Method and system for power management of asset tracking system for non-stationary assets

• US 9,576,234 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trapeze Software ULC (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Trapeze Software ULC (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Barnes, Sharon Ann Irma, Brooks, Marty Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/095,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

There is system for power management for radio frequency identification (RFID) tag asset tracking systems where the tag has a transceiver, configured to control RFID communication of the RFID tag, an accelerometer, configured to determine and communicate whether the tag is in motion and a microcontroller unit (MCU), to control operation of the RFID tag and operably connected to, and in communication with, the accelerometer and the transceiver, wherein the MCU awakens, based on a trigger and receives, from the accelerometer, whether the accelerometer is moving, and if it is moving then provide power to other parts of the tag, otherwise transition to a sleep mode to conserve power.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

an accelerometer, configured to communicate an acceleration reading of the RFID tag; and

a microcontroller unit (MCU), configured to transition the RFID tag through one or more states, and operably connected to the accelerometer, wherein the MCU is further configured to;

awaken, based on a trigger, where the trigger causes the RFID to transition from a sleep state to a motion detection state;

if the RFID tag is in the motion detection state then;

provide temporary power to the accelerometer via the MCU only;

receive, from the accelerometer, the acceleration reading of the RFID tag;

calculate, based on the acceleration reading of the RFID tag, whether the RFID tag is in motion or not; and

if the RFID tag is in motion then;

transition to an in motion state by ceasing the temporary power provided to the accelerometer and configuring the accelerometer to receive power directly from a battery power source only;

if the RFID tag is not in motion then;

powering down the MCU until a next trigger and ceasing the temporary power provided to the accelerometer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein transitioning to an in motion state comprises powering on essential components.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the essential components comprise a transceiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger comprises a clock cycle timeout.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the clock cycle timeout can be configured.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the calculating further comprises comparing the acceleration reading to a previous acceleration reading.