Methods and systems for unresponsive ID node monitoring for an environmental anomaly

• US 10,639,509 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2018
• 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): Lieu, Julie B
• Application Number:
  US16/456,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20200094091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/002 for warehouses, storage areas or other installations for storing goods
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/10 in ships A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/16 in electrical installations, e.g. cableways
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/22 specially adapted for piercing walls, heaped materials, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/04 with electrically-controlled release
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/40 with electric connection between sensor and actuator
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/44 only the sensor being in the danger zone
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/00 Reinforcements or ply arrangement of pneumatic tyres inserts having reinforcing means B60C5/08; bead structure, e.g. turnup or overlap construction, B60C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/30 Railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/50 Aeroplanes, Helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/003 Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers securing freight containers on vehicles B60P7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• 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 2590/0083 : Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/06 : Coverings, e.g. for insulating purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/22 : Safety features floating covers B65D88/34; arrangements of indicating or measuring devices B65D90/48; fire-fighting A62C
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/48 : Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0235 : Containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/0216 : Codes or marks on the article
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 : by using barometric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0014 : for sensing the radiation from gases, flames
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0066 : for hot spots detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 : Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/48 : Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/005 : Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature fire detection G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/10 : in respect of time, e.g. reacting only to a quick change of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 : CO or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 : for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/17 : Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular type of detector pulse-selection circuits H03K, G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 : the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 : the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 : arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07766 : comprising at least a second communication arrangement in addition to a first non-contact communication arrangement
• 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 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/06 : Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 : Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 : Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 : Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 : Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 : Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 : using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 : Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 : with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/04 : Network management architectures or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 : Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 : specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 : using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 : Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 : where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/826 : where the data is sent periodically
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/02 : Automatically-operated arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/009 : specially adapted for networks, e.g. wireless sensor networks, ad-hoc networks, RFID networks or cloud networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 : Integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/108 : Source integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/35 : for the management of goods or merchandise
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 : Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Systems for enhanced detection and response to an environmental anomaly in a shipping container may include wireless ID nodes within a shipping container, and a command node mounted to the container that communicates with the ID nodes and a transit vehicle transceiver. The command node'"'"'s memory has program code, a communication profile and context data for each the ID nodes. The command node is adapted to monitor the ID nodes for an unanticipated ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes per the communication profiles; detect the anomaly when the number of ID nodes in the unanticipated ceased broadcasting state exceeds a threshold setting on the command node; generate a layered alert notification identifying a mediation recipient and mediation action, and establishing a mediation response priority based upon the ceased broadcasting ID nodes; and initiate the mediation response by transmitting the notification to the external transceiver.

Claims

1. An improved method for monitoring a shipping container and responding to an environmental anomaly related to the shipping container using a wireless node network having at least a plurality of ID nodes disposed within the shipping container and a command node associated with the shipping container, each of the ID nodes being associated with a respective one of a plurality of packages maintained within the shipping container, and wherein the command node being operative to communicate with each of the ID nodes and an external transceiver associated with a transit vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring, by the command node, the ID nodes for an unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes according to a communication profile maintained on the command node for each the ID nodes;

sensing, by the command node, an initial group of one or more of the ID nodes to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting based upon the monitoring step;

detecting, by the command node, the environmental anomaly when a size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds a threshold setting maintained by the command node;

generating, by the command node, a layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container, wherein the layered alert notification identifies a targeted mediation recipient, identifies a targeted mediation action, and establishes a mediation response priority based upon a size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes and context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes, the context data being maintained locally on the command node; and

transmitting, by the command node, the layered alert notification to the transceiver unit to initiate a mediation response related to the targeted mediation action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node based upon a material characteristic of what is contained in at least one of the packages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node related to a count of how many of the ID nodes are disposed within the shipping container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring step comprises monitoring a select subset of the ID nodes for the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes in the select subset according to a communication profile maintained on the command node for each the ID nodes in the select subset;

wherein the sensing step comprises sensing the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes from the select subset of ID nodes monitored, the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes being sensed to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting;

wherein the detecting step comprises detecting the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node based upon a material characteristic of what is contained in at least one of the packages.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node related to a count of how many of the ID nodes are in the select subset of ID nodes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes identifies a programmatic setting for a broadcast timing parameter that defines when a respective ID node is programmed to transmit an advertising message in the future.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes defines an anticipated broadcast behavior for a respective ID node, wherein sensing of the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting for a respective ID node reflects an inoperative state of the respective ID node inconsistent with the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes defines an anticipated broadcast behavior for a respective ID node, wherein sensing of the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting for a respective ID node reflects that the respective ID node is not anticipated to be absent from the shipping container and an inoperative state of the respective ID node inconsistent with the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of monitoring the ID nodes for the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes comprises monitoring for a shift in broadcast behavior of any of the ID nodes away from the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container based upon which of the ID nodes are (a) sensed to be the initial group of ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting and (b) indicated by the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes to be still maintained within the shipping container.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes has changed broadcast behavior when detecting the environmental anomaly.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container based upon where the sensed initial group of the ID nodes are located within the shipping container according to the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensed initial group of the ID nodes forms a first sensed pattern of unresponsive ID nodes;

and further comprising the steps of;

sensing, by the command node, a subsequent group of one or more of the ID nodes to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting after the command node senses the initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting, the subsequent group of the ID nodes being larger than the initial group of the ID nodes;

detecting, by the command node, a further environmental anomaly when a pattern of the subsequent group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds a threshold pattern setting maintained by the command node when compared to the first sensed pattern of unresponsive ID nodes; and

wherein the step of generating the layered alert notification is based upon the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes, a size of the subsequent group of the ID nodes, a change in the pattern of the subsequent group of the ID nodes and the pattern of the initial group of the ID nodes, and context data related to the subsequent group of the ID nodes, the context data being maintained locally on the command node.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted mediation recipient is automatically selected by the command node based upon an extent of how much the size of the sensed initial group of ID nodes exceeds the threshold setting.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the targeted mediation recipient identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises a fire suppression system operative to automatically respond to the detected environmental anomaly based upon receipt of the layered alert notification.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of automatically dispensing, by the fire suppression system, fire suppression agent into the shipping container upon receipt of a trigger message from the external transceiver of the transit vehicle, the trigger message being in response to the layered alert notification.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the trigger message from the external transceiver is generated in response to input to the external transceiver from a logistics crew member of the transit vehicle after inspecting the shipping container.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the targeted mediation recipient identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises an operator of the transit vehicle that can alter movement of the transit vehicle.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the targeted mediation recipient identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises a logistics crew member of the transit vehicle that can inspect the shipping container.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted mediation action is automatically selected by the command node based upon which of the ID nodes are sensed to be the initial group of ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted mediation action is automatically selected by the command node based upon how quickly members of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes have changed broadcast behavior to become in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted mediation action is automatically selected by the command node based upon a pattern of change when the initial group of the ID nodes is monitored and sensed to have changed broadcast behavior to become in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted mediation action is automatically selected by the command node based upon where the sensed initial group of the ID nodes is located within the shipping container according to the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving, by the command node, vehicle status data provided by the external transceiver associated with the transit vehicle;

and wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification depends upon a state of the transit vehicle as indicated by the vehicle status data.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the state of the transit vehicle comprises one from the group of a takeoff vehicular status, a cruising vehicle status, a landing vehicular status, and a stationary vehicular status.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of accessing, by the command node, container status data maintained by the command node and associated with the shipping container;

and wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification depends upon a state of the shipping container as indicated in the container status data.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting, by the command node, geolocation data related to a current location of the shipping container;

and wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification depends upon the current location of the shipping container as indicated in the geolocation data.

29. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of accessing, by the command node, facility status data maintained by the command node and associated with a storage facility for the shipping container;

and wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification depends upon a state of the storage facility as indicated in the facility status data.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises an automatic response by a triggered fire suppression system on the transit vehicle.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises a request to change course of the transit vehicle from an existing travel path of the transit vehicle.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises a request to investigate the shipping container.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the mediation response priority is automatically selected by the command node based upon an extent of how much the size of the sensed initial group of ID nodes exceeds the threshold setting.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the mediation response priority established by the command node as part of the layered alert notification comprises an immediate priority level.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the mediation response priority established by the command node as part of the layered alert notification comprises an intermediate priority level automatically indicating further travel by the transit vehicle is permissible when responding to the detected environmental anomaly.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises a fire within the shipping container based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes have changed broadcast behavior when monitoring the ID nodes and detecting the environmental anomaly.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises a fire within the shipping container based upon which of the ID nodes are in the sensed initial group of the ID nodes and based upon material contained in at least one of packages associated with the sensed initial group of the ID nodes as indicated in the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises a fire within the shipping container based upon where the sensed initial group of the ID nodes are located within the shipping container according to the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes and a loading scheme for the shipping container, the loading scheme being maintained in the command node.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises an explosion within the shipping container based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes have changed broadcast behavior when monitoring the ID nodes and detecting the environmental anomaly.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises an explosion within the shipping container based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes have changed broadcast behavior when monitoring the ID nodes and based upon material contained in at least one of packages associated with the sensed initial group of the ID nodes as indicated in the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication profile for each of the ID nodes regulates how often each of the ID nodes broadcast;

and

further comprising the step of instructing, by the command node, each of the ID nodes not in the initial group of the ID nodes to broadcast at a second messaging rate that exceeds an initial messaging rate after transmitting the layered alert notification to the transceiver unit so that each of the ID nodes not in the initial group of the ID nodes more frequently broadcast compared to prior to when the initial group of the ID nodes was sensed to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the initial messaging rate for the ID nodes comprises an initial value correlated to an environmental risk associated with at least one of the packages within the shipping container.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the second messaging rate for the ID nodes not in the initial group of the ID nodes comprises a predetermined higher messaging rate based upon a type of material existing within at least one of the packages within the shipping container.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein the transit vehicle comprises an airplane.

45. The method of claim 1, wherein the transit vehicle comprises one from the group consisting of a railway conveyance, a maritime vessel, and a roadway conveyance.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the command node comprises a master node integrated as part of the shipping container.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the command node comprises a master node implemented separately from the shipping container.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein each of at least a first portion of the ID nodes travel with a respective first portion of the packages.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ID nodes is affixed to the outside of one of the packages.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ID nodes is integrated as part of one of the packages.

51. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving, by the command node, a threshold update for the threshold setting maintained by the command node.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the threshold update is received from the external transceiver.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the threshold update is defined by an operator of the transit vehicle using the external transceiver.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein the threshold update is defined by a logistics crew member of the transit vehicle using the external transceiver.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein the threshold update is provided to the external transceiver from a remote control center in communication with the external transceiver.

56. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of receiving, by the command node, a selection update for which of the ID nodes are included in the select subset of the ID nodes.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the selection update is received from the external transceiver.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the selection update is defined by an operator of the transit vehicle using the external transceiver.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein the selection update is defined by a logistics crew member of the transit vehicle using the external transceiver.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein the selection update is provided to the external transceiver from a remote control center in communication with the external transceiver.

61. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring step further comprises:

(a) receiving, by the command node, a communication broadcasted from a first of the ID nodes;

(b) confirming, by the command node, the validity of the received communication;

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b), by the command node, for the remainder of the communications received from any of the remaining ones of the ID nodes; and

wherein the sensing step further comprises sensing the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting based upon the command node determining which of the ID nodes are not broadcasting based upon steps (a)-(c).

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of confirming the validity of the received communication further comprises:

sending, by the command node, an authentication request to the first of the ID nodes; and

receiving, by the command node, a validation response from the first of the ID nodes that authenticates the communication broadcasted from the first of the ID nodes.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of confirming the validity of the received communication further comprises:

accessing, by the command node, a validation sequence for the first of the ID nodes, the validation sequence being maintained by the command node and characterizing expected broadcasts from the first of the ID nodes; and

determining if the received communication from the first of the ID nodes matches a predetermined one of the expected broadcasts from the first of the ID nodes according to the validation sequence stored within the command node.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the predetermined one of the expected broadcasts comprises a rotating value previously received by the command node for the first of the ID nodes.

65. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the environmental anomaly further comprises detecting, by the command node, the environmental anomaly when (a) the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node and (b) when an environmental condition for one or more of the ID nodes exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the ID node maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the one or more of the ID nodes being indicated by ID node sensor data received by the command node from the one or more of the ID nodes.

66. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the environmental anomaly further comprises detecting, by the command node, the environmental anomaly when (a) the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node and (b) when an environmental condition for one or more of the packages exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the one or more of the packages maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the one or more of the packages being indicated by ID node sensor data received by the command node from one or more of the ID nodes respectively associated with the one or more of the packages.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the environmental anomaly further comprises detecting, by the command node, the environmental anomaly when (a) the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node and (b) when an environmental condition for the shipping container exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the shipping container maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the shipping container being indicated by command node sensor data generated by the command node.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the environmental anomaly further comprises:

(a) initially detecting, by the command node, the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node; and

(b) verifying, by the command node, the detected environmental anomaly when an environmental condition for one or more of the ID nodes exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the ID node maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the one or more of the ID nodes being indicated by ID node sensor data received by the command node from the one or more of the ID nodes.

69. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the environmental anomaly further comprises:

(a) initially detecting, by the command node, the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node; and

(b) verifying, by the command node, the detected environmental anomaly when an environmental condition for one or more of the packages exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the one or more of the packages maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the one or more of the packages being indicated by ID node sensor data received by the command node from one or more of the ID nodes respectively associated with the one or more of the packages.

70. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the environmental anomaly further comprises:

(a) initially detecting, by the command node, the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node; and

(b) verifying, by the command node, the detected environmental anomaly when an environmental condition for the shipping container exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the shipping container maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the shipping container being indicated by command node sensor data generated by the command node.

71. An improved monitoring system for detecting an environmental anomaly in a shipping container that maintains a plurality of packages and for reporting a layered alert notification related to the environmental anomaly to an external transceiver associated with a transit vehicle transporting the shipping container, the system comprising:

a plurality of ID nodes disposed within the shipping container, wherein each of the ID nodes being configured to wirelessly broadcast; and

a command node mounted to the shipping container, the command node further comprising

a command node processing unit,

a command node memory coupled to the command node processing unit, the command node memory maintaining at least command node container management program code, a communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes, and context data related to each of the ID nodes, the context data corresponding to each of the ID nodes,

a first communication interface coupled to the command node processing unit, the first communication interface being configured to communicate with each of the ID nodes using a first wireless communication format compatible with each of the ID nodes,

a second communication interface coupled to the command node processing unit, the second communication interface being configured to communicate with the external transceiver associated with the transit vehicle using a second wireless communications format;

wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured, when executing the command node container management program code, to be operative to

monitor the ID nodes using the first communication interface for an unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes according to the communication profile maintained on the command node for each the ID nodes,

sense an initial group of one or more of the ID nodes to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting based upon the monitoring step,

detect the environmental anomaly when a size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds a threshold setting maintained by the command node,

generate a layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container, wherein the layered alert notification identifies a targeted mediation recipient, identifies a targeted mediation action, and establishes a mediation response priority based upon the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes and context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes, the context data being maintained locally on the command node, and

cause the second communication interface to transmit the layered alert notification to the transceiver unit to initiate a mediation response related to the targeted mediation action.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node based upon a material characteristic of what is contained in at least one of the packages.

73. The system of claim 71, wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node related to a count of how many of the ID nodes are disposed within the shipping container.

74. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured to monitor the ID nodes by monitoring a select subset of the ID nodes for the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes in the select subset according to a communication profile maintained on the command node for each the ID nodes in the select subset;

wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured to sense the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes by sensing the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes from the select subset of ID nodes monitored, the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes being sensed to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting; and

wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured to detect the environmental anomaly by detecting the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node based upon a material characteristic of what is contained in at least one of the packages.

76. The system of claim 74, wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node related to a count of how many of the ID nodes are in the select subset of ID nodes.

77. The system of claim 71, wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes identifies a programmatic setting for a broadcast timing parameter that defines when a respective ID node is programmed to transmit an advertising message in the future.

78. The system of claim 71, wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes defines an anticipated broadcast behavior for a respective ID node, wherein sensing of the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting for a respective ID node reflects an inoperative state of the respective ID node inconsistent with the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes defines an anticipated broadcast behavior for a respective ID node, wherein sensing of the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting for a respective ID node reflects that the respective ID node is not anticipated to be absent from the shipping container and an inoperative state of the respective ID node inconsistent with the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured to monitor the ID nodes by monitoring for a shift in broadcast behavior of any of the ID nodes away from the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

81. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured to generate the layered alert notification based upon which of the ID nodes are (a) sensed to be the initial group of ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting and (b) indicated by the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes to be still maintained within the shipping container.

82. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured to generate the layered alert notification based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes has changed broadcast behavior when detecting the environmental anomaly.

83. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured to generate the layered alert notification based upon where the sensed initial group of the ID nodes is located within the shipping container according to the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

84. The system of claim 71, wherein the sensed initial group of the ID nodes forms a first sensed pattern of unresponsive ID nodes;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further programmatically configured to be operative to;

sense a subsequent group of one or more of the ID nodes to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting after the command node senses the initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting, the subsequent group of the ID nodes being larger than the initial group of the ID nodes;

detect a further environmental anomaly when a pattern of the subsequent group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds a threshold pattern setting maintained by the command node when compared to the first sensed pattern of unresponsive ID nodes; and

wherein the command node processing unit is programmatically configured to generate the layered alert notification based upon the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes, a size of the subsequent group of the ID nodes, a change in the pattern of the subsequent group of the ID nodes and the pattern of the initial group of the ID nodes, and context data related to the subsequent group of the ID nodes, the context data being maintained locally on the command node.

85. The system of claim 71, wherein the targeted mediation recipient is automatically selected by the command node based upon an extent of how much the size of the sensed initial group of ID nodes exceeds the threshold setting.

86. The system of claim 85 further comprising a fire suppression system disposed on the transit vehicle, the fire suppression system maintaining fire suppressant agent operative to be applied to the shipping container;

wherein the targeted mediation recipient identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises the fire suppression system operative to automatically respond to the detected environmental anomaly based upon receipt of the layered alert notification.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the fire suppression system automatically dispenses the fire suppression agent into the shipping container upon receipt of a trigger message from the external transceiver of the transit vehicle.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the trigger message from the external transceiver is generated in response to input to the external transceiver from a logistics crew member of the transit vehicle after inspecting the shipping container.

89. The system of claim 86, wherein the external transceiver is part of the fire suppression system, wherein the fire suppression system automatically dispenses the fire suppression agent into the shipping container upon receipt of the layered alert notification from the command node.

90. The system of claim 85, wherein the targeted mediation recipient identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises an operator of the transit vehicle that can alter movement of the transit vehicle.

91. The system of claim 85, wherein the targeted mediation recipient identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises a logistics crew member of the transit vehicle that can inspect the shipping container.

92. The system of claim 71, wherein the targeted mediation action is automatically selected by the command node based upon which of the ID nodes are sensed to be the initial group of ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting.

93. The system of claim 71, wherein the targeted mediation action is automatically selected by the command node based upon how quickly members of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes have changed broadcast behavior to become in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting.

94. The system of claim 71, wherein the targeted mediation action is automatically selected by the command node based upon a pattern of change when the initial group of the ID nodes is monitored and sensed to have changed broadcast behavior to become in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting.

95. The system of claim 71, wherein the targeted mediation action is automatically selected by the command node based upon where the sensed initial group of the ID nodes is located within the shipping container according to the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

96. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to receive over the second communication interface vehicle status data provided by the external transceiver associated with the transit vehicle;

and

wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification depends upon a state of the transit vehicle as indicated by the vehicle status data.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein the state of the transit vehicle comprises one from the group of a takeoff vehicular status, a cruising vehicle status, a landing vehicular status, and a stationary vehicular status.

98. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to access container status data maintained in the command node memory and associated with the shipping container;

and

wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification depends upon a state of the shipping container as indicated in the container status data.

99. The system of claim 71, where in the command node further comprises location circuitry coupled to the command node processing unit, the location circuitry generating geolocation data related to a current location of the shipping center;

and

wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification depends upon the current location of the shipping container as indicated in the geolocation data.

100. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to access facility status data maintained in the command node memory and associated with a storage facility for the shipping container;

and

wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification depends upon a state of the storage facility as indicated in the facility status data.

101. The system of claim 71, wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises an automatic response by a triggered fire suppression system on the transit vehicle.

102. The system of claim 71, wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises a request to change course of the transit vehicle from an existing travel path of the transit vehicle.

103. The system of claim 71, wherein the targeted mediation action identified by the command node in the layered alert notification comprises a request to investigate the shipping container.

104. The system of claim 71, wherein the mediation response priority is automatically selected by the command node based upon an extent of how much the size of the sensed initial group of ID nodes exceeds the threshold setting.

105. The system of claim 104, wherein the mediation response priority established by the command node as part of the layered alert notification comprises an immediate priority level.

106. The system of claim 104, wherein the mediation response priority established by the command node as part of the layered alert notification comprises an intermediate priority level automatically indicating further travel by the transit vehicle is permissible when responding to the detected environmental anomaly.

107. The system of claim 71, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises a fire within the shipping container based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes have changed broadcast behavior when monitoring the ID nodes and detecting the environmental anomaly.

108. The system of claim 71, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises a fire within the shipping container based upon which of the ID nodes are in the sensed initial group of the ID nodes and based upon material contained in at least one of packages associated with the sensed initial group of the ID nodes as indicated in the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

109. The system of claim 71, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises a fire within the shipping container based upon where the sensed initial group of the ID nodes are located within the shipping container according to the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes and a loading scheme for the shipping container, the loading scheme being maintained in the command node.

110. The system of claim 71, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises an explosion within the shipping container based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes have changed broadcast behavior when monitoring the ID nodes and detecting the environmental anomaly.

111. The system of claim 71, wherein the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container comprises an explosion within the shipping container based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes have changed broadcast behavior when monitoring the ID nodes and based upon material contained in at least one of packages associated with the sensed initial group of the ID nodes as indicated in the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

112. The system of claim 71, wherein the communication profile for each of the ID nodes regulates how often each of the ID nodes broadcast;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to instruct each of the ID nodes not in the initial group of the ID nodes to broadcast at a second messaging rate that exceeds an initial messaging rate after transmitting the layered alert notification to the transceiver unit so that each of the ID nodes not in the initial group of the ID nodes more frequently broadcast compared to prior to when the initial group of the ID nodes was sensed to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting.

113. The system of claim 112, wherein the initial messaging rate for the ID nodes comprises an initial value correlated to an environmental risk associated with at least one of the packages within the shipping container.

114. The system of claim 112, wherein the second messaging rate for the ID nodes not in the initial group of the ID nodes comprises a predetermined higher messaging rate based upon a type of material existing within at least one of the packages within the shipping container.

115. The system of claim 71, wherein the transit vehicle comprises an airplane.

116. The system of claim 71, wherein the transit vehicle comprises one from the group consisting of a railway conveyance, a maritime vessel, and a roadway conveyance.

117. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node comprises a container node integrated as part of the shipping container.

118. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node comprises a master node implemented separately from the shipping container.

119. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the ID nodes travel with their respective one of the packages.

120. The system of claim 71, wherein at least one of the ID nodes is affixed to the outside of one of the packages.

121. The system of claim 71, wherein at least one of the ID nodes is integrated as part of one of the packages.

122. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to receive a threshold update over the second communication interface for the threshold setting maintained by the command node.

123. The system of claim 122, wherein the threshold update is received from the external transceiver.

124. The system of claim 123, wherein the threshold update is defined by an operator of the transit vehicle using the external transceiver.

125. The system of claim 123, wherein the threshold update is defined by a logistics crew member of the transit vehicle using the external transceiver.

126. The system of claim 117, wherein the threshold update is provided to the external transceiver from a remote control center in communication with the external transceiver.

127. The system of claim 74, wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to receive over the second communication interface a selection update for which of the ID nodes are included in the select subset of the ID nodes.

128. The system of claim 127, wherein the selection update is received from the external transceiver.

129. The system of claim 128, wherein the selection update is defined by an operator of the transit vehicle using the external transceiver.

130. The system of claim 128, wherein the selection update is defined by a logistics crew member of the transit vehicle using the external transceiver.

131. The system of claim 128, wherein the selection update is provided to the external transceiver from a remote control center in communication with the external transceiver.

132. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to monitor the ID nodes by being operative to:

(a) receive a communication broadcasted from a first of the ID nodes over the first communication interface;

(b) confirm the validity of the received communication;

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b), by the command node, for the remainder of the communications received from any of the remaining ones of the ID nodes; and

wherein the sensing step further comprises sensing the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting based upon the command node determining which of the ID nodes are not broadcasting based upon steps (a)-(c).

133. The system of claim 132, wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to confirm the validity of the received communication by being further operative to:

send an authentication request to the first of the ID nodes over the first communication interface; and

receive a validation response from the first of the ID nodes over the first communication interface that authenticates the communication broadcasted from the first of the ID nodes.

134. The system of claim 132, wherein the command node memory further maintains a validation sequence for the first of the ID nodes, the validation sequence characterizing expected broadcasts from the first of the ID nodes;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to confirm the validity of the received communication by being further operative to;

access the validation sequence for the first of the ID nodes, and

determine if the received communication from the first of the ID nodes matches a predetermined one of the expected broadcasts from the first of the ID nodes according to the validation sequence stored within the command node.

135. The system of claim 128, wherein the predetermined one of the expected broadcasts comprises a rotating value previously received by the command node for the first of the ID nodes.

136. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the ID nodes further comprises an environmental sensor that generates ID node sensor data indicative of an environment condition for the respective ID node;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to detect the environmental anomaly when

(a) the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node, and

(b) when the environmental condition for one or more of the ID nodes exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the one or more of the ID node maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the one or more of the ID nodes being indicated by the ID node sensor data detected by the command node from the one or more of the ID nodes over the first communication interface.

137. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the ID nodes further comprises an environmental sensor that generates ID node sensor data indicative of an environment condition for one or more of the packages;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to detect the environmental anomaly when

(a) the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node, and

(b) when an environmental condition for one or more of the packages exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the one or more of the packages maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the one or more of the packages being indicated by ID node sensor data received by the command node from one or more of the ID nodes respectively associated with the one or more of the packages.

138. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node further comprises a command node sensor that generates command node sensor data indicative of an environment condition for the shipping container;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to detect the environmental anomaly when

(a) the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node, and

(b) when an environmental condition for the shipping container exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the shipping container maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the shipping container being indicated by command node sensor data generated by the command node.

139. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the ID nodes further comprises an environmental sensor that generates ID node sensor data indicative of an environment condition for the respective ID node;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to detect the environmental anomaly when

(a) initially detect the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node, and

(b) verify the detected environmental anomaly when an environmental condition for one or more of the ID nodes exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the ID node maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the one or more of the ID nodes being indicated by ID node sensor data received by the command node from the one or more of the ID nodes.

140. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the ID nodes further comprises an environmental sensor that generates ID node sensor data indicative of an environment condition for one or more of the packages;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to detect the environmental anomaly when

(a) initially detect the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node; and

(b) verify the detected environmental anomaly when an environmental condition for one or more of the packages exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the one or more of the packages maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the one or more of the packages being indicated by ID node sensor data received by the command node from one or more of the ID nodes respectively associated with the one or more of the packages.

141. The system of claim 71, wherein the command node further comprises a command node sensor that generates command node sensor data indicative of an environment condition for the shipping container;

and

wherein the command node processing unit is further operative to detect the environmental anomaly when

(a) initially detect the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node; and

(b) verify the detected environmental anomaly when an environmental condition for the shipping container exceeds an environmental threshold condition for the shipping container maintained by the command node, the environmental condition for the shipping container being indicated by command node sensor data generated by the command node.