In today's container terminals, the level of management and informatization has become an important key to restricting container transportation. In container transportation, all cargo information still relies on traditional paper manifests. The circulation, flow direction and identification technology of containers are still relatively backward, and the identification of containers is basically still in a manual or semi-manual state.

In recent years, in the identification of containers, technologies such as barcode and digital camera software identification have been used, but. Due to its poor reliability, the container itself does not carry any cargo information, and the amount of cargo information stored by barcodes and digital cameras is extremely small, which brings inconvenience to the identification and recording of container transportation information, and it is impossible to track and record the logistics information in container transportation. Electronic information flow information, so it cannot be widely used and promoted.

In order to improve the management level and informatization level of container transportation, we have researched and developed a container electronic label system with the world's leading technical level of ISM2.

1. Development status of container electronic label

Electronic tags (RFID, radio frequency identification technology) are widely used in industrial automation, commercial automation, transportation control management and many other fields. At present, there is no successful precedent for the application of container electronic tags in foreign countries. AMTECH has tried on containers. Passive electronic tags were used, but the technical requirements were not met, and the first test failed.

SAVI has achieved good trial results by using active electronic tags in the military container transportation of the US Department of Defense, but due to the high price of its products and systems and industry restrictions, it can only be used in the US military. It has been applied in civil container logistics. It shows that we have mastered RFID and its extension technology, and are in a leading position in the world.

Container electronic tags have very typical industry characteristics. First of all, the operating environment of the container electronic label system is the most complex and technically difficult in the entire electronic label application field. The technical indicators, technological indicators and functional requirements proposed are far different from other fields; The application of labels is in a huge logistics network environment, which involves the participation and cooperation of many countries, regions and departments, and involves many departments and units. How to promote the application is very critical; Third, the comprehensive application of container electronic labels will definitely have a huge impact on the logistics industry, and at the same time will greatly promote production and work efficiency, and ensure the quality of cargo transportation.

Shanghai Port's domestic trade container electronic label application demonstration is a precedent for domestic container electronic label application. All the technologies and products it uses have completely independent intellectual property rights in China, and phased results have been achieved so far.

We have also developed electronic seals, and pioneered a connection method for container electronic labels and electronic seals. Functionally, it can record the number of times of opening and closing the door, and can seamlessly connect to the container electronic label, which has reached and exceeded the international advanced level.

2. Application system for automatic identification of electronic labels for domestic trade containers

2.1 General idea

2.1.1 System Architecture

The domestic trade container electronic label automatic identification application system is constructed as a three-level system structure, which is divided into the following three subsystems from bottom to top.

1) Port Container Electronic Tag Public Motion Identification System The container electronic tag device adopts radio frequency identification technology, which is a non-contact method; it can identify and read and write multiple stationary tags and moving tags at the same time, with a large amount of stored information, long service life, and confidentiality. Good performance, the electronic label is installed on the surface of the container box.

The base station reader and antenna are installed on the running channel of the container truck, and the wireless reader is installed on the container lifting equipment. The reader can read or write the information in the container transportation to the electronic tag, and use the data interface to use Wired and wireless transmission methods are used to exchange data with the container management system to achieve automatic identification and real-time management of containers.

The electronic label automatic identification system for domestic trade containers is mainly used for the entry and exit gates of the container port area, the yard tire-type gantry crane, the quayside gantry crane or the bridge crane and other equipment, and the management personnel hand-held reading and writing occasions.

Under the current container loading and unloading process conditions in the port area, the main functions and characteristics of the domestic trade container electronic label equipment are as follows: 

① The container passes through the port area crossing (vehicle speed is 5 km/h), free from rain, snow, fog, extreme heat, and severe cold. , the influence of harsh environments such as noise, machinery, vibration, shock and large-scale metal interference;

②The active electronic tag with the working frequency band of 2.45 GHz is tested;

③Test the technical parameters of various electronic label equipment (action distance, anti-collision performance, transmission speed, working temperature, working humidity, impact resistance, lightning protection, anti-electromagnetic interference characteristics, etc.);

④ Test the container practical application of base station type, wireless type, yard sentinel technology and hand-held electronic tag reader/writer. Electronic label system includes container electronic label, container electronic label sentinel, base station reader, wireless reader, wireless bridge, hand-held PDA reader and electronic seal, etc.

2) The port area wireless communication system of the electronic label automatic identification system The container electronic label automatic identification system is applied to the port area wireless communication system, and will be arranged on equipment such as terminal entrances and exits, yard gantry cranes, shore door cranes or bridge cranes. The electronic label information read by the identification device is seamlessly connected to the back-end container information real-time exchange system.

The key technology is to study the large open space coverage mode of WLAN. In a large open space, a larger range of wireless signal coverage is required, and auxiliary facilities such as power amplifiers and antennas for wireless local area networks are used to expand the wireless network coverage area by cooperating with APs to meet the needs of large open space network coverage; The technology of seamless access to the real-time exchange system of container information from the electronic label information read or written by the equipment, and realize network roaming and resource sharing within a certain range; research to meet the limitations of the port geographical environment and the actual requirements of applications, installation and deployment requirements and implementation costs of wireless transmission communication technology.

3) Neija container intelligent management system with integrated electronic label It is tailor-made for Shanghai Port Longwu Port Co., Ltd. It integrates electronic circulation of EDI documents, automatic pre-allocation of import and export container areas, visual stowage, and graphical attribute setting of yard , management, gantry cranes, bridge cranes to confirm the final container position in real time, central monitoring of all port machinery and other container real-time operation platform software that is seamlessly connected with electronic tags.

The system integrates the advantages of the current domestic and foreign trade and domestic trade port container management software, is standardized, universal and operable, and is seamlessly connected with the electronic label, and is compatible with the original Longwu Port for nearly 8 years. There is historical data on container operations. Its completion, implementation and promotion have laid a solid foundation for accelerating the construction of China's domestic trade port management information system, enabling port data exchange, and ultimately achieving information sharing between ports, shipping, cargo and superior authorities.

In addition to the basic functional modules of the common container operation platform (such as "entry and exit", "inbound and unloading", "export loading", "yard management", "container management", "charge summary", "summary query", "statistics" In addition to "reports", etc.), it also includes some special functions, such as system seamless integration of electronic tags (RFID), parameter specification customization or import, EDI acceptance/conversion/automatic bin pre-allocation, ship double pull unification/separation design, stacking Yard attributes and specification graphics allocation, gantry crane/bridge crane container position real-time confirmation, visual stowage, central monitoring of port machinery, loading/unloading operation line assignment, gantry crane/bridge crane/inner card terminal operation platform, etc.

The main key technologies include real-time control of B/S architecture, graphical representation of yard/ship diagram, and yard allocation algorithm. At the same time, the system supports real-time reading, writing and storage of electronic tags, which is convenient for electronic flow to track logistics across the board. Moreover, it can provide an open and unified platform for personalized services (web applications, SMS applications, etc.) for different customers in the future.

2.1.2 Establish a domestic trade container electronic label demonstration system

The overall plan of "two ports and one voyage" for the domestic trade container electronic label demonstration line. This is the first industrial test of a full-service demonstration line of container electronic tags completed in 2 ports and 1 route in China. It is based on the real-time information exchange function of container electronic tags, including the writing of cargo information, the process of port entry and exit, entry and exit yard, inventory, loading and unloading, shipping and container logistics information query. Through the industrial test of "two ports and one shipping", establish an inter-port management system for domestic trade containers based on electronic tags, build a national inter-port domestic trade container network demonstration line, implement digital management of the whole process of port container transportation, and provide customers with real-time query. of quality service. The key technology is to design and build a demonstration system for domestic trade ports, including three major parts: the container electronic label automatic identification system, the port wireless communication system and the container information real-time exchange system. Each port is equipped with electronic label reading and writing equipment on equipment such as port entrances and exits, yard gantry cranes, shore gantry cranes or bridge cranes, as well as hand-held reading and writing equipment, as well as display equipment in the cab of loading and unloading machinery, etc.; The industrial test of container transportation and information exchange based on electronic label is carried out on the practical application environment of "port, one route and one port".

2.1.3 Study the port information security management technology after adopting the electronic label automatic identification system to build a multi-level security mechanism that meets the needs of the port container electronic label demonstration system, and establish a security authentication system and a log analysis system. The key technologies are as follows: ①Research on the information transmission security technology to ensure the air interface between the electronic tag reader and the electronic tag, realize the encrypted storage and transmission of information, and authorize the writer to verify the writing operation of the electronic tag; ②Research on electronic tags Information communication encryption technology between tag reader and host; ③ research on information transmission security technology between wireless communication systems; ④ research on security support system in container information real-time exchange system.

2.1.4 Study and establish a draft standard for related technologies of electronic labels for domestic trade containers

A new electronic label structure system suitable for containers in my country is proposed as a standard for automatic identification of port containers. The goal is to create a migration path between ports to help people transition from the existing containerless electronic labelling method to adopting the new electronic labelling method. The electronic label structure system adopts the basic structure of the Global Trade Number (GTIN).

In the design of electronic label system, advanced, mature and practical technology is adopted. The adopted hardware equipment and software system meet the requirements of standardization and openness, and have expansibility and flexibility. In addition to this standard, the design of the electronic label system should also comply with the relevant national and local design specifications and regulations. The protocols, buses, interfaces, etc. used in the electronic label equipment should adopt the corresponding industry standards and be in line with international standards.

2.2 Technical content and key technologies

2.2.1 Electronic label coding and authorization

1) Electronic label storage information content Electronic label storage information content is divided into 2 parts and 5 areas: The first part is divided into 4 areas to store 4 types of information:

①Fixed information (Area A) includes serial number, box number, box holder, box type and size;

②The information of the goods (area B) includes the waybill number, seal number, port of departure, port of destination, name of the goods, box weight, number of pieces, and special requirements for the goods;

③Other information (area C) includes the port of departure record, the transfer port record, the transfer port container yard hoisting record, the destination port record, the destination port container yard hoisting record, the machine ID number and the damage record;

④ Electronic seal information (area D) includes unpacking date, unpacking time (hours, minutes, seconds) and cumulative unpacking times. The second part stores freight forwarding information (area E) and records the relevant content of the consignment letter of authorization.

2) Authorization of reading and writing electronic labels in each link According to the characteristics of container transportation, certain authority settings are given to reading and writing electronic labels in each link, including information such as freight forwarding, port of departure (entry), damage records, and automatic writing of electronic seals. .

2.2.2 Main technical content and characteristics of container electronic label

The basic principle of RFID technology is electromagnetic theory. The advantage of the radio frequency system is that it is not limited to the line of sight, the recognition distance is farther than the optical system, the radio frequency identification card can read and write, can carry a large amount of data, is difficult to forge, and is intelligent. It is suitable for occasions that require non-contact data collection and exchange, such as container tracking and vehicle identification. Because RFID tags have readable and writable capabilities, it is especially suitable for occasions that require frequent data changes.

1) Container electronic label Container electronic label is an automatic identification device with microwave two-way communication function, which is used as the information carrier and safety certification device of the attached container. Its technical features are as follows:

①Using a unique dual-band working method, normal reading and writing work in the ISM 2.4 GHz frequency band, and regional activation works in the 125 kHz frequency band;

②Adopt active electronic tags, with 32k data storage capacity, with readable and writable functions;

③The working mode activated by 125 kHz passive tag electromagnetic wave power supply;

④The internal use of 125 channels, the communication rate of 1 MbPs, to meet the needs of real-time exchange of large-capacity information of container electronic tags;

⑤Unique ultra-low power consumption technology, the service life can reach 10 years;

⑥High-performance 16-bit microprocessor, support online programming, wireless program download;

⑦ Adopt time division multiple access and synchronous communication mechanism based on HDLC protocol;

⑧High security data transmission mechanism, support two-way authentication and encryption/decryption;

⑨Solid-state package, reliable anti-disassembly function, to meet the requirements of industrial environment.

Its core innovative technologies are:

①The working mode of active electronic tag communication based on ultra-low power consumption state;

②Anti-collision algorithm based on random delay mechanism;

③ Electronic label communication security mechanism based on Hash function for local address access and polynomial encryption;

④ Regional activation mechanism based on the working principle of low-frequency 125 kHz passive tags;

⑤Tag embedded real-time task system centered on event-driven, the task system processes events to complete specific functions or handle system failures, so as to restore the system to normal work.

2) The base station reader for the container electronic tag exchanges data with the container electronic tag in a fixed position such as the entrance and exit by means of wireless communication, collects and updates the information in the tag, and communicates with the computer through RS232/485 and other methods.

The technical characteristics of the base station reader are as follows:

①Work in the ISM2.4GHz frequency band;

②Encryption calculation and authentication to ensure data security and prevent link eavesdropping and data cracking;

③Using channel isolation technology, multiple devices do not interfere with each other;

④Advanced anti-collision technology, support multi-mark reading and writing;

⑤The working mode of the microwave module can be configured, and the transmit power software can be adjusted;

⑥Anti-interference and lightning protection design;

⑦Support RS232/485 wired communication with upper male;

⑧Meet the requirements of industrial environment.

Its core innovative technologies are:

①Multi-reader anti-jamming technology based on channel isolation and segmentation technology, supports multi-readers to work together in the same area;

②The efficient anti-collision algorithm based on frequency hopping technology can read hundreds of tags at the same time;

③ Using asymmetric encryption technology, the balance between the security, power consumption and computing performance of the tag and the reader is realized;

④The reader command adopts the wireless variable length frame structure according to the size of the communication data;

⑤The power can be configured in the working mode to realize the software smooth control of multi-level recognition distance.

3) Container electronic tag wireless reader The wireless reader is installed on mobile devices such as gantry cranes, bridge cranes, door cranes, reach stackers, etc., and exchanges, collects and updates data with container electronic tags by means of wireless communication. The information in the tag, and communicate with the computer wirelessly through the container electronic tag wireless bridge.

The technical characteristics of the wireless reader are as follows:

①~⑥ are the same as the base station reader;

⑦Support wireless communication with the host computer;

⑧Support wireless access of local space in sentry mode. Its core innovative technologies are: ①~④The same as the base station reader; ⑤Based on the sentinel working mode, it can achieve unique wireless access to tags in the local space.

4) Container Electronic Tag Wireless Bridge The wireless bridge is a wireless communication device 6 that replaces the communication cable of the tag reader/writer.

Its characteristics are:

①The wireless bridge and the wireless reader are used in pairs, which are transparent to the devices connected at both ends;

②The data communication rate reaches 1 Mbps:

③RS232/485 interface;

④Data encryption to prevent security attacks;

⑤Anti-interference and lightning protection design.

5) Container Electronic Tag Sentinel Container Electronic Tag Sentinel is used to complete the unique automatic identification of container electronic tags in conjunction with wireless readers in yards, bridge cranes, gantry cranes, portal cranes, forklifts and other occasions.

Its characteristics are:

①Using the low frequency 125 kHz working frequency band;

②The 125 KHz low frequency circuit in the container electronic tag is activated by electromagnetic wave power supply;

③Support sleep mode in non-working state and mode switching of fast wake-up startup;

④Support automatic detection of working status and automatic mode switching;

⑤Advanced anti-collision technology, support multi-tag reading and writing;

⑥ Unique overall low-power design;

⑦The field strength can be measured, and the transmit power can be adjusted by software;

⑧ Anti-interference and lightning protection design.

6) Container electronic label hand-held reading and writing image Hand-held reader-writer is used to complete the reading and information exchange of container electronic label in occasions such as the source information writing of the freight forwarder, the port and terminal goods, and the shipping.

Its characteristics are:

① One ④ is the same as the innovative technology of the base station reader;

⑤The industry's first long-distance electronic tag handheld reader based on PDA CF interface;

⑥Support PALM and WINCE 3.0, 4.2, 5.0 MOBILE mainstream embedded operating systems, provide a complete secondary development SDK, and can quickly develop applications;

⑦The power can be configured in the working mode to realize the software smooth control of multi-level recognition distance;

⑧ Small size, easy to carry, strong versatility and powerful functions.

7) Container electronic seal The container electronic seal has the following characteristics:

①2.45 GHz and 125 kHz dual-band operation;

②Integrate door sensor and light sensor to complete container intrusion monitoring and meet anti-terrorism and anti-theft requirements;

③Meet the safety requirements;

④Monitor the status of container transportation;

⑤ With time stamped event recording and storage;

⑥It adopts modular design, which can expand radiation and chemical detection sensors, etc.;

⑦The operating temperature is -40~+80℃, and the humidity is 95%;

⑧Solid-state package, resistant to high-strength drop and vibration, to meet the requirements of industrial environments.