SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FOR MANAGING CONFIGURABLE MONITORING DEVICES

• US 20110068906A1
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shafer, Gary Mark, Mercier, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/636,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068906A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

Provided are embodiments of configurable monitoring devices, methods, systems, computer readable storage media and other means for locating devices. In some examples, the devices are attached to a retail or other type of article. The devices can be dynamically configurable and communicate wirelessly with other network entities.

Claims

1-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A system for tracking articles comprising:

a first ping node configured to;

transmit a first ping signal having a first ping signal strength;

receive a first signal power modification instruction; and

in response to receiving the first signal power modification instruction, transmit a location signal having a location signal strength that is different than the first ping signal strength;

a second ping node configured to transmit a second ping signal having a second ping signal strength; and

a monitoring device configured for attachment to an article, the monitoring device comprising a processor, the processor configured to;

receive the first ping signal from the first ping node;

receive the second ping signal from the second ping node;

receive the location signal from the first ping node; and

determine location information relating to the monitoring device based at least in part on the location signal.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the first signal power modification instruction for instructing the first ping node raise the first ping signal strength to a maximum threshold and transmit the location signal one or more times starting at the maximum threshold and decreasing incrementally; and

send a second signal power modification instruction for instructing the second ping node to increase the second ping signal strength to the maximum threshold and transmit a second location signal one or more times starting at the maximum threshold and decreasing incrementally.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein:

the first ping node is configured to transmit the first ping signal at a first range, wherein the first range includes a first retail shelving unit; and

the second ping node is configured to transmit the second ping signal at a second range, wherein the second range includes a second retail shelving unit.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the first range and the second range are configured to be consistent with a coordinated, multi-ping node gradient of coverage density.

57. The system of claim 42, further comprising a network entity that is configured to transmit the first signal power modification instruction.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the network entity is configured to transmit the first signal power modification instruction in response to the network entity determining a triggering event has occurred.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the network entity is further configured to transmit a second signal power modification instruction.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the network entity is configured to transmit the second signal power modification instruction in response to the network entity determining a triggering event has occurred.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the first signal power modification instruction is the same as the second signal power modification instruction.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein the network entity is configured to determine efficient pathways for communicating messages from the monitoring device to various entities within a network.

43. (canceled)

44. The system of 42, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the first signal power modification instruction for instructing the first ping node to lower the first ping signal strength to a minimum threshold and transmit the location signal one or more times starting at the minimum threshold and increasing incrementally to the location signal strength; and

send a second signal power modification instruction for instructing the second ping node to lower the second ping signal strength to the minimum threshold and transmit a second location signal one or more times starting at the minimum threshold and increasing incrementally.

48. A method for tracking articles using a monitoring device affixed to an article comprising:

receiving, from a first ping node, a first ping signal having a first ping signal strength;

receiving, from a second ping node, a second ping signal having a second ping signal strength; and

receiving, from the first ping node, a location signal having a location signal strength that is different than the first ping signal strength; and

determining location information relating to the article based at least in part on the location signal.

50. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

sending a first signal power modification instruction for instructing the first ping node to lower the first ping signal strength to a minimum threshold and transmit the location signal one or more times starting at the minimum threshold and increasing incrementally to the location signal strength;

sending a second signal power modification instruction for instructing the second ping node to lower the second ping signal strength to the minimum threshold and transmit a second location signal one or more times starting at the minimum threshold and increasing incrementally.

51. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

sending a first signal power modification instruction for instructing the first ping node to increase the first ping signal strength to a maximum threshold and transmit the location signal one or more times starting at the maximum threshold and decreasing incrementally to the location signal strength;

sending a second signal power modification instruction for instructing the second ping node to increase the second ping signal strength to a maximum threshold and transmit a second location signal one or more times starting at the maximum threshold and decreasing incrementally.

52. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

transmitting, from the first ping node, the first ping signal within a first range, wherein the first range includes a first retail shelving unit; and

transmitting, from the second ping node, the second ping signal within a second range, wherein the second range includes a second retail shelving unit.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising the first ping node and the second ping node receiving configuration information that causes the first range and the second range to be consistent with a coordinated, multi-ping node gradient of coverage density.

63. The method of claim 48 further comprising transmitting a first signal power modification instruction from a network entity, wherein the first signal power modification causes the first ping node to transmit the location signal.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein transmitting the first signal power modification instruction occurs in response to the network entity determining a triggering event has occurred.

65. The method of claim 63 further comprising transmitting a second signal power modification instruction from the network entity.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein transmitting the second signal power modification instruction occurs in response to the network entity determining a triggering event has occurred.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein transmitting the first signal power modification instruction and transmitting the second signal power modification instruction includes transmitting a single instruction that is received by both the first ping node and the second ping node.

49. (canceled)

54. A computer program product for position tracking of an article, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code to;

receive, from a first ping node, a first ping signal having a first ping signal strength;

receive, from a second ping node, a second ping signal having a second ping signal strength;

receive, from the first ping node, a location signal having a location signal strength that is different than the first ping signal strength;

attach, using an attachment mechanism, to an article; and

determine location information relating to the article based at least in part on the location signal.

55. The a computer-readable storage medium of claim 54 further comprising computer-readable program code to:

send a first signal power modification instruction for instructing the first ping node to lower the first ping signal strength to a minimum threshold and transmit the location signal one or more times starting at the minimum threshold and increasing incrementally to the location signal strength;

send a second signal power modification instruction for instructing the second ping node to lower the second ping signal strength to the minimum threshold and transmit a second location signal one or more times starting at the minimum threshold and increasing incrementally.

56. The a computer-readable storage medium of claim 54 further comprising computer-readable program code to:

send a first signal power modification instruction for instructing the first ping node to increase the first ping signal strength to a maximum threshold and transmit the location signal one or more times starting at the maximum threshold and decreasing incrementally to the location signal strength;

send a second signal power modification instruction for instructing the second ping node to increase the second ping signal strength to a maximum threshold and transmit a second location signal one or more times starting at the maximum threshold and decreasing incrementally.