SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING LONG-DISTANCE, AUTOMATED INTERACTION WITH CONSUMABLES

• US 20160019498A1
• Filed: 07/07/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Instrumentalmail LLC
• Original Assignee: InstrumentMail LLC
• Inventors: Bhalodia, Vimal, Walters, Robb, Jacobson, Stuart Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/793,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20160019498A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4015 using location information
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/60 Security, fault tolerance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/23 for mobile advertising
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for remotely detecting events with an article. The system can involve coupling a communication interface with an article. The system can connect to a first network to receive configuration details about a second network.

Claims

1. A system for detecting interaction with an article comprising:

an article; and

a communications system coupled to the article comprising;

a sensor configured to detect a predetermined event occurring to the article;

a wireless communication interface; and

a processor configured to;

receive configuration data from a first network, via the communication interface, wherein the configuration data comprises access point connection information;

connect, using the communication interface, to the access point over a second network using the access point connection information;

detect an interaction from the sensor corresponding to the predetermined event occurring to the article;

transmit, to the access point, interaction data describing the detected interaction encoded in a signal that causes the access point to retransmit the interaction data to an operating server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the article is a shippable item and the predetermined event is the article being opened.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a camera, wherein the processor is configured to take a picture of the person opening the article.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the sensor senses light.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is an inhaler and the predetermined event is a drop in pressure in the inhaler.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined event is at least one of blood pressure, blood oxygen level, and exhaled carbon dioxide measuring beyond a predetermined amount.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a medicine container and the predetermined event is the container having a predetermined level of depletion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a light emitting device and the predetermined event is failure of the light emitting device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a tire on a vehicle and the event is failure of the tire.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communications system further comprises a location sensor, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the location of the system upon the failure occurring.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a portable electronic device and the communications system has a power source that is independent of the portable electronic device.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power source which captures ambient energy.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor serves as a power source for the processor.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications system is coupled to a surface of the article such that the communications system is substantially indistinguishable from the surface of the article.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the coupling of the communications system with the article comprises integrating the communications system within a surface of the article.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the coupling of the communications system with the article comprises coupling the communications system within a sealed portion of the article that is configured to be unsealed.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to transmit to the access point at a lower power than the access point'"'"'s connection to the operating server.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a human hand and the sensor is an NFC sensor embedded in the hand.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined event is a user pressing a button representing that the user is in physical danger.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a power outlet and the communications system has a power source independent of the power outlet.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the article contains a consumable item and the predetermined event is a user ordering a replacement of the consumable item.

22. A computer implemented method for detecting interaction with an article, wherein the article is coupled with a communications system, wherein the communications interface system includes a memory module, a power source, a sensor for detecting an interaction event with the article, a processor coupled with the sensor, and a communication interface coupled with the processor;

receiving, by a processor coupled to the article, configuration data from a device, wherein the configuration data comprises access point connection information;

connecting, using the communication interface, to the access point using the access point connection information;

detecting an interaction with an article;

transmitting, to the access point, the interaction data and an instruction to retransmit the interaction data to an operating server.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 22 wherein transmitting further comprises transmitting geolocation data.

24. The computer implemented method of claim 22, further comprising placing the processor and the communication interface in a sleep state and waking the processor and the communication interface upon detecting the interaction event.

25. The computer implemented method of claim 22, wherein the article is contained within a shippable container and the interaction is the article being removed from the shippable container.