Sensor zone management

• US 9,633,327 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Ainsworth, Miley E., Hamm, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): EPSTEIN, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/566,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20110078089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,769 Days
• Field of Search: 705 33 X, 34053912, 34053927
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• 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

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for tracking an item. The method may include periodically detecting sensor information of an item by a sensor device. The method may also include periodically transmitting the sensor information by the sensor device. The method may also include receiving the sensor information at a tracking center, storing the sensor information in a database, and reviewing the stored sensor information. The method may further include using the stored sensor information to update shipment information for a package.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for updating shipment information of one or more items being shipped, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting, by a first sensor device, a second sensor device entering within a proximity of the first sensor device and responsively storing association information to indicate an association between the first sensor device and the second sensor device, wherein;

the first sensor device is configured to sense conditions of a first item being shipped, and

the second sensor device is configured to sense conditions of a second item being shipped;

receiving, at the first sensor device, sensor information collected by the second sensor device, wherein the sensor information indicates at least one condition of the second item;

transmitting to a tracking center, by the first sensor device, the sensor information and the association information;

receiving from the tracking center, at the first sensor device, updated shipment information based on at least the sensor information, wherein the updated shipment information comprises routing information for the second item;

receiving from the tracking center, at the first sensor device, an updated configuration parameter based on at least the sensor information, wherein the updated configuration parameter reflects a modification to operation of the second sensor device;

transmitting to the second sensor device, by the first sensor device, the updated shipment information and the updated configuration parameter;

detecting, by the first sensor device, that the second sensor device is no longer within the proximity of the first sensor device and responsively updating the association information to remove the association between the first sensor device and the second sensor device; and

transmitting to the tracking center, by the first sensor device, the updated association information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated shipment information is further based on historical information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated shipment information further comprises routing information for future items.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first sensor device has sufficient battery power to receive and transmit the sensor information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor device has permission to transmit information to the tracking center; and

the second sensor device does not have permission to transmit information to the tracking center.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one condition comprises a temperature of the second item; and

the updated configuration parameter reflects a modification to a frequency with which the second sensor device senses the temperature of the second item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the at least one condition comprises a location of the second item; and

the updated shipment information reflects a modification to an encryption of the sensor information.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for updating shipment information of one or more items being shipped, the method comprising:

detecting, by a first sensor device, a second sensor device entering within a proximity of the first sensor device and responsively storing association information to indicate an association between the first sensor device and the second sensor device, wherein;

the first sensor device is configured to sense conditions of a first item being shipped, and

the second sensor device is configured to sense conditions of a second item being shipped;

receiving, at the first sensor device, sensor information collected by the second sensor device, wherein the sensor information indicates at least on condition of the second item;

transmitting to a tracking center, by the first sensor device, the sensor information and the association information;

receiving from the tracking center, at the first sensor device, updated shipment information based on at least the sensor information, wherein the updated shipment information comprises routing information for the second item;

receiving from the tracking center, at the first sensor device, an updated configuration parameter based on at least the sensor information, wherein the updated configuration parameter reflects a modification to sensing by the second sensor device;

transmitting to the second sensor device, by the first sensor device, the updated shipment information and the updated configuration parameter;

detecting, by the first sensor device, that the second sensor device is no longer within the proximity of the first sensor device and responsively updating the association information to remove the association between the first sensor device and the second sensor device; and

transmitting to the tracking center, by the first sensor device, the updated association information.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the updated shipment information is further based on historical information.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the updated shipment information further modifies a route along which future items are to be shipped.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

determining whether the first sensor device has sufficient battery power to receive and transmit the sensor information.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the first sensor device has permission to transmit information to the tracking center; and

the second sensor device does not have permission to transmit information to the tracking center.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one condition comprises a temperature of the second item; and

the updated configuration parameter reflects a modification to a frequency with which the second sensor device senses the temperature of the second item.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one condition comprises a location of the second item; and

the updated shipment information reflects a modification to an encryption of the sensor information.

15. A system for updating shipment information of one or more items being shipped, comprising:

a first sensor device configured to sense conditions of a first item being shipped; and

a tracking center, wherein;

the first sensor device configured to;

detect a second sensor device entering within a proximity of the first sensor device and responsively store association information to indicate an association between the first sensor device and the second sensor device, wherein the second sensor device is configured to sense conditions of a second item being shipped,

receive sensor information collected by the second sensor device, wherein the sensor information indicates at least one condition of the second item,

transmit to the tracking center the sensor information and the association information,

receive from the tracking center updated shipment information, wherein the updated shipment information comprises routing information for the second item,

receive from the tracking center an updated configuration parameter, wherein the updated configuration parameter reflects a modification to sensing by the second sensor device,

transmit to the second sensor device the updated shipment information and the updated configuration parameter,

detect that the second sensor device is no longer within the proximity of the first sensor device and responsively update the association information to remove the association between the first sensor device and the second sensor device, and

transmit to the tracking center the updated association information; and

the tracking center is configured to;

receive the sensor information transmitted from the first sensor device,

based on at least the sensor information, generate the updated shipment information,

based on at least the sensor information, generate the updated configuration parameter, and

transmit the updated shipment information and the updated configuration parameter to the first sensor device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein generating the updated shipment information based on at least the sensor information comprises generating the updated shipment information based on the sensor information and historical information stored at the tracking center.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the updated shipment information further modifies a route along which future items are to be shipped.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first sensor device is further configured to:

determine whether the first sensor device has sufficient battery power to receive and transmit the sensor information.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the first sensor device has permission to transmit information to the tracking center; and

the second sensor device does not have permission to transmit information to the tracking center.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the at least one condition comprises a temperature of the second item; and

the updated configuration parameter reflects a modification to a frequency with which the second sensor device senses the temperature of the second item.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the at least one condition comprises a location of the second item; and

the updated shipment information reflects a modification to an encryption of the sensor information.