SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMPLOYING GEOGRAPHICALLY OVERLAPPING AUTONOMOUS STATIC AND MOBILE WIRELESS NETWORKS FOR ASSET TRACKING
First Claim
1. A supply and distribution chain, comprising:
- masters associated with static sites and configured to establish autonomous static networks for said static sites;
mobile units associated with carriers and configured to join said autonomous static networks when in range thereof and create autonomous mobile networks when out of range of said autonomous static networks; and
sensors associated with assets and configured to join said autonomous static networks when in range thereof and join said autonomous mobile networks when out of range of said autonomous static networks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A supply and distribution chain and various systems, methods and elements associated with autonomous static and mobile wireless networks for asset tracking. In one embodiment, the chain includes: (1) masters associated with static sites and configured to establish autonomous static networks for the static sites, (2) mobile units associated with carriers and configured to join the autonomous static networks when in range thereof and create autonomous mobile networks when out of range of the autonomous static networks and (3) sensors associated with assets and configured to join the autonomous static networks when in range thereof and join the autonomous mobile networks when out of range of the autonomous static networks.
15 Citations
83 Claims
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1. A supply and distribution chain, comprising:
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masters associated with static sites and configured to establish autonomous static networks for said static sites; mobile units associated with carriers and configured to join said autonomous static networks when in range thereof and create autonomous mobile networks when out of range of said autonomous static networks; and sensors associated with assets and configured to join said autonomous static networks when in range thereof and join said autonomous mobile networks when out of range of said autonomous static networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An asset tracking infrastructure, comprising:
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a master configured to establish an autonomous static network for a static site; a mobile unit associated with a carrier and configured to join said autonomous static network when in range thereof and create an autonomous mobile network when out of range of said autonomous static network and other autonomous static networks; a sensor associated with an asset and configured to join said autonomous static network when in range thereof and join said autonomous mobile network when in range thereof and out of range of said autonomous static network and said other autonomous static networks; and a locator configured to join said autonomous static network and thereafter provide data regarding a location of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of configuring an asset tracking infrastructure, comprising:
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employing a master to establish an autonomous static network for a static site; joining a locator to said autonomous static network; joining a sensor associated with an asset to said autonomous static network when said sensor is in range thereof; and thereafter employing said locator to provide data regarding a location of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of configuring a wireless network, comprising:
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calculating a best quality path at each node based on link qualities and best quality paths among adjacent nodes; and routing messages through nodes of said network based on said best quality path at said each node.
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25. A sensor associated with an asset and comprising:
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a processor coupled to said motion detector and said wireless network interface and configured to enter and exit a low-power mode; a stimulus detector configured to provide a signal to said processor indicating movement of said asset and cause said processor to exit said low-power mode; and a wireless network interface configured to respond to said processor by broadcasting a signal indicating said movement, said signal free of absolute geolocation data. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of determining a location of an asset, comprising:
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stimulating a stimulus detector associated with said asset, said stimulus indicating movement of said asset; broadcasting a signal indicating said stimulating; receiving said signal at a locator; and determining said location based on a location of said locator. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A mobile unit associated with a carrier and comprising:
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a wireless network interface; a geolocating system configured to provide an absolute geolocation of said mobile unit; and a processor configured to employ said wireless network interface to join an autonomous static network when in range thereof. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of operating a mobile unit, comprising:
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employing a wireless network interface to join an autonomous static network when in range thereof; employing said wireless interface to create an autonomous mobile network when out of range of said autonomous static network and other autonomous static networks; accepting at least one sensor into said autonomous mobile network; and employing a geolocating system to obtain geolocation data regarding said carrier. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An apparatus for enabling tracking of an asset transported by a carrier outside of a coverage area of an autonomous static network, comprising:
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a sensor associated with the asset, the sensor comprising; a memory, wherein the memory stores data identifying the asset with which the sensor is associated; a first wireless network interface that enables communication between the sensor and other apparatus that is part of an autonomous mobile network; a processor, the processor adapted to cause communication of an asset identification signal representing the data identifying the asset from the first wireless network interface in response to a specified activation criterion or criteria; and a power supply for producing power to enable operation of the sensor; and a receiver, comprising; a second wireless network interface that enables communication between the receiver and the sensor via the autonomous mobile network, wherein the asset identification signal can be received by the receiver via the second wireless network interface; and a mobile unit interface that enables communication between the receiver and a mobile unit that is associated with the carrier, the mobile unit adapted to identify the location of the mobile unit and to communicate with apparatus that is remote from the carrier, wherein the data identifying the asset can be communicated from the receiver to the mobile unit to enable the data and a location of the mobile unit to be communicated to the remote apparatus, thereby enabling the location of the asset to be tracked. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. The apparatus for enabling tracking of an asset within a coverage area of an autonomous static network, comprising:
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a sensor associated with the asset, the sensor comprising; a memory, wherein the memory stores data identifying the asset with which the sensor is associated; a first wireless network interface that enables communication between the sensor and other apparatus that is part of an autonomous static network; a stimulus detector for detecting motion of the sensor; a processor, the processor adapted to cause communication of an asset identification signal representing the data identifying the asset from the first wireless network interface in response to detection of motion of the sensor; and a power supply for producing power to enable operation of the sensor; and a locator associated with a static site vehicle, the locator comprising; a second wireless network interface that enables communication between the locator and the sensor via the autonomous static network, wherein the asset identification signal can be received by the locator via the second wireless network interface; a geolocating system that enables identification of the location of the locator; a processor, the processor adapted to determine the strength of the asset identification signal; and a wireless network interface that enables communication with apparatus that is remote from the static site vehicle, wherein data regarding the asset identification signal and the location of the locator can be communicated from the locator to the remote apparatus, thereby enabling the location of the asset to be tracked. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. The apparatus for enabling tracking of an asset, comprising:
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a sensor associated with the asset, the sensor storing data identifying the asset with which the sensor is associated and enabling communication to an asset tracking network, in response to a specified activation criterion or criteria, of an asset identification signal representing the data identifying the asset; autonomous static network apparatus, associated with a static site vehicle, that enables receipt of communication of an asset identification signal when the sensor is within range of the autonomous static network apparatus, determination of the strength of the asset identification signal, identification of the location of the autonomous static network apparatus, and communication of data regarding the asset identification signal and autonomous static network apparatus location to apparatus that is remote from the static site vehicle; and autonomous mobile network apparatus, associated with a carrier, that enables receipt of communication of an asset identification signal, identification of the location of the autonomous mobile network apparatus, and communication of the asset identification and autonomous mobile network apparatus location to apparatus that is remote from the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83)
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Specification