METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTAINER NODE-BASED ENHANCED MANAGEMENT OF A MULTI-LEVEL WIRELESS NODE NETWORK

• US 20170279892A1
• Filed: 02/15/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Skaaksrud, Ole-Petter
• Granted Patent: US 10,484,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0252 per individual bearer or channel dynamic wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 52/322 Power control of broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Methods, apparatus and systems are described that manage a multi-level wireless node network with package ID nodes associated with different packages, a container node in a logistics container, a facility master node, and a server at different levels. In one method, the container node detects an advertising signal broadcast by each package ID node and detects an advertising signal broadcast by the facility master node as the container node approaches the facility. The method offloads management control of each of the package ID nodes from the facility master node down to the container node as part of managing the first level of the network, and has the container node transmitting relevant node information to the facility master node. Such relevant node information provides information about at least one of the packages in the logistics container and reflects status information to be sent to the server by the facility master node.

Claims

1. An enhanced method for managing a multi-level wireless node network having a plurality of package ID nodes at a first level of the network, a container node at a second level of the network, a facility master node at a third level of the network, and a server at fourth level of the network, comprising:

detecting, by the container node, an advertising signal broadcast by each of the package ID nodes, wherein the container node is part of a logistics container, and wherein each of the package ID nodes are respectively associated with one of a plurality of packages;

detecting, by the container node, an advertising signal broadcast by the facility master node as the container node approaches a facility associated with the facility master node;

offloading management control of each of the package ID nodes from the facility master node to the container node as part of managing the first level of the network; and

transmitting relevant node information by the container node to the facility master node, wherein the relevant node information provides information about at least one of the packages in the logistics container, and wherein the relevant node information reflects status information to be sent to the server by the facility master node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of offloading management control further comprises:

communicating, by the container node, with each of the package ID nodes as part of monitoring and controlling the package ID nodes;

receiving, by the container node, a plurality of responses from the package ID nodes;

determining, by the container node, relevant node information from the responses received, wherein the relevant node information includes status information about at least one of the package ID nodes; and

wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting, by the container node, the relevant node information to the facility master node, wherein the transmitted relevant node information provides at least some information on the one of the package ID nodes to be forwarded to the server as package ID node update information by the facility master node without requiring the facility master node to directly interact with any of the package ID nodes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the management control of each of the package ID nodes comprises control of a broadcast setting for at least one of the package ID nodes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the control of the broadcast setting is related to identifying, by the container node, a location for the one of the package ID nodes in response to a location request received from the server by the facility master node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the relevant node information provides information about one of the package ID nodes associated with the one of the packages in the logistics container, the relevant node information further comprising at least one of location data, profile data, security data, association data, shared data, and sensor data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sensor data comprises data collected from a sensor on the one of the package ID nodes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor data relates to at least one condition of the one of the packages.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the location data identifies a location for the one of the package ID nodes in response to a location request passed to the container node from the facility master node.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of offloading management control of each of the package ID nodes from the facility master node to the container node depends upon a threshold level of node congestion within a part of the wireless node network normally serviced by the facility master node.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting, by the container node, the advertising signal broadcast by each of the package ID nodes further comprises localized scanning for each of the package ID nodes proximate to the logistics container using a short range communication interface on the container node;

and

wherein the step of transmitting the relevant node information further comprises

(a) formatting a message for transmission using a long range communication interface on the container node, the message providing the relevant node information as an update for the server, and

(b) sending the message to the facility master node using the long range communication interface on the container node.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of localized scanning comprises listening for the advertising signal broadcast from within the logistics container or proximate to an exterior of the logistics container.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of offloading management control of each of the package ID nodes further comprises distributing scanning responsibility for the package ID nodes from the facility master node to the container node.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the logistics container comprises a unit load device (ULD) container capable of being transported within an airplane.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the logistics container comprises a trailer capable of being moved by a truck.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the logistics container comprises a train car capable of being moved on a railway system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the logistics container comprises an intermodal shipping container capable of being moved on at least two different types of transportation modalities.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the container node adaptively detects the advertising signal broadcast by the facility master node and transmits the relevant node information to the facility master node using one of a plurality of communication interfaces on the container node depending on communication congestion within a part of the wireless node network normally serviced by the facility master node.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the container node adaptively detects the advertising signal broadcast by the facility master node and transmits the relevant node information to the facility master node using one of a plurality of communication interfaces on the container node depending on the ability of the facility master node to handle communications formatted for the one of the plurality of communication interfaces.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the facility associated with the facility master node comprises a mobile facility that is capable of temporarily maintaining the logistics container.

20. A container node deployed within a multi-level wireless node network having a package ID node associated with a package, a facility master node associated with a facility, and a server, the container node comprising:

a node processing unit disposed as part of a logistics container;

a memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the memory storage maintaining container node management code for execution by the node processing unit;

a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the package ID node over a first communication path in accordance with the container node management code;

a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the facility master node over a second communication path in accordance with the container node management code;

wherein the node processing unit, when executing the container node management code maintained on the memory storage, is operative to

detect, via the first communication interface, an advertising signal broadcast by the package ID node;

detect, via the second communication interface, an advertising signal broadcast by the facility master node as the logistics container approaches the facility associated with the facility master node;

control, via the first communication interface, the package ID node as part of managing the first level of the network and without direct communications between the package ID node and the facility master node to offload management responsibility for the package ID node from the facility master node; and

cause the second communication interface to transmit relevant node information by the container node to the facility master node, wherein the relevant node information provides information about the package, and wherein the relevant node information reflects status information to be forwarded as an update to the server by the facility master node.

21. The container node of claim 20, wherein the node processing unit is operative to control, via the first communication interface, the package ID node by being further operative to:

communicate, using the first communication interface, with the package ID node as part of monitoring and controlling the package ID node at least as the logistics container approaches the facility and as the logistics container remains within the facility;

receive, through the first communication interface, a message from the package ID node; and

determine relevant node information from the response, wherein the relevant node information includes status information about the package ID node and provides at least some information on the package ID node to be forwarded to the server as package ID node update information by the facility master node without requiring the facility master node to directly interact with the package ID node.

22. The container node of claim 20, wherein the node processing unit is operative to control, via the first communication interface, the package ID node by being further operative to send the package ID node a control message through the first communication interface, wherein the control message adjusts a broadcast setting for the package ID node.

23. The container node of claim 22, wherein the control message is part of identifying a location of the package ID node in response to a location request received from the server by the facility master node and forwarded to the node processing unit over the second communication interface.

24. The container node of claim 20, wherein the relevant node information provides information about the package ID node and further comprises at least one of location data, profile data, security data, association data, shared data, and sensor data.

25. The container node of claim 24, wherein the sensor data comprises data collected from a sensor on the package ID node.

26. The container node of claim 25, wherein the sensor data relates to at least one condition of the package.

27. The container node of claim 24, wherein the location data identifies a location for the package ID node in response to a location request passed to the container node from the facility master node.

28. The container node of claim 20, wherein the node processing unit is operative to control, via the first communication interface, the package ID node instead of having the facility master node responsible for controlling the package ID node directly based upon a threshold level of node congestion within a part of the wireless node network normally serviced by the facility master node.

29. The container node of claim 20, wherein the node processing unit is operative to detect, via the first communication interface, the advertising signal broadcast by the package ID node by being further operative to cause the first communication interface to conduct localized scanning proximate to the logistics container;

and

wherein the node processing unit is operative to cause the second communication interface to transmit the relevant node information by being further operative to

format a message for transmission via the second communication interface, the message providing the relevant node information as an update for the server, and

cause the second communication interface to transmit the message to the facility master node.

30. The container node of claim 29, wherein the node processing unit is operative to cause the first communication interface to conduct localized scanning proximate to the logistics container by being further operative to command the first communication interface to listen for the advertising signal broadcast from the package ID node located within the logistics container or located proximate to an exterior of the logistics container.

31. The container node of claim 20, wherein the node processing unit is operative to control, via the first communication interface, the package ID node as part of managing the first level of the network by being responsible for scanning for the package ID node instead of having the facility master node scanning for the package ID node.

32. The container node of claim 20, wherein the logistics container comprises a unit load device (ULD) container capable of being transported within an airplane.

33. The container node of claim 20, wherein the logistics container comprises a trailer capable of being moved by a truck.

34. The container node of claim 20, wherein the logistics container comprises a train car capable of being moved on a railway system.

35. The container node of claim 20, wherein the logistics container comprises an intermodal shipping container capable of being moved on at least two different types of transportation modalities.

36. The container node of claim 20, wherein the node processing unit is operative to detect the advertising signal broadcast by the facility master node by being operative to communicate with the facility master node over one of the first communication path and the second communication path depending on communication congestion within a part of the wireless node network normally serviced by the facility master node.

37. The container node of claim 20, wherein the node processing unit is operative to detect the advertising signal broadcast by the facility master node by being operative to communicate with the facility master node over one of the first communication path and the second communication path depending on the ability of the facility master node to handle communications formatted for the one of the plurality of communication interfaces.

38. The container node of claim 20, wherein the facility associated with the facility master node comprises a mobile facility that is capable of temporarily maintaining the logistics container.

39. An enhanced logistics system for managing a multi-level wireless node network involving a plurality of packages, the system comprising:

a server disposed at a top level of the multi-level wireless node network, the server maintaining information on additional node elements of the multi-level wireless node network;

a facility master node disposed at a second level of the multi-level wireless node network, the facility master node being in operative communication with the server, the facility master node being associated with a facility that is capable of at least temporarily maintaining the plurality of packages;

a container node disposed at a third level of the multi-level wireless node network, the container node being part of a logistics container that currently maintains the plurality of packages, the container node further comprising a long range communication interface providing access to a long range communication path and a short range communication interface providing access to a short range communication path distinct from the long range communication path, wherein the container node is in operative communication with the facility master node over the long range communication path using the long range communication interface; and

a plurality of package ID nodes disposed at a fourth level of the multi-level wireless node network, wherein each of the plurality of package ID nodes are respectively associated with one of the plurality of packages currently maintained with the logistics container and in operative communication with the container node over the short range communication path via the short range communication interface; and

wherein as the container node enters the facility associated with the facility master node, the container node offloads management responsibility for each of the package ID nodes from the facility master node when

(a) the container node uses the short range communication interface to control each of the package ID nodes without direct communication between the package ID node and the facility master node, and

(b) the container node uses the long range communication interface to transmit relevant node information to the facility master node, the relevant node information comprising information about at least one of the packages and is gathered by the container node from at least one of the package ID nodes, and wherein the relevant node information reflects status information to be forwarded as an update by the facility master node to the server.

40. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the container node uses the short range communication interface to control each of the package ID nodes by being further operative to send each of the package ID nodes a control message through the short range communication interface, wherein the control message adjusts a broadcast setting for the respective package ID node.

41. The enhanced logistics system of claim 40, wherein the control message is part of identifying a location of at least one of the package ID nodes in response to a location request received from the server by the facility master node and forwarded to the container node over the long range communication interface.

42. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the relevant node information provides information about the one of the package ID nodes and further comprises at least one of location data, profile data, security data, association data, shared data, and sensor data.

43. The enhanced logistics system of claim 42, wherein the sensor data comprises data collected from a sensor on the one of the package ID nodes.

44. The enhanced logistics system of claim 43, wherein the sensor data relates to at least one condition of the one of the packages.

45. The enhanced logistics system of claim 42, wherein the location data identifies a location for the one of the package ID nodes in response to a location request passed to the container node from the facility master node.

46. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the container node offloads management responsibility for each of the package ID nodes from the facility master node when a threshold level of node communication congestion exists within a part of the wireless node network normally managed directly by the facility master node.

47. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the container node conducts localized scanning via the short range communication interface proximate to the logistics container to detect an advertising signal broadcast by each of the package ID nodes;

and wherein the container node transmits the relevant node information via the long range communication interface to the facility master node by formatting a message for transmission over the long range communication path, wherein the message providing the relevant node information to the facility master node as an update for the server.

48. The enhanced logistics system of claim 47, wherein the container node conducts localized scanning via the short range communication interface proximate to the logistics container by using the short range communication interface to listen for the advertising signal broadcast from each of the package ID nodes located within the logistics container or located proximate to an exterior of the logistics container.

49. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the container node is responsible for scanning, via the short range communication interface, for each of the package ID nodes as part of managing the fourth level of the multi-level wireless node network while avoiding the overloading the facility master node with congested scanning responsibilities related to the plurality of package ID nodes and additional node devices in the wireless node network.

50. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the logistics container comprises a unit load device (ULD) container capable of being transported within an airplane.

51. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the logistics container comprises a trailer capable of being moved by a truck.

52. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the logistics container comprises a train car capable of being moved on a railway system.

53. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the logistics container comprises an intermodal shipping container capable of being moved on at least two different types of transportation modalities.

54. The enhanced logistics system of claim 39, wherein the facility associated with the facility master node comprises a mobile facility that is capable of temporarily maintaining the logistics container