SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS OF EVENT MONITORING FOR AN EVENT CANDIDATE RELATED TO AN ID NODE WITHIN A WIRELESS NODE NETWORK

• US 20170012719A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2015
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,305,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0645 by additionally acting on or stimulating the network after receiving notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/32 Specific management aspects for broadband networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• 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 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for enhanced monitoring for an event candidate within a wireless node network. Such a system, for example, may include a server at a top level within the wireless node network, an ID node disposed at a low level within the wireless node network, and a master node disposed at a middle level within the wireless node network. The master node, which separately communicates with the server and the ID node and executes event detection code stored on its memory storage, is operative to detect a first and a second advertising signal broadcast by the ID node over a communication path with the ID node, compare an observed parameter of each of the first and second advertising signal (such as signal strength), identify the event candidate based upon the comparison, and use a second communication path to report the identified event candidate to the server.

Claims

1. A monitoring system that identifies an event candidate within a wireless node network, the system comprising:

a server disposed at a top level within the wireless node network;

an ID node disposed at a low level within the wireless node network;

a master node disposed at a middle level within the wireless node network, wherein the master node further comprises

a master node processing unit,

a memory storage coupled to the master node processing unit, the memory storage maintaining event detection engine code for execution by the master node processing unit,

a first communication interface coupled to the master node processing unit and operative to communicate with the ID node over a first communication path, and

a second communication interface coupled to the master node processing unit and operative to communicate with the server over a second communication path, wherein the first communication path is different from the second communication path;

wherein the master node, when executing the event detection engine code on the master node processing unit, is operative to

detect, with the first communication interface, a first advertising signal broadcast by the ID node over the first communication path,

detect, with the first communication interface, a second advertising signal broadcast by the ID node over the first communication path after the ID node broadcasts the first advertising signal,

compare an observed parameter of each of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal,

identify the event candidate based upon the comparison of the observed parameter of each of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal, and

cause the second communication interface to report the identified event candidate to the server over the second communication path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communication interface of the master node is operative to transmit a message to the server when reporting the identified event candidate, the message comprising summary information reflecting a monitored change relative to the ID node.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the observed parameter comprises a signal strength value as detected by the master node via the first communication interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the observed parameter comprises a signal strength value as detected by the master node via the first communication interface;

and

wherein the monitored change comprises a shift in signal strength value between at least a first signal strength value of the first advertising signal and a second signal strength value of the second advertising signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the master node processing unit is operative to compare the observed parameter of each of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal by being further operative to compare the observed parameter of the second advertising signal to an average of the observed parameters of a set of prior advertising signals from the ID node including the first advertising signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the observed parameter comprises a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) reflecting a signal strength as detected by the master node;

and

wherein the master node processing unit is operative to compare the parameter of each of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal by being further operative to compare a received signal strength indicator value of the second advertising signal to an average of a set of received signal strength indicator values of prior advertising signals from the ID node including the first advertising signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the averaged set of received signal strength indicator values of advertising signals from the ID node broadcast prior to the second advertising signal comprises a moving average of the set of received signal strength indicator values of advertising signals from the ID node broadcast within a moving window prior to the second advertising signal.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the observed parameter comprises a shift in the received signal strength value as detected by the master node;

and

wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate by being further operative to;

detect the shift in received signal strength value when comparing the signal strength value of first advertising signal and the signal strength value of the second advertising signal; and

identify the event candidate as a shift event when the detected shift in received signal strength value is at least a threshold value.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed shift in the signal strength value as detected by the master node;

and

wherein the master node is operative to identify the event candidate and cause reporting of the event candidate to the server by being further operative to;

detect a beginning shift in received signal strength value when the observed shift in the signal strength value between the detected first advertising signal compared to the detected second advertising signal is at least an initiating threshold value;

detect a subsequent advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node after the first ID node broadcasts the second advertising signal;

identify a continued shift in received signal strength value when the observed shift in the signal strength value between the received second advertising signal compared to the received subsequent advertising signal; and

cause the second communication interface to report the event candidate to the server as a shift event only after detecting the beginning shift and if the identified continued shift is less than a continued event threshold value.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the observed parameter comprises a detected time between successive advertising signals broadcast from the ID node and as detected by the master node.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate by being further operative to

detect a time gap between the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal as the observed parameter;

and

identify the event candidate when the detected time gap is less than a threshold time gap.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as an online event when the detected time gap is less than the threshold time gap and the first communication interface of the master node detects at least one additional advertising signal broadcast by the ID node within the threshold time gap after the second advertising signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as the online event when (a) the detected time gap between the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal is less than the threshold time gap and (b) the first communication interface of the master node has detected at least a threshold number of advertising signals from the ID node each of which are received by the master node within the threshold time gap from each other, wherein detection of the first advertising signal and detection of the second advertising signal are included in the threshold number of advertising signals from the ID node.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as an offline event when (a) the detected time since the first communication interface detected the second advertising signal is greater than a threshold time gap and (b) the master node processing unit previously identified an online event related to signals from the ID node including the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as a sporadic event when the first communication interface detects at least the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal but does not detect at least a threshold number of advertising signals from the ID node within a defined period of time from when the master node detects the first advertising signal.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as a checkpoint event when a periodic reporting interval ends and based upon the comparison of the observed parameter of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the master node is further operative to:

detect an alert flag from the first ID node, the alert flag being part of at least one of the detected first advertising signal and the detected second advertising signal; and

reduce the periodic reporting interval when the master node detects the alert flag.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein periodic reporting interval comprises a time period adjustable by the master node.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein periodic reporting interval comprises a number of signal receptions adjustable by the master node.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the alert flag comprises a profile identifier indicating an alert profile being used by the first ID node, the alert profile for the first ID node being one of a plurality of operational profiles that govern advertising signal broadcasting operations by the first ID node.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the master node processing unit is further operative to delete gathered signal information stored on the memory storage after causing the second communication interface to report the checkpoint event to the server as the identified event candidate, the gathered signal information having been collected from the first advertising signal and from the second advertising signal and previously stored on the memory storage after detection.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed profile setting;

and

wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as a profile change event when the comparison indicates the observed profile setting of the second advertising signal is different than the observed profile setting of the first advertising signal.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed output power setting for the first ID node;

and

wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as a transmission power change event when the comparison by the node processing unit indicates the observed output power setting related to the second advertising signal is different than the observed output power setting related to the first advertising signal.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the ID node further comprises a sensor operative to sense environmental data relative to a vicinity of the ID node and provide the environmental data to the master node as sensor data relative to the ID node, the sensor data collected over time being included in the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal;

wherein the observed parameter comprises the sensor data collected by the sensor on the first ID node; and

wherein the master node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as an environmental change event when the comparison by the master node processing unit indicates a second value of the sensor data included as part of the second advertising signal differs more than a threshold amount when compared to a first value of the sensor data included as part of the first advertising signal.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further operative to receive the event candidate from the master node, adjust node management information resident on the server based upon the event candidate, generate an adjustment response consistent with the adjusted node management information, and transmit the adjustment response to the master node.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the master node processing unit is further operative to receive, via the second communication interface, the adjustment response from the server.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the adjustment response comprises an adjusted profile for at least one of the master node apparatus and the ID node.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the adjustment response comprises an adjusted profile for a second ID node operative to communicate with the master node.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the adjustment response comprises updated context data reflecting the reported event candidate, wherein the updated context data is used by the master node processing unit when managing the ID node.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the master node is further operative to:

detect, with the first communication interface, a third advertising signal broadcast by the ID node over the first communication path after the ID node broadcasts the second advertising signal;

detect, with the first communication interface, a fourth advertising signal broadcast by the ID node over the first communication path after the ID node broadcasts the third advertising signal;

generate a first checkpoint summary as a statistical representation of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal; and

generate a second checkpoint summary as a statistical representation of the third advertising signal and the fourth advertising signal;

compare the observed parameter for each of the first checkpoint summary and the second checkpoint summary; and

wherein the master node is further operative to identify the event candidate based upon the comparison of the observed parameter for each of the first checkpoint summary and the second checkpoint summary.

31. A master node apparatus for enhanced monitoring for an event candidate within a wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes and a server, the master node apparatus comprising:

a node processing unit;

a memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the memory storage maintaining event detection engine code for execution by the node processing unit;

a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with at least a first of the ID nodes over a first communication path;

a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the server over a second communication path; and

wherein the node processing unit, when executing the event detection engine code maintained on the memory storage, is operative to

detect, via the first communication interface, a first advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node over the first communication path,

detect, via the first communication interface, a second advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node over the first communication path after the first ID node broadcasts the first advertising signal,

compare an observed parameter of each of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal,

identify the event candidate based upon the comparison of the observed parameter of each of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal, and

cause the second communication interface to report the identified event candidate to the server over the second communication path.

32. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the second communication interface is operative to transmit a message to the server when reporting the identified event candidate, the message reflecting the identified event candidate as reduced monitoring overhead for the first ID node on the second communication path.

33. The master node apparatus of claim 32, wherein the message reflecting the identified event candidate comprises summary information reflecting an observed change between the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal.

34. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the observed parameter comprises a signal strength value as detected by the node processing unit via the first communication interface.

35. The master node apparatus of claim 33, wherein the observed change comprises a shift in observed signal strength value between at least a first signal strength value of the first advertising signal and a second signal strength value of the second advertising signal, wherein the change reflecting summarized information related to the first ID node as the event candidate.

36. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the node processing unit is operative to compare the observed parameter of each of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal by being further operative to compare the observed parameter of the second advertising signal to an average of the observed parameters of a set of prior advertising signals from the first ID node including the first advertising signal.

37. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the observed parameter comprises a received signal strength indicator as detected by the node processing unit;

and

wherein the node processing unit is operative to compare the observed parameter of each of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal by being further operative to compare a received signal strength indicator value of the second advertising signal to an average of a set of received signal strength indicator values of prior advertising signals from the first ID node including the first advertising signal.

38. The master node apparatus of claim 37, wherein the averaged set of received signal strength indicator values of advertising signals from the first ID node broadcast prior to the second advertising signal comprises a moving average of the set of received signal strength indicator values of advertising signals from the first ID node broadcast within a window prior to the second advertising signal.

39. The master node apparatus of claim 34, wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate by being further operative to:

detect a shift in received signal strength value when comparing the signal strength value of first advertising signal and the signal strength value of the second advertising signal; and

identify the event candidate as a shift event when the detected shift in received signal strength value is at least a threshold value.

40. The master node apparatus of claim 34, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed shift in the signal strength value as detected by the node processing unit;

and

wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate and cause the second communication interface to report the event candidate to the server by being further operative to;

detect a beginning shift in received signal strength value when the observed shift in the signal strength value between the plurality of advertising signals is at least an initiating threshold value;

detect, via the first communication interface, at least one subsequent advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node after the first ID node broadcasts the second advertising signal;

detect, via the first communication interface, a continued shift in received signal strength value when the observed shift in the signal strength value between the second advertising signal compared to the received subsequent advertising signal; and

cause the second communication interface to report the event candidate to the server as a shift event only after detecting the beginning shift and if the detected continued shift is less than a continued event threshold value.

41. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the observed parameter comprises a time between successive advertising signals broadcast from the first ID node and as detected by the node processing unit via the first communication interface.

42. The master node apparatus of claim 41, wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate by being further operative to detect a time gap between the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal and identify the event candidate when the detected time gap is less than a threshold time gap.

43. The master node apparatus of claim 42, wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as an online event when the detected time gap is less than the threshold time gap and the first communication interface detects at least one additional advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node within the threshold time gap after the second advertising signal.

44. The master node apparatus of claim 43, wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as the online event when (a) the detected time gap between the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal is less than the threshold time gap and (b) the first communication interface has detected at least a threshold number of advertising signals from the first ID node each of which are detected by the first communication interface within the threshold time gap from each other, wherein detection of the first advertising signal and detection of the second advertising signal are included in the threshold number of advertising signals from the first ID node.

45. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as an offline event when (a) the detected time since the first communication interface detected the second advertising signal is greater than a threshold time gap and (b) the node processing unit previously identified an online event related to signals from the first ID node including the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal.

46. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as a sporadic event when the first communication interface detects at least the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal but does not detect at least a threshold number of advertising signals from the first ID node within a defined period of time from when the first communication interface detects the first advertising signal.

47. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as a checkpoint event when a periodic reporting interval ends and based upon the comparison of the observed parameter of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal.

48. The master node apparatus of claim 47, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to:

detect an alert flag from the first ID node, the alert flag being part of a header for at least one of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal; and

reduce the periodic reporting interval upon detecting the alert flag.

49. The master node apparatus of claim 48, wherein periodic reporting interval comprises a time period adjustable by the node processing unit.

50. The master node apparatus of claim 48, wherein periodic reporting interval comprises a number of signal receptions adjustable by the node processing unit.

51. The master node apparatus of claim 48, wherein the alert flag comprises a profile identifier indicating an alert profile being used by the first ID node, the alert profile for the first ID node being one of a plurality of operational profiles that govern advertising signal broadcasting operations by the first ID node.

52. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to delete gathered signal information stored on the memory storage after causing the second communication interface to report the checkpoint event to the server, the gathered signal information having been collected from the first advertising signal and from the second advertising signal and previously stored on the memory storage after detection.

53. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed profile setting;

and

wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as a profile change event when the comparison indicates the observed profile setting of the second advertising signal is different than the observed profile setting of the first advertising signal.

54. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed output power setting for the first ID node;

and

wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as a transmission power change event when the comparison by the node processing unit indicates the observed output power setting related to the second advertising signal is different than the observed output power setting related to the first advertising signal.

55. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the observed parameter comprises sensor data gathered by a sensor on the first ID node;

and

wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate as an environmental change event when the comparison by the node processing unit indicates a second sensor data value included as part of the second advertising signal differs more than a threshold amount when compared to a first sensor data value included as part of the first advertising signal.

56. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to receive, via the second communication interface, an adjustment response from the server based upon the event candidate.

57. The master node apparatus of claim 56, wherein the adjustment response comprises an adjusted profile for at least one of the master node apparatus and the first ID node.

58. The master node apparatus of claim 57, wherein the adjustment response comprises an adjusted profile for at least one of the other ID nodes.

59. The master node apparatus of claim 56, wherein the adjustment response comprises updated context data reflecting the reported event candidate, wherein the updated context data is used by the node processing unit when managing the ID nodes.

60. The master node apparatus of claim 31, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to:

detect, via the first communication interface, a third advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node over the first communication path after the first ID node broadcasts the second advertising signal;

detect, via the first communication interface, a fourth advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node over the first communication path after the first ID node broadcasts the third advertising signal;

generate a first checkpoint summary as a statistical representation of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal; and

generate a second checkpoint summary as a statistical representation of the third advertising signal and the fourth advertising signal;

compare the observed parameter for each of the first checkpoint summary and the second checkpoint summary; and

wherein the node processing unit is operative to identify the event candidate based upon the comparison of the observed parameter for each of the first checkpoint summary and the second checkpoint summary.

61. A method for enhanced monitoring for an event candidate within a wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes, a master node in communication with the ID nodes, and a server in communication with the master node, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the master node, a first advertising signal broadcast by a first of the ID nodes;

receiving, by the master node, a second advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node after the first ID node broadcasts the first advertising signal;

identifying, by the master node, the event candidate based upon a comparison of an observed parameter of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal; and

reporting, by the master node to the server, the event candidate relative to the first ID node.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the reporting step further comprises simplifying, by the master node, a data feed about the first ID node by sending the event candidate to the server as summary information reflecting an observed change between the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the identifying step further comprises identifying, by the master node, a pattern between at least the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal based upon the observed parameter, wherein the pattern reflecting summarized information related to the first ID node as the event candidate.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed signal strength value as detected by the master node.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein the identifying step further comprises identifying, by the master node, an observed pattern between at least a first signal strength value of the first advertising signal and a second signal strength value of the second advertising signal, wherein the observed pattern reflecting summarized information related to the first ID node as the event candidate.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the event candidate reported to the server avoids the need to update the server with information on all signals received by the master node from the first ID node.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate comprises comparing the observed parameter of the second advertising signal to an average of the observed parameters of a set of prior advertising signals from the first ID node including the first advertising signal.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein the observed parameter comprises a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) reflecting a signal strength as detected by the master node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate comprises comparing a received signal strength indicator value of the second advertising signal to an average of a set of received signal strength indicator values of advertising signals from the first ID node broadcast prior to the second advertising signal.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the averaged set of received signal strength indicator values of advertising signals from the first ID node broadcast prior to the second advertising signal comprises a moving average of the set of received signal strength indicator values of advertising signals from the first ID node broadcast within a moving window prior to the second advertising signal.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein the observed parameter comprises a shift in the observed signal strength value as received by the master node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises;

detecting the shift in received signal strength value when comparing the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal; and

identifying the event candidate as a shift event when the detected shift in received signal strength value is at least a threshold value.

71. The method of claim 64, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed shift in the signal strength value as received by the master node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate and reporting the event candidate to the server further comprises;

detecting a beginning shift in received signal strength value when the observed shift in the signal strength value between the received first advertising signal compared to the received second advertising signal is at least an initiating threshold value;

receiving, by the master node, a subsequent advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node after the first ID node broadcasts the second advertising signal;

detecting a continued shift in received signal strength value when the observed shift in the signal strength value between the received second advertising signal compared to the received subsequent advertising signal; and

reporting, by the master node to the server, the event candidate as a shift event only after detecting the beginning shift and if the detected continued shift is less than a continued event threshold value.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the reporting step comprises delaying transmission of the event candidate to the server by the master node until the detected continued shift based upon the observed signal strength value of the subsequent advertising signal is less than the continued event threshold value.

73. The method of claim 61, wherein the observed parameter comprises a detected time between successive advertising signals broadcast from the first ID node and as received by the master node.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate comprises:

detecting a time gap between the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal as the observed parameter; and

identifying the event candidate when the detected time gap is less than a threshold time gap.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as an online event when the detected time gap is less than the threshold time gap and the master node receives at least one additional advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node within the threshold time gap after the second advertising signal.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate as the online event occurs when (a) the detected time gap between the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal is less than the threshold time gap and (b) the master node has received at least a threshold number of advertising signals from the first ID node each of which are received by the master node within the threshold time gap from each other, wherein receipt of the first advertising signal and receipt of the second advertising signal are included in the threshold number of advertising signals received from the first ID node.

77. The method of claim 73, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate comprises identifying the event candidate as an offline event when (a) the detected time since the master node received the second advertising signal is greater than a threshold time gap and (b) the master node previously identified an online event related to signals from the first ID node including the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal.

78. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as a sporadic event when the master node receives at least the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal but does not receive at least a threshold number of advertising signals from the first ID node within a defined period of time from when the master node receives the first advertising signal.

79. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as a checkpoint event when a periodic reporting interval ends and based upon the comparison of the observed parameter of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal.

80. The method of claim 79 further comprising:

detecting, by the master node, an alert flag from the first ID node, the alert flag being part of at least one of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal; and

reducing the periodic reporting interval when the master node detects the alert flag.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein periodic reporting interval comprises a time period adjustable by the master node.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein periodic reporting interval comprises a number of signal receptions adjustable by the master node.

83. The method of claim 80, wherein the alert flag comprises a profile identifier indicating an alert profile being used by the first ID node, the alert profile for the first ID node being one of a plurality of operational profiles that govern advertising signal broadcasting operations by the first ID node.

84. The method of claim 79 further comprising resetting information collected based upon the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal after reporting the checkpoint event to the server by the master node for data reduction purposes on the master node.

85. The method of claim 61, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed profile setting;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as a profile change event when the comparison indicates the observed profile setting of the second advertising signal is different than the observed profile setting of the first advertising signal.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the observed profile setting relates to operation of the first ID node.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the observed profile setting relates to operation of the master node.

88. The method of claim 61, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed output power setting for the first ID node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as a transmission power change event when the comparison indicates the observed output power setting related to the second advertising signal is different than the observed output power setting related to the first advertising signal.

89. The method of claim 61, wherein the observed parameter comprises sensor data gathered by a sensor on the first ID node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as an environmental change event when the comparison indicates a second sensor data value included as part of the second advertising signal is different than a first sensor data value included as part of the first advertising signal.

90. The method of claim 61, wherein the observed parameter comprises sensor data gathered by at least one sensor on the first ID node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as an environmental change event when the comparison indicates a second sensor data value included as part of the second advertising signal reflects a departure from a first sensor data value included as part of the first advertising signal, wherein the departure is more than a threshold difference.

91. The method of claim 61 further comprising receiving, by the master node, an adjustment response from the server based upon the event candidate.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the adjustment response comprises an adjusted profile for at least one of the master node and the first ID node.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the adjustment response comprises an adjusted profile for at least one of the other ID nodes.

94. The method of claim 91, wherein the adjustment response comprises updated context data reflecting the reported event candidate.

95. The method of claim 61 further comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the master node, a third advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node after the first ID node broadcasts the second advertising signal;

receiving, by the master node, a fourth advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node after the first ID node broadcasts the third advertising signal;

generating, by the master node, a first checkpoint summary as a statistical representation of the first advertising signal and the second advertising signal;

generating, by the master node, a second checkpoint summary as a statistical representation of the third advertising signal and the fourth advertising signal; and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate comprises identifying, by the master node, the event candidate based upon a comparison of an observed parameter for each of the first checkpoint summary and the second checkpoint summary.

104. The method of claim 69, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed shift in the signal strength value as received by the master node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate and reporting the event candidate to the server further comprises;

detecting a beginning shift in received signal strength value when the observed shift in the signal strength value between the plurality of advertising signals is at least an initiating threshold value;

receiving, by the master node, at least one subsequent advertising signal broadcast by the first ID node after the first ID node broadcasts the plurality of advertising signals;

detecting a continued shift in received signal strength value when the observed shift in the signal strength value between a last of the received plurality of advertising signals compared to the received subsequent advertising signal; and

reporting, by the master node to the server, the event candidate as a shift event only after detecting the beginning shift and if the detected continued shift is less than a continued event threshold value.

96. A method for enhanced monitoring for an event candidate within a wireless node network having a plurality of ID nodes, a master node in communication with the ID nodes, and a server in communication with the master node, comprising the steps of:

detecting, by the master node, a plurality of advertising signals broadcast by a first of the ID nodes over a time period;

identifying, by the master node, the event candidate relative to the first ID node when an observed parameter of the advertising signals changes over the time period to reflect the event candidate; and

reporting, by the master node to the server, the event candidate relative to the first ID node.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the reporting step further comprises reducing, by the master node, data obtained by the master node about the first ID node by sending the event candidate to the server as summary information reflecting an observed change between the advertising signals.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the observed parameter of the advertising signals comprises a summarized observed pattern between the advertising signals.

99. The method of claim 96, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed signal strength value as detected by the master node.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the event candidate reported to the server avoids the need to update the server with information about the signal strength value of each of the advertising signals received by the master node from the first ID node.

101. The method of claim 96, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate comprises comparing the observed parameter of a most recently detected one of the advertising signals to a moving average of the observed parameter of the previously detected ones of the advertising signals to identify the event candidate.

102. The method of claim 96, wherein the observed parameter comprises a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) reflecting a signal strength as detected by the master node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate comprises comparing a received signal strength indicator value of a most recently detected one of the advertising signals to a moving average of the received signal strength indicator values of the prior advertising signals within a prior moving window to identify the event candidate.

103. The method of claim 99, wherein the observed parameter comprises a shift in signal strength as detected by the master node;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as a shift event when the detected shift in the signal strength value for each of the advertising signals exceeds a threshold value.

105. The method of claim 96, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as an online event when the master node has received at least a threshold number of the advertising signals from the first ID node within a threshold time gap between successive ones of the advertising signals.

106. The method of claim 96, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as an offline event when (a) an elapsed time since the master node received a last of the advertising signals is greater than a threshold time gap and (b) the master node previously identified an online event related to at least a portion of the advertising signals from the first ID node.

107. The method of claim 96, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as an offline event when the master node has received at least a first of the advertising signals but not a threshold number of successive ones of the advertising signals within a defined period of time from when the master node receives the first advertising signal.

108. The method of claim 96, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as a checkpoint event when the time period ends and the master node detects at least one additional advertising signals broadcast by the first ID node.

109. The method of claim 108 further comprising:

detecting, by the master node, an alert flag from the first ID node, the alert flag being part of at least one of the plurality of advertising signals; and

reducing the time period when the master node detects the alert flag.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein the alert flag comprises a profile identifier indicating an alert profile being used by the first ID node, the alert profile for the first ID node being one of a plurality of operational profiles that govern advertising signal broadcasting operations by the first ID node.

111. The method of claim 96, wherein the observed parameter comprises an observed profile setting;

and

wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as a profile change event when the observed profile setting of the advertising signals changes from a first setting to a second setting over the time period.

112. The method of claim 111, wherein the observed profile setting relates to operation of the first ID node.

113. The method of claim 111, wherein the observed profile setting relates to operation of the master node.

114. The method of claim 96, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as a transmission power change event when the observed parameter comprises an observed output power setting for the first ID node.

115. The method of claim 96, wherein the step of identifying the event candidate further comprises identifying the event candidate as an environmental change event when the observed parameter comprises sensor data gathered by a sensor on the first ID node.

116. The method of claim 96 further comprising receiving, by the master node, an adjustment response from the server based upon the event candidate.

117. The method of claim 116, wherein the adjustment response comprises an adjusted profile for at least one of the master node and the first ID node.

118. The method of claim 117, wherein the adjustment response comprises an adjusted profile for at least one of the other ID nodes.

119. The method of claim 116, wherein the adjustment response comprises updated context data reflecting the reported event candidate.

120. The method of claim 96, wherein the detecting step comprises detecting, by the master node, a first set of advertising signals broadcast by the first ID node and a second set of advertising signals broadcast by the first ID node after the first set of advertising signals, the first set of advertising signals and the second set of advertising signals being part of the plurality of advertising signals;

and

wherein the identifying step comprises;

generating, by the master node, a first checkpoint summary as a statistical representation of the first set of advertising signals;

generating, by the master node, a second checkpoint summary as a statistical representation of the second set of advertising signals; and

identifying, by the master node, the event candidate based upon a comparison of an observed parameter for each of the first checkpoint summary and the second checkpoint summary.