Methods and apparatus for adjusting a broadcast setting of a node in a wireless node network

• US 9,974,041 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Skaaksrud, Ole-Petter
• Primary Examiner(s): Swearingen, Jeffrey R
• Application Number:
  US14/538,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20150156066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00256 Delivery operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/02 Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/102 Straps, bands, strings or other elongate elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 : Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 : Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 : specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 : Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 : using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 : using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 : Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 : stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 : ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 : specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 : for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 : Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 : using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 : characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 : characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 : Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 : Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 : TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 : with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods, medium, systems, and a master node are described involving adjusting a broadcast setting of a node in a wireless node network. In an exemplary method, the master node detects an advertising signal from the node deployed in the network. The master node then establishes an active association with the node, and determines an updated value for the broadcast setting (e.g., a frequency, power level, timing setting) of the node. The updated value may be a value related to a structure (such as building or container) associated with the master node. The method concludes with the master node adjusting the broadcast setting of the node from a current value to the updated value. Such adjusting may take the form of modifying a broadcast profile of the node, where the broadcast profile defines the broadcast setting used when the node communicates with the master node.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a broadcast setting of a mobile first node in a wireless node network having a master node and a server, comprising:

detecting, by the master node, an advertising signal broadcast from the first node as the first node approaches a location of the master node;

establishing, by the master node, an active association with the first node;

determining, by the master node, an updated value for the broadcast setting of the first node broadcasting the advertising signal; and

adjusting, by the master node, the broadcast setting of the first node from a current value to the updated value before the first node arrives at the location of the master node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the active association reflects a secure connection between the master node and the first node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises an RF transmission output power level setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises an RF carrier signal frequency setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises a timing setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated value comprises a predetermined value related to a structure, the structure being associated with the master node.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the updated value further comprises a default broadcast value related to an interior of the structure, the structure being a shipping container associated with the master node.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is an ID node capable of communicating directly with the master node but incapable of communicating directly with the server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting the broadcast setting of the first node further comprises modifying a broadcast profile of the first node, wherein the broadcast profile defines the broadcast setting used when the first node communicates with the master node.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises receiving the updated value from the server.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs a method for adjusting a broadcast setting of a mobile first node in a wireless node network having a master node and a server, the method comprising:

detecting, by the master node, an advertising signal broadcast from the first node as the first node approaches a location of the master node;

establishing, by the master node, an active association with the first node;

determining, by the master node, an updated value for the broadcast setting of the first node broadcasting the advertising signal; and

adjusting, by the master node, the broadcast setting of the first node from a current value to the updated value before the first node arrives at the location of the master node.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the active association reflects a secure connection between the master node and the first node.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises an RF transmission output power level setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises an RF carrier signal frequency setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises a timing setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the updated value comprises a predetermined value related to a structure, the structure being associated with the master node.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the updated value further comprises a default broadcast value related to an interior of the structure, the structure being a shipping container associated with the master node.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first node is an ID node capable of communicating directly with the master node but incapable of communicating directly with the server.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the step of adjusting the broadcast setting of the first node further comprises modifying a broadcast profile of the first node, wherein the broadcast profile defines the broadcast setting used when the first node communicates with the master node.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the determining step comprises receiving the updated value from the server.

21. A master node for adjusting a broadcast setting of a mobile first node in a wireless node network, the master node comprising:

a processing unit;

a memory coupled to the processing unit, the memory maintaining code for execution by the processing unit and an updated value for the broadcast setting of the first node;

a first communication interface coupled to the processing unit and operative to communicate with the first node in the network;

a second communication interface coupled to the processing unit and operative to communicate with a server in the network; and

wherein the processing unit, when executing the code maintained on the memory, is operative to

detect that the first communication interface receives an advertising signal broadcast from the first node as the first node approaches a location of the master node,

establish an active association with the first node and store association data on the memory to reflect the active association between the master node and the first node,

access the updated value from the memory, and

transmit a message to the first node over the first communication interface before the first node arrives at the location of the master node, the message instructing the first node to adjust a current value of the broadcast setting of the first node to the updated value.

22. The master node of claim 21, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises an RF transmission output power level setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

23. The master node of claim 21, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises an RF carrier signal frequency setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

24. The master node of claim 21, wherein the broadcast setting of the first node comprises a timing setting for what the first node broadcasts as a future advertising signal.

25. The master node of claim 21, wherein the updated value comprises a predetermined value related to a structure, the structure being associated with the master node.

26. The master node of claim 25, wherein the updated value further comprises a default broadcast value related to an interior of the structure, the structure being a shipping container associated with the master node.

27. The master node of claim 21, wherein the first node is an ID node operative to communicate directly with the master node over the first communication interface but incapable of communicating directly with the server.

28. The master node of claim 21, wherein the processing unit is further operative to receive the updated value from the server over the second communication interface.

29. The master node of claim 21, wherein the processing unit is further operative to modify a broadcast profile of the first node, wherein the broadcast profile defines the broadcast setting used when the first node communicates with the master node;

and

wherein the processing unit is further operative to transmit the message by being operative to transmit information to the first node over the first communication interface, wherein the transmitting information reflecting the modified broadcast profile.