Cooperative Path Tracking

• US 20140372335A1
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Christopher P., Lenchner, Jonathan, Masters, Nathan E.
• Application Number:
  US13/920,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20140372335A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/333
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

An approach is provided in which a tracking device is attached to an object and receives nearby object routes from multiple nearby tracking devices, each attached to respective nearby objects. The tracking device compares an expected route corresponding to the object with the received nearby object routes to determine whether the object is being transported along the expected route. When the tracking device determines that the object has been incorrectly routed, the tracking device generates a notification.

Claims

1. A method for tracking objects, implemented by an information handling system, comprising:

receiving, at a tracking device attached to an object, a plurality of nearby object routes from a plurality of nearby tracking devices each attached to one of a plurality of nearby objects;

comparing, by the tracking device, an expected route corresponding to the object with the received plurality of nearby object routes; and

generating a notification, by the tracking device, that indicates the object is deviating from the expected route in response to the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing further comprises:

identifying an actual overlap percentage of the plurality of nearby object routes that include a nearby object route segment matching an expected route segment included in the expected route; and

determining that the actual overlap percentage fails to reach a required overlap percentage.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

selecting the expected route segment, from a plurality of expected route segments, based upon a route progression indicator; and

for each of the plurality of nearby object routes, selecting the nearby route segment based upon the route progression indicator for which to match against the selected expected route segment.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification provided by the tracking device is selected from the group consisting of an audio notification and a visual notification.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification is a broadcast wireless message.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving facility data at the tracking device, wherein the receiving of the facility data indicates that the object is located at a facility;

comparing the facility data to one or more expected route waypoints included in the expected route; and

generating the notification in response to the facility data failing to match one or more of the expected route waypoints.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

setting a timer in response to receiving the facility data;

receiving subsequent facility data subsequent to setting the timer;

in response to receiving the subsequent facility data, determining that the timer exceeds a facility timeframe threshold; and

generating a different notification, by the tracking device, in response to the determination.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the expected route is stored in the tracking device.

9. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory coupled to at least one of the one or more processors;

one or more wireless transceivers accessible by at least one of the one or more transceivers;

a set of computer program instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors in order to perform actions of;

receiving, at the information handling device attached to an object, a plurality of nearby object routes from a plurality of nearby tracking devices each attached to one of a plurality of nearby objects;

comparing, by the information handling device, an expected route corresponding to the object with the received plurality of nearby object routes; and

generating a notification, by the information handling device, that indicates the object is deviating from the expected route in response to the comparison.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

identifying an actual overlap percentage of the plurality of nearby object routes that include a nearby object route segment matching an expected route segment included in the expected route; and

determining that the actual overlap percentage fails to reach a required overlap percentage.

11. The information handling system of claim 10 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

selecting the expected route segment, from a plurality of expected route segments, based upon a route progression indicator; and

for each of the plurality of nearby object routes, selecting the nearby route segment based upon the route progression indicator for which to match against the selected expected route segment.

12. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the notification provided by the information handling device is selected from the group consisting of an audio notification and a visual notification.

13. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the notification is a broadcast wireless message.

14. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

receiving facility data at the information handling device, wherein the receiving of the facility data indicates that the object is located at a facility;

comparing the facility data to one or more expected route waypoints included in the expected route; and

generating the notification in response to the facility data failing to match one or more of the expected route waypoints.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

setting a timer in response to receiving the facility data;

receiving subsequent facility data subsequent to setting the timer;

in response to receiving the subsequent facility data, determining that the timer exceeds a facility timeframe threshold; and

generating a different notification, by the information handling device, in response to the determination.

16. A computer program product stored in a computer readable storage medium, comprising computer program code that, when executed by an information handling system, causes the information handling system to perform actions comprising:

receiving, at the information handling device attached to an object, a plurality of nearby object routes from a plurality of nearby tracking devices each attached to one of a plurality of nearby objects;

comparing, by the information handling device, an expected route corresponding to the object with the received plurality of nearby object routes; and

generating a notification, by the information handling device, that indicates the object is deviating from the expected route in response to the comparison.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the information handling system performs further actions comprising:

identifying an actual overlap percentage of the plurality of nearby object routes that include a nearby object route segment matching an expected route segment included in the expected route; and

determining that the actual overlap percentage fails to reach a required overlap percentage.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the information handling system performs further actions comprising:

selecting the expected route segment, from a plurality of expected route segments, based upon a route progression indicator; and

for each of the plurality of nearby object routes, selecting the nearby route segment based upon the route progression indicator for which to match against the selected expected route segment.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the notification provided by the information handling device is selected from the group consisting of an audio notification and a visual notification.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the notification is a broadcast wireless message.