp, a geographical position of the tracker 1 10, etc. Further, sensor values and other data may be stored for a plurality of trackers 120, managed by the tracker management node 200.

Further, the tracker management node 200 may comprise a transmitter 630, configured to transmit information to an output unit 600, for outputting information concerning the state and/ or position of the object 100/ tracker 1 10. The tracker management node 200 may be connected to a web site to display the tracking information and related alarms (e.g. temp outside of the defined acceptable temperature, geofencing, etc.). API (Application programming interface) or ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) connector may also be available to directly connect supply chain to the system. Thereby, a user may track and trace the object 100, or even a plurality of distinct objects 100, via the output unit 600. In some embodiments, the user may receive an alert when a sensor measurement by the tracker 1 10 has exceeded a threshold limit or when the tracker 5 1 10 is leaving or entering a defined area or road. The alarm may be time specific in some embodiments, e.g. "the tracker must arrive this location before xx:xx" 'leave before", "board before", etc... "

The above described method steps 401 -413 and/ or method steps 501 -503 may be imple-0 mented through the one or more processor circuits 1 14, 620, together with a computer program product for performing at least some of the functions of the method steps 401 -413 and/ or method steps 501 -503. Thus, a computer program comprising program code may perform a method 400, 500 according to any, at least some, or all of the functions of the method steps 401 -413 and/ or method steps 501 -503 for tracking the object 100 during transportation.5

The computer program product mentioned above may be provided for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing at least some of the method steps 401 - 413 and/ or method steps 501 -503 according to some embodiments when being loaded into the processor circuits 1 14, 620. The data carrier may be, e.g., a hard disk, a CD0 ROM disc, a memory stick, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device or any other appropriate medium such as a disk or tape that may hold machine readable data in a non- transitory manner. The computer program product may furthermore be provided as computer program code on a server and downloaded to the tracker 1 10 and/ or the tracker management node 200, e.g., over an Internet connection.

5

As used herein, the term "and/ or" comprises any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The term "or" as used herein, is to be interpreted as a mathematical OR, i.e., as an inclusive disjunction; not as a mathematical exclusive OR (XOR), unless expressly stated otherwise. In addition, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are to be inter-0 preted as "at least one", thus also possibly comprising a plurality of entities of the same kind, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "includes", "comprises", "including" and/ or "comprising", specifies the presence of stated features, actions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/ or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, actions, integers, steps, operations, ele-5 ments, components, and/ or groups thereof. A single unit such as e.g. a processor may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/ distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms such as via Internet or other wired or wireless communication system.

Claims

1 . A tracker (1 10), associated with an object (100), for assisting a tracker management node (200) in tracking of the object (100) during transportation, which tracker (1 10) com- prises:

a receiver (1 13), configured to receive a transponder signal of a vessel (120);

a processing circuitry (1 14), configured to extract position data of the vessel (120) and an identification reference of the vessel (120) from the received transponder signal; a positioning unit (1 1 1 ), configured to determine geographical position of the tracker (1 10), based on a location system (310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od);

a telecommunication unit (1 12), configured to transmit information, over a terrestrial telecommunication network (210), to the tracker management node (200), comprising the identification reference of the vessel (120), triggering an association of the position of the tracked object (100) with position of the vessel (120) at the tracker management node (200), thereby enabling the tracker management node (200) to track the object (100) by monitoring the vessel (120) to a destination of the vessel (120), when the extracted position of the vessel (120) coincide with the determined geographical position of the tracker (1 10), within a first distance.

2. The tracker (1 10) according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry (1 14) is further configured to:

estimate an arrival time of the vessel (120) to the vessel's destination;

monitor the transponder signal of the vessel (120) at the estimated arrival time of the vessel (120) to the vessel's destination;

extract position data and status of the vessel (120) from the monitored transponder signal; and

generate a command signal to transmit information, when the extracted position and status of the vessel (120) coincide with the geographical position of the destination, within a second distance, over the terrestrial telecommunication network (210), to the tracker man- agement node (200), comprising a confirmation that the vessel (120) has arrived at the vessel's destination.

3. The tracker (1 10) according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry (1 14) is further configured to:

generate a command signal to switch the tracker (1 10) into sleeping mode when having transmitted information, over the terrestrial telecommunication network (210), to the tracker management node (200) comprising the extracted identification reference of the vessel (120), triggering the association of the position of the tracked object (100) with the position of the vessel (120) at the tracker management node (200); and

generate a command signal to switch the tracker (1 10) into active mode at the esti- mated arrival time of the vessel (120) to the vessel's destination.

4. The tracker (1 10) according to any one of claims 1 -3, further comprising:

an accelerometer (1 16), configured to detect any tracker movement; and wherein the processing circuitry (1 14) is further configured to estimate whether the vessel (120) is moving or has reached its destination, based on measurements of the accelerometer (1 16).

5. The tracker (1 10) according to any one of claims 1 -4, further comprising:

a sensor (1 17), configured to measure at least one parameter related to the object (100); and

a memory (1 15), configured to store measurement values of the object (100), as perceived by the sensor (1 17), when the tracker (1 10) has been switched into sleeping mode.

6. A method (400) in a tracker (1 10), associated with an object (100), for assisting a tracker management node (200) in tracking of the object (100) during transportation, where- in the method (400) comprises:

receiving (401 ) a transponder signal of a vessel (120);

extracting (402) position data of the vessel (120) and an identification reference of the vessel (120) from the received (401 ) transponder signal;

determining (403) geographical position of the tracker (1 10) by a positioning unit (1 1 1 ) in the tracker (1 10), based on a location system (310a, 310b, 310c, 31 Od);

verifying (404) that the extracted (402) position data of the vessel (120) and the determined (403) geographical position of the tracker (1 10) coincide, within a first distance; and transmitting (406) information, over a terrestrial telecommunication network (210), to the tracker management node (200) comprising the extracted (402) identification reference of the vessel (120), triggering an association of the tracked object (100) with the vessel (120) at the tracker management node (200), thereby enabling the tracker management node (200) to track the object (100) by monitoring the vessel (120) to a destination of the vessel (120), when the extracted (402) position of the vessel (120) coincide with the determined (403) geographical position of the tracker (1 10), within the first distance.

7. A tracker management node (200) for tracking an object (100), associated with a tracker (1 10), during transportation, wherein the tracker management node (200) comprises: a receiver (610), configured to receive information comprising an identification reference of a vessel (120) and a confirmation that the tracker (1 10) is on-board the vessel (120) from the tracker (1 10), from the tracker (1 10), over a terrestrial telecommunication network (210);

a processing circuitry (620), configured to:

obtain positioning data of the vessel (120) via a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider (220); and

associate the position of the object (100) with the position of the vessel (120), until the vessel (120) reaches its destination.

8. The tracker management node (200) according to claim 7, wherein the receiver (610) is further configured to receive information from the tracker (1 10), over the terrestrial telecommunication network (210), confirming that the vessel (120) has arrived at the vessel's destination and information comprising geographical position of the tracker (1 10); and wherein the processing circuitry (620) is configured to disassociate the position of the object (100) with the position of the vessel (120) and instead associate the position of the object (100) with the position of the tracker (1 10).

9. The tracker management node (200) according to any one of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the receiver (610) is further configured to receive information comprising at least one parameter related to the object (100) from the tracker (1 10), over a terrestrial telecommunication network (210), and wherein the tracker management node (200) comprises a memory (625), configured to store the received information comprising the parameter related to the object (100), associated with an identity reference of the object (100), a received ge- ographical position of the object (100) and/ or a time stamp.

10. A method (500) in a tracker management node (200) for tracing an object (100), associated with a tracker (1 10), during transportation, wherein the method (400) comprises: receiving (501 ) receive information comprising an identification reference of a vessel (120) and a confirmation that the tracker (1 10) is on-board the vessel (120), from the tracker (1 10), over a terrestrial telecommunication network (210);

obtaining (502) positioning data of the vessel (120), via a vehicle transponder signal capturing data provider (220); and

associating (503) the position of the object (1 00) with the obtained (502) position of the vessel (120), until the vessel (120) reaches its destination.