Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for tracking one or more items. The method may include periodically detecting, by a sensor device, sensor information of the one or more items, and periodically transmitting, by the sensor device, the sensor information. The method may also include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information. The method may also include transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties. The method may further include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and the periodically transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties based on a set of one or more permissions that grants or restricts access of the one or more parties to the sensor information based on the set of one or more permissions.

Abstract: A connected logistics receptacle system having enhanced status indication functionality related to a logistics operation for a delivery item being deposited by a parcel customer. The system includes a storage receptacle for receiving the delivery item and a bridge node mounted to the storage receptacle. The bridge node has a bridge node processor and a communication interface operative to communicate with at least a backend server. The system includes a status indicator and a wireless accessory sensor node. The bridge node processor is operative to detect an updated advertising signal broadcast by the wireless accessory sensor node, retrieve event information from the wireless accessory sensor node in response to detecting the updated advertising signal, and toggle the status indicator from a first condition to a second condition based upon a comparison of the event information to a status indicator setting profile.

Abstract: Methods and an assembly apparatus are described for operating a node-enabled logistics receptacle in a wireless node network having at least a first node related to an item being shipped. The method generally begins with the node-enabled logistics receptacle detecting a signal broadcast by the first node, such as when a package having the first node approaches the receptacle. The method then associates the node-enabled logistics receptacle with the first node. The method continues with the node-enabled logistics receptacle determining a location of the first node, and then altering a current inventory of nodes related to the node-enabled logistics receptacle based upon the location of the first node, such as when the first node is within a vicinity of the receptacle that is an area sufficiently proximate to the node-enabled logistics receptacle to indicate an item and node within the vicinity intends to be shipped.

Abstract: Methods perform one or more dispatched medical logistics operations using a modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly and a dispatch server where the operations are related to a diagnosis kit for treating a patient. The MAM of the bot receives a dispatch command, verifies compatibility of the bot assembly with the dispatched operation(s), receives a diagnosis kit in the CSS, has the MAM autonomously causing the MB to move to a destination location while notifying the authorized delivery recipient for the diagnosis kit of the approaching delivery. With appropriate authentication input received, the MAM coordinates with the CSS to provide access to the kit, monitor unloading of the kit, provide instructional information on use of the kit, and autonomously cause the MB to return to the original location with a return item related to the diagnosis kit with notification to personnel at the medical entity about the return item.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of providing information about a package in transit. The method involves receiving environmental data collected by a sensor associated with the package during transit and identifying contextual data about the package that is associated with the environmental data. The method also involves selectively providing access to the environmental and contextual data together as elements in an information feed to a plurality of parties, wherein the contextual data comprises at least one comment made by a party on an element in the information feed, and wherein one or more elements in the information feed are listed in chronological order beginning at a start time of the transit of the package.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for securely monitoring a shipping container for an environmental anomaly using elements of a wireless node network of sensor-based ID nodes disposed within the container and a command node associated with the container. The method has the command node identifying which of the ID nodes are confirmed as trusted sensors based upon a security credential specific to each of the ID nodes; monitoring only the confirmed ID nodes for sensor data broadcast those ID nodes; detecting the anomaly based upon the sensor data from at least one of the confirmed ID nodes; automatically generating an alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container; and transmitting the alert notification to the external transceiver to initiate a mediation response related to the detected environmental anomaly.

Abstract: An improved auto-chocking enabled cargo dolly that is towable by ground support equipment. The dolly has a frame, wheels attached to the frame that support the frame and rotate to allow movement of the frame, a tow bar, a linkage in communication with the tow bar and that actuates when the tow bar is raised, and a wheel engagement chocking system fixed to the dolly frame and disposed to selectively engage at least one of the wheels attached to the dolly frame. The wheel engagement system is responsive to a position of the linkage, where the wheel engagement chocking system applies pressure directly to at least one of the wheels to hold the wheel(s) in place when the linkage is actuated by the tow bar.

Abstract: Methods and enhanced apparatus used in such methods are described that a dispatched logistics operation for a deliverable item from a hold-at-location (HAL) logistics facility having a secured storage and using a modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly and a dispatch server. The bot apparatus assembly picks up and delivers the item from the HAL facility in response to a delivery dispatch command from the dispatch server. In response, the MAM of the bot verifies compatibility of modular components for the operation, controls receiving of the deliverable item from the secured storage at the HAL facility, then autonomously causes movement to the delivery destination. The MAM notifies the customer before delivery of the approaching delivery, authenticates delivery is to the authorized customer, provides access to the item within the bot apparatus assembly, monitors unloading of the item, then autonomously moves back to the HAL facility.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for resolving a risk associated with a shipped physical object. The methods and servers comprise associating a time with a geographical region. The methods and servers also comprise receiving a set of locations associated with transport of a physical object. In addition, the methods and servers comprise determining that the set of locations fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region. The sensor devices report location data to a server at a first time interval, wherein the location data fails to satisfy a condition associated with a time and a geographical region. The sensor devices also receive an indication of a panic mode. In addition, the sensor devices also report location data to the server at a second time interval, wherein the second time interval is different than the first time interval.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for multi-entity management of an ID node in a wireless node network. The ID node associates with a first entity user access device, which operates as a master node and communicates directly with a server over a first communication path. The first device separately communicates with the ID node over a second communication path, but the ID node is unable to directly communicate with the server. The ID node provides the first device with access to data collected by the ID node if an initial privilege authorizes it. After associating with a shipping entity master node, the ID node provides the shipping entity master node with the data collected based on a transferred privilege from the server. And then after associating with a second entity user access device, the ID node provides access to this second device if authorized by a destination privilege from the server.

Abstract: Motion-based management of a logistics container uses elements of a wireless node network including a container node associated with the logistics container and equipped with a motion sensor. The motion sensor detects a motion status (e.g., moving, stationary, accelerating, decelerating) for the logistics container. The container node compares the motion status to a prior motion status, and then identifies a changed motion condition for the logistics container based upon the comparison. In response to the changed motion condition, the container node alters a broadcast profile used by the container node in communicating with other nodes in the wireless node network. The container node may be deployed as an apparatus within a logistics container, be considered together with the logistics container as a motion sensing container node apparatus, and be considered with multiple package ID nodes as a motion-based management system for the logistics container.

Abstract: A detachable modular mobile autonomy module (MAM) for a modular autonomous bot apparatus includes a housing with latching points, an autonomous controller, location circuitry, external sensors monitoring an environment external to the MAM and providing sensor data to the controller, multi-element light panels on the housing driven by the controller; and a modular component power and data bus. The bus has a bottom side modular component electronics interface disposed on the housing that mates to a corresponding interface on another proximately-attached modular component of the bot.

Abstract: Motion-based management of a logistics container uses elements of a wireless node network including a container node associated with the logistics container and equipped with a motion sensor. The motion sensor detects a motion status (e.g., moving, stationary, accelerating, decelerating) for the logistics container. The container node compares the motion status to a prior motion status, and then identifies a changed motion condition for the logistics container based upon the comparison. In response to the changed motion condition, the container node alters a broadcast profile used by the container node in communicating with other nodes in the wireless node network. The container node may be deployed as an apparatus within a logistics container, be considered together with the logistics container as a motion sensing container node apparatus, and be considered with multiple package ID nodes as a motion-based management system for the logistics container.

Abstract: A system for detecting and verifying an environmental anomaly within a shipping container (transported on a transit vehicle having an external transceiver) has wireless sensor-based ID nodes at different locations within the container and multiple command nodes mounted to the container. A first command node is programmatically configured to be operative to detect the sensor data broadcasted from the ID nodes; responsively identify the anomaly based upon the sensor data detected by that command node; and transmit a validation request to another command node. The other command node is configured to be operative to also detect the sensor data broadcasted from the ID nodes; receive the validation request from the first command node; verify the anomaly in response to the validation request and based upon the sensor data detected by the second command node; and broadcast a verification message based upon whether the anomaly for the shipping container is verified.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for resolving a risk associated with a shipped physical object. The methods and servers comprise associating a time with a geographical region. The methods and servers also comprise receiving a set of locations associated with transport of a physical object. In addition, the methods and servers comprise determining that the set of locations fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region. The sensor devices report location data to a server at a first time interval, wherein the location data fails to satisfy a condition associated with a time and a geographical region. The sensor devices also receive an indication of a panic mode. In addition, the sensor devices also report location data to the server at a second time interval, wherein the second time interval is different than the first time interval.

Abstract: An improved cargo dolly for transporting cargo is described having a mobile dolly frame, a main shaft on the frame, a lever proximate to a first part of the frame (where the lever is movable relative to the frame and in responsive communication with the main shaft), a first set of transfer sprockets mounted to the main shaft, a secondary shaft rotatably disposed at a second part of the frame (where the first part is remote from the second part), a second set of transfer sprockets mounted to the secondary shaft, a chain disposed about the first set of transfer sprockets and the second set of transfer sprockets, and a locking pin having a first end fixed to the secondary shaft and a second end configured as an angled latch. Rotation of the lever responsively causes the locking pin to remotely rotate at the second part of the frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for managing shipped physical objects. The methods and systems comprise receiving data associated with a journey of the shipped object and determining, using a processor, alert conditions based on the received data. Alert conditions are representative of risk of damage, loss, or delay associated with the shipped object. In addition, the methods and systems comprise transmitting one or more alternative options for mitigating the alert condition to a user, receiving a selection of one of the alternative options, and modifying the journey based on the received selection.

Abstract: An improved system detects an environmental anomaly in a shipping container and initiates a mediation response through a generated layered alert notification. The system includes sensor-based ID nodes associated with packages within the container, and a command node mounted to the container communicating with the ID nodes and an external transceiver on a vehicle transporting the container.

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.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for tracking an item. The method may include periodically detecting sensor information of an item by a sensor device. The method may also include periodically transmitting the sensor information by the sensor device. The method may also include receiving the sensor information at a tracking center, storing the sensor information in a database, and reviewing the stored sensor information. The method may further include using the stored sensor information to update shipment information for a package.