PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSET MANAGEMENT IN A LOGISTICS SYSTEM

• US 20120310598A1
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporation Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporation Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Gregory, Timothy L., Lemmon, Andy N., Veitenheimer, James Marshall, Jacobs, James Randy, Ainsworth, Miley E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/007 Data loggers attached to transport containers for perishable products, e.g. food or medicines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01N3/00 - G01N19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a device for tracking one or more items. The device may include a plurality of sensors for detecting light, temperature, humidity, pressure, and acceleration. The device may also include a memory for storing information received from the plurality of sensors.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for a package tracking device having a set of sensors, the method comprising:

storing in a memory of the package tracking device a reporting frequency for the package tracking device, wherein the reporting frequency is used to determine how frequently the package tracking device reports particular information derived from sensed input for each sensor to a tracking center associated with the tracking device;

determining, by the package tracking device, whether a condition corresponds to a predetermined threshold, wherein the condition is associated with at least one sensor of the set of sensors based on sensed input for the at least one sensor; and

altering the reporting frequency based on the determination.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein, the determination is based on instructions received from the tracking center.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein, the package tracking device determines the condition without receiving instructions from the tracking center.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein, the condition is the ambient temperature associated with the package tracking device.

25. A package tracking device having a set of sensors, the package tracking device comprising:

a memory for storing a reporting frequency for the package tracking device, wherein the reporting frequency is used to determine how frequently the package tracking device reports particular information derived from sensed input for each sensor to a tracking center associated with the tracking device; and

a processor for executing instructions to determine whether a condition corresponds to a predetermined threshold, wherein the condition is associated with at least one sensor of the set of sensors based on sensed input for the at least one sensor and for altering the reporting frequency based on the determination.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the processor determines the condition based on instructions received from the tracking center.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the processor determines the condition without receiving instructions from the tracking center.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the condition is the ambient temperature associated with the package tracking device.