Methods and systems for tracking items using a sensor web

• US 7,623,033 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Skaaksrud, Ole Petter, Ainsworth, Miley, Veitenheimer, Marshall, Jacobs, Randy, Gregory, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/453,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.26, 340/539.22, 340/572.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/602, 340/5.92, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method for tracking items may store in memory first association data reflecting an association between an item tracking device and a beacon device when the item tracking device is within a predetermined range of the beacon device. The item tracking device may correspond to a first item, and the beacon device may correspond to an area that contains multiple items including the first item. Furthermore, the system and method for tracking items may periodically transmit sensor data to a database. The sensor data may be transmitted to the database from the beacon device to provide information about an environment of a group of items from the multiple items within the predetermined range of the beacon device.

Claims

1. A method for tracking items, comprising:

storing, in memory, first association data reflecting an association between an item tracking device and a beacon device when the item tracking device is within a predetermined range of the beacon device, wherein the item tracking device corresponds to a first item, and the beacon device corresponds to an area that contains multiple items including the first item;

detecting sensor data about an environment of the beacon device;

associating the sensor data with a group of items, of the multiple items, that are within the predetermined range of the beacon device; and

periodically transmitting the associated sensor data from the beacon device to a database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the item tracking device with another beacon device if the item tracking device is within a predetermined range of said another beacon device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes at least one of location information, temperature information, humidity information, light level information, pressure information, photo information, and video information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted sensor data triggers an alarm.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein triggering the alarm comprises sending a notification to a tracking center in response to a predetermined condition.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein triggering the alarm comprises sending a notification to a user tracking device in response to a predetermined condition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted sensor data triggers a programming change for at least one of the item tracking device and the beacon device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating an item tracking number with the item tracking device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the area that contains the multiple items is a vehicle used to deliver the multiple items.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the area that contains the Multiple items is a storage facility used to store the multiple items.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the area that contains the multiple items Is a container used to hold the multiple items.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing second association data reflecting an association between the item tracking device and a user tracking device when the item tracking device is within a predetermined range of the user tracking device, wherein the user tracking device corresponds to a courier responsible for delivering the first item.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disassociating the item tracking device from the beacon device when the item tracking device is outside the predetermined range; and

updating the memory to reflect the disassociation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data Is transmitted directly from the item tracking device to the database.

15. A system for tracking items, comprising:

at least one item tracking device, the at least one item tracking device corresponding to an item to be tracked;

at least one beacon device that corresponds to an area that contains multiple items including the item to be tracked, the beacon device comprising;

a sensor that detects sensor data about an environment of the beacon device;

memory that stores first association data reflecting an association between the at least one item tracking device and the at least one beacon device; and

a processor that associates the sensor data with a group of items, of the multiple items, which are within the predetermined range of the beacon device; and

a tracking center operable to periodically receive the associated sensor data from the at least one beacon device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one item tracking device is associated with another beacon device if the at least one item tracking device is within the predetermined range of said another beacon device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor data includes at least one of location information, temperature information, humidity information, light level information, pressure information, photo information, and video information.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the reported sensor data triggers an alarm.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein triggering the alarm comprises sending a notification to a tracking center in response to a predetermined condition.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein triggering the alarm comprises sending a notification to a user tracking device in response to a predetermined condition.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the area that contains the multiple items is a vehicle used to deliver the multiple items.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the area that contains the multiple items is a storage facility used to store the multiple items.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the area that contains the multiple items is a container used to hold the multiple items.

24. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a user tracking device that corresponds to a courier responsible for delivering the item to be tracked, the user tracking device storing second association data reflecting an association between the at least one item tracking device and the user tracking device when the at least one item tracking device is within a predetermined range of the user tracking device.

25. A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for tracking items, the method comprising:

storing, in memory, first association data reflecting an association between an item tracking device and a beacon device when the item tracking device is within a predetermined range of the beacon device, wherein the item tracking device corresponds to a first item, and the beacon device corresponds to an area that contains multiple items including the first item;

detecting sensor data about an environment of the beacon device;

associating the sensor data with a group of items, of the multiple items, which are within the predetermined range of the beacon device; and

periodically transmitting the associated sensor data from the beacon device to a database.