Determining node location based on context data in a wireless node network

• US 10,078,811 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Skaaksrud, Ole-Petter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, George
• Application Number:
  US14/446,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00256 Delivery operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/02 Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/102 Straps, bands, strings or other elongate elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/226 Communication links with the remote-control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/43 Control of position or course in two dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/81 Handing over between on-board automatic and on-board manual control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 : Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 : Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 : Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 : Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 : Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 : specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 : Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 : using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 : using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 : Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 : stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 : ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 : specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 : for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 : Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 : using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 : characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 : characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 : Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 : Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 : TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 : with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining an improved location of a node in a wireless node network based on context data are described. A network device, such as a master node or server, accesses a first type of the context data related to a proximate environment of the node being located. The first type of the context data includes signal degradation information for a second node (similar to the first node) in a similar environment to the proximate environment of the first node. Based upon this first type of context data, the network device adjusts a communication distance related to the first node, such as a transmission distance or receiver sensitivity range distance. The network device then determines the improved location of the first node based upon the adjusted communication distance that accounts for signal degradation known to affect the similar second node in the similar environment.

Claims

1. A method for determining an improved location of a first node in a wireless node network based on context data and by a network device deployed in the wireless node network, the method comprising:

accessing, by the network device, a first type of the context data related to a proximate environment of the first node, wherein the first type of the context data comprises signal degradation information on how a second node would operate in a similar environment to the proximate environment of the first node when the second node is a similar type as the first node;

adjusting, by the network device, an anticipated communication distance setting related to the first node based upon on the first type of the context data;

determining, by the network device, the improved location of the first node based upon the adjusted communication distance setting; and

storing, by the network device, the determined improved location of the first node as part of location data maintained on a memory storage of the network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is part of a node-enabled package;

and

wherein the step of determining the improved location of the first node further comprises determining, by the network device, the improved location of the first node while the first node is within the node-enabled package and while the node-enabled package is within a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

generating, by the network device, a location message regarding where the node-enabled package is located within the vehicle based upon the determined improved location of the first node; and

transmitting, by the network device, the location message to another network device in the wireless node network for display on a user interface of the another network device.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

accessing, by the network device, shipping information related to the node-enabled package;

generating, by the network device, a relocation message regarding where the node-enabled package is to be relocated within the vehicle based upon the determined improved location of the first node and the accessed shipping information; and

transmitting, by the network device, the location message to another network device in the wireless node network for display on a user interface of the another network device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is one from a group consisting of a truck, a van, a trailer, an aircraft, and a marine vessel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal degradation information is based upon a degraded operation of the second node when the similar environment is an adverse communication environment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the signal degradation information is based upon a difference in how the second node communicates when exposed to the adverse communication environment compared to how the second node communicates when exposed to a nominal communication environment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal degradation information relates to at least shipment data for one or more items being shipped and located in the proximate environment of the first node.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the shipment data further comprises data for one or more items that are currently shipped or have been shipped in the past.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting the communication distance setting further comprises adaptively adjusting, by the network device, the communication distance setting based upon the signal degradation information and a second type of the context data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second type of the context data comprises information related to at least one of (a) how the first node is being moved and (b) a density of other nodes near the first node.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the adjusted communication distance setting by the network device based upon movement of the first node, and refining the improved location of the first node with an updated adjusted communication distance setting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the movement of the first node comprises an anticipated movement of the first node along a predicted transit path for the first node.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining, by the network device, an initial location of the first node;

and

wherein the first type of the context data related to the proximate environment of the first node is based upon the determined initial location of the first node.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal degradation information is related to at least one of shielding and interference.

16. A network device for determining an improved location of a first node in a wireless node network based on context data, comprising:

a processing unit;

a volatile memory coupled to the processing unit;

a memory storage coupled to the processing unit, the memory storage maintaining at least a program code section and the context data, wherein the context data comprises at least signal degradation information on how a second node would operate in a similar environment to a proximate environment of the first node when the second node is a similar type as the first node; and

a communication interface coupled to the processing unit, wherein the communication interface provides a communication path operatively coupling the network device with the first node in the network; and

wherein the processing unit, when executing at least the program code section resident in the volatile memory, is operative to

connect with the memory storage to access the signal degradation information,

adjust an anticipated communication distance setting related to the first node based upon on the signal degradation information,

determine the location of the first node based upon the adjusted communication distance setting, and

store the determined location of the first node as location data on the memory storage.

17. The network device of claim 16, wherein the first node is part of a node-enabled package;

and

wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine the improved location of the first node while the first node is within the node-enabled package and while the node-enabled package is within a vehicle.

18. The network device of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

generate a location message regarding where the node-enabled package is located within the vehicle based upon the determined improved location of the first node; and

transmit the location message via the communication interface to another network device in the wireless node network for display on a user interface of the another network device.

19. The network device of claim 17, wherein the server processing unit is further operative to:

access shipping information related to the node-enabled package;

generate a relocation message regarding where the node-enabled package is to be relocated within the vehicle based upon the determined improved location of the first node and the accessed shipping information; and

transmit the location message via the communication interface to another network device in the wireless node network.

20. The network device of claim 17, wherein the vehicle is one from a group consisting of a truck, a van, a trailer, an aircraft, and a marine vessel.

21. The network device of claim 16, wherein the signal degradation information is based upon a degraded operation of the second node when the similar environment is an adverse communication environment.

22. The network device of claim 21, wherein the signal degradation information is based upon a difference in how the second node communicates when exposed to the adverse communication environment compared to how the second node communicates when exposed to a nominal communication environment.

23. The network device of claim 16, wherein the signal degradation information relates to at least shipment data for one or more items being shipped and located in the proximate environment of the first node.

24. The network device of claim 23, wherein the shipment data further comprises data for one or more items that are currently shipped or have been shipped in the past.

25. The network device of claim 16, wherein processing unit is further operative to adaptively adjust the communication distance setting based upon the signal degradation information and a second type of the context data.

26. The network device of claim 25, wherein the second type of the context data comprises information related to at least one of (a) how the first node is being moved and (b) a density of other nodes near the first node.

27. The network device of claim 16, wherein the processing unit is further operative to update the adjusted communication distance setting based upon movement of the first node, refine the improved location of the first node with an updated adjusted communication distance setting, and store the refined location of the first node as the location data on the memory storage.

28. The network device of claim 27, wherein the movement of the first node comprises an anticipated movement of the first node along a predicted transit path for the first node.

29. The network device of claim 16 further comprising location circuitry coupled to the processing unit;

and

wherein the processing unit is further operative to;

determine a location of the network device based upon an output signal from the location circuitry received by the processing unit, and

determine the improved location of the first node based upon the adjusted communication distance and the location of the network device, and

wherein the first type of the context data related to the proximate environment of the first node is based upon an initial location of the first node.

30. The network device of claim 16, wherein the signal degradation information is related to at least one of shielding and interference.