Method and apparatus for confirming an asset is associated with a given transportation structure

• US 9,349,270 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: OnAsset Intelligence Incorporated
• Inventors: Crossno, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Rushing, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/313,814
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for establishing the whereabouts of an asset being tracked while in the process of being transported to a given destination. This may optionally be accomplished by utilizing identification beacons in the form of RF or other wireless transmitters to establish to a tracking system that a given asset is being transported via the appropriate structure in a pre-established schedule. Further, by knowing in advance that a given structure will be used for transportation or temporary storage, sensing parameters of smart tracking devices may be adjusted to better accommodate customer alert situations.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device for accompanying an asset that is in the process of being delivered to a given destination comprising:

wireless signal detection circuitry operable to wirelessly identify a nearby wirelessly identifiable structure;

transmission circuitry operable to inform a remotely located data storage device that said electronic device is presently in proximity to a structure that is at least one of (a) a nearby wirelessly identifiable transportation device most recently identified, (b) a nearby wirelessly identifiable transportation device in closest proximity and (c) a nearby wirelessly identifiable temporary storage location;

sensing circuitry operable to detect conditions consistent with at least one operational state of a nearby wirelessly identifiable structure subsequent to said structure being identified as a transportation device; and

deactivation circuitry operable to transmit signals to deactivate at least one RF identifiable transmitter of said transportation device during said at least one operational state of said transportation device.

2. A portable electronic device for accompanying an asset that is in the process of being delivered to a given destination comprising:

wireless signal detection circuitry operable to wirelessly identify a nearby wirelessly identifiable transportation device from signals received from an RF transmitter associated with a loading entry point of said transportation device;

transmission circuitry operable to inform a remotely located data storage device that said electronic device is presently in proximity to a structure that is at least one of (a) a nearby wirelessly identifiable transportation device most recently identified, and (b) a nearby wirelessly identifiable transportation device in closest proximity;

detection circuitry operable to determine when, subsequent to initial reception and detection of said at least one wireless signal specific to a nearby wirelessly identifiable transportation device, said electronic device is being moved toward and/or through a cargo loading entry point of said transportation device; and

further circuitry operable to cause said transmission circuitry to inform the central station when said detection circuitry determines that said electronic device is being moved toward and/or through a cargo loading entry point of said wirelessly identifiable transportation device.

3. A computer implemented method of tracking a given asset that is accompanied by an electronic wireless signal identity reading device comprising:

detecting wireless signals of nearby wireless signal identifiable structures;

determining, via circuitry in said electronic wireless signal identity reading device, when said wireless signal identity reading device is within a given proximity to a wireless signal identifiable structure scheduled to proceed to a given destination;

transmitting signals to a remotely located central station indicative of the identity of a recently detected wireless signal identifiable structure; and

determining, via circuitry in said electronic wireless signal identity reading device, that the location of said given asset is identical with the location of a most recently detected and reported wireless signal identifiable structure until said central station receives a further signal directly from said electronic wireless signal identity reading device indicating that the electronic wireless signal identity reading device is one of (a) within a given proximity to a different wireless signal identifiable structure and (b) is at a location inconsistent with a presently determined location of the most recently reported wireless signal identifiable structure to which it was in proximity.

4. Apparatus for tracking an asset accompanied by an electronic wireless signal identity reading device while being transported by a wireless signal identifiable structure to a given destination comprising:

central computer including data record maintaining circuitry;

at least one electronic wireless signal identity reading device operable to detect wireless signal identifiable structures situated within a given proximity to said electronic wireless signal identity reading device;

transceiver circuitry, comprising a part of said at least one electronic wireless signal identity reading device, operable to communicate with said central computer relative at least one of (a) the most recently detected wireless signal identifiable structure detected by said electronic wireless signal identity reading device and (b) a recently detected wireless signal identifiable structure that is in closest proximity;

data storage circuitry operable to maintain a record of the identity of at least some of the wireless signal identifiable structures detected by any given electronic wireless signal identity reading device reporting to said central computer; and

loading determination circuitry, comprising a part of said electronic wireless signal identity reading device, operable to communicate with said central computer data processed relative a determination by said at least one electronic wireless signal identity reading device that it is being transferred to a cargo area of said most recently detected wireless signal identifiable structure.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said structure is a transportation device and said central computer additionally comprises data receiving circuitry operable to record, in said data storage circuitry, whether the transport device to which an electronic wireless signal identity reading device is being transferred is a transport device previously scheduled for transportation of said electronic wireless signal identity reading device.

6. A computer implemented method of reducing transportation errors in the delivery of an asset to a given destination when a preferred schedule of transportation structures can be ascertained in advance comprising:

coordinating the accompaniment of an electronic wireless signal identity reading device with the asset to be delivered to a given destination wherein the electronic wireless signal identity reading device is operable to detect wireless signal identifiable structures situated within a given proximity to said electronic wireless signal identity reading device;

communicating data, relative at least one of detected wireless signal identifiable structures in proximity to said electronic wireless signal identity reading device, to a central computer;

determining, by said electronic wireless signal identity reading device, that it is likely being transferred to an available area of a most recently detected wireless signal identifiable structure; and

communicating between said electronic wireless signal identity reading device and said central computer that that said electronic wireless signal identity reading device has logically determined that it is being transferred to an available area of said most recently detected wireless signal identifiable structure.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 comprising the additional steps of:

storing wireless signal identifiable structure data communicated to said central computer at least temporarily; and

determining whether or not the structure to which an electronic wireless signal identity reading device is presently being transferred is a structure scheduled for at least one of transportation or temporary storage.

8. An electronic wireless signal identity reading device used to monitor associated cargo scheduled for transportation and/or storage via at least one predetermined and wireless signal identifiable structure comprising:

wireless signal receiving circuitry operable to detect and receive at least one wireless identifiable signal that is specific to a nearby wireless signal identifiable structure when said electronic wireless signal identity reading device is within a given proximity to said wireless signal identifiable structure;

storage circuitry operable to maintain a record of the identity of at least the last wireless identifiable signal detected from a nearby wireless signal identifiable structure;

determination circuitry, comprising part of said electronic wireless signal identity reading device, operational to determine when said electronic wireless signal identity reading device is in the process of being transferred to an available area of the last detected wireless signal identifiable structure; and

transmission circuitry operable to transmit signals for informing a central station that said electronic wireless signal identity reading device is presently in the process of being transferred to an available area of the wireless signal identifiable structure having the identity last recorded by said storage circuitry.

9. Apparatus for continuously monitoring location of an asset accompanied by an electronic wireless signal identity reading and tracking device while in the process of being transported by a wireless signal identifiable structure to a given destination in accordance with a schedule maintained by at least one given entity controlling the operation of said wireless signal identifiable structure comprising:

a central computer operable to communicate with electronic wireless signal identity reading and tracking devices while simultaneously being operable to monitor the location of wireless signal identifiable structures of said given entity; and

an electronic wireless signal identity reading and tracking device operable to wirelessly communicate with said central computer as to present location of said electronic wireless signal identity reading and tracking device along with being operable to report the proximity of nearby wireless signal identifiable structures controlled by said at least one given entity when the proximity is determined, via circuitry of said electronic wireless signal identity reading and tracking device, to be consistent with the process of being stored in an available area of and in proximity to said nearby wireless signal identifiable structure.