LOCATION-BASED DECISION MAKING FOR ASSET TRACKING DEVICES
First Claim
1. A method of creating geographic zones within a geographic region for influencing the operations of one or more asset tracking devices that can be remotely located within the geographic region, the method comprising:
- receiving, through an interface, a selection of a first geographic zone located at least partially within the geographic region;
storing a tree data structure that represents the first geographic zone, the tree data structure comprising;
a plurality of nodes, wherein;
each of the plurality of nodes is organized into a plurality of parent-child relationships;
each of the plurality of nodes represents geographic areas, wherein;
a root node in the plurality of nodes represents the geographic region;
each child node in the plurality of parent-child relationships represents a sub-area of a geographic area represented by the respective parent node;
each node in the plurality of nodes represents a geographic area that at least partially overlaps with the first geographic zone; and
each node in the plurality of nodes representing a geographic area that is entirely within the first geographic zone includes an identifier associated with the first geographic zone; and
sending the tree data structure through a port to be stored on the one or more asset tracking devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of creating geographic zones may include receiving a selection of a first geographic zone located at least partially within a geographic region, storing a tree data structure that represents the first geographic zone, and sending the tree data structure to be stored on one or more asset tracking devices. The tree data structure may include a plurality of nodes organized into parent-child relationships where each of the nodes represents geographic areas. A root node may represent the geographic region, each child node may represent a sub-area of a geographic area represented by the respective parent node, each node may represent a geographic area that at least partially overlaps with the first geographic zone, and each node representing a geographic area that is entirely within the first geographic zone may include an identifier associated with the first geographic zone.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of creating geographic zones within a geographic region for influencing the operations of one or more asset tracking devices that can be remotely located within the geographic region, the method comprising:
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receiving, through an interface, a selection of a first geographic zone located at least partially within the geographic region; storing a tree data structure that represents the first geographic zone, the tree data structure comprising; a plurality of nodes, wherein; each of the plurality of nodes is organized into a plurality of parent-child relationships; each of the plurality of nodes represents geographic areas, wherein; a root node in the plurality of nodes represents the geographic region; each child node in the plurality of parent-child relationships represents a sub-area of a geographic area represented by the respective parent node; each node in the plurality of nodes represents a geographic area that at least partially overlaps with the first geographic zone; and each node in the plurality of nodes representing a geographic area that is entirely within the first geographic zone includes an identifier associated with the first geographic zone; and sending the tree data structure through a port to be stored on the one or more asset tracking devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of influencing the operations of an asset tracking device within a geographic region based on a location of the asset tracking device relative to a first geographic zone located at least partially within the geographic region, the method comprising:
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storing a tree data structure that represents the first geographic zone, the tree data structure comprising; a plurality of nodes, wherein; each of the plurality of nodes is organized into a plurality of parent-child relationships; each of the plurality of nodes represents geographic areas, wherein; a root node in the plurality of nodes represents the geographic region; each child node in the plurality of parent-child relationships represents a sub-area of a geographic area represented by the respective parent node; each node in the plurality of nodes represents a geographic area that at least partially overlaps with the first geographic zone; and each node in the plurality of nodes representing a geographic area that is entirely within the first geographic zone includes an identifier associated with the first geographic zone; receiving the location of an asset associated with the asset tracking device; translating the location of the asset into a string of sequential characters; sequentially accessing each character in the string of sequential characters to traverse the tree data structure, wherein; a first character is associated with the root node; the first character determines which child node, if any, of the root node should be traversed; and each successive character in the string of sequential characters determines which child node, if any, to traverse at each successive level of the tree data structure; and determining whether any of the traversed nodes include the identifier associated with the first geographic zone and, in response, executing a set of instructions associated with the first geographic zone. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An asset tracking device for determining whether an asset is located within a first geographic zone at least partially within a geographic region, the system comprising:
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a location processing device configured to receive a location of the asset; a memory storing a tree data structure that represents the first geographic zone, the tree data structure comprising; a plurality of nodes, wherein; each of the plurality of nodes is organized into a plurality of parent-child relationships; each of the plurality of nodes represents geographic areas, wherein; a root node in the plurality of nodes represents the geographic region; each child node in the plurality of parent-child relationships represents a sub-area of a geographic area represented by the respective parent node; each node in the plurality of nodes represents a geographic area that at least partially overlaps with the first geographic zone; and each node in the plurality of nodes representing a geographic area that is entirely within the first geographic zone includes an identifier associated with the first geographic zone; a processor coupled to an instruction set, which when executed causes the processor to; receive the location of an asset associated with the asset tracking device from the location processing device; translate the location of the asset into a string of sequential characters; sequentially access each character in the string of sequential characters to traverse the tree data structure, wherein; a first character is associated with the root node; the first character determines which child node, if any, of the root node should be traversed; and each successive character in the string of sequential characters determines which child node, if any, to traverse at each successive level of the tree data structure; and determine whether any of the traversed nodes include the identifier associated with the first geographic zone and, in response, executing a set of instructions associated with the first geographic zone. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification