Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an information gathering method. The information gathering method includes identifying a location of a package, the location associated with one or more location-based restrictions on collecting data. The information gathering method also includes restricting access to sensor-collectable data associated with the package in accordance with the one or more location-based restrictions.

Abstract: A mobile master node apparatus is described for generating a corrective pickup notification related to an item being shipped based upon an intended pickup master node. The master node includes a processor, memory storage, location circuitry, and a communication interface. In operation, the mobile master node is unconventionally transformed to identify a location of the ID node; determine whether the location of the ID node and a detected location of the mobile master node indicates the item accompanies the mobile master node as it moves from a first location to a second location; identify an intended pickup master node from received shipping information related to the item; automatically sense an adverse pickup condition related to the item based upon the intended pickup master node and whether the item is accompanying the mobile master node; and generate the corrective pickup notification based upon the adverse pickup condition sensed.

Abstract: There is disclosed methods and systems for managing drop boxes. Events reflecting outputs from one or more sensors are detected. Information that is a function of the detected event is forwarded to a drop box management system. This information, along with additional information received by the drop box management system, is utilized to generate instructions including display instructions for each drop box. Displays of drop boxes are then updated based on the instructions.

Abstract: A method of management of a communication device in an aircraft may include transitioning the communication device from a normal mode to a disabled mode based on a calculated device sleep time based on data associated with transportation information of the device. One of these modes may be a state of the device in which a transceiver of the device is deactivated and the other mode may be a state of the device in which the transceiver is activated. Therefore, the device sleep time determines when the wireless device's transceiver may not be activated.

Abstract: Improved movement-based technical solutions for transmitting a corrective pickup notification for a shipped item are described. For example, a first master node at a first location receives shipping information about the item. That master node identifies an intended pickup master node from the shipping information and determines the location of an ID node associated with the item over a time period, which may indicate the item is not moving away from the first location. After identifying the location of the intended pickup master node over the time period, the first master node automatically senses an adverse pickup condition when the intended pickup master node does is moving away from the first location while the ID node's detected location over time indicates the item is not moving away from the first location. The first master node then transmits the corrective pickup notification to a second logistics devices based on the adverse pickup condition sensed.

Abstract: Systems for enhanced detection and response to an environmental anomaly in a shipping container may include wireless ID nodes within a shipping container, and a command node mounted to the container that communicates with the ID nodes and a transit vehicle transceiver. The command node's memory has program code, a communication profile and context data for each the ID nodes. The command node is adapted to monitor the ID nodes for an unanticipated ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes per the communication profiles; detect the anomaly when the number of ID nodes in the unanticipated ceased broadcasting state exceeds a threshold setting on the command node; generate a layered alert notification identifying a mediation recipient and mediation action, and establishing a mediation response priority based upon the ceased broadcasting ID nodes; and initiate the mediation response by transmitting the notification to the external transceiver.

Abstract: Improved movement-based technical solutions for transmitting a corrective pickup notification for a shipped item are described. For example, a first master node at a first location receives shipping information about the item. That master node identifies an intended pickup master node from the shipping information and identifies the location of an ID node associated with the item over a time period, which may indicate the item is moving away from the first location. After identifying a courier master node accompanying the departing ID node, the first master node automatically senses an adverse pickup condition when the identified courier master node does not correspond to the intended pickup master node and the ID node's detected location over time indicates the item is moving away from the first location. The first master node then transmits the corrective pickup notification to a second logistics devices based on the adverse pickup condition sensed.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for dynamically transforming dimensional data representing a shipping item being loaded within a container using a scanning sensor node mounted above a space within the container. Generally, the scanning sensor node has a memory, a depth sensor oriented to scan the space from above, and a communications interface to an external managing node. For example, the method uses the scanning sensor node to access the onboard memory for available material dimension data related to the shipping item. The method uses the depth sensor to generate scan data on the shipping item once the shipping item is placed within the container, compare the generated scan data to the available material dimension data, and dynamically transform the available material dimension data into the current dimensional data representing the shipping item based upon the comparison of the generated scan data to the available material dimension data.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for initiating a pre-staged preparation related to a medical treatment to be provided to a patient at a healthcare facility using a hierarchical node network having an ID node, a master node, and a server. The ID node is associated with the patient and can communicate directly with the master node. The master node can directly communicate with the server and separately communicate with the ID node. The master node and ID node associate when the master node detects a signal broadcast from the ID node as the patient approaches the healthcare facility. The master node receives medical status information from the ID node and transmits the information to the server. The server determines the location of the ID node, and then initiates the pre-staged preparation related to the patient based upon the determined location of the ID node and the medical status information.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and system for various ways to enhanced inventory management of an inventory item using elements from a hierarchical inventory network are described that generate a pickup notification related to such an inventory item. For example, a method may deploy a master node associated with a fixed location and that communicates with an inventory control server above it in the network while also monitoring movement of an ID node associated with an inventory item below it in the network. In general, the fixed location master node monitors a location of the inventory item's ID node and receives information from the inventory control server. The method then has the master node detecting movement of the ID node relative to the fixed location of the master node and generating the pickup notification for the inventory item based upon the release information and the detected movement of the ID node.

Abstract: A wireless tracking device operating in at least two modes to reduce power consumption and extend the operable period of the wireless tracking device. In an active mode, the wireless tracking device samples sensor signals at a higher resolution and may also actively communicate with a remote device via wireless connection. In a hibernation mode, most of the components or modules in the wireless tracking device are shut down to reduce power consumption. The wireless tracking device may switch to the active mode when a predetermine event is detected.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for detecting an operational safety condition within a container using a scanning sensor node deployed within the container and above a storage space within the container. For example, the method uses the scanning sensor node to sense if the container is in a closed state and monitors the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state. The method then has the scanning sensor node detecting a movement within the container based upon the monitoring of the storage space while in the closed state. Such a detected movement is indicative of the operational safety condition. The method then has the scanning sensor node transmitting an alert to a managing node over a wireless communication interface of the scanning sensor node, where the alert is associated with the operational safety condition within the container.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for monitoring at least one signal passing through a coupling connection from a first conveyance to a second conveyance, where the coupling connection has a network device that communicates on a wireless node network. Generally, the network device (e.g., an ID node) integrated in the coupling connection monitors the signal line passing through the coupling connection from the first conveyance to the second conveyance. The network device then detects data on the monitored signal line and records the detected data. Thereafter, the network device in the coupling connection transmits the detected data (e.g., a notification that the conveyances are disconnected, a change in power flowing between the conveyances, etc.) to another entity in the wireless network, such as a server or master node.

Abstract: A wireless tracking device operating in at least two modes to reduce power consumption and extend the operable period of the wireless tracking device. In an active mode, the wireless tracking device samples sensor signals at a higher resolution and may also actively communicate with a remote device via wireless connection. In a hibernation mode, most of the components or modules in the wireless tracking device are shut down to reduce power consumption. The wireless tracking device may switch to the active mode when a predetermine event is detected.

Abstract: A system for time gap based monitoring for identifying an event candidate within a server managed wireless node network may include an ID node monitored by a master node. The system's master node is operative to receive multiples signals from the ID node; and use a timer on the master node to determine time gaps between successive received signals. The master node then compares the signals to identify a change in an observed parameter of the signals; identifies the event candidate when at least one of the identified change in the observed parameter and the detected time gaps matches an event criteria related to the ID node; and then sends a message to the server reporting the event candidate relative to the ID node.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are described that manage a multi-level wireless node network with package ID nodes associated with different packages, a container node in a logistics container, a facility master node, and a server at different levels. In one method, the container node detects an advertising signal broadcast by each package ID node and detects an advertising signal broadcast by the facility master node as the container node approaches the facility. The method offloads management control of each of the package ID nodes from the facility master node down to the container node as part of managing the first level of the network, and has the container node transmitting relevant node information to the facility master node. Such relevant node information provides information about at least one of the packages in the logistics container and reflects status information to be sent to the server by the facility master node.

Abstract: Methods and node devices for adaptively communicate within a wireless node network. In one method, a first node generates an advertising message in a first format, and then broadcasts the advertising message in the first format when in a first state. The first node detects a state change associated with a changed relative environment of the first node. The first node then adapts to the detected state change by altering the first format of the advertising message to a shortened format comprising an identifier for the first node derived from the changed relative environment of the first node. Such a shortened format may be a variable broadcast format, such as a shortened global format, a shortened nested format, and a shortened local format. In another embodiment, one node may instruct another node change broadcasting from the first format to the shortened format based upon a detected state change.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of staging real-time data in proximity to a mobile device. The method includes determining a geographic location associated with the mobile device and identifying a storage device located in proximity to the determined geographic location. The method also includes enabling real-time data published by the mobile device or provided to the mobile device to be stored on the identified storage device.

Abstract: A system for tracking at least one object configured to be transported by at least one vehicle may include at least one computer system. The at least one computer system may be configured to determine at least one location of the at least one vehicle and determine at least one location of the at least one object. The at least one computer system may be further configured to determine at least one location of at least one geofence adjacent the at least one vehicle based on the at least one location of the at least one vehicle. Also, the at least one computer system may be configured to determine whether the at least one object is located within the at least one geofence to determine whether a load of the at least one vehicle includes the at least one object.