System-independent data logging

• US 10,430,750 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klatu Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Klatu Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Kriss, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell, Shannon S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Rupangini
• Application Number:
  US14/457,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for tracking a shipping container. Information from a third-party shipping entity is combined with information retrieved from a data logger attached to the shipping container while the shipping container is in transit. The third-party portal provides updates through Email or the like, transmitted to an address that is uniquely associated with the shipping container and its current itinerary.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an object in transit comprising:

receiving, at a tracking system, location data acquired by a data acquisition device attached to the object, wherein the data acquisition device is coupled to one or more sensor devices that provide the location data, and wherein the data acquisition device is adapted to wirelessly communicate the location data using a radio frequency interface;

generating an electronic mail (Email) address, the Email address comprising a domain name that identifies the tracking system and an identifying portion that includes an identifier that uniquely identifies the data acquisition device, wherein Email messages transmitted to the Email address are received at the tracking system;

providing the Email address to a shipping portal while ordering shipment of the object;

receiving at least one Email message sent by the shipping portal to the Email address, wherein the at least one Email message includes the shipping information related to the object; and

determining updated locations of the object using a combination of the shipping information included in the at least one Email message and the location data acquired by the data acquisition device during shipment of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipping information comprises a tracking identifier generated by a shipper for the object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the Email address includes a media access control address of the data acquisition device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the unique identifier associated with the data acquisition device with information identifying the object in a communication received from a shipper of the object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one Email message includes a status of the shipment of the object, including a current or last-known location of the object.

6. The method of claim 5, and further comprising:

determining a location of the object based on the current or last-known location of the object included in the at least one Email message and the location data acquired by the data acquisition device.

7. The method of claim 5, and further comprising:

estimating an arrival time at one or more destinations of the object based on the current or last-known location of the object and the location data acquired by the data acquisition device,

wherein the location data acquired by the data acquisition device includes a time of capture of the location data.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving additional information acquired from the one or more sensor devices and transmitted by the data acquisition device, the additional information including an outside temperature, a sound frequency, altitude, time-in-transit information, or information identifying absence or presence of an identifiable network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipping information identifies a custody transfer, a current shipping state, weight information, or a shipping route associated with the object.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

matching an itinerary provided in the shipping information with location-related information sensed by the data acquisition device, the location-related information comprising at least one of a change detected in radio frequency environment, absence of a network, presence of a network, a measurement of pressure, a vibration, an acceleration or a tilt.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the Email address is provided to the shipping portal manually or through a programmatically automated interface to the shipping portal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the Email address is provided to the shipping portal by manually or automatically entering the Email address on a programmatically automated form provided by the shipping portal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the form is programmatically automated by automatically:

intercepting information transmitted through the shipping portal;

modifying the information transmitted through the shipping portal; and

forwarding the modified information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the form is programmatically automated by:

providing analytics information related to one or more fields of the form, wherein the analytics information includes pricing information corresponding to a shipper of the object, pricing information corresponding to one or more alternative shippers or statistical information corresponding to an on-time delivery history of the shipper.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the Email address comprises a hash of information that uniquely identifies the object to be shipped.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one Email message includes time-related information associated with the object, including a delivery date or estimated delivery date.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one Email message includes a travel history of the object.

8. The method of dam 1, wherein the location data acquired by the data acquisition device includes information related to a current or recent location of the object.

9. The method of claim 8, and further comprising:

estimating an arrival time at one or more destinations of the object based on the information related to the current or recent location of the object.

18. A method for tracking an object in transit comprising:

receiving, at a tracking system, location data acquired by a data logger attached to a shipping container, wherein the data logger receives information from one or more sensor devices and is adapted to wirelessly communicate the location data using a radio frequency interface;

obtaining an identifier that uniquely identifies the data logger attached to the shipping container;

generating an electronic mail (Email) address, the Email address comprising a domain name that identifies the tracking system and an identifying portion that includes the identifier that uniquely identifies the data logger, wherein messages are directed to the tracking system when transmitted to the Email address;

providing the Email address to a shipping portal while ordering shipment of the shipping container;

configuring an Email server to receive Email messages addressed to the Email address; and

tracking location of the shipping container using a combination of shipping information extracted from the Email messages addressed to the Email address with the location data received from the data logger during shipment of the shipping container.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the location of the shipping container is tracked as a travel history of the shipping container comprising a current or last-known location of the shipping container.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein location data received from the data logger includes a physical location of the object and a time of capture of the data.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the shipping information includes information identifying a departure location, a destination location or a last known location of the shipping container.