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

• US 9,786,145 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• 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:
  US14/952,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20160085999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 726 35
• 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 device configured to be operated while physically coupled with a portable item, and configured to assess a state of the portable item, comprising:

a hardware processor,

a memory,

and a sensor for personal motion configured to detect at least one of;

a motion indicative of local movement of the portable item comprising movement by a person who possesses said item and a lack of any motion of said portable item wherein the item is stationary;

wherein;

the hardware processor is configured to cause the memory to store locally at the portable item;

a detection context for monitoring the portable item, the detection context comprising at least one of a specified date, a specified time interval, and a specified location for use or storage of the portable item, wherein the processor of the device is configured to assess via a local clock of the device, a local calendar of the device, or a location sensor of the device when the portable item is present within the detection context; and

an associated item usage expectation for anticipated use of the item within the detection context, wherein

the item usage expectation comprises an expected personal motion for the portable item, wherein said personal motion of the item is to be assessed locally at the portable item via the motion sensor of the coupled device, and said expected personal motion comprises at least one of an expected item motion indicative of local movement of the portable item by a person who possesses said item and a lack of any motion of said portable item wherein the item is expected to be stationary;

the motion sensor is configured to obtain real-time usage data descriptive of a real-time motion of the portable item or a stationary state of the portable item;

the hardware processor is configured to determine if the portable item is present within the detection context; and

upon determining that the portable item is present within the detection context, the hardware processor is configured to;

compare the real-time usage data of the portable item with the item usage expectation associated with the detection context; and

assess, based on the comparison of the expected personal motion for the portable item with the real-time item motion within the detection context, either;

that the portable item is extant wherein the real-time usage data for the portable item within the detection context is in conformance with the item usage expectation for the detection context, indicating at least that the real-time motion conforms with the expected personal motion of the portable item within the detection context;

or

that the portable item is displaced, wherein the real-time usage data for the portable item within the detection context is not in conformance with the item usage expectation for the detection context, indicating at least that the real-time motion is not in conformance with the expected personal motion of the portable item within the detection context.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein in response to an assessment that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context is not consistent with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context, the hardware processor is configured to signal an alert that the portable item is displaced, said alert signal comprising at least one of:

a message presented locally at the portable item by the electronic device; and

a message communicated by the electronic device to an authorized user of the portable item.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the expected personal motion of the portable item comprises at least one of:

an expected velocity of the portable item;

an expected direction of motion of the portable item;

an expected speed of the portable item;

an expected rotational motion of the portable item;

an expected pattern of motion of the portable item;

an expected vibration of the portable item;

an expected statistical or stochastic characterization of the motion of the portable item; and

an expected motion of a vehicle transporting the authorized user in possession of the portable item.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the item usage expectation further comprises an authorized-user data which characterizes an authorized user of the portable item for the detection context;

the device further comprises an itemetric sensor configured to monitor, in real-time, an itemetric sensed data indicative of a person in possession of the portable item within the detection context;

the hardware processor is further configured to compare the real-time itemetric data of the person in possession of the portable item within the detection context with the authorized-user data for the detection context; and

the hardware processor is further configured to assess that the portable item is displaced based on at least one of;

the assessment that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context is not in conformance with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context; and

an assessment that the sensed itemetric data of the person in possession of the portable item within the detection context is not consistent with the authorized-user for the detection context.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the detection context comprises at least one of;

the specified date for use or storage of the portable item;

or

the specified time interval for use or storage of the portable item;

the associated item usage expectation further comprises an expected location for use or storage of the portable item by an authorized user during the detection context;

the real-time usage data obtained by the location sensor comprises a real-time location for the portable item;

the hardware processor is further configured to compare the real-time location of the portable item during the detection context with the expected location of the portable item for the detection context; and

the hardware processor is further configured to assess that the portable item is displaced based on at least one of;

an assessment that the location of the portable item during the detection context is not consistent with the expected location of the portable item for the detection context; and

the assessment that the personal motion of the portable item during the detection context is not in conformance with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the expected location comprises at least one of:

an expected building;

an expected room, wing, hallway, or other subdivision of the expected building;

an expected street address, building address, named building, city, county, state, campus, or other expected named location;

an expected geographic location defined by a boundary or by a set of perimeter coordinates;

an expected geographic location defined by a central location and a region surrounding the central location;

an expected region indicated by one or more geographic coordinates;

an expected geographic region defined by a map reference;

an expected transportation route;

an expected transportation vehicle;

an expected vertical displacement above or below ground, in a building, or under sea; and

an expected proximity to a cell tower, a wireless access point, or to a location beacon.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the item usage expectation comprises at least two of;

the expected personal motion for the portable item for the associated detection context;

an expected location for use or storage of the portable item within at least one of the date and the time interval of the associated detection context; and

an authorized-user data characterizing an authorized user of the portable item for the associated detection context;

the device is configured to monitor real-time data, corresponding to the elements of the item usage expectation, for at least two of;

the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context;

a real-time location for the portable item during the detection context; and

a real-time itemetric data indicative of an actual user of the portable item within the detection context;

the hardware processor is configured to compare at least two of;

(a) the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context;

(b) the location of the portable item during the detection context with the expected location for use or storage of the portable item for the detection context; and

(c) the itemetric data of the actual user within the detection context with the authorized-user data for the portable item for the detection context; and

the hardware processor is further configured to assess that the portable item is extant or displaced based on at least two of the comparisons of (a), (b), and (c), wherein;

substantial conformities between real-time data and corresponding expected data for the at least two of the comparisons of (a), (b), and (c) are indicative of the portable item being extant, and

substantial non-conformities between real-time data and corresponding expected data for the at least two of the comparisons of (a), (b), and (c) are indicative of the portable item being displaced.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to assess the state of being extant and a plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced, wherein:

said plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced comprises at least two of a lost state, a misplaced state, a misappropriated state, a stolen state, and a state of wandering.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the hardware processor is configured to make the assessment of the state of being extant and the plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced based on at least one of the logic tables of FIG. 1L, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5F, and FIG. 5H, and the flow charts of FIG. 5A, FIG. 5D, FIG. 5E, and FIG. 5G.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the hardware processor is further configured to assess at least one of;

an on-person/off-person status for the portable item,

an absent without leave (AWOL) status for the portable item,

an in-bounds-of-daily-life (DL) status or an out-of-bounds-of-daily-life (OOB) status for the portable item; and

that the portable item is currently or most recently in possession of the authorized user (AU) or of the unauthorized user (UU); and

the hardware processor is configured to make the assessment of the state of being extant and the plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced based on at least two of;

the on-person/off-person status, the AWOL status, the DL status, the OOB status, and the possession of the portable item by the authorized user (AA) or the unauthorized user (UU).

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the location comprises at least one of:

a building;

a room, wing, hallway, or other subdivision of the building;

a street address, building address, named building, city, county, state, campus, or other named location;

a geographic location defined by a boundary or by a set of perimeter coordinates;

a geographic location defined by a central location and a region surrounding the central location;

a region indicated by one or more geographic coordinates;

a geographic region defined by a map reference;

a transportation route;

a transportation vehicle;

a expected vertical displacement above or below ground, in a building, or under sea; and

a expected proximity to a cell tower, a wireless access point, or to a location beacon.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the detection context comprises an event that spans a duration in time for use or storage of the portable item, said duration starting at a first specified time and ending at a second specified time which is later than the first specified time;

wherein;

the hardware processor is further configured to cause the memory to store;

a calendar comprising a plurality of events; and

a plurality of respective item usage expectations for the portable item, wherein each item usage expectation of the plurality is associated with a respective event;

the sensors of the device are configured to obtain usage data for the portable item for at least an event of the plurality of events comprising the calendar;

the hardware processor is further configured to compare the usage data for the at least an event with the respective item usage expectation for the at least an event; and

the hardware processor is configured to assess, via the comparison, whether the item is;

extant, wherein the usage data for the portable item during the event is in conformance with the respective item usage expectation for the event;

or

displaced, wherein the usage data for the portable item during the event is not in conformance with the respective item usage expectation for the event.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said portable item is electronic and is configured to have internal operating status monitoring capabilities, and wherein the device is further configured to:

store locally at the portable item an expected internal status indicative of an expected use of the portable item by an authorized user of the portable item within the detection context;

receive from the portable item a real-time internal operating status data of the portable item indicative of a current usage of the portable item by a person in possession of the portable item; and

assess whether the portable item is extant or displaced based at least in part on a comparison between the internal operating status data of the portable item within the detection context and the expected internal status indicative of the expected use of the portable item by the authorized user of the portable item within the detection context.

14. A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor of an electronic device which is physically coupled with a portable item, causes the hardware processor to execute a method for assessing a state of the portable item, the method comprising:

storing locally at the portable item in a memory of the electronic device;

a detection context for monitoring the portable item, the detection context comprising at least one of a specified date, a specified time interval, and a specified location for use or storage of the portable item, wherein, the hardware processor of the device is configurable to assess via a local clock of the electronic device, a local calendar of the electronic device, or a location sensor of the electronic device that the portable item is present within the detection context, and

an associated item usage expectation for anticipated use of the item within the detection context, wherein

the item usage expectation for the detection context comprises an expected personal motion for the portable item, wherein a motion of the item is to be assessed locally at the item via a motion sensor of the coupled device, said motion sensor configured to detect locally at the portable item at least one of;

a motion indicative of local movement of the portable item comprising movement by a person who possesses said item and a lack of any motion of said portable item wherein the item is stationary;

obtaining in real-time, via the motion sensor of the electronic device, a usage data for the portable item which comprises a real-time motion data of the portable item;

determining by the hardware processor if the portable item is present within the detection context; and

upon determining that the portable item is present within the detection context;

comparing in real-time by the hardware processor of the electronic device, the real-time usage data of the coupled portable item with the item usage expectation associated with the detection context; and

assessing by the hardware processor of the device, based on the comparison of the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context, either;

that the portable item is extant the real-time usage data for the portable item within the detection context is in conformance with the item usage expectation for the detection context, indicating at least that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context conforms with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context;

or

that the portable item is displaced the real-time usage data for the portable item within the detection context is not in conformance with the item usage expectation for the detection context, indicating at least that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context does not conform with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context.

15. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to an assessment that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context is not consistent with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context, signaling via the hardware processor an alert that the portable item is displaced, said alert signal comprising at least one of;

a message presented locally at the portable item by the electronic device; and

a message communicated by the electronic device to an authorized user of the portable item.

16. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein storing in the memory the expected personal motion of the portable item comprises storing at least one of:

an expected velocity of the portable item;

an expected direction of motion of the portable item;

an expected speed of the portable item;

an expected rotational motion of the portable item;

an expected pattern of motion of the portable item;

an expected vibration of the portable item;

an expected statistical or stochastic characterization of the motion of the portable item; and

an expected motion of a vehicle transporting the portable item.

17. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein:

the detection context comprises an event that spans a duration in time for use or storage of the portable item, said duration starting at a first specified time and ending at a second specified time which is later than the first specified time; and

the method further comprises;

storing in the memory a calendar comprising a plurality events;

storing in the memory a plurality of respective item usage expectations for the portable item, wherein each respective item usage expectation of the plurality is associated with a respective event;

obtaining, via the sensors of the electronic device, a usage data for the portable item for at least an event of the plurality of events comprising the calendar;

comparing, via the hardware processor, the usage data for the at least an event with the respective item usage expectation for the event; and

assessing, by the hardware processor, via the comparison, whether the item is;

extant, wherein the usage data for the portable item during the event is in conformance with the respective item usage expectation for the event;

or

displaced, wherein the usage data for the portable item during the event is not in conformance with the respective item usage expectation for the event.

18. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

the item usage expectation further comprises an authorized-user data which characterizes an authorized user of the portable item for the detection context; and

the electronic device further comprises a sensor configured to monitor in real-time an itemetric data which is indicative of a person in possession of the portable item within the detection context; and

the method further comprises;

comparing, via the hardware processor, the real-time itemetric data of the person in possession of the portable item within the detection context with the authorized-user data for the detection context; and

assessing, via the hardware processor, that the portable item is displaced based on at least one of;

the assessment that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context is not in conformance with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context; and

an assessment that the real-time itemetric data of the person in possession of the portable item within the detection context is not consistent with the authorized-user for the detection context.

19. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

the detection context comprises at least one of;

the specified date for use or storage of the portable item;

or

the specified time interval for use or storage of the portable item; and

the associated item usage expectation comprises an expected location for use or storage of the portable item by an authorized user during the detection context; and

the method further comprises;

obtaining, via the location sensor, a real-time location for the portable item;

comparing, via the hardware processor, the location of the portable item during the detection context with the expected location of the portable item for the detection context; and

assessing, via the hardware processor, that the portable item is displaced based on at least one of;

the assessment that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context is not in conformance with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context; and

an assessment that the location of the portable item during the detection context is not consistent with the expected location of the portable item for the detection context.

20. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein the expected location comprises at least one of:

an expected building;

an expected room, wing, hallway, or other subdivision of the expected building;

an expected street address, building address, named building, city, county, state, campus, or other expected named location;

an expected geographic location defined by a boundary or by a set of perimeter coordinates;

an expected geographic location defined by a central location and a region surrounding the central location;

an expected region indicated by one or more geographic coordinates;

an expected geographic region defined by a map reference;

an expected transportation route;

an expected transportation vehicle;

an expected vertical displacement above or below ground, in a building, or under sea; and

an expected proximity to a cell tower, a wireless access point, or to a location beacon.

21. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein the item usage expectation for the detection context comprises at least two of:

the expected personal motion of the portable item for the associated detection context;

an expected location for use or storage of the portable item within at least one of the date and the time interval of the associated detection context; and

an authorized-user data characterizing an authorized user of the portable item for the associated detection context; and

the method further comprises;

detecting, via at least two of the motion sensor, the location sensor, and a sensor indicative of personal identity, and corresponding to the elements of the item usage expectation, at least two of;

the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context;

a location for the portable item during the detection context; and

a real-time itemetric data indicative of an actual user of the portable item within the detection context;

comparing, via the hardware processor, at least two of;

(a) the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context;

(b) the location of the portable item during the detection context with the expected location for use or storage of the portable item for the detection context; and

(c) the sensed identity related real-time itemetric data of the actual user within the detection context with the authorized-user data for the portable item for the detection context; and

assessing, via the hardware processor, that the portable item is extant or displaced based on at least two of the comparisons of (a), (b), and (c), wherein;

substantial conformities between real-time data and the corresponding usage expectation for the at least two of the comparisons of (a), (b), and (c) are indicative of the portable item being extant, and

substantial non-conformities between real-time data and corresponding usage expectation for the at least two of the comparisons of (a), (b), and (c) are indicative of the portable item being displaced.

22. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

assessing, via the hardware processor, the state of being extant and a plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced, wherein;

said plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced comprises at least two of a lost state, a misplaced state, a misappropriated state, a stolen state, and a state of wandering.

23. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

assessing the state of being extant and the plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced based on at least one of the logic tables of FIG. 1L, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5F, and FIG. 5H, and the flow charts of FIG. 5A, FIG. 5D, FIG. 5E, and FIG. 5G.

24. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

assessing, via the hardware processor, at least one of;

an on-person/off-person status for the portable item,

an absent without leave (AWOL) status for the portable item,

an in-bounds-of-daily-life (DL) status or an out-of-bounds-of-daily-life (OOB) status for the portable item, and

that the portable item is currently or most recently in possession of the authorized user (AU) or unauthorized user (UU); and

assessing, via the hardware processor, the state of being extant and the plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced based on at least two of;

the on-person/off-person status, the AWOL status, the DL status, the OOB status, and the possession of the portable item by the authorized user (AA) or the unauthorized user (AU).

25. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein the location comprises at least one of:

a building;

a room, wing, hallway, or other subdivision of the building;

a street address, building address, named building, city, county, state, campus, or other named location;

a geographic location defined by a boundary or by a set of perimeter coordinates;

a geographic location defined by a central location and a region surrounding the central location;

a region indicated by one or more geographic coordinates;

a geographic region defined by a map reference;

a transportation route;

a transportation vehicle;

a vertical displacement above or below ground, in a building, or under sea; and

a proximity to a cell tower, a wireless access point, or to a location beacon.

26. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

said portable item is electronic and is configured to have internal operating status monitoring capabilities, and wherein the method further comprises;

storing locally at the portable item an expected internal status indicative of an expected use of the portable item by an authorized user of the portable item within the detection context;

receiving from the portable item a real-time internal operating status data indicative of a current usage of the portable item by a person in possession of the portable item; and

assessing whether the portable item is extant or displaced based at least in part on a comparison between the internal operating status data of the portable item within the detection context and the expected internal status indicative of the expected use of the portable item by the authorized user within the detection context.

27. A method for an electronic device to assess of state of a portable item when the electronic device is physically coupled with the portable item, the electronic device comprising a hardware processor, a memory, and a motion sensor, the method comprising:

storing locally at the portable item in the memory of the electronic device;

a detection context for monitoring the portable item, the detection context comprising at least one of a specified date, a specified time interval, and a specified location for use or storage of the portable item, wherein, the hardware processor of the device is configurable to assess via a local clock of the electronic device, a local calendar of the electronic device, or a location sensor of the electronic device that the portable item is present within the detection context, and

and an associated item usage expectation for anticipated use of the item within the detection context, wherein

the item usage expectation comprises an expected personal motion for the portable item, wherein the motion of the item is to be assessed locally at the item via the motion sensor of the coupled device, said motion sensor configured to detect locally at the portable item at least one of;

a personal motion indicative of local movement of the portable item comprising movement by a person who possesses said item and a lack of any motion of said portable item wherein the item is stationary;

obtaining in real-time, via the motion sensor of the electronic device, a usage data for the portable item which comprises data descriptive of a real-time motion of the portable item;

determining via the hardware processor if the portable item is present within the detection context; and

upon determining that the portable item is present within the detection context,

comparing in real-time by the hardware processor of the electronic device, the real-time usage data of the coupled portable item with the item usage expectation for the portable item for the detection context; and

assessing by the hardware processor of the device, based on the comparison of the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context with the expected personal motion for the portable item with the detection context, either;

that the portable item is extant the real-time usage data for the portable item within the detection context is in conformance with the item usage expectation for the detection context, indicating at least that the real-time portable item motion conforms with the expected personal motion of the portable item within the detection context;

or

that the portable item is displaced the real-time usage data for the portable item within the detection context is not in conformance with the item usage expectation for the detection context, indicating at least that the real-time item motion does not conform with the expected personal motion of the portable item within the detection context.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

in response to an assessment that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context is not consistent with the expected personal motion of the portable item within the detection context, signaling an alert via the hardware processor that the portable item is displaced, said alert signal comprising at least one of;

a message presented locally at the portable item by the electronic device; and

a message communicated by the electronic device to an authorized user of the portable item.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the expected personal motion comprises at least one of:

an expected velocity of the portable item;

an expected direction of motion of the portable item;

an expected speed of the portable item;

an expected rotational motion of the portable item;

an expected pattern of motion of the portable item;

an expected vibration of the portable item;

an expected statistical or stochastic characterization of the motion of the portable item;

an expected motion of a person carrying the portable item; and

an expected motion of a vehicle transporting the portable item.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the item usage expectation further comprises an authorized-user data which characterizes an authorized user of the portable item for the detection context; and

the electronic device further comprises a sensor configured to monitor an real-time itemetric data which is indicative of a person in possession of the portable item within the detection context; and

the method further comprises;

comparing, via the hardware processor, the real-time itemetric data of the person I possession of the portable item within the detection context with the authorized-user data for the detection context; and

assessing, via the hardware processor, that the portable item is displaced based on at least one of;

the assessment that the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context is not in conformance with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context; and

an assessment that the real-time itemetric data of the person in possession of the portable item within the detection context is not consistent with the authorized-user for the detection context.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the detection context comprises at least one of;

the specified date for use or storage of the portable item;

or

the specified time interval for use or storage of the portable item; and

the associated item usage expectation comprises an expected location for use or storage of the portable item by an authorized user during the detection context; and

the method further comprises;

obtaining, via the location sensor, a real-time location for the portable item;

comparing, via the hardware processor, the real-time location of the portable item during the detection context with the expected location of the portable item for the detection context; and

assessing, via the hardware processor, that the portable item is displaced based at least one of;

the assessment that the motion of the portable item within the detection context is not in conformance with the expected motion personal for the detection context; and

an assessment that the location of the portable item during the detection context is not consistent with the expected location of the portable item for the detection context.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the item usage expectation for the detection context comprises at least two of:

the expected personal motion of the portable item for the associated detection context;

an expected location for use or storage of the portable item within at least one of the date and the time interval of the associated detection context; and

an authorized-user data characterizing an authorized user of the portable item for the associated detection context; and

the method further comprises;

detecting, via at least two of the motion sensor, the location sensor, and an itemetric sensor indicative of personal identity, and corresponding to the elements of the item usage expectation, at least two of;

the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context;

a location for the portable item within the detection context; and

real-time itemetric data indicative of an actual user of the portable item within the detection context;

comparing, via the hardware processor, at least two of;

(A) the real-time motion of the portable item within the detection context with the expected personal motion of the portable item for the detection context;

(B) the location of the portable item during the detection context with the expected location for use or storage of the portable item for the detection context; and

(C) the real-time itemetric data of the actual user within the detection context with the authorized-user data for the portable item for the detection context; and

assessing, via the hardware processor, that the portable item is extant or displaced based on at least two of the comparisons of (A), (B), and (C), wherein;

substantial conformities between real-time data and the corresponding usage expectation for the at least two of the comparisons of (A), (B), and (C) are indicative of the portable item being extant, and

substantial non-conformities between real-time data and corresponding usage expectation for the at least two of the comparisons of (A), (B), and (C) are indicative of the portable item being displaced.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

assessing, via the hardware processor, the state of being extant and a plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced, wherein;

said plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced comprises at least two of a lost state, a misplaced state, a misappropriated state, a stolen state, and a state of wandering.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the method further comprises:

assessing, via the hardware processor, the state of being extant and the plurality of subsidiary states of being displaced based on at least one of the logic tables of FIG. 1L, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5F, and FIG. 5H, and the flow charts of FIG. 5A, FIG. 5D, FIG. 5E, and FIG. 5G.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the detection context comprises an event that spans a duration in time for use or storage of the portable item, said duration starting at a first specified time and ending at a second specified time which is later than the first specified time; and

the method further comprises;

storing in the memory a calendar comprising a plurality of events;

storing in the memory a plurality of respective item usage expectations for the portable item, wherein each item usage expectation of the plurality is associated with a respective event;

obtaining, via the sensors of the electronic device, a real-time usage data for the portable item for at least an event of the plurality of events comprising the calendar;

comparing, via the hardware processor, the usage data for the at least an event with the respective item usage expectation for the at least an event; and

assessing, by the hardware processor, via the comparison, whether the item is;

extant, wherein the usage data for the portable item during the event is in conformance with the respective item usage expectation for the at least an event;

or

displaced, wherein the usage data for the portable item during the event is not in conformance with the respective item usage expectation for the at least an event.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said portable item is electronic and is configured to have internal operating status monitoring capabilities, and wherein the method further comprises:

storing locally at the portable item an expected internal status indicative of an expected use of the portable item by an authorized user of the portable item within the detection context;

receiving from the portable item a real-time internal operating status data indicative of a current usage of the portable item by a person in possession of the portable item; and

assessing whether the portable item is extant or displaced based at least in part on a comparison between the internal operating status data of the portable item within the detection context and the expected internal status indicative of the expected use of the portable item by the authorized user within the detection context.