Context management of a wireless node network

• US 9,984,348 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Skaaksrud, Ole-Petter, Hollahan, Terence, Benton, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCORMACK, THOMAS S
• Application Number:
  US14/445,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00256 Delivery operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/02 Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/102 Straps, bands, strings or other elongate elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 : Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 : Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 : specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 : Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 : using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 : using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 : Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 : stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 : ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 : specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 : for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 : Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 : using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 : characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 : characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 : Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 : Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• 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 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 : TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 : with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for context management of a wireless node network having at least a plurality of nodes and a server are described. The server identifies at least one of the nodes. The server determines what context data relates to an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves along a path within the operating environment. Based upon the determined context data (e.g., scan data, historic data, shipment data, and layout data), the server performs a management task related to the identified node (e.g., instructs the node to alter its operation, associate the node with the another node, locates the node, tracks and reports the location of the node) with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

Claims

1. A method for context management of a wireless node network having at least a plurality of nodes and a server, the method comprising:

identifying, by the server, at least one of the nodes in the wireless node network;

accessing a memory by the server to determine context data that relates to layout data on dimensions of a physical structure in an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves within the operating environment, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of a second node authorized by the server to associate with the identified node as the identified node moves in a predicted path towards the second node for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node; and

performing, by the server, a management task related to the identified node with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the context data comprises scan data on when the identified node was scanned relative to the physical structure in the operating environment of the identified node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the management task comprises instructing, by the server, the identified node to alter its operation based upon the determined context data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the management task further comprises providing, by the server, the location of the identified node in response to a request received by the server related to a status of the identified node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating environment of the identified node further comprises a conveyance environment related to how the identified node moves.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein the conveyance environment of the identified node further comprises a speed parameter related to a conveyor used to transport the identified node.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the conveyance environment further comprises at least a type of a conveyance involved in transporting the identified node.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the type of the conveyance comprises at least one of a truck, an aircraft, and a conveyor system.

4. A method for context management of a wireless node network having at least a plurality of nodes and a server, the method comprising:

identifying, by the server, at least one of the nodes in the wireless node network;

accessing a memory by the server to determine context data that relates to an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves within the operating environment, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of a second node authorized by the server to associate with the identified node as the identified node moves in a predicted path towards the second node for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node; and

performing, by the server, a management task related to the identified node with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data by (a) permissively establishing the expected server authorized association relationship, by the server, between the identified node and the second node, and (b) wherein the adjustment made by the server to account for the determined context data further comprises altering a connectable time interval based upon the determined context data, wherein the connectable time interval defines a time duration where the identified node may actively pair and securely share data with the second node if authorized by the server to pair with the second node.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs a method for context management of a wireless node network having a plurality of nodes and a server, the method comprising:

identifying, by the server, at least one of the nodes in the wireless node network;

accessing a memory by the server to determine context data that relates to layout data on dimensions of a physical structure in an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves within the operating environment, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of a second node authorized by the server to associate with the identified node as the identified node moves in a predicted path towards the second node for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node; and

performing, by the server, a management task related to the identified node with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the context data comprises scan data on when the identified node was scanned relative to the physical structure in the operating environment of the identified node.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the step of performing the management task comprises instructing, by the server, the identified node to alter its operation based upon the determined context data.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs a method for context management of a wireless node network having a plurality of nodes and a server, the method comprising:

identifying, by the server, at least one of the nodes in the wireless node network;

accessing a memory by the server to determine context data that relates to an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves within the operating environment, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of a second node authorized by the server to associate with the identified node as the identified node moves in a predicted path towards the second node for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node; and

performing, by the server, a management task related to the identified node with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data by (a) permissively establishing the expected server authorized association relationship, by the server, between the identified node and the second node, and (b) wherein the adjustment made by the server to account for the determined context data further comprises altering a connectable time interval based upon the determined context data, wherein the connectable time interval defines a time duration where the identified node may actively pair and securely share data with the second node if authorized by the server to pair with the second node.

11. An apparatus for context management of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network, comprising:

a server in communication with a first of the nodes in the wireless node network, the server comprising

a server processing unit,

a server volatile memory coupled to the server processing unit,

a server memory storage coupled to the server processing unit, the server memory storage maintaining at least a program code section and context data, and

a communication interface that provides a communication path between the server and the first node; and

wherein the server processing unit, when executing at least the program code section resident in the server volatile memory, is adapted and operative to

identify the first node as the first node moves within an operating environment along a path towards a second of the nodes in the wireless node network, the second node being authorized by the server to associate with the first node,

access the server memory storage to determine which of the context data maintained on the server memory storage relates to layout data on dimensions of a physical structure in the operating environment of the first node, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of the second node as the identified node moves along the path for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node,

identify an adjustment to be made related to the first node based upon the determined context data, and

perform a management task related to the first node with the adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the context data maintained on the server memory storage further comprises scan data on when the first node was scanned relative to the physical structure in the operating environment of the first node.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the server processing unit is further operative to perform the management task by instructing the first node to alter its operation based upon the determined context data.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the operating environment of the first node further comprises a conveyance environment related to how the identified node moves on the path.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the conveyance environment of the first node further comprises a speed parameter related to a conveyor used to transport the first node.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the conveyance environment further comprises at least a type of a conveyance involved in transporting the first node.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the type of the conveyance comprises at least one of a truck, an aircraft, and a conveyor system.

14. An apparatus for context management of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network, comprising:

a server in communication with a first of the nodes in the wireless node network, the server comprising

a server processing unit,

a server volatile memory coupled to the server processing unit,

a server memory storage coupled to the server processing unit, the server memory storage maintaining at least a program code section and context data, and

a communication interface that provides a communication path between the server and the first node; and

wherein the server processing unit, when executing at least the program code section resident in the server volatile memory, is adapted and operative to

identify the first node as the first node moves within an operating environment along a path towards a second of the nodes in the wireless node network, the second node being authorized by the server to associate with the first node,

access the server memory storage to determine which of the context data maintained on the server memory storage relates to the operating environment of the first node, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of the second node as the identified node moves along the path for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node,

identify an adjustment to be made related to the first node based upon the determined context data, and

perform a management task related to the first node with the adjustment made to account for the determined context data by permissively establishing the expected server authorized association relationship between the first node and the second node, and (b) altering a connectable time interval based upon the determined context data, wherein the connectable time interval defines a time duration where the first node may actively pair and securely share data with the second node if authorized by the server to pair with the second node, the altered connectable time interval being the adjustment made by the server to account for the determined context data.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the server processing unit is further operative to perform the management task by providing the location of the first node in response to a request received by the server, the request being related to a status of the first node.

23. A method for context management of a wireless node network having at least a plurality of nodes and a server, the method comprising:

identifying, by the server, at least one of the nodes in the wireless node network;

accessing a memory by the server to determine context data that relates to an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves within the operating environment, wherein the determined context data comprises historic data on a travel time to traverse a conveyor deployed within a physical structure in the operating environment of the identified node and further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of a second node authorized by the server to associate with the identified node as the identified node moves in a predicted path towards the second node for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node; and

performing, by the server, a management task related to the identified node with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

24. A method for context management of a wireless node network having at least a plurality of nodes and a server, the method comprising:

identifying, by the server, at least one of the nodes in the wireless node network;

accessing a memory by the server to determine context data that relates to an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves within the operating environment, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of a second node authorized by the server to associate with the identified node as the identified node moves in a predicted path towards the second node for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node, wherein the operating environment of the identified node further comprises a density environment related to the density of the nodes within an area near the identified node; and

performing, by the server, a management task related to the identified node with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs a method for context management of a wireless node network having a plurality of nodes and a server, the method comprising:

identifying, by the server, at least one of the nodes in the wireless node network;

accessing a memory by the server to determine context data that relates to an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves within the operating environment, wherein the determined context data comprises historic data on a travel time to traverse a conveyor deployed within a physical structure in the operating environment of the identified node and further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of a second node authorized by the server to associate with the identified node as the identified node moves in a predicted path towards the second node for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node; and

performing, by the server, a management task related to the identified node with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs a method for context management of a wireless node network having a plurality of nodes and a server, the method comprising:

identifying, by the server, at least one of the nodes in the wireless node network;

accessing a memory by the server to determine context data that relates to an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves within the operating environment, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of a second node authorized by the server to associate with the identified node as the identified node moves in a predicted path towards the second node for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node, wherein the operating environment of the identified node further comprises a density environment related to the density of the nodes within an area near the identified node; and

performing, by the server, a management task related to the identified node with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

27. An apparatus for context management of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network, comprising:

a server in communication with a first of the nodes in the wireless node network, the server comprising

a server processing unit,

a server volatile memory coupled to the server processing unit,

a server memory storage coupled to the server processing unit, the server memory storage maintaining at least a program code section and context data, wherein the context data maintained on the server memory storage further comprises historic data on a travel time to traverse a conveyor deployed within a physical structure in the operating environment of the identified node, and

a communication interface that provides a communication path between the server and the first node; and

wherein the server processing unit, when executing at least the program code section resident in the server volatile memory, is adapted and operative to

identify the first node as the first node moves within an operating environment along a path towards a second of the nodes in the wireless node network, the second node being authorized by the server to associate with the first node,

access the server memory storage to determine which of the context data maintained on the server memory storage relates to the operating environment of the first node, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of the second node as the identified node moves along the path for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node,

identify an adjustment to be made related to the first node based upon the determined context data, and

perform a management task related to the first node with the adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

28. An apparatus for context management of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network, comprising:

a server in communication with a first of the nodes in the wireless node network, the server comprising

a server processing unit,

a server volatile memory coupled to the server processing unit,

a server memory storage coupled to the server processing unit, the server memory storage maintaining at least a program code section and context data, and

a communication interface that provides a communication path between the server and the first node; and

wherein the server processing unit, when executing at least the program code section resident in the server volatile memory, is adapted and operative to

identify the first node as the first node moves within an operating environment along a path towards a second of the nodes in the wireless node network, the second node being authorized by the server to associate with the first node,

access the server memory storage to determine which of the context data maintained on the server memory storage relates to the operating environment of the first node, wherein the determined context data further relates to an anticipated operating environment of the identified node and an anticipated operating environment of the second node as the identified node moves along the path for an expected server authorized association relationship between the identified node with the second node, wherein the operating environment of the first node further comprises a density environment related to the density of the nodes within an area near the first node,

identify an adjustment to be made related to the first node based upon the determined context data, and

perform a management task related to the first node with the adjustment made to account for the determined context data.