Title: Multi-agent-based smart cargo tracking system

Authors: Lixin Zhou; Catherine Xiaocui Lou; Yiran Chen; Yaxi Xia; Ping Li

Addresses: School of Software and Microelectronics, Peking University, Beijing 102600, China ' Center for Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia ' College of Software, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China ' Finance and Taxation Department, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China ' School of Software and Microelectronics, Peking University, Beijing 102600, China

Abstract: Cargo tracking system plays an important role in logistics and supply chain management. This paper presents an agent-based intelligent cargo tracking system including agent structures and system architecture which is based on the internet of things. At first, the concept and methods of cargo information modelling are introduced. Cargo information includes static information and dynamic information. The cargo information model can be used in the whole life cycle of a cargo and includes all information needed for logistics chain management. Then, the cargo information contents and structure are explained prior to the proposed intelligent cargo tracking system. In this system, a model that includes all information needed in logistics chain management is used in the tracking of a product lifecycle. The paper illustrates the implementation of the proposed intelligent cargo tracking system and its application. Effective monitoring and controlling of the entire cargo conveyance process with anytime-anywhere features is implemented.

Keywords: multi-agent systems; MAS; agent-based systems; cargo tracking; internet of things; IoT; cargo information; information modelling; radio frequency identification; RFID; smart tracking; logistics; supply chain management; SCM; intelligent tracking; product lifecycle; monitoring; control.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHPCN.2015.066529

International Journal of High Performance Computing and Networking, 2015 Vol.8 No.1, pp.47 - 60

Received: 25 Sep 2012
Accepted: 03 Sep 2013
Published online: 24 Dec 2014 *

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