Pallet mesh network

• US 9,858,523 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palletechnology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palletechnology, Inc.
• Inventors: Linkesch, Richard, Wainman, Anthony John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilodeau, David
• Application Number:
  US15/270,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07722 the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets flat articles in general, see B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for a pallet embedded with an electronic device to track and manage items during shipping. Such an electronic device can receive and store shipment information associated with a pallet associated with the electronic device and/or a nearby pallet. The shipment information can include an identifier associated with the pallet. The electronic device can then attempt a connection on a first wireless interface such as a low power and short range interface. If the electronic device determines that the first wireless interface is inappropriate for a connection, it can try a second wireless interface (such as a higher power and long range interface). The electronic device can then connect on the second wireless interface and send the shipment information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

initiating, by an electronic device embedded in a pallet, a low power mode during which at least one processing area of the electronic device is powered down;

while the electronic device is operating in the low power mode, receiving, from a motion sensor of the electronic device, motion data describing a detected physical a movement of the pallet;

determining, based on the motion data, that an intensity level of the detected physical movement meets or exceeds a threshold intensity level; and

in response to determining that the intensity level of the detected physical movement meets or exceeds the threshold intensity level;

exiting the low power mode, causing the at least one processing area of the electronic device to power up;

recording a description of the particular motion in shipment information stored by the electronic device, the shipment information including an identifier assigned to the pallet;

attempting to connect to a receiver via a first wireless interface, yielding a first attempt, wherein the first wireless interface uses a first power level and provides a first connectivity range;

determining that the first attempt to connect via the first wireless interface was unsuccessful;

in response to determining that the first attempt was unsuccessful, attempting to connect via a second wireless interface, yielding a second attempt, wherein the second wireless interface uses a second power level that is greater than the first power level and provides a second connectivity range that is greater than the first connectivity range;

in response to the second attempt being successful to connect to the receiver, sending at least a portion of the shipment information over the second wireless interface; and

reinitiating low power mode.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that a temperature associated with the pallet is outside of a predetermined range for a period of time; and

including a description of the temperature in the shipment information.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first interface uses Bluetooth wireless communication protocol and the second interface uses cellular or satellite.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a second electronic device embedded in a second pallet, second shipment information including a second identifier associated with the second pallet.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein sending the at least a portion of the shipment information includes:

receiving, from a requestor, a request for shipment information;

determining permissions of the requestor; and

determining, based on the permissions, that the requestor is authorized to receive the at least a portion of the shipment information.

6. An electronic device embedded in a pallet, the electronic device comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

one or more computer-readable mediums storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising;

initiating a low power mode during which at least one processing area of the electronic device is powered down;

while the electronic device is operating in the low power mode, receiving, from a motion sensor of the electronic device, motion data describing a detected physical a movement of the pallet;

determining, based on the motion data, that an intensity level of the detected physical movement meets or exceeds a threshold intensity level; and

in response to determining that the intensity level of the detected physical movement meets or exceeds the threshold intensity level;

exiting the low power mode, causing the at least one processing area of the electronic device to power up;

recording a description of the particular motion in shipment information stored by the electronic device, the shipment information including an identifier assigned to the pallet;

attempting to connect to a receiver via a first wireless interface, yielding a first attempt, wherein the first wireless interface uses a first power level and provides a first connectivity range;

determining that the first attempt to connect via the first wireless interface was unsuccessful;

in response to determining that the first attempt was unsuccessful, attempting to connect via a second wireless interface, yielding a second attempt, wherein the second wireless interface uses a second power level that is greater than the first power level and provides a second connectivity range that is greater than the first connectivity range;

in response to the second attempt being successful to connect to the receiver, sending at least a portion of the shipment information over the second wireless interface; and

reinitiating low power mode.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, the operations further comprising:

detecting that a temperature associated with the pallet is outside of a predetermined range for a period of time; and

including a description of the temperature in the shipment information.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the first interface uses Bluetooth wireless communication protocol and the second interface uses cellular or satellite.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, the operations further comprising:

receiving, from a second electronic device embedded in a second pallet, second shipment information including a second identifier associated with the second pallet.

10. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein sending the at least a portion of the shipment information includes:

receiving, from a requestor, a request for shipment information;

determining permissions of the requestor; and

determining, based on the permissions, that the requestor is authorized to receive the at least a portion of the shipment information.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors of an electronic device embedded in a pallet, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:

initiating a low power mode during which at least one processing area of the electronic device is powered down;

while the electronic device is operating in the low power mode, receiving, from a motion sensor of the electronic device, motion data describing a detected physical a movement of the pallet;

determining, based on the motion data, that an intensity level of the detected physical movement meets or exceeds a threshold intensity level; and

in response to determining that the intensity level of the detected physical movement meets or exceeds the threshold intensity level;

exiting the low power mode, causing the at least one processing area of the electronic device to power up;

recording a description of the particular motion in shipment information stored by the electronic device, the shipment information including an identifier assigned to the pallet;

attempting to connect to a receiver via a first wireless interface, yielding a first attempt, wherein the first wireless interface uses a first power level and provides a first connectivity range;

determining that the first attempt to connect via the first wireless interface was unsuccessful;

in response to determining that the first was unsuccessful, attempting to connect via a second wireless interface, yielding a second attempt, wherein the second wireless interface uses a second power level that is greater than the first power level and provides a second connectivity range that is greater than the first connectivity range;

in response to the second attempt being successful to connect to the receiver, sending at least a portion of the shipment information over the second wireless interface; and

reinitiating low power mode.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

detecting that a temperature associated with the pallet is outside of a predetermined range for a period of time; and

including a description of the temperature in the shipment information.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first interface uses Bluetooth wireless communication protocol and the second interface uses cellular or satellite.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

receiving, from a second electronic device embedded in a second pallet, second shipment information including a second identifier associated with the second pallet.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein sending the at least a portion of the shipment information includes:

receiving, from a requestor, a request for shipment information;

determining permissions of the requestor; and

determining, based on the permissions, that the requestor is authorized to receive the at least a portion of the shipment information.