METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED NODE MONITORING IN A WIRELESS NODE NETWORK

• US 20170280347A1
• Filed: 02/16/2017
• 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 10,271,165 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 that are directed towards improved logistics node monitoring. Such a system may include a high-level managing node and a mid-level monitoring node that can communicate with low-level ID nodes associated with items being shipped. The mid-level node uses a central node control processor to coordinate monitoring for ID node signals, and a remote management communication interface coupled to the processor to provide the processor with access to the high-level node and a control input sent from the high-level node. A first command radio transceiver coupled to the processor provides a first command interface to the ID nodes and allows for transmission of an ID node instruction from the processor to at least one of the ID nodes. A first node monitoring radio receiver in the mid-level monitoring node is assigned to listen for ID node signals over a first channel.

Claims

1. A dedicated multi-radio apparatus for logistics node monitoring disposed in a wireless node network having a plurality of low-level ID nodes and a high-level managing node, wherein each of the low-level ID nodes is associated with one of a plurality of items being shipped, the apparatus comprising:

a central node control processor;

a remote management communication interface operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the remote management communication interface providing the central node control processor with access to the high-level managing node;

a first command radio transceiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the first command radio transceiver being dedicated to providing the central node control processor with a first command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the first command interface allowing at least transmission of an ID node instruction from the central node control processor to at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes; and

a first node monitoring radio receiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and assigned by the central node control processor to listen for one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a first channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second node monitoring radio receiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and assigned by the central node control processor to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a second channel simultaneously as the first node monitoring radio receiver listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel, wherein the first channel does not overlap with the second channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a third node monitoring radio receiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and assigned by the central node control processor to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a third channel simultaneously as each of the first node monitoring radio receiver and the second node monitoring radio receiver listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes, wherein the third channel is distinct from the first channel and the second channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first channel comprises a first signal frequency range.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second channel comprises a second signal frequency range.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the third channel comprises a third signal frequency range.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second command radio transceiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the second command radio transceiver providing the central node control processor with a parallel command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the parallel command interface allowing at least transmission of another ID node instruction from the central node control processor to another of the plurality of low-level ID nodes while the first command radio transceiver transmits the ID node instruction to the at least one of the plurality of the low-level ID nodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first command interface provided by the first command radio transceiver and the parallel command interface provided by the second command radio transceiver permits at least overlapping communication of different command instructions to different ones of the low-level ID nodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central node control processor assigns the first node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel in response to a first monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the central node control processor assigns the second node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the second channel in response to a second monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the central node control processor assigns the third node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the third channel in response to a third monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central node control processor causes the first command radio transceiver to transmit the ID node instruction from the central node control processor to the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes in response to a first node instruction command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the central node control processor causes the second command radio transceiver to transmit the another ID node instruction from the central node control processor to the another of the plurality of low-level ID nodes in response to a second node instruction command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a server that communicates with the apparatus through the remote management communication interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a master node that communicates with the apparatus through the remote management communication interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node association operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively establish a permitted node relationship with another node element in the wireless node network.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node broadcast operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting status.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting power level.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting timing parameter.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node data transmission operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively broadcast data gathered by the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data gathered comprises sensor data related to a package, the package being associated with the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

22. A dedicated multi-radio system for logistics node monitoring disposed in a wireless node network having a plurality of low-level ID nodes, wherein each of the low-level ID nodes is associated with one of a plurality of items being shipped, the system comprising:

a high-level managing node disposed in the wireless node network; and

a mid-level monitoring node disposed in the wireless node network in communication with the high-level managing node, the mid-level monitoring node being operative to monitor for one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes in response to a control input from the high-level managing node, the mid-level monitoring node further comprising;

a central node control processor responsible for coordinating the monitoring for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes,

a remote management communication interface operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the remote management communication interface providing the central node control processor with access to the high-level managing node and the control input from the high-level managing node,

a first command radio transceiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and dedicated to providing the central node control processor with a first command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the first command interface allowing at least transmission of an ID node instruction from the central node control processor to at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes; and

a first node monitoring radio receiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and assigned by the central node control processor to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a first channel.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the mid-level monitoring node further comprises a second node monitoring radio receiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and assigned by the central node control processor to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a second channel simultaneously as the first node monitoring radio receiver listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel, wherein the first channel does not overlap with the second channel.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the mid-level monitoring node further comprises a third node monitoring radio receiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and assigned by the central node control processor to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a third channel simultaneously as each of the first node monitoring radio receiver and the second node monitoring radio receiver listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes, wherein the third channel is distinct from the first channel and the second channel.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the first channel comprises a first signal frequency range.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the second channel comprises a second signal frequency range.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the third channel comprises a third signal frequency range.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the mid-level monitoring node further comprises a second command radio transceiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the second command radio transceiver providing the central node control processor with a parallel command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the parallel command interface allowing at least transmission of another ID node instruction from the central node control processor to another of the plurality of low-level ID nodes while the first command radio transceiver transmits the ID node instruction to the at least one of the plurality of the low-level ID nodes.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the first command interface provided by the first command radio transceiver and the parallel command interface provided by the second command radio transceiver permits at least overlapping communication of different command instructions to different ones of the low-level ID nodes.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the central node control processor of the mid-level managing node assigns the first node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel in response to a first monitoring command as the control input received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the central node control processor of the mid-level managing node assigns the second node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the second channel in response to a second monitoring command as the control input received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the central node control processor of the mid-level managing node assigns the third node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the third channel in response to a third monitoring command as the control input received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

33. The system of claim 22, wherein the central node control processor of the mid-level managing node causes the first command radio transceiver to transmit the ID node instruction from the central node control processor to the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes in response to a first node instruction command as the control input received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the central node control processor of the mid-level managing node causes the second command radio transceiver to transmit the another ID node instruction from the central node control processor to the another of the plurality of low-level ID nodes in response to a second node instruction command as the control input received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

35. The system of claim 22, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a server that communicates with the mid-level monitoring node through the remote management communication interface.

36. The system of claim 22, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a master node that communicates with the mid-level monitoring node through the remote management communication interface.

37. The system of claim 22, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node association operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively establish a permitted node relationship with another node element in the wireless node network.

38. The system of claim 22, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node broadcast operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting status.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting power level.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting timing parameter.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node data transmission operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively broadcast data gathered by the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the data gathered comprises sensor data related to a package, the package being associated with the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

43. A dedicated multi-radio based method for logistics node monitoring in a wireless node network having a high-level managing node, a mid-level monitoring node, and a plurality of low-level ID nodes, wherein each of the low-level ID nodes is associated with one of a plurality of items being shipped, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a remote management communication interface on the mid-level monitoring node, a control input from the high-level managing node, the remote management communication interface on the mid-level monitoring node being dedicated for communication with the high-level managing node;

transmitting, by a first command radio transceiver on the mid-level monitoring node, an ID node instruction to the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the first command radio transceiver providing the mid-level monitoring node with a first dedicated command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes;

generating, by a central node control processor in the mid-level monitoring node, a first assignment instruction for a first node monitoring radio receiver on the mid-level monitoring node; and

sending, by the central node control processor in the mid-level monitoring node, the first assignment instruction to the first node monitoring radio receiver to cause the first node monitoring radio receiver to listen for one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a first channel.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

generating, by the central node control processor in the mid-level monitoring node, a second assignment instruction for a second node monitoring radio receiver on the mid-level monitoring node; and

sending, by the central node control processor in mid-level monitoring node, the second assignment instruction to the second node monitoring radio receiver to cause the second node monitoring radio receiver to listen for one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a second channel simultaneously as the first node monitoring radio receiver listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel, wherein the first channel does not overlap with the second channel.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the steps of:

generating, by the central node control processor in the mid-level monitoring node, a third assignment instruction for a third node monitoring radio receiver on the mid-level monitoring node; and

sending, by the central node control processor in mid-level monitoring node, the third assignment instruction to the third node monitoring radio receiver to cause the third node monitoring radio receiver to listen for one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a third channel simultaneously as each of the first node monitoring radio receiver and the second node monitoring radio receiver listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes, wherein the third channel is distinct from the first channel and the second channel.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the first channel comprises a first signal frequency range.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the second channel comprises a second signal frequency range.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the third channel comprises a third signal frequency range.

49. The method of claim 43 further comprising the step of transmitting, by a second command radio transceiver on the mid-level monitoring node, another ID node instruction from the central node control processor to another of the plurality of low-level ID nodes while the first command radio transceiver transmits the ID node instruction to the at least one of the plurality of the low-level ID nodes, the second command radio transceiver providing the central node control processor with a parallel command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the first command interface provided by the first command radio transceiver and the parallel command interface provided by the second command radio transceiver permits at least overlapping communication of different command instructions to different ones of the low-level ID nodes.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein the first assignment instruction assigns the first node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel in response to a first monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein the second assignment instruction assigns the second node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the second channel in response to a second monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein the third assignment instruction assigns the third node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the third channel in response to a third monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of transmitting the ID node instruction is performed in response to a first node instruction command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the step of transmitting the another ID node instruction is performed in response to a second node instruction command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

56. The method of claim 43, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a server that communicates with the apparatus through the remote management communication interface.

57. The method of claim 43, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a master node that communicates with the apparatus through the remote management communication interface.

58. The method of claim 43, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node association operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively establish a permitted node relationship with another node element in the wireless node network.

59. The method of claim 43, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node broadcast operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting status.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting power level.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting timing parameter.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node data transmission operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively broadcast data gathered by the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the data gathered comprises sensor data related to a package, the package being associated with the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

64. A dedicated multi-radio system for logistics node monitoring disposed in a wireless node network having a plurality of low-level ID nodes and a high-level managing node, wherein each of the low-level ID nodes is associated with one of a plurality of items being shipped, the system comprising:

a mid-level monitoring node that coordinates monitoring for one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes in response to a control input from the high-level managing node, the mid-level monitoring node further comprising,

(a) a central node control processor responsible for coordinating the monitoring for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes,

(b) a remote management communication interface operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the remote management communication interface providing the central node control processor with access to the high-level managing node and the control input received from the high-level managing node,

(c) a first command radio transceiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and dedicated to providing the central node control processor with a first command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the first command interface allowing at least transmission of a first ID node instruction from the central node control processor of the mid-level monitoring node to at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes, and

(d) a monitoring radio communication interface operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the monitoring radio communication interface operative to generate a first assignment instruction in response to feedback received by the monitoring radio communication interface from the central node control processor related to the control input; and

a first node monitoring radio receiver unit in communication with the mid-level monitoring node as a separate device through the monitoring radio communication interface, the first node monitoring radio unit being responsive to the first assignment instruction received from the mid-level monitoring node to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a first channel.

65. The system of claim 64 further comprising a second node monitoring radio receiver unit in communication with the mid-level monitoring node as another separate device through the monitoring radio communication interface, the second node monitoring radio unit being responsive to a second assignment instruction generated by the monitoring radio communication interface of the mid-level monitoring node to listen for the one or more signals from at least one the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a second channel simultaneously as the first node monitoring radio receiver unit listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel, wherein the first channel does not overlap with the second channel.

66. The system of claim 65 further comprising a third node monitoring radio receiver unit in communication with the mid-level monitoring node as another separate device through the monitoring radio communication interface, the third node monitoring radio unit being responsive to a third assignment instruction generated by the monitoring radio communication interface of the mid-level monitoring node to listen for the one or more signals from at least one the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a third channel simultaneously as each of the first node monitoring radio receiver unit and the second node monitoring radio receiver unit listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes, wherein the third channel is distinct from the first channel and the second channel.

67. The system of claim 64, wherein the first channel comprises a first signal frequency range.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the second channel comprises a second signal frequency range.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein the third channel comprises a third signal frequency range.

70. The system of claim 64, wherein the mid-level monitoring node further comprises a second command radio transceiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the second command radio transceiver dedicated to providing the central node control processor with a parallel command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the parallel command interface allowing at least transmission of a second ID node instruction from the central node control processor of the mid-level monitoring node to another of the plurality of low-level ID nodes while the first command radio transceiver transmits the first ID node instruction to the at least one of the plurality of the low-level ID nodes.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the first command interface provided by the first command radio transceiver and the parallel command interface provided by the second command radio transceiver permits at least overlapping communication of different command instructions to different ones of the low-level ID nodes.

72. The system of claim 64, wherein the central node control processor assigns the first node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel in response to a first monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

73. The system of claim 65, wherein the central node control processor assigns the second node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the second channel in response to a second monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

74. The system of claim 66, wherein the central node control processor assigns the third node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the third channel in response to a third monitoring command received over the remote management communication interface from the high-level managing node.

75. The system of claim 70, wherein the first node monitoring radio receiver unit is operative to transmit a first detection notification to the monitoring radio interface of the mid-level monitoring node, the first detection notification reflecting detection of any of the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel;

and

wherein the second node monitoring radio receiver unit is operative to transmit a second detection notification to the monitoring radio interface of the mid-level monitoring node, the second detection notification reflecting detection of any of the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the second channel while the first node monitoring radio receiver unit detects any of the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first channel.

76. The system of claim 64, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a server that communicates with the mid-level monitoring node through the remote management communication interface.

77. The system of claim 64, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a master node that communicates with the mid-level monitoring node through the remote management communication interface.

78. The system of claim 64, wherein the first ID node instruction comprises a node association operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively establish a permitted node relationship with another element in the wireless node network.

79. The system of claim 64, wherein the first ID node instruction comprises a node broadcast operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting status.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting power level.

81. The system of claim 79, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting timing parameter.

82. The system of claim 79, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively broadcast data gathered by the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

83. A dedicated multi-radio system for logistics node monitoring disposed in a wireless node network having at least two low-level ID nodes and a high-level managing node, wherein each of the two low-level ID nodes are associated with different items being shipped, the system comprising:

a mid-level monitoring node with communication access to the high-level managing node over a first communication path and communication access to the at least two low-level ID nodes over a second communication path, the mid-level monitoring node being responsive to a control input received from the high-level managing node over the first communication path to generate a plurality of monitoring assignment task instructions related to scanning for one or more signals from the at least two low-level ID nodes;

a first node monitoring radio receiver unit responsive to a first of the monitoring assignment task instructions to scan for the one or more signals from the low-level ID nodes over a first channel, the first of the monitoring assignment task instructions being received by the first node monitoring radio receiver over a third communication path from the mid-level monitoring node; and

a second node monitoring radio receiver unit responsive to a second of the monitoring assignment task instructions to scan for the one or more signals from the low-level ID nodes over a second channel simultaneously while the first node monitoring radio receiver unit scans for the one or more signals from the low-level ID nodes over the first channel, the second of the monitoring assignment task instructions being received by the second node monitoring radio receiver over the third communication path from the mid-level monitoring node, wherein the first channel does not overlap with the second channel.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein the first channel comprises a first signal frequency range, and the second channel comprises a second signal frequency range.

85. The system of claim 83, wherein the mid-level monitoring node further comprises:

a first command radio transceiver dedicated to providing the mid-level monitoring node with a first command interface to the low-level ID nodes, the first command interface allowing at least transmission of a first ID node instruction from the mid-level monitoring node to at least one of the low-level ID nodes over the second communication path; and

a second command radio transceiver dedicated to providing the mid-level monitoring node with a second command interface to the low-level ID nodes, the second command interface allowing at least transmission of a second ID node instruction from the mid-level monitoring node to another of the low-level ID nodes over the second communication path while the first command radio transceiver transmits the first ID node instruction to the at least one of the low-level ID nodes.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein the first command interface provided by the first command radio transceiver and the second command interface provided by the second command radio transceiver permits at least overlapping communication of different command instructions to different ones of the low-level ID nodes.

87. The system of claim 85, wherein the mid-level monitoring node further comprises a third command radio transceiver dedicated to providing the mid-level monitoring node with a third command interface to the low-level ID nodes, the third command interface allowing at least transmission of a third ID node instruction from the mid-level monitoring node to at least a third of the low-level ID nodes over the second communication path while the first command radio transceiver transmits the first ID node instruction and the second command radio transceiver transmits the second ID node instruction

88. The system of claim 83, wherein the first of the monitoring assignment task instructions generated by the mid-level monitoring node assigns the first node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the low-level ID nodes over the first channel in response to a first monitoring command received over the first communication path from the high-level managing node;

and wherein the second of the monitoring assignment task instructions generated by the mid-level monitoring node assigns the second node monitoring radio receiver to listen for the one or more signals from the low-level ID nodes over the second channel in response to a second monitoring command received over the first communication path from the high-level managing node.

89. The system of claim 83, wherein the first node monitoring radio receiver unit and the second node monitoring radio receiver unit are each operative to transmit a detection notification to the mid-level monitoring node, the detection notification reflecting detection of any of the one or more signals from the low-level ID nodes over the first channel or the second channel.

90. The system of claim 83, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a server that communicates with the mid-level monitoring node through the remote management communication interface.

91. The system of claim 83, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a master node that communicates with the mid-level monitoring node through the remote management communication interface.

92. The system of claim 83, wherein at least one of the first ID node instruction and the second ID node instruction comprises a node association operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively establish a permitted node relationship with another element in the wireless node network.

93. The system of claim 83, wherein at least one of the first ID node instruction and the second ID node instruction comprises a node broadcast operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting status.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting power level.

95. The system of claim 93, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting timing parameter.

96. The system of claim 93, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively broadcast data gathered by the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

97. A dedicated multi-radio apparatus for logistics node monitoring disposed in a wireless node network having a plurality of low-level ID nodes and a high-level managing node, wherein each of the low-level ID nodes is associated with one of a plurality of items being shipped, the apparatus comprising:

a central node control processor;

a remote management communication interface operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the remote management communication interface providing the central node control processor with access to the high-level managing node; and

a plurality of multi-mode radio transceivers each operatively coupled to the central node control processor, wherein each of the multi-mode radio transceivers being responsive to a first mode command received from the central node control processor to operate in a first mode as a dedicated command radio transceiver providing the central node control processor with a first command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the first command interface allowing at least transmission of an ID node instruction from the central node control processor to at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes; and

wherein each of the multi-mode radio transceivers being further responsive to a second mode command received from the central node control processor to operate in a second mode as a dedicated node monitoring radio receiver that listens for one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a designated channel.

98. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the plurality of multi-mode radio transceivers comprises:

a first multi-mode radio transceiver temporarily operating in the first mode as a first dedicated command radio transceiver programmed to provide the central node control processor with a first command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the first command interface allowing at least transmission of a first ID node instruction from the central node control processor to at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes;

a second multi-mode radio transceiver temporarily operating in the first mode as a second dedicated command radio transceiver programmed to provide the central node control processor with a parallel command interface to the plurality of low-level ID nodes, the parallel command interface allowing at least transmission of a second ID node instruction from the central node control processor to another of the plurality of low-level ID nodes while the first multi-mode radio transceiver transmits the first ID node instruction to the at least one of the plurality of the low-level ID nodes; and

a third multi-mode radio transceiver temporarily operating in the second mode as a dedicated node monitoring radio receiver programmed to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a first frequency range.

99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the first command interface provided by the first multi-mode radio transceiver and the parallel command interface provided by the second multi-mode radio transceiver permits at least overlapping communication of different command instructions to different ones of the low-level ID nodes.

100. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the plurality of multi-mode radio transceivers further comprises a fourth multi-mode radio transceiver temporarily operating in the second mode as a dedicated node monitoring radio receiver programmed to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over a second frequency range simultaneously as the third multi-mode radio transceiver listens for the one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes over the first frequency range.

101. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the central node control processor is operative to program a mode state for each of the multi-mode radio transceivers in response to receiving a control input from the high-level managing node, the mode state being programmed with at least one of the first mode command and the second mode command.

102. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a server that communicates with the apparatus through the remote management communication interface.

103. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the high-level managing node comprises a master node that communicates with the apparatus through the remote management communication interface.

104. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node association operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively establish a permitted node relationship with another node element in the wireless node network.

105. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node broadcast operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting status.

106. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting power level.

107. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the node broadcast operation instruction comprises an instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively alter a broadcasting timing parameter.

108. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the ID node instruction comprises a node data transmission operation instruction causing the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes to responsively broadcast data gathered by the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

109. The apparatus of claim 108, wherein the data gathered comprises sensor data related to a package, the package being associated with the at least one of the plurality of low-level ID nodes.

110. A dedicated multi-radio system for logistics node monitoring disposed in a wireless node network, the apparatus comprising:

a first low-level ID node in the wireless node network, the first low-level ID node being disposed relative to a first package being shipped;

a second low-level ID node in the wireless node network, the second low-level ID node being disposed relative to a second package being shipped;

a high-level managing node disposed in the wireless node network, the high-level managing node maintaining first association information related to the first low-level ID node and the first package and maintaining second association information related to the second low-level ID node and the second package; and

a mid-level monitoring node disposed in the wireless node network in communication with the high-level managing node, the mid-level monitoring node being operative to monitor for one or more signals from at least one of the first low-level ID node and the second low-level ID node in response to a control input message received from the high-level managing node, the mid-level monitoring node further comprising;

a central node control processor responsible for coordinating the monitoring for the one or more signals from the first low-level ID node and the second low-level ID node;

a remote management communication interface operatively coupled to the central node control processor, the remote management communication interface providing the central node control processor with access to the high-level managing node and the control input message from the high-level managing node;

a first command radio transceiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and dedicated to providing the central node control processor with a first command interface to each of the first low-level ID node and the second low-level ID node, the first command interface being operative to transmit an ID node instruction from the central node control processor to at least one of the first low-level ID node and the second low-level ID node based upon the control input message; and

a first node monitoring radio receiver operatively coupled to the central node control processor and assigned by the central node control processor to listen for the one or more signals from at least one of the first low-level ID node and the second low-level ID node over a first channel.