Asset tracking using active wireless tags that report via a local network of connected beacons
First Claim
1. A tag comprising:
- a radio frequency transceiver;
a power supply; and
a processing device configured, upon execution of instructions maintained in firmware to;
in response to expiration of a time period or an occurrence of event, exit a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode is a low power consumption mode;
upon exiting the sleep mode, enter an awake mode;
receive radio frequency signals transmitted by one or more lighting devices in a network of lighting devices, wherein each of the respective one or more lighting devices transmitting the radio frequency signals includes a device identifier of the lighting device that transmitted the signal;
measure a received signal strength indicator of the radio frequency signals;
associate the received signal strength indicator of the radio frequency signals with the device identifier included in the signal;
transmit the associated device identifier of the one or more lighting devices in the network as a data packet to a computing device for determination of a position of the tag;
upon transmission of the data packet exit the awake mode; and
enter the sleep mode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tag is configured to provide information that enables a processor or other computing device to locate the tag and any asset associated with the tag in an area. The tag incorporates a motion sensor responsive to movements of the tag above a predetermined rate and a predetermined magnitude. In response to the movements above the predetermined rate and magnitude, the motion sensor generates a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold. An energy-saving process exploits the tag'"'"'s microcontroller'"'"'s transitions between a “sleep” state and an “awake” state. While asleep, the microcontroller maintains a clock and data in memory, and monitors an input from the motion sensor. In response to voltages at the input over the predetermine threshold, the microcontroller receives signals from one or more nearby beacon nodes in a network operating in the area, process the signals and transmit information based on the processed signals, for a position determination.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A tag comprising:
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a radio frequency transceiver; a power supply; and a processing device configured, upon execution of instructions maintained in firmware to; in response to expiration of a time period or an occurrence of event, exit a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode is a low power consumption mode; upon exiting the sleep mode, enter an awake mode; receive radio frequency signals transmitted by one or more lighting devices in a network of lighting devices, wherein each of the respective one or more lighting devices transmitting the radio frequency signals includes a device identifier of the lighting device that transmitted the signal; measure a received signal strength indicator of the radio frequency signals; associate the received signal strength indicator of the radio frequency signals with the device identifier included in the signal; transmit the associated device identifier of the one or more lighting devices in the network as a data packet to a computing device for determination of a position of the tag; upon transmission of the data packet exit the awake mode; and enter the sleep mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method, comprising:
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in response to expiration of a time period or an occurrence of event, exiting a sleep mode by a processor of a smart tag device, wherein the sleep mode of the tag device is a low power consumption mode; upon exiting the sleep mode, entering, by the tag device, an awake mode; receiving while the smart tag device is in the awake mode at least one radio frequency signal from a respective one or more nodes in a network, wherein each of the one or more nodes in the network transmits a radio frequency signal that includes an identifier of the respective node in a network transmitting the radio frequency signal, and the one or more nodes in the network are lighting devices; measuring a received signal strength indicator of each of the at least one radio frequency signal transmitted by each respective node; generating a report with the node identifier and the received signal strength indicator of the respective node; transmitting the report to a computing device for determination of a position of the smart tag device with respect to the node in the network; exiting the awake mode; and reentering the sleep mode. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A tag comprising:
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a radio frequency transceiver; a motion sensor responsive to movements of the tag; a power supply; and a microcontroller configured, upon execution of instructions maintained in firmware to; in response to a movement detection signal received from the motion sensor indicating a movement by the tag, exit a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode is a low power consumption mode; upon exiting the sleep mode, enter an awake mode, wherein the awake mode is a higher power consumption mode than the sleep mode; in the awake mode, set a movement status flag bit indicating a movement of the tag; stores a time based on setting of the movement status flags return to the sleep mode; in response to receipt of a subsequent movement detection signal, enter the awake mode; store a subsequent time based on receipt of the subsequent movement detection signal; responsive to time between setting of the movement status flag and the subsequent time related to receipt of the subsequent movement detection signal being less than a time threshold, obtain information usable to generate an estimate of a position of the tag; transmit the obtained information as a data packet, to a computing device for determination of a position of the tag; upon transmission of the data packet, set the movement status flag to indicate no movement; exit the awake mode; and enter the sleep mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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in response to a movement detection signal received from a motion sensor indicating a movement by a tag, exiting, by a microcontroller of the tag, a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode is a low power consumption mode; upon exiting the sleep mode, entering, by the microcontroller, an awake mode, wherein the awake mode is a higher power consumption mode than the sleep mode; in the awake mode, setting a movement status flag bit indicating a movement of the tag; storing a time based on setting of the movement status flag; returning to the sleep mode; in response to receipt of a subsequent movement detection signal, entering the awake mode; storing a subsequent time based on receipt of the subsequent movement detection signal; determining whether the time between the setting of the movement status flag and the subsequent time related to receipt of the subsequent movement detection signal was set less than a time threshold; in response to a determination the time between setting of the movement status flag and the subsequent time related to receipt of the subsequent movement detection signal was less than the time threshold, receiving while the tag is in the awake mode at least one radio frequency signal from a respective one or more nodes in a network, wherein; each of the one or more nodes in the network transmits a radio frequency signal that includes an identifier of the respective node in a network transmitting the radio frequency signal; measuring a received signal strength indicator of each of the at least one radio frequency signal transmitted by each respective node; generating a report with the node identifier and the received signal strength indicator of the respective node; transmitting the report to a computing device for determination of a position of the tag with respect to the node in the network; exiting the awake mode; and reentering the sleep mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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in response to a movement detection signal received from a motion sensor indicating a movement by a tag, exiting, by a microcontroller of the tag, a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode is a low power consumption mode; upon exiting the sleep mode, entering, by the microcontroller, an awake mode, wherein the awake mode is a higher power consumption mode than the sleep mode; in the awake mode, setting a movement status flag bit indicating a movement of the tag; storing a time based on setting of the movement status flag; returning to the sleep mode; in response to receipt of a subsequent movement detection signal, entering the awake mode; storing a subsequent time based on receipt of the subsequent movement detection signal; determining whether the time between the setting of the movement status flag and the subsequent time related to receipt of the subsequent movement detection signal was set less than a time threshold; in response to a determination the time between setting of the movement status flag and the subsequent time related to receipt of the subsequent movement detection signal was less than the time threshold, receiving while the tag is in the awake mode at least one radio frequency signal from a respective one or more nodes in a network, wherein; each of the one or more nodes in the network transmits a radio frequency signal that includes an identifier of the respective node in a network transmitting the radio frequency signal; measuring a received signal strength indicator of each of the at least one radio frequency signal transmitted by each respective node; generating a report with the node identifier and without the received signal strength indicator of the respective node; transmitting the report to a computing device for determination of a position of the tag with respect to the node in the network; exiting the awake mode; and reentering the sleep mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A tag comprising:
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a radio frequency transceiver; a power supply; and a processing device configured, upon execution of instructions maintained in firmware to; in response to expiration of a time period or an occurrence of event, exit a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode is a low power consumption mode; upon exiting the sleep mode, entering an awake mode; receive radio frequency signals transmitted by one or more lighting devices in a network of lighting devices, wherein each of the respective one or more lighting devices transmitting the radio frequency signals includes a device identifier of the lighting device that transmitted the signal; measure a received signal strength indicator of the radio frequency signals; associate the received signal strength indicator of the radio frequency signals with the device identifier included in the signal; transmit only the associated device identifier of the one or more lighting devices in the network as a data packet to a computing device for determination of a position of the tag; upon transmission of the data packet exit the awake mode; and entering enter the sleep mode.
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Specification