SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS OF ENHANCED MANAGEMENT OF A WIRELESS NODE NETWORK BASED UPON AN EVENT CANDIDATE RELATED TO ELEMENTS OF THE WIRELESS NODE NETWORK

• US 20170012813A1
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Skaaksrud, Ole-Petter, Hollahan, Terence
• Granted Patent: US 10,313,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0645 by additionally acting on or stimulating the network after receiving notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/32 Specific management aspects for broadband networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A server apparatus allows for enhanced management of a wireless node network having a ID nodes and a master node in communication with the ID nodes. The server includes a processing unit, memory storage, and a network interface. The memory storage maintains event candidate analytics engine code for execution by the server, node management information (e.g., context data describing a contextual environment of the ID nodes and rule data used for node control operations) used to control ID nodes and the master node as part of managing the wireless node network. When executing the event candidate analytics engine code and having access to the node management information, the server becomes unconventionally operative to receive from the master node an event candidate identified as representing an updated status related to an ID node; generate a confidence rating for the event candidate based upon an evaluation of the event candidate against at least a portion of the context data, where the confidence rating indicates a degree to which the event candidate represents a node relevant activity; update the node management information stored on the memory storage based upon a type of the event candidate and the confidence rating for the event candidate; and transmit to the master node a management message providing at least a portion of the updated node management information to the master node as instructional input to be used by the master node.

Claims

1. An enhanced node management system for a wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes, the system comprising:

a master node disposed within the wireless node network and executes an event detection engine code to become operative to

generate a report message regarding an event candidate representing an updated status related to a first of the ID nodes, and

receive a management message in response to the generated report message; and

a server in communication with the master node over a first communication path, the server maintaining node management information used to control one or more of the ID nodes and the master node as part of managing the wireless node network, wherein the node management information comprises at least context data describing a contextual operating environment of the ID nodes and rule data used for node control operations of the ID nodes and the master node, wherein when the server executes an event candidate analytics engine code maintained on the server, the server becomes operative to;

receive the report message from the master node,

extract the event candidate from the report message, the event candidate being identified by the master node as representing the updated status related to the first ID node,

generate a confidence rating for the event candidate based upon an evaluation of the event candidate compared to at least a portion of the context data maintained by the server, the confidence rating indicating a degree to which the event candidate represents a node relevant activity,

update the node management information based upon a type of the event candidate and the confidence rating for the event candidate, and

transmit the management message to the master node, the management message providing at least a portion of the updated node management information to the master node as instructional input to be used by the master node.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructional input is used by the master node to control an operation of the master node.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructional input is used by the master node to cause at least one of the ID nodes to alter operation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the node relevant activity comprises at least one of a detectable physical activity and a detectable electromagnetic activity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the node relevant activity is an anticipated activity characterized by at least a portion of the context data that is related to the first ID node.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the node relevant activity is a new activity not characterized by the context data identified as related to the first ID node.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the rule data defines at least one parameter of an operational profile for one or more ID nodes.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the rule data defines at least one parameter of an operational profile for the master node.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server updates the node management information by transforming the node management information to further indicate a correspondence between the node relevant activity and the updated status related to the first ID node.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the server transforms the node management information based upon the type of the event candidate and the confidence rating of the event candidate.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the node relevant activity comprises movement of at least one of the first ID node, the master node, and an object near the master node.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the node relevant activity comprises exposure to a source of shielding that inhibits communication between the first ID node and the master node.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the node relevant activity comprises exposure to a source of RF interference.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the node relevant activity comprises placement of the first ID node within a container.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is operative to transmit the management message to cause the master node to alter how the master node operates.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is operative to transmit the management message to cause the master node to send a second management message to at least one of the ID nodes, the second management message causing the one of the ID nodes to alter how the one of the ID nodes operates.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the revised node management information provided as the instructional input comprises updated rule data.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the updated status comprises a changed status of the first ID node.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the updated status comprises an unchanged status of the first ID node.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the updated status comprises a summarized checkpoint status of the first ID node.

21. An enhanced node management system for a wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes, the system comprising:

a server;

a master node disposed within the wireless node network in direct communication with the server over a first communication path and in direct communication with the ID nodes over a second communication path distinct from the first communication path,

wherein when the master node executes a first engine code, the master node becomes operative to;

detect a first updated status related to a first of the ID nodes, wherein the detected first status is represented by a first event candidate,

detect a second updated status related to a second of the ID nodes, wherein the detected second status is represented by a second event candidate,

transmit the first event candidate and the second event candidate by the master node to the server over the first communication path, and

receive a management message in response to the transmitting the first event candidate and the second event candidate;

wherein the server maintains node management information used to control one or more of the ID nodes and the master node as part of managing the wireless node network, wherein the node management information comprises at least context data describing a contextual operating environment of the ID nodes and rule data used for node control operations of the ID nodes and the master node; and

wherein when the server executes a second engine code maintained on the server, the server becomes operative to;

receive the first event candidate and the second event candidate from the master node,

generate a first confidence rating for the first event candidate based upon an evaluation of the first event candidate compared to at least a first portion of the context data maintained by the server, the first confidence rating indicating a degree to which the first event candidate represents a node relevant activity,

generate a second confidence rating for the second event candidate based upon an evaluation of the second event candidate compared to at least a second portion of the context data maintained by the server, the second confidence rating indicating a degree to which the second event candidate represents the node relevant activity,

compare the first confidence rating and the second confidence rating to determine a combined confidence rating reflecting a degree to which the detected first change and the detected second change represent a pattern corresponding to the node relevant activity,

update the node management information based upon a type of the first event candidate, a type of the second event candidate, and the combined confidence rating, and

transmit the management message to the master node, the management message providing at least a portion of the updated node management information to the master node as instructional input to be used by the master node.

22. A server apparatus for enhanced management of a wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes and a master node in communication with the ID nodes, the apparatus comprising:

a server processing unit;

a memory storage coupled to the server processing unit, the memory storage maintaining event candidate analytics engine code for execution by the server processing unit, the memory storage further maintaining node management information used to control one or more of the ID nodes and the master node as part of managing the wireless node network, wherein the node management information comprises at least context data describing a contextual environment of the ID nodes and rule data used for node control operations;

a network interface coupled to the server processing unit and operative to communicate with the master node over a network communication path, wherein the network communication path allows the server to directly interact with the master node but does not allow the server to directly interact with the ID nodes; and

wherein the server processing unit, when executing the event candidate analytics engine code maintained on the memory storage and having access to the node management information, is operative to

receive, via the network interface, an event candidate from the master node, the event candidate being identified by the master node as representing an updated status related to the first ID node,

generate a confidence rating for the event candidate based upon an evaluation of the event candidate against at least a portion of the context data, the confidence rating indicating a degree to which the event candidate represents a node relevant activity,

update the node management information stored on the memory storage based upon a type of the event candidate and the confidence rating for the event candidate, and

cause the network interface to transmit a management message to the master node, the management message providing at least a portion of the updated node management information to the master node as instructional input to be used by the master node.

23. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructional input is used by the master node to control an operation of the master node.

24. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructional input is used by the master node to cause at least one of the ID nodes to alter operation.

25. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the node relevant activity is an anticipated activity characterized by at least a portion of the context data related to the first ID node.

26. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the node relevant activity is a new activity not characterized by a current state of the context data identified to be related to the first ID node.

27. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rule data defines at least one parameter of an operational profile for one or more ID nodes within the wireless node network.

28. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rule data defines at least one parameter of an operational profile for the master node within the wireless node network.

29. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rule data defines one or more parameters on how the master node identifies the event candidate.

30. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the rule data defines one or more parameters on how the master node simplifies a data feed coupling the master node and network interface of the server apparatus.

31. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the node management information comprises further context data relating to the master node.

32. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the server processing unit is operative to update the node management information stored on the memory storage by being further operative to transform the node management information to further indicate a correspondence between the node relevant activity and the updated status related to the first ID node.

33. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein the node relevant activity comprises at least one of a detectable physical activity and a detectable electromagnetic activity.

34. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein the server processing unit is operative to transform the node management information based upon the type of the event candidate and the confidence rating of the event candidate.

35. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein the node relevant activity comprises movement of at least one of the first ID node, the master node, and an object near the master node.

36. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein the node relevant activity comprises exposure to a source of shielding that inhibits communication between the first ID node and the master node.

37. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein the node relevant activity comprises exposure to a source of RF interference.

38. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein the node relevant activity comprises placement of the first ID node within a container.

39. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructional input alters how the master node operates.

40. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructional input alters how the master node manages at least one of the ID nodes.

41. The server apparatus of claim 39, wherein the instructional input comprises updated rule data defining how the master node identifies the event candidate.

42. The server apparatus of claim 39, wherein the instructional input comprises updated rule data refining how the master node simplifies a data fee between the master node and the server.

43. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the updated status comprises a changed status of the first ID node.

44. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the updated status comprises an unchanged status of the first ID node.

45. The server apparatus of claim 22, wherein the updated status comprises a summarized checkpoint status of the first ID node.

46. A method for enhanced management of a wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes, a master node in communication with the ID nodes, and a server in communication with the master node, the method comprising:

receiving, by the server, an event candidate identified by the master node, wherein the event candidate is related to a first of the ID nodes and represents an updated status related to the first ID node;

generating, by the server, a predictive score for the event candidate based upon context data maintained by the server and related to the first ID node, wherein the predictive score focuses on whether the event candidate corresponds to a node related activity;

updating, by the server, node management information based upon a type of the event candidate and the predictive score for the event candidate; and

transmitting, by the server, a management message to the master node, the management message providing at least a portion of the updated node management information to the master node as feedback to the master node used for enhanced management of one or more elements of the wireless node network.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the event candidate is related to a subset of the ID nodes including the first ID node.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the updated status related to the first ID node comprises a shift in signal strength in what is broadcast by the first ID node.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of generating the predictive score for the event candidate further comprises generating the predictive score based upon an evaluation of the event candidate against at least a portion of the context data related to the first ID node.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises scan data related to the first ID node.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises scan data related to the master node.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises scan data related to a second master node in the wireless node network.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises scan data related to a second of the ID nodes.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises historic data related to the first ID node.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises historic data related to the master node.

56. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises historic data related to a second master node in the wireless node network.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises historic data related to a second of the ID nodes.

58. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises shipment data related to an item being shipped with the first ID node.

59. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises layout data related to an anticipated environment for the first ID node.

60. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises RF data related to an anticipated signal path environment for the first ID node.

61. The method of claim 49, wherein the portion of the context data related to the first ID node comprises third party data originating from outside the wireless node network and relating to an anticipated physical condition to be faced by the first ID node.

62. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of generating the predictive score for the event candidate further comprises:

identifying, by the server, a pattern match between the event candidate and at least a portion of the context data related to the first ID node; and

assigning, by the server, a rating as the predictive score for the event candidate based upon the extent the server identifies the pattern match between the event candidate and the portion of the context data related to the first ID node.

63. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of generating the predictive score for the event candidate further comprises:

comparing, by the server, the event candidate to at least a portion of the context data related to the first ID node; and

determining, by the server, a probability rank as the predictive score for the event candidate based upon the comparison between the event candidate and the portion of the context data related to the first ID node.

64. The method of claim 46, wherein the predictive score comprises a confidence factor related to whether the event candidate corresponds to the node relevant activity.

65. The method of claim 46, wherein the node relevant activity comprises at least one of a detectable physical activity and a detectable electromagnetic activity.

66. The method of claim 46, wherein the node relevant activity comprises an anticipated activity characterized by at least a portion of the context data related to the first ID node.

67. The method of claim 46, wherein the node relevant activity comprises a new activity not already characterized by the context data related to the first ID node.

68. The method of claim 46, wherein the node management information comprises node management data maintained by the server, the node management data relating to one or more ID nodes within the wireless node network, the node management data including the context data maintained by the server and related to the first ID node.

69. The method of claim 46, wherein the node management information comprises node management data maintained by the server, the node management data relating to the master node.

70. The method of claim 46, wherein the node management information comprises a node management rule maintained by the server, the node management rule defining one or more parameters of an operational profile for one or more ID nodes within the wireless node network.

71. The method of claim 46, wherein the node management information comprises a node management rule maintained by the server, the node management rule defining one or more parameters of an operational profile for the master node.

72. The method of claim 46, wherein the node management information comprises a node management rule defining one or more parameters on how the master node identifies the event candidate.

73. The method of claim 46, wherein the node management information comprises a node management rule defining one or more parameters on how the master node simplifies a data feed between the master node and the server.

74. The method of claim 46, wherein the updating step further comprises transforming, by the server, the node management information to further indicate a correspondence between the node related activity and the updated status related to the first ID node, the transformation being based upon the type of the event candidate and the predictive score for the event candidate.

75. The method of claim 46, wherein the node related activity comprises movement of at least one of the first ID node, the master node, and an object near the master node.

76. The method of claim 46, wherein the node related activity comprises exposure to a source of RF interference.

77. The method of claim 46, wherein the node related activity comprises placement of the first ID node within a container.

78. The method of claim 46, wherein the transmitting step further comprises providing, by the server, the portion of the updated node management information to the master node as management control input for the master node, wherein the control input alters how the master node operates.

79. The method of claim 46, wherein the transmitting step further comprises providing, by the server, the portion of the updated node management information to the master node as management control input for the master node, wherein the control input alters how the master node manages at least one of the ID nodes.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein the portion of the updated node management information provided as the management control input comprises an updated node management rule refining how the master node identifies the event candidate.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein the portion of the updated node management information provided as the management control input comprises an updated node management rule refining how the master node simplifies a data feed between the master node and the server.

82. The method of claim 46, wherein the updated status comprises a changed status of the first ID node.

83. The method of claim 46, wherein the updated status comprises an unchanged status of the first ID node.

84. The method of claim 46, wherein the updated status comprises a summarized checkpoint status of the first ID node.

85. A method for enhanced management of a wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes, a master node in communication with the ID nodes, and a server in communication with the master node, the method comprising:

receiving, by the server, an event candidate identified by the master node, wherein the event candidate is related to a first of the ID nodes and represents an updated status related to the first ID node;

ranking, by the server, the event candidate for confidence of representing a node relevant activity based upon context data maintained by the server and related to the first ID node;

revising, by the server, node management information based upon a type of the event candidate and the ranking of the event candidate, wherein the node management information is maintained by the server and is related to at least one of the master node and the first ID node; and

transmitting, by the server, a management message to the master node, the management message providing at least a portion of the revised node management information to the master node as instructional input to be used by the master node.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the step of ranking the event candidate further comprises generating a predictive score based upon an evaluation of the event candidate against at least a portion of the context data related to the first ID node for confidence of representing the node relevant activity.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the node relevant activity is an anticipated activity characterized by at least a portion of the context data related to the first ID node.

88. The method of claim 85, wherein the node relevant activity is a new activity not characterized by a current state of the context data identified to be related to the first ID node.

89. The method of claim 85, wherein the node management information comprises node management data maintained by the server, the node management data relating to one or more ID nodes within the wireless node network, the node management data including the context data maintained by the server and related to the first ID node.

90. The method of claim 85, wherein the node management information comprises node management data maintained by the server, the node management data relating to the master node.

91. The method of claim 85, wherein the node management information comprises a node management rule maintained by the server, the node management rule defining one or more parameters of an operational profile for one or more ID nodes within the wireless node network.

92. The method of claim 85, wherein the node management information comprises a node management rule maintained by the server, the node management rule defining one or more parameters of an operational profile for the master node.

93. The method of claim 85, wherein the node management information comprises a node management rule defining one or more parameters on how the master node identifies the event candidate.

94. The method of claim 85, wherein the node management information comprises a node management rule defining one or more parameters on how the master node simplifies a data feed between the master node and the server.

95. The method of claim 85, wherein the revising step further comprises transforming, by the server, the node management information to further indicate a correspondence between the node relevant activity and the updated status related to the first ID node, the transformation being based upon the type of the event candidate and the ranking of the event candidate.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the node relevant activity comprises movement of at least one of the first ID node, the master node, and an object near the master node.

97. The method of claim 95, wherein the node relevant activity comprises exposure to a source of shielding that inhibits communication between the first ID node and the master node.

98. The method of claim 95, wherein the node relevant activity comprises exposure to a source of RF interference.

99. The method of claim 95, wherein the node relevant activity comprises placement of the first ID node within a container.

100. The method of claim 85, wherein the instructional input alters how the master node operates.

101. The method of claim 85, wherein the instructional input is used by the master node to control an operation of the master node.

102. The method of claim 85, wherein the instructional input alters how the master node manages at least one of the ID nodes.

103. The method of claim 85, wherein the instructional input is used by the master node to cause at least one of the ID nodes to alter operation.

104. The method of claim 100, wherein the instructional input comprises an updated node management rule defining how the master node identifies the event candidate.

105. The method of claim 100, wherein the instructional input comprises an updated node management rule refining how the master node simplifies a data feed between the master node and the server.

106. The method of claim 85, wherein the updated status comprises a changed status of the first ID node.

107. The method of claim 85, wherein the updated status comprises an unchanged status of the first ID node.

108. The method of claim 85, wherein the updated status comprises a summarized checkpoint status of the first ID node.