Contextual based determination of accuracy of position fixes

• US 8,432,274 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Deal Magic Inc., Savi Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Cova, Nicholas D., Krishna, Narayana C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/533,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.1, 340/988, 340/572.1, 705/22, 705/8, 705/28, 701/207, 701/213, 701/214, 701/300, 342/357.23, 342/457
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/40 Correcting position, velocity or attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence

Abstract

Techniques for contextual based determination of accuracy of position fixes, and modification of the position fixes in accordance with the accuracy are disclosed. In one aspect, a position fix for an asset is received. The first position fix corresponds to a location of an event during shipment of the asset. If it is determined that the position fix is inaccurate, the position fix is modified in accordance with a type of the event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, a first position fix for an asset, the first position fix corresponding to a first location of the asset determined when an event of a predefined event type occurred during shipment of the asset;

determining, by the computing device, if the first position fix is inaccurate by comparing the first location to a second location where the event was expected to occur; and

if the first position fix is inaccurate, determining if the expected location of the event is within a threshold distance of the first position fix; and

modifying, by the computing device, the first position fix to correspond to the expected location of the first event when the expected location is within a threshold distance of the first position fix.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a notification identifying the asset, the event, and the modified first position fix; and

providing the notification to a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the first position fix comprises:

determining that the type of the first event is a shipping event;

identifying the expected location, the expected location being a valid location for the shipping event; and

modifying the first position fix to indicate the expected location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the shipping event is that the shipment is beginning, and identifying the expected location comprises:

determining whether a valid origin location for the shipment is within a threshold distance of the first position fix; and

identifying the valid origin location as the valid location if the valid origin location is within a threshold distance of the first position fix, and otherwise identifying an origin location associated with a sender of the shipment.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the shipping event is that the shipment is ending, and identifying the expected location comprises:

determining whether a valid destination location for the shipment is within a threshold distance of the first position fix; and

identifying the valid destination location as the valid location if the valid destination location is within a threshold distance of the first position fix, and otherwise identifying a destination location associated with a receiver of the shipment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the first position fix comprises:

determining that the type of the first event is an environmental event indicating that an environmental requirement for the asset has been violated; and

modifying the first position fix to be a last received position fix having an accuracy score that satisfies the threshold value for events having the type environmental event.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the first position fix comprises:

determining that the type of the first event is a security event indicating that the asset has been compromised;

determining that the first location is within a threshold distance of a destination location for the asset; and

modifying the first position fix to be the destination location for the asset.

7. A system, comprising:

a tag configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving position fix data for an asset; and

generating notifications identifying position fixes for events during shipment of the asset;

one or more servers configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first position fix for the asset from the tag, the first position fix corresponding to a first location of the asset determined when a first event of a predefined event type occurred during shipment of the asset;

determining if the first position fix is inaccurate by comparing the first location to a second location where the event was expected to occur; and

if the first position fix is inaccurate, determining if the expected location of the event is within a threshold distance of the first position fix; and

modifying the first position fix to correspond to the expected location of the first event when the expected location is within a threshold distance of the first position fix.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein modifying the first position fix comprises:

determining that the type of the first event is a shipping event;

identifying the expected location, the expected location being a valid location for the shipping event; and

modifying the first position fix to indicate the expected location.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the shipping event is that the shipment is beginning, and identifying the expected location comprises:

determining whether a valid origin location for the shipment is within a threshold distance of the first position fix; and

identifying the valid origin location as the valid location if the valid origin location is within a threshold distance of the first position fix, and otherwise identifying an origin location associated with a sender of the shipment.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the shipping event is that the shipment is ending, and identifying the expected location comprises:

determining whether a valid destination location for the shipment is within a threshold distance of the first position fix; and

identifying the valid destination location as the valid location if the valid destination location is within a threshold distance of the first position fix, and otherwise identifying a destination location associated with a receiver of the shipment.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein modifying the first position fix comprises:

determining that the type of the first event is a security event indicating that the asset has been compromised;

determining that the first location is within a threshold distance of a destination location for the asset; and

modifying the first position fix to be the destination location for the asset.

11. A system, comprising:

a tag configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving position fix data for an asset; and

generating notifications identifying position fixes for events during shipment of the asset;

one or more servers configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first position fix for the asset from the tag, the first position fix corresponding to a first location of the asset determined when a first event of a predefined event type occurred during shipment of the asset;

determining if the first position fix is inaccurate by comparing the first location to a second location where the event was expected to occur; and

if the first position fix is inaccurate, modifying the first position fix to correspond to the expected location of the first event, wherein modifying the first position fix comprises;

determining that the type of the first event is an environmental event indicating that an environmental requirement for the asset has been violated; and

modifying the first position fix to be a last received position fix having an accuracy score that satisfies the threshold value for events having the type environmental event.

13. A system, comprising:

a tag configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving position fix data for an asset; and

generating notifications identifying position fixes for events during shipment of the asset;

one or more servers configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first position fix for the asset from the tag, the first position fix corresponding to a first location of the asset determined when a first event of a predefined event type occurred during shipment of the asset;

determining if the first position fix is inaccurate by comparing the first location to a second location where the event was expected to occur; and

if the first position fix is inaccurate, modifying the first position fix to correspond to the expected location of the first event, wherein modifying the first position fix comprises;

determining that the type of the first event is a security event indicating that the asset has been compromised;

determining that the first location is within a threshold distance of a customs inspection location; and

modifying the first position fix to be the customs inspection location.

15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, a first position fix for an asset, the first position fix corresponding to a first location of the asset determined when an event of a predefined event type occurred during shipment of the asset;

determining, by the computing device, if the first position fix is inaccurate by comparing the first location to a second location where the event was expected to occur; and

if the first position fix is inaccurate, modifying, by the computing device, the first position fix to correspond and to the expected location of the first event, wherein modifying the first position fix comprises;

determining that the type of the first event is a security event indicating that the asset has been compromised;

determining that the first location is within a threshold distance of a customs inspection location; and

modifying the first position fix to be the customs inspection location.