System and method for item self-assessment as being extant or displaced

• US 9,224,096 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ImagiStar LLC
• Original Assignee: ImagiStar LLC
• Inventors: Oppenheimer, Steven Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Chai, Longbit
• Application Number:
  US13/879,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20140089243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 726/35
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/022 Processes or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10504 Data fields affixed to objects or articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10099 the directional field being used for pinpointing the location of the record carrier, e.g. for finding or locating an RFID tag amongst a plurality of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with an object, e.g. for physically locating the RFID tagged object in a warehouse
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10326 the antenna being of the very-near field type, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/08 Learning methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2428 Tag details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 : Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0226 : sounding signals per se
• 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 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 : for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• 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

Abstract

A portable item reporting device (200) is configured to be attached to and in substantial collocation with a portable item (100), or to be integrated into a portable item (100). The device (200) includes environmental sensors (210) to monitor item location, movement, ambient light, sounds, temperature, etc. The device (200) is configured to store usage expectation data (600) indicative of historical and/or expected item usage and environments when the item (100) is in normal use/storage associated with an authorized user (AU). The device (200) monitors current environmental conditions (104) surrounding and pertaining to the item. If the current environment (104) is inconsistent with expected conditions (600), the device (200) assesses that the item (100) is displaced (503.0), meaning either that the item (100) is in abnormal use or abnormal storage, or is under the control of an unauthorized user (UU) who is other than the authorized user (AU). Based on the assessment the device initiates a signal (372) or message (374) to an authorized user (AU) of the item (100), indicating that the item (100) usage/storage is displaced (503.0) or otherwise anomalous (503.2).

Claims

1. A method for a device to self-assess a state of a portable item as being one of extant and displaced, the device configured for use when the device is in sustained collocation with the portable item, the method comprising:

storing in a memory of the device;

a detection context which comprises at least a date and time interval; and

at least one item usage expectation which is associated with the detection context and which;

comprises at least a description of an environmental phenomena which an environmental sensor of the device is configured to detect, wherein said environmental phenomena is at least an expected location where the portable item is expected to be during the date and time interval of the associated detection context;

is indicative of a first possible state of the portable item as being extant, wherein the portable item is subject to an expected environment which is associated with the detection context; and

is indicative of a second possible state of the portable item as being displaced, wherein the portable item is subject to another environment, said another environment being other than the expected environment which is associated with the detection context;

wherein the date and time interval and the associated expected location are locally stored at the portable item;

obtaining, via the environmental sensor, usage data for the portable item, wherein the usage data is indicative of a substantially current environment of the portable item;

comparing via a hardware processor of the device the usage data with the at least one item usage expectation;

assessing by the hardware processor, via the comparing, whether the portable item is extant or displaced; and

wherein in response to the assessment, at least, signaling an alert that the portable item is displaced upon detecting that the portable item is not located at the expected location during the associated date and time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein being extant comprises the portable item being at or within the expected location during the date and time interval of the detection context.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage expectation further comprises

identity-related data indicative of an authorized user of the portable item,

wherein the portable item is expected to be associated with the authorized user during the date and time interval of the detection context.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

being extant comprises the portable item having an expected personal motion status; and

being displaced comprises the portable item having another personal motion status which is other than the expected personal motion status.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

being extant comprises the portable item being one of possessed by an authorized user and most recently having been possessed by the authorized user; and

being displaced further comprises the portable item being one of possessed by an unauthorized user and most recently having been possessed by the unauthorized user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item usage expectation for the expected environment comprises at least one of:

(a) the expected location;

(b) a personal motion status;

(c) an on-person/off-person status; and

(d) identity-related sensed data indicative of an authorized user associated with the portable item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the at least one usage expectation for the expected environment comprises at least two of elements (a), (b), (c) and (d), and;

the assessing by the hardware processor, via the comparison, of whether the item is extant or displaced comprises assessing at least one subsidiary state of being displaced from among a plurality of subsidiary states;

wherein said plurality comprises at least two of a lost state, a misplaced state, a misappropriated state, a stolen state, and a state of wandering; and

wherein the misappropriated state is indicative that the portable item is in accidental use by an unauthorized user who is an associate of the authorized user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental phenomena comprises at least one of:

(a) the location of the portable item;

(b) a personal motion of the portable item;

(c) a light intensity impinging on the portable item;

(d) a sound intensity impinging on the portable item;

(e) an identifiable image property of an environment surrounding the portable item;

(f) an identifiable sound property of the environment surrounding the portable item;

(g) a temperature of the environment surrounding the portable item;

(h) a moisture or humidity of the environment surrounding the portable item;

(i) an electromagnetic energy of the environment surrounding the portable item;

(j) a chemical in the environment surrounding the portable item; and

(k) a physiological property of a person in proximity to the portable item.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the expected environment comprises two or more of elements (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k);

and;

the assessing by the hardware processor, via the comparison, of whether the item is extant or displaced comprises assessing at least one subsidiary state of being displaced from among a plurality of subsidiary states;

wherein said plurality comprises at least two of a lost state, a misplaced state, a misappropriated state, a stolen state, and a wandering state;

wherein the state of being misappropriated is indicative that the portable item is in accidental use by an unauthorized user who is an associate of the authorized user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one usage expectation for the expected environment further comprises an expected internal status of the item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessing further comprises:

distinguishing, via the hardware processor a plurality of mutually exclusive possible displaced states of the portable item, said possible displaced states comprising;

a lost state;

a misplaced state; and

a wandering state.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising distinguishing via the hardware processor among the states of the portable item as being extant, the lost state, the misplaced state, or the wandering state by:

determining based on data from a location sensor of the device and a clock/calendar/timer of the device, whether the portable item has a status of being absent without leave (AWOL), wherein the portable item is other than present at an expected home base location associated with the detection context, during the date and time interval of the detection context;

determining, based on data from at least one sensor of the portable item whether the item has one of a status of being on-person and off-person;

upon a determination that the portable item has a status of being off-person, determining a motion status wherein;

if the portable item has the status of being off-person for one of less than and equal to an allowed time limit, then the portable item has a motion status of being stationary; and

if the portable item has the status of being off-person for greater than the allowed time limit, then the portable item has a motion status of being stagnant; and

based on the determination of the AWOL status, the on-person/off-person status, and the motion status, assessing whether the portable item is in a state of being extant, lost, misplaced, or wandering.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the assessing further comprises:

distinguishing, via the hardware processor, a plurality of additional mutually exclusive possible displaced states of the portable item, said additional mutually exclusive possible displaced states comprising one of;

a misappropriated state indicative that the portable item is in accidental use by an unauthorized user of the portable item who is an associate of an authorized user of the portable item; and

a stolen state;

wherein;

the lost state, the misplaced state, and the wandering state reflect the portable item being associated with the authorized user of the portable item; and

the misappropriated state and the stolen state reflect the portable item being associated with a person who is other than the authorized user.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessing further comprises:

distinguishing via the hardware processor, a plurality of possible displaced states of the portable item, said possible displaced states comprising at least one of;

a lost state;

a misplaced state;

a misappropriated state indicative that the portable item is in accidental use by an unauthorized user who is an associate of the authorized user;

a stolen state; and

a wandering state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the distinguishing comprises:

comparing, via the hardware processor of the device the usage data with a set of usage expectations that pertain to a set of expected item statuses of the portable item, the set of expected item statuses comprising at least two of;

an absent without leave status;

a personal motion status;

an expected location status; and

a set of identity-related sensed data indicative of an authorized user of the item.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessing further comprises:

distinguishing, via the hardware processor, a state of being borrowed, the borrowed state being a subsidiary state of the extant state, wherein said borrowed state is characterized by the portable item being possessed by a secondary authorized user who is other than a primary authorized user.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said detection context is selected from among a plurality of detection contexts by a comparison of a schedule of detection contexts of said item with a current date and time.

18. A non-transitory, physical storage medium storing processor-executable code, which when executed by a hardware processor of a processor-based device associated with a portable item, assesses a state of the portable item, the processor-executable code comprising:

first executable code to store in a memory of the device;

a detection context which comprises at least a date and time interval; and

at least one item usage expectation which is associated with the detection context and which;

comprises at least a description of an environmental phenomena which an environmental sensor of the device is configured to detect, wherein said environmental phenomena is at least an expected location where the portable item is expected to be during the date and time interval of the associated detection context;

is indicative of a first possible state of the portable item as being extant, wherein the portable item is subject to an expected environment which is associated with the detection context; and

is indicative of a second possible state of the portable item as being displaced, wherein the portable item is subject to another environment, said another environment being other than the expected environment which is associated with the detection context;

wherein the date and time interval and the associated expected location are stored locally at the portable time;

second executable code to obtain, via the environmental sensor, usage data for the portable item, wherein the usage data is indicative of a substantially current environment of the portable item;

third executable code to compare, via a hardware processor of the device, the usage data with the at least one item usage expectation;

fourth executable code to assess, by the hardware processor, via the comparing, whether the portable item is extant or displaced; and

fifth executable code which, in response to the assessment, signals an alert that the portable item is displaced upon detecting the portable item is not located at the expected location during the associated date and time interval.

19. The non-transitory, physical storage medium of claim 18, further comprising:

fifth executable code to select said detection context from among a plurality of detection contexts by a comparison of a schedule of detection contexts of said portable item with a current date and time.

20. A device configured to be operated while substantially collocated with a portable item, and configured to self-assess a state of the portable item, comprising:

a hardware processor;

a memory; and

an environmental sensor;

wherein;

the memory stores executable code that, when executed by the hardware processor, causes the device to store a detection context and store an item usage expectation associated with the detection context, wherein;

said detection context comprises at least a date and time interval; and

said associated item usage expectation comprises an expected environment which the environmental sensor is configured to detect, wherein said expected environment comprises at least a location where the portable item is expected to be during the date and time interval of the detection context; and

wherein;

said usage expectation is indicative of a first possible state of the portable item as being extant, wherein the portable item is subject to the expected environment associated with the detection context; and

said usage expectation is indicative of a second possible state of the portable item as being displaced, wherein the item is other than subject to the expected environment associated with the detection context;

wherein the date and time interval and the associated expected location are locally stored at the portable item;

the environmental sensor is configured to obtain usage data for the portable item, wherein the usage data is indicative of a substantially current environment of the portable item;

the hardware processor is configured to perform a comparison of the usage data with the stored item usage expectation;

the hardware processor is configured to assess, via the comparison, whether the item is one of extant or displaced; and

wherein in response to the assessment, the hardware processor is configured to at least signal an alert that the portable item is displaced upon detecting the portable item is not located at the expected location during the date and time interval of the detection context.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the device is configured to determine the associated usage expectation based on an historical usage of the portable item by an authorized user of the portable item.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the device is configured to receive the associated usage expectation from a user interface.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein:

the device is configured to be at least one of coupled to or integrated into an item which has at least one of an internal item sensor and an internal item hardware processor;

the associated item usage expectation further comprises an expected internal operational state of the portable item;

the internal item sensor is configured to obtain a real-time internal operational status of the portable item; and

the internal item hardware processor is configured to perform the self-assessment that the portable item is extant or displaced based on at least one of;

a comparison of the real-time internal operational status of the portable item with the expected internal operational state; and

a combination of;

the comparison of the real-time internal operational status with the expected internal operational state; and

the comparison of the usage data with the expected environment of the item usage expectation.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the hardware processor is configured to alter an internal item state associated with the internal operational status of the portable item in response to the self-assessment that the portable item is displaced.

25. The device of claim 20, further comprising a primary power source and a secondary power source, both of which are structurally integrated into the device, wherein:

the secondary power source is configured to sustain essential power in the event the primary power source is at least one of failed and is disabled.

26. The device of claim 20, further comprising:

a coupling configured to sustain the substantial collocation of the device and the portable item; and

a link integrity detector configured to monitor an integrity of the coupling.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein the hardware processor is configured to select said detection context from among a plurality of detection contexts by a comparison of a schedule of detection contexts of said portable item with a current date and time.

28. A method to assess a state of a portable item as being extant or being displaced,

the method comprising:

storing locally, at the portable item, in a memory which is configured for use when coupled with or embedded within the portable item, a schedule comprising a plurality of date and time intervals associated with a use or storage of the portable item during said plurality of date and time intervals;

storing locally, at the portable item, in the memory a plurality of respective usage expectations associated with the plurality of date and time intervals, wherein each respective usage expectation comprises an expected location where the portable item is expected to be during the associated date and time interval;

determining via a hardware processor, which is coupled with the memory and configured for use when coupled with or embedded within the portable item, a specific current date and time interval corresponding to a real-time current date and time;

determining via the hardware processor the respective usage expectation associated with the specific current date and time interval;

receiving in real time from one or more environmental sensors, which are coupled with the hardware processor, configured for use when coupled with or embedded within the portable item, and configured at least for location detection, a current location for the portable item;

comparing, via the hardware processor, the current location with the expected location comprising the respective usage expectation;

assessing by the hardware processor, based on the comparison, whether during the during the current date and time interval the portable item is located within the expected location;

evaluating by the hardware processor a relative likelihood that the portable item is extant or displaced, wherein;

assessing that the portable item is located within the expected location indicates a likelihood that the portable item is extant;

assessing that the portable item is not located within the expected location indicates a likelihood that the portable item is displaced; and

in response to the assessment, at least, signaling via the hardware processor an alert that the portable item is displaced upon detecting the portable item is not located at the expected location during the associated date and time interval.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein:

at least one respective usage expectation comprises a plurality of locations, said plurality of locations comprising;

the expected location for the portable item; and

an allowed location where the portable item is allowed to be the during the associated date and time interval, said allowed location being a region that is larger than the expected location and that contains the expected location;

and wherein the method further comprises;

comparing via the hardware processor the current location with the plurality of location(s) comprising the at least one usage expectation;

assessing via the hardware processor, based on the comparison, whether during the current date and time interval the portable item is at least one of;

located within the expected location, and

located with the allowed location; and

evaluating via the hardware processor a relative likelihood that the portable item is extant or displaced, wherein;

an assessment that that portable item is located within the expected location is indicative of a likelihood that the portable item is extant, as indicated by a first probability that the portable item is extant rather than displaced;

an assessment that the portable item is not located within the expected location but is located within the allowed location is also indicative of the likelihood that the portable item is extant, as indicated by a second probability that the portable item is extant rather than displaced, wherein the second probability is of a lower probability than the first probability likelihood; and

an assessment that the portable item is not located within the expected location and is further not located within the allowed location is indicative of a likelihood that the portable item is displaced.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

storing locally at the portable item, in the memory, a second plurality of respective second usage expectations associated with the plurality of date and time intervals, wherein;

each second usage expectation comprises a second expected environmental condition for the portable item which is for a type of environmental condition other than for location; and

sensing, via the one or more environmental sensors which are associated with the portable item a second environmental condition of the portable item, wherein;

the sensed second environmental condition pertains to the same type of environmental condition which is other than location as the second plurality of respective second usage expectations;

retrieving from the memory a second current usage expectation associated with the specific current date and time interval;

comparing via the hardware processor;

the sensed second environmental condition; and

the second expected environmental condition of the current second usage expectation; and

assessing by the hardware processor the relative likelihood that the portable item is extant or displaced, based on;

the assessing of whether the portable item is located within the expected location; and

an assessing of whether the sensed second environmental condition is substantially in conformance with the second expected environmental condition.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

sensing via the one or more environmental sensors a supplemental environmental data which is indicative of a possession of or usage of the portable item by an authorized use of the portable item;

determining via the hardware processor, based on the supplemental environmental data, that the portable item is at least one of;

on-person of the authorized user of the portable item;

has been on-person of the authorized user within a specified time period immediately prior to the current time; and

has been used by, possessed by, or in control of the authorized user within the specified time period immediately prior to the current time; and

based on the determining, assessing an increased likelihood that the portable item is extant and a decreased likelihood that the portable item is displaced, wherein;

said relative changes in likelihoods are relative to the likelihoods assessed based only on the determinations of whether the portable item is located within the expected location.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

storing locally at the portable item, in the memory, a second plurality of respective second usage expectations associated with the plurality of date and time intervals, wherein each second usage expectation comprises;

a profile of sensor data obtainable from the one or more environmental sensors, said profiles defining on-person/off-person statuses, said on-person/off-person statuses being indicative of the portable item being;

on the person of a user;

off the person of a user for up to an allowed amount of time whereby the item is stationary;

or

off-person of a user for longer than the allowed amount of time whereby the item is stagnant;

storing locally at the portable item, in the memory, a third plurality of respective third usage expectations associated with the plurality of date and time intervals, wherein each third usage expectation comprises sensor criteria for an Absent WithOut Leave (AWOL) status, said AWOL status being indicative that;

the item is not within the expected location where the portable item is expected to be at the current date and time; and

the portable item is within a home base location or daily life location where it is allowed to be at some points in time;

comparing an historical and current real-time sensor data with;

the usage expectations for expected location;

the usage expectations for the item being on-person, stationary, or stagnant; and

the usage expectations for the portable item being AWOL or not AWOL;

based on the comparing, distinguishing by the hardware processor an appropriate current item sub-state from a plurality of item sub-states of being extant or displaced, the plurality of sub-states comprising;

the extant state, wherein said portable item is present when and where the portable item is expected to be and the portable item is not stagnant;

a lost state, wherein said portable item is not present when and where the portable item is expected to be, the portable item is not anywhere within any of its expected, localized storage locations or home base locations, and the portable item is stagnant;

a misplaced state, wherein said portable item is at least one of;

present when and where the portable item is expected to be, but stagnant, and

not present when and where the portable item is expected to be, but is somewhere within one of the portable item'"'"'s expected, localized storage locations or home base locations, and the portable item is stationary or stagnant; and

at least one of a stolen state and a wandering state, wherein said portable item is in possession of a user, but is not present when and where the portable item is expected to be.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

storing locally at the portable item, in the memory, a profile of itemetric data obtainable from the one or more environmental sensors which is indicative of an authorized user of the portable item;

comparing the historical and current real-time sensor data with;

the profile of itemetric data which is indicative of the authorized user; and

the usage expectations for expected location;

the usage expectations for the item being on-person, stationary, or stagnant; and

the usage expectations for the portable item being AWOL or not AWOL;

based on the comparing, distinguishing an appropriate item sub-state from a plurality of item sub-states of being extant or displaced, the plurality of sub-states comprising;

the extant state, wherein said portable item is;

present when and where it is expected to be;

is at least one of on-person of the authorized user, in possession of

the authorized user, or under control by the authorized user; and

is not stagnant;

a lost state, wherein said portable item is not present when and where the portable item is expected to be, is not in possession of the authorized user but was last in possession of the authorized user, is generally not anywhere within any of its expected, localized storage locations or home base locations, and is stagnant;

a misplaced state, wherein said portable item is not present when and where the portable item is expected to be, is not in possession of the authorized user but was last in possession of the authorized user, is somewhere within one of the portable item'"'"'s expected, localized storage locations or home base locations, and is stationary or stagnant;

a stolen state, wherein said portable item is in possession of an unauthorized user or was last in possession of the unauthorized user, wherein said unauthorized user is any user other than the authorized user; and

a wandering state, wherein said portable item is in possession of the authorized user, and is not present when and where it is expected to be.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

storing locally at the portable item, in the memory, a profile of itemetric data obtainable from the one or more environmental sensors which is indicative of at least two of;

a primary authorized user of the portable item;

a secondary authorized user of the portable item who is thereby a borrower of the portable item; and

a known associate of the primary authorized user of the portable item who is other than the secondary authorized user;

comparing the historical and current real-time sensor data with;

the profile of itemetric data which is indicative of the at least two of the primary authorized user, the secondary authorized user who is a potential borrower, and the known associate who is other than the secondary user;

the usage expectations for expected location;

the usage expectations for the item being on-person, stationary, or stagnant; and

the usage expectations for the portable item being AWOL or not AWOL;

based on the comparing, distinguishing an appropriate item sub-state from a plurality of item sub-states of being extant or displaced, the plurality of sub-states comprising;

an extant with a primary user state, wherein said portable item is;

present when and where the portable item is expected to be; and

is at least one of is on-person of the primary authorized user, in possession of the primary authorized user, or under control by the primary authorized user;

a borrowed state, wherein said portable item is;

present when and where the portable item is expected to be;

is at least one of is on-person of the secondary authorized user, in possession of the secondary authorized user, or under control by the secondary authorized user; and

is not stagnant;

a lost state, wherein said portable item is not present when and where the portable item is expected to be;

is not in possession of the authorized user, the borrower, or the known associate;

is not anywhere within any of its expected, localized storage locations or home base locations; and

is not stagnant;

a misplaced state, wherein said portable item is not present when and where the portable item is expected to be;

is not in possession of the authorized user but was last in possession of the authorized user, the borrower, or the known associate;

is somewhere within one of the portable item'"'"'s expected, localized storage locations or home base locations; and

is stationary or stagnant;

a misappropriated state, wherein said portable item is in possession of the known associate of the primary authorized user who is other than the secondary authorized user;

a stolen state, wherein said portable item is in possession of an unauthorized user or was last in possession of the unauthorized user, wherein said unauthorized user is any user other than the authorized user, the borrower, or the known associate; and

a wandering state, wherein said portable item is in possession of the authorized user or the borrower, and is not present when and where the portable item is expected to be.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

storing locally at the portable item, in the memory, a usage data associated with the item, said usage data comprising at least an historical record of sensor data associated with the item; and

defining via the hardware processor, based on the usage data, at least a respective usage expectation of the plurality of usage expectations, and associated with a respective date and time interval.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

defining the respective usage expectation associated with the respective date and time interval based on detection of a substantially consistent pattern of historical usage of the portable item during a plurality of date and time intervals.

37. An electronic system configured to be operated while being at least one of coupled to, attached to, or embedded within a portable item, and further configured to assess a state of the portable item;

said electronic system comprising a memory, a hardware processor, and one or more environmental sensors including at least a first sensor configured for location detection of the portable item, wherein;

the memory stores first executable code that, when executed by the hardware processor, causes the device to store locally, at the portable item;

a schedule comprising a plurality of date and time intervals associated with a use or storage of the portable item during said date and time intervals;

a plurality of respective usage expectations associated with the plurality of date and time intervals, wherein each respective usage expectation comprises an expected location where the portable item is expected to be during the associated date and time interval;

the one or more environmental sensors are configured to obtain an environmental data (700.R) for the portable item; and

and the hardware processor is configured to;

identify in real-time a current date and time interval, from among the plurality of date and time intervals on the schedule, which corresponds to a current real-time date and time;

identify the respective usage expectation associated with the current date and time interval;

receive in real time from the first sensor a current location for the portable item;

compare the current location with the expected location comprising the respective usage expectation;

assess, based on the comparison, whether during the during the current date and time interval the portable item is located within the expected location; and

evaluate a relative likelihood that the portable item is extant or displaced, wherein;

if the hardware processor assesses that the portable item is located within the expected location, the hardware processor assesses a likelihood that the portable item is extant; and

if the hardware processor assesses that the portable item is not located within the expected location, the hardware processor assesses a likelihood that the portable item is displaced, wherein in response to the assessment, at least, signaling an alert that the portable item is displaced upon detecting the portable item is not located at the expected location during the associated date and time interval.

38. A non-transitory, physical storage medium storing processor-executable code, which when executed by a hardware processor of a processor-based device associated with a portable item, assesses a state of the portable item,

the processor-executable code comprising:

first executable code to store locally, at the portable item, in a memory of the hardware-processor-based device a schedule comprising a plurality of date and time intervals associated with a use or storage of the portable item during said date and time intervals;

second executable code to store locally, at the portable item, in the memory of the hardware-processor-based device a plurality of respective usage expectations associated with the plurality of date and time intervals, wherein each respective usage expectation comprises an expected location where the portable item is expected to be during the associated date and time interval;

third executable code to identify in real-time a current date and time interval, from among the plurality of date and time intervals on the schedule, which corresponds to a current real-time date and time;

fourth executable code to identify via the hardware processor the respective usage expectation associated with the current date and time interval;

fifth executable code to receive in real time from a first sensor configured for location detection of the portable item a current location for the portable item;

sixth executable code to compare, via the hardware processor, the current location with the expected location comprising the respective usage expectation which corresponds to the current real-time date and time;

seventh executable code to assess, via the hardware-processor, based on the comparison, whether during the during the current date and time interval the portable item is located within the expected location;

eighth executable code to evaluate, via the hardware-processor, a relative likelihood that the portable item is extant or displaced; and

ninth executable code to determine that;

if the hardware-processor evaluates that the portable item is located within the expected location, the hardware-processor will assess a likelihood that the portable item is extant;

if the hardware-processor evaluates that the portable item is not located within the expected location, the hardware-processor will assess a likelihood that the portable item is displaced; and

tenth executable code which, responsive to the assessment of the likelihood that the portable item is displaced, signals an alert that the portable item is displaced upon detecting that the portable item is not located at the expected location during the associated date and time interval.

39. A device configured to operate while substantially collocated with a portable item, and configured to assess a state of the portable item as being one of present and displaced, comprising:

a hardware processor, a memory, a timer, and an environmental sensor;

wherein;

the memory stores first executable code that, when executed by the hardware processor, causes the device to store locally, at the portable item;

a detection context comprising an event that spans a duration in time starting at a first specified time and ending at a second specified time that is later than the first specified time; and

an item usage expectation that is associated with the detection context, and that comprises a description of an expected usage of the portable item during the time span of the event, wherein;

the description comprises an expected environmental condition resulting from the expected usage of the portable item during the time span of the event, including at least an expected location where the portable item is expected to be during the time span of the event; and

the expected environmental condition is indicative of at least two possible states of the portable item during the event;

a first state of being present, and;

a second state of being displaced, said displaced state comprising at least one of that the item is lost, stolen, misplaced, or misappropriated, wherein the misappropriated state is indicative that the portable item is in accidental use by an unauthorized user who is an associate of the authorized user;

the environmental sensor comprises a location sensor configured to obtain real-time location data for the portable item;

the timer is configured to determine that a current real-time is consistent with the time span of the event of the stored detection context, wherein the stored detection context thereby defines a current detection context with an associated current item usage expectation;

the hardware processor is configure to compare the real-time environmental data with the environmental condition described in the current item usage expectation; and

during the time frame of the current detection context, the hardware processor is configured to assess, via the comparing, either that;

the real-time environmental data is consistent with the current item usage expectation, wherein the portable item is present, or

the real-time environmental data is inconsistent with the current item usage expectation, wherein the portable item is displaced,

wherein in response to an assessment that the portable item is displaced the hardware processor at least signals an alert that the portable item is lost, stolen, misplaced or misappropriated upon detecting the portable item is not located at the expected location during the associated date and time interval.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the item usage expectation further comprises an environmental condition that is indicative that:

the first state of being present during the event indicates that either;

the portable item is on-person of an authorized user during the event or the portable item is under the proximate physical control of the authorized user during the event, or;

the location of the portable item is an appropriate location for storage of the portable item during the event; and

the second state of being displaced during the event indicates that;

the portable item is not on-person of the authorized user during the event and the portable item is not under the proximate physical control of the authorized user during the event, and;

the portable item is not in the appropriate location for storage during the event.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein:

the environmental sensor further comprises a motion sensor;

the stored first executable code further comprises code that, when executed by the hardware processor, causes the device to;

store locally at the portable item, in the memory, an item motion usage expectation that comprises an expected motion or expected pattern of motion of the portable item during the event;

the motion sensor is configured to obtain a real-time motion data for the portable item;

the hardware processor is configured to compare the real-time motion with the item motion usage expectation; and

the hardware processor is configured to assess, via the comparing, either that;

the motion of the portable item conforms to the item motion expectation, wherein the hardware processor assesses that the item is respectively present or is displaced based upon whether or not the portable item is located or is not located at the expected location;

or

the motion of the portable item does not conform to the item motion expectation, wherein the hardware processor assesses that the item is displaced.

42. The device of claim 39, wherein:

the environmental sensor further comprises a motion sensor configured to obtain a real-time motion data for the portable item;

the stored first executable code comprises code that, when executed by the hardware processor, causes the device to;

store locally at the portable item, in the memory, an item usage expectation that comprises;

an expected motion or expected pattern of motion of the portable item during the event; and

the expected location where the portable item is expected to be located during the event; and

the hardware processor is configured to;

compare the real-time motion with the item motion usage expectation;

compare the current location with the expected location where the item is expected to be located during the event; and

assess via the two comparisons either that;

the portable item is present, based on an assessment both that the portable item is located at the expected location during the event, and the motion of the portable item conforms to the item motion usage expectation;

or

the portable item is displaced, based on either or both of an assessment that;

that the motion of the portable item does not conform to the item motion usage expectation;

or

that the portable item is not located at the expected location during the event.

43. The device of claim 39, further comprising a communications element, wherein:

the memory stores second executable code that, when executed by the hardware processor, causes the device to device to store locally at the portable item, in the memory, communications parameters suitable to convey a message to a designated recipient in the event the portable item is displaced; and

upon the assessment by the hardware processor that the portable item is displaced, the communications element is configured to utilize the stored communications parameters to convey an alert message to the designated recipient.

44. The device of claim 39, wherein:

the first executable code directs the hardware processor to store the stored detection context and the stored item usage specification via at least one of;

receiving data parameters descriptive of the detection context and the item usage expectation, said data parameters received via a device data interface configured for such data reception; and

analyzing sensor data pertaining to an historical usage of the portable item to determine the data parameters descriptive of the detection context and the item usage specification.

45. The device of claim 39, further comprising a user interface, wherein:

said first executable code further directs the hardware processor to store locally at the portable item, in the memory, a schedule for the portable item, said schedule comprising;

a plurality of events for the portable item; and

a plurality of respective usage expectation associated with each of said events;

whereby the device assesses the state of present or the state of displaced for the portable item throughout the plurality of events on the schedule.