Smart asset tracking tag system and method

• US 10,102,492 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marquette Trishaun
• Original Assignee: Marquette Trishaun
• Inventors: Trishaun, Marquette
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Application Number:
  US15/649,858
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/35 for the management of goods or merchandise

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for a smart asset tag solution for tracking assets along the distribution cycle. These solutions are an extension of using various radio frequency technologies to locate the whereabouts of goods/assets with the use of additional sensors to provide granular knowledge about the asset above and beyond location. The technology seeks to differentiate when the asset is being transported, stationary, or other inspection points along the distribution cycle of the cargo. To achieve this goal, a combination of RF sensors/transceivers for the real-time location along with other sensor to include IMUS, proximity sensors, and ambient light and temperature sensors deduce information about the asset over and beyond just the location. The combination of data will be combined to provide a real-time touchpoint for cloud based tracking above and beyond the current state-of-the-art in internet-of-things asset tracking.

Claims

1. A system for tracking of assets, comprising:

a portable housing for being attached to an asset to be tracked;

a plurality of sensors mounted in the portable housing, the plurality of sensors includes;

a humidity and temperature sensor, a location detection sensor for detecting location of the portable housing in real-time, an indoor/outdoor sensor for distinguishing between indoor lighting and outdoor lighting, and a measurement sensor in the portable housing for measuring movements of the portable housing;

a transmitter on the portable housing for providing wireless transmissions to remote locations, based on data collected from the humidity and temperature sensor, the location detection sensor, the indoor/outdoor sensor and the measurement sensor;

a battery power source in the portable housing for supplying power to the humidity and temperature sensor, the location detection sensor, the indoor/outdoor sensor and the measurement sensor; and

an IR (infra red) receiver in the portable housing for receiving selected code to wipe out maximum and minimum sensor readings from each of the plurality of the sensors in the portable housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location sensor is a GPS (global position satellite) sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor measures vibrations.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the indoor/outdoor sensor is used to shut off the location sensor when the portable housing is located indoors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the humidity and temperature sensor detects health of the tracked asset.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable housing includes:

an outer sealed enclosure.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the portable housing further includes:

vent holes in the housing which are sealed against moisture, and allow vapor to pass therethrough to provide accurate humidity readings.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset includes:

a pallet.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the pallet includes:

stacked pallets.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable housing with the plurality of sensors is permanently installed on the pallet.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracked asset includes:

a collapsible container.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracked asset includes:

enclosures to accommodate supply chain storage/shipping equipment.

13. A system for tracking of assets, comprising:

a portable housing for being attached to an asset to be tracked;

a plurality of sensors mounted in the portable housing, the plurality of sensors includes;

a humidity and temperature sensor, a location detection sensor for detecting location of the portable housing in real-time, an indoor/outdoor sensor for distinguishing between indoor lighting and outdoor lighting, and a measurement sensor in the portable housing for measuring movements of the portable housing;

a transmitter on the portable housing for providing wireless transmissions to remote locations, based on data collected from the humidity and temperature sensor, the location detection sensor, the indoor/outdoor sensor and the measurement sensor;

a battery power source in the portable housing for supplying power to the humidity and temperature sensor, the location detection sensor, the indoor/outdoor sensor and the measurement sensor; and

a receiver in the portable housing for receiving selected code for erasing local data from selective sensors of the plurality of the sensors without effecting other sensors from the plurality of the sensors.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the receiver further includes the simultaneous wiping of the local data from the selective sensors.

15. A system for tracking of assets, comprising:

a portable housing for being attached to an asset to be tracked;

a plurality of sensors mounted in the portable housing, the plurality of sensors includes;

a humidity and temperature sensor, a location detection sensor for detecting location of the portable housing in real-time, an indoor/outdoor sensor for distinguishing between indoor lighting and outdoor lighting, and a measurement sensor in the portable housing for measuring movements of the portable housing;

a transmitter on the portable housing for providing wireless transmissions to remote locations, based on data collected from the humidity and temperature sensor, the location detection sensor, the indoor/outdoor sensor and the measurement sensor;

a battery power source in the portable housing for supplying power to the humidity and temperature sensor, the location detection sensor, the indoor/outdoor sensor and the measurement sensor;

an orientation detector in the portable housing for determining if the system is ready for deployment; and

a receiver in the portable housing for receiving selected code to erase local data from the plurality of the sensors in the portable housing before deployment.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiver further includes erasing the local data from selective sensors.