Load distribution and consolidation tracking system

• US 9,633,326 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Marine Electronics Company
• Original Assignee: Smart Catch Inc.
• Inventors: Terry, Robert Mark, Alhafidh, Ahmed, Kolosova, Anastassia, Peet, Corey Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYUN, SOON D
• Application Number:
  US14/735,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1076 Screening of IP real time communications, e.g. spam over Internet telephony [SPIT]
• 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: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers

Abstract

Through various embodiments, a traceability system may comprise a first tracking device configured to receive a pre-generated session identification number, wherein the pre-generated session identification number is assigned to a first load and a MAC address of the device. The device is further configured to initialize one or more environmental sensors of the device and generate, through the one or more environmental sensors, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the device. The device is additionally configured to execute a propagation query to generate a second session identification number adapted from the pre-generated session identification number, the second session identification number being related to a second load derived from the first load.

Claims

1. A device for tracking a first load comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that when executed by the processor of the device cause the device to perform operations comprising;

receiving a pre-generated session identification number, wherein the pre-generated session identification number is assigned to the first load and a MAC address of the device;

initializing one or more environmental sensors of the device;

generating, through the one or more environmental sensors, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the device; and

executing a propagation query to generate a second session identification number adapted from the pre-generated session identification number to indicate a divisional relationship with the pre-generated session identification number, the second session identification number being related to a second load derived from the first load.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein receiving the pre-generated session identification number further comprises:

communicating a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) request comprising a MAC address query to an LDAP-enabled device,

wherein the LDAP-enabled device subsequently compares a MAC address of the MAC address query against a directory of MAC addresses stored in a memory of the LDAP-enabled device, and

wherein the LDAP-enabled device generates an LDAP response to the LDAP request and communicates the LDAP response to the processor of the device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory of the device comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the device cause the device to perform operations comprising:

establishing a secure connection with a server, wherein establishing the secure connection comprises comparing the MAC address of the device against one or more MAC addresses aggregated in a whitelist stored in a memory of the server; and

communicating the environmental data to the server.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the memory comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the device cause the device to perform operations comprising:

upon executing the propagation query;

communicatively coupling with a second device, and

assigning the second session identification number to the second device.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising:

wherein assigning the second session identification number to the second device initializes one or more environmental sensors of the second device, and

wherein upon initializing the one or more environmental sensors of the second device, the one or more environmental sensors of the second device generate environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the second device.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

wherein the environmental data pertaining to the one or more factors of the environment surrounding the device and the environmental data pertaining to the one or more factors of the environment surrounding the second device are aggregated through a database management system executed by the server, and

wherein the server generates one or more views of the aggregated environmental data, the one or more views providing varying degrees of detail pertaining to at least one load of the first load and the second load.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the memory of the device further comprises instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform operations comprising:

storing a hyperlink in a radio-frequency identification chip, the hyperlink providing a user access to a generated view of the aggregated environmental data.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory of the device further comprises instructions that when executed by the processor cause the device to perform operations comprising:

generating an encrypted report comprising the environmental data, the encrypted report

providing a user access to the environmental data based on a privilege level of the user; and

communicating the encrypted report to a data processing device communicatively coupled to the device.

9. A method of tracking a first load, comprising:

receiving, through a processor of a device, a pre-generated session identification number, the pre-generated session identification number being related to the first load and a MAC address of the device;

upon receiving the pre-generated session identification number, initializing, through the processor of the device, one or more environmental sensors of the device;

generating, through the one or more environmental sensors, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the device; and

executing a propagation query, through the processor of the device, to generate a second session identification number adapted from the pre-generated session identification number to indicate a divisional relationship with the pre-generated session identification number, the second session identification number being related to a second load derived from the first load.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

establishing, through the processor, a secure connection with a server,

wherein establishing the secure connection comprises comparing the MAC address of the device against one or more MAC addresses aggregated in a whitelist stored in a memory of the server; and

communicating the environmental data to the server.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

upon executing the propagation query;

communicatively coupling with a second device; and

communicating the second session identification number to the second device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

wherein communicating the second session identification number to the second device initializes one or more environmental sensors of the second device, and

wherein upon initializing the one or more environmental sensors of the second device, the one or more environmental sensors of the second device generate environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the second device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

wherein the environmental data pertaining to the one or more factors of the environment surrounding the device and the environmental data pertaining to the one or more factors of the environment surrounding the second device are aggregated through a database management system executed by the server, and

wherein the server generates one or more views of the aggregated environmental data, the one or more views providing varying degrees of detail pertaining to at least one load of the first load and the second load.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing a hyperlink in a radio-frequency identification chip of the device, the hyperlink providing a user access to the one or more views of the aggregated environmental data.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating an encrypted report comprising the environmental data, the encrypted report providing a user access to the environmental data based on a privilege level of the user; and

communicating the encrypted report to a data processing device communicatively coupled to the device.

16. A system comprising:

a first device tracking a first load, the first device comprising a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

a second device tracking a second load derived from the first load wherein the second device comprises a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

wherein the memory of the first device stores instructions that when executed by a

processor of the first device cause the first device to perform operations comprising;

receiving a pre-generated first session identification number, the pre-generated first session identification number being related to the first load and a MAC address of the first device;

upon receiving the pre-generated first session identification number, initializing one or more environmental sensors of the first device;

generating, through the one or more environmental sensors, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the first device;

storing the environmental data in the memory of the first device; and

executing a propagation query to generate a second session identification number adapted from the pre-generated first session identification number to indicate a divisional relationship with the pre-generated first session identification

number, the second session identification number being related to the second load.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the first device further comprises instructions that when executed by the processor of the first device cause the first device to perform operations comprising;

upon executing the propagation query,

communicatively coupling to the second device; and

assigning the second session identification number to the second device.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

wherein assigning the second session identification number to the second device initializes one or more environmental sensors of the second device,

wherein upon initializing the one or more environmental sensors of the second device, the second device;

generates, through the one or more environmental sensors of the second device, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the second device, and

stores the environmental data generated through the one or more environmental sensors of the second device in the memory of the second device.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the first device comprises instructions that when executed by the processor of the first device cause the first device to perform operations comprising;

generating an encrypted report comprising the environmental data stored in the memory of the first device, the encrypted report providing a user read-only access to the environmental data stored in the memory of the first device;

communicating the encrypted report to a data processing device communicatively coupled to the first device;

wherein the memory of the second device comprises instructions that when executed by the processor of the second device cause the second device to perform operations comprising;

generating an encrypted report comprising the environmental data stored in the memory of the second device, the encrypted report providing a user read-only access to the environmental data stored in the memory of the second device; and

communicating the encrypted report to a data processing device communicatively coupled to the second device.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the first device comprises instructions that when executed by the processor of the first device cause the first device to perform operations comprising;

storing a hyperlink in a radio-frequency identification chip, the hyperlink providing a user access to the encrypted report comprising the environmental data stored in the memory of the first device; and

wherein the memory of the second device comprises instructions that when executed by the processor of the second device cause the second device to perform operations comprising;

storing a hyperlink in another radio-frequency identification chip, the hyperlink providing a user access to the encrypted report comprising the environmental data stored in the memory of the second device.

21. A system, comprising:

a server comprising a memory storing a whitelist comprising one or more MAC addresses;

a first device communicatively coupled to the server, the first device tracking a first load and comprising a processor and a memory, the memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that when executed by the processor of the first device cause the first device to perform operations comprising;

communicating a MAC address of the first device to the server;

receiving a first session identification number from the server, wherein the first session identification number is generated by the server upon comparing, through a processor of the server, the MAC address of the first device against one or more MAC addresses of the whitelist and wherein the first session identification number is assigned to the first load and the MAC address of the first device;

initializing one or more environmental sensors of the first device;

generating, through the one or more environmental sensors of the first device, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the first device; and

communicating a propagation query to the server that when executed by the server causes the server to generate a second session identification number adapted from the first session identification number to indicate a divisional relationship with the first session identification number, the second session identification number being assigned to a second load derived from the first load;

upon receiving the MAC address query, comparing a MAC address of the MAC address query against a directory of MAC addresses stored in a memory of the LDAP-enabled device; and

upon comparing the MAC address against the directory of MAC addresses, generating an LDAP response to the LDAP request and communicating the LDAP response to at least one of the processor of the server or the processor of the first device.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

an LDAP-enabled device configured to;

receive, through at least one of the processor of the server or the processor of the first device, an LDAP request comprising a MAC address query;

upon receiving the MAC address query, comparing a MAC address of the MAC address query against a directory of MAC addresses stored in a memory of the LDAP-enabled device; and

upon comparing the MAC address against the directory of MAC addresses, generating an LDAP response to the LDAP request and communicating the LDAP response to at least one of the processor of the server or the processor of the first device.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a second device communicatively coupled to the server, the second device tracking the second load and comprising a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory of the second device comprising instructions that when executed by the processor of the second device cause the second device to perform operations comprising;

receiving the second session identification number from the server, the second session identification number being assigned to a MAC address of the second device;

initializing one or more environmental sensors of the second device;

generating, through the one or more environmental sensors of the second device, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the second device;

communicating the environmental data to the server; and

wherein the memory of the first device comprises a further instruction that when executed by the processor of the first device causes the first device to communicate the environmental data generated by the one or more environmental sensors of the first device to the server.

24. The systems of claim 23, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the server comprises instructions that when executed by a processor of the server cause the server to perform operations comprising;

aggregating, through the processor of the server, the environmental data generated through the one or more environmental sensors of the first device and the one or more environmental sensors of the second device,

generating, through the processor of the server, one or more views of the aggregated environmental data, the one or more views providing varying degrees of detail pertaining to at least one load of the first load and the second load.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the first device comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the first device cause the first device to perform operations comprising;

generating an encrypted report comprising the environmental data generated by the first device, the encrypted report providing a user read-only access to the environmental data generated by the first device;

communicating the encrypted report to a data processing device communicatively coupled to the first device;

wherein the memory of the second device comprises further instructions that when executed by the second device cause the second device to perform operations comprising;

generating an encrypted report comprising the environmental data generated by the second device, the encrypted report providing a user read-only access to the environmental data generated by the second device;

and communicating the encrypted report to a data processing device communicatively coupled to the second device.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the first device comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the first device cause the first device to perform operations comprising;

storing a hyperlink in a radio-frequency identification chip of the first device, the hyperlink providing a user access to the encrypted report generated by the first device; and

wherein the memory of the second device comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the second device cause the second device to perform operations comprising;

storing a hyperlink in a radio-frequency identification chip of the second device, the hyperlink providing a user access to the encrypted report generated by the second device.

27. A system comprising:

a data processing device comprising a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

a tracking device communicatively coupled to the data processing device, the tracking device tracking a first load and comprising a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that when executed by the processor of the tracking device cause the tracking device to perform further operations comprising;

receiving an initialization signal from the data processing device;

communicating a MAC address of the tracking device to the data processing device;

receiving a session identification number from the data processing device,

wherein the session identification number is generated by the data processing device and communicated to the tracking device upon comparing, through a processor of the data processing device, the MAC address of the tracking device against one or more MAC addresses aggregated in a whitelist stored in the memory of the data processing device,

wherein the session identification number is related to the first load and the MAC address of the tracking device;

initializing one or more environmental sensors of the tracking device;

generating, through the one or more environmental sensors, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the tracking device; and

communicating a propagation query to the data processing device that when executed by the data processing device causes the data processing device to generate a second session identification number adapted from the session identification number to indicate a divisional relationship with the session identification number, the second session identification number being related to a second load derived from the first load.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein receiving the initialization signal is achieved through a communicative coupling event between the tracking device and the data processing device.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

a second tracking device communicatively coupled to the data processing device, the second tracking device tracking the second load and comprising a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory of the second tracking device comprising instructions that when executed by the processor of the second tracking device cause the second tracking device to perform operations comprising;

receiving the second session identification number from the data processing device, the second session identification number being assigned to a MAC address of the second tracking device;

initializing one or more environmental sensors of the second tracking device;

generating, through the one or more environmental sensors of the second tracking device, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the second tracking device;

communicating the environmental data to the data processing device;

and wherein the memory of the tracking device comprises a further instruction that when executed by the processor of the tracking device causes the tracking device to communicate the environmental data generated by the one or more environmental sensors of the tracking device to the data processing device.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the data processing device comprises instructions that when executed by the processor of the data processing device cause the data processing device to perform operations comprising;

aggregating, through the processor of the data processing device, the environmental data generated through the one or more environmental sensors of the tracking device and the one or more environmental sensors of the second tracking device,

generating, through the processor of the data processing device, one or more views of the aggregated environmental data, the one or more views providing varying degrees of detail pertaining to at least one load of the first load and the second load.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the tracking device comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the tracking device cause the tracking device to perform operations comprising;

generating an encrypted report comprising the environmental data generated by the tracking device, the encrypted report providing a user read-only access to the environmental data generated by the tracking device;

communicating the encrypted report to a remote data processing device communicatively coupled to the tracking device;

wherein the memory of the second tracking device comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the second tracking device cause the second tracking device to perform operations comprising;

wherein the memory of the data processing device comprises instructions that when executed by the processor of the data processing device cause the data processing device to perform operations comprising;

generating an encrypted report comprising the environmental data generated by the second tracking device, the encrypted report providing a user read-only access to the environmental data generated by the second tracking device; and

communicating the encrypted report to the remote data processing device communicatively coupled to the second tracking device.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

wherein the memory of the tracking device comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the tracking device cause the tracking device to perform operations comprising;

storing a hyperlink in a radio-frequency identification chip of the tracking device, the hyperlink providing a user access to the encrypted report generated by the tracking device; and

wherein the memory of the second tracking device comprises further instructions that when executed by the processor of the second tracking device cause the second tracking device to perform operations comprising;

storing a hyperlink in a radio-frequency identification chip of the second tracking device, the hyperlink providing a user access to the encrypted report generated by the second tracking device.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein a MAC address of the data processing device is associated with the aggregated environmental data.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein credentials of a user of the data processing device are associated with the aggregated environmental data.