Abstract: A managing wireless device includes a local area communication device, a wide area communication device, a global position determination device, and a battery. The managing wireless device is attached to a first shipment component of a consolidated shipment. The managing wireless device is in communication with a server computing system. The managing wireless device has a unique identifier. Each of one or more additional wireless device(s) includes a local area communication device and a battery. Each of the additional wireless device(s) is attached to a respective shipment component of the consolidated shipment, other than the first shipment component. Each of the additional wireless device(s) is in bi-directional communication with the managing wireless device. Each of the additional wireless device(s) has a unique identifier. The managing wireless device and each of the additional wireless device(s) are associated with a same broadcast address.

Abstract: A sending device generates a MAC frame to be transmitted over a wireless network. The MAC frame indicates a frame transmission type. A payload portion of the MAC frame is defined in accordance with a payload specification of a distributed asset management protocol corresponding to the indicated frame transmission type. The MAC frame is transmitted over the wireless network and received by a receiving device that is defined to recognize the MAC frame as the indicated frame transmission type. The receiving device is defined to process the payload portion of the MAC frame in accordance with the payload specification of the distributed asset management protocol corresponding to the indicated frame transmission type. Network discovery includes successively transmitting the MAC frame at a defined interval during a first period of time. Then, the MAC frame transmission is ceased for a second period of time. Then, transmission of the MAC frame resumes.

Abstract: A security device includes a processor defined to control operation of the security device. The security device also includes a radio defined in electrical communication with the processor. The security device also includes a location determination device defined in electrical communication with the processor. The processor, radio, and location determination device are defined to operate collaboratively to provide a wireless tracking and communication system. The security device also includes a shackle and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is defined in electrical communication with the processor. The processor is defined to operate the locking mechanism to control locking and unlocking of the shackle based on information obtained through the wireless tracking and communication system.

Abstract: An unknown named territory encloses a known physical target location that is specified by a target longitude and a target latitude. An operation is performed to identify a number of rectangular-shaped terrestrial areas that each enclose both the target longitude and the target latitude. Each of the identified rectangular-shaped terrestrial areas respectively encloses a polygonal-shaped named territory. Each polygonal-shaped named territory is defined by a respective circumscribing set of contiguously positioned vectors. An operation is performed to evaluate the circumscribing sets of contiguously positioned vectors of the polygonal-shaped named territories to determine if a given polygonal-shaped named territory includes both the target longitude and the target latitude. When both the target longitude and the target latitude are found to reside within a given polygonal-shaped named territory, the identity of the given polygonal-shaped named territory is conveyed.

Abstract: Monitoring data is received from a remote device and represents a current status value of a monitored condition at the remote device. The monitored condition is characterized by a current state that can be any one of a number of possible states. A determination is made as to whether the current status value of the monitored condition as indicated by the received data satisfies a hysteresis criterion associated with the current state of the monitored condition. If the current status value of the monitored condition satisfies the hysteresis criterion, then a determination is made as to whether the hysteresis criterion has been continuously satisfied for a specified persistence period. If the hysteresis criterion has been continuously satisfied for the specified persistence period, then the current state of the monitored condition is changed to reflect the current status value of the monitored condition, and the changed current state is recorded.

Abstract: A sending device generates a MAC frame to be transmitted over a wireless network. The MAC frame indicates a frame transmission type. A payload portion of the MAC frame is defined in accordance with a payload specification of a distributed asset management protocol corresponding to the indicated frame transmission type. The MAC frame is transmitted over the wireless network and received by a receiving device that is defined to recognize the MAC frame as the indicated frame transmission type. The receiving device is defined to process the payload portion of the MAC frame in accordance with the payload specification of the distributed asset management protocol corresponding to the indicated frame transmission type. Network discovery includes successively transmitting the MAC frame at a defined interval during a first period of time. Then, the MAC frame transmission is ceased for a second period of time. Then, transmission of the MAC frame resumes.

Abstract: A security device is disclosed to include a processor defined to control operation of the security device. The security device also includes a radio defined in electrical communication with the processor. The security device also includes a location determination device defined in electrical communication with the processor. The processor, radio, and location determination device are defined to operate collaboratively to provide a wireless tracking and communication system. The security device also includes a shackle and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is defined in electrical communication with the processor. The processor is defined to operate the locking mechanism to control locking and unlocking of the shackle based on information obtained through the wireless tracking and communication system.

Abstract: Monitoring data is received from a remote device and represents a current status value of a monitored condition at the remote device. The monitored condition is characterized by a current state that can be any one of a number of possible states. A determination is made as to whether the current status value of the monitored condition as indicated by the received data satisfies a hysteresis criterion associated with the current state of the monitored condition. If the current status value of the monitored condition satisfies the hysteresis criterion, then a determination is made as to whether the hysteresis criterion has been continuously satisfied for a specified persistence period. If the hysteresis criterion has been continuously satisfied for the specified persistence period, then the current state of the monitored condition is changed to reflect the current status value of the monitored condition, and the changed current state is recorded.

Abstract: A first hash result is generated at a client system in accordance with hash input parameters known to the client system. A second hash result is generated at a server system in accordance with hash input parameters known to the server system. Each of the first hash result and the second hash result is truncated in a same manner. The truncated first hash result is transmitted from the client system to the server system. The truncated first hash result as transmitted to the server system is compared with the truncated second hash result generated at the server system. Equality between the truncated first hash result as transmitted to the server system and the truncated second hash result generated at the server system authenticates the client system to the server system.

Abstract: An unknown named territory encloses a known physical target location that is specified by a target longitude and a target latitude. An operation is performed to identify a number of rectangular-shaped terrestrial areas that each enclose both the target longitude and the target latitude. Each of the identified rectangular-shaped terrestrial areas respectively encloses a polygonal-shaped named territory. Each polygonal-shaped named territory is defined by a respective circumscribing set of contiguously positioned vectors. An operation is performed to evaluate the circumscribing sets of contiguously positioned vectors of the polygonal-shaped named territories to determine if a given polygonal-shaped named territory includes both the target longitude and the target latitude. When both the target longitude and the target latitude are found to reside within a given polygonal-shaped named territory, the identity of the given polygonal-shaped named territory is conveyed.

Abstract: A radio is defined in electrical communication with a processor on an integrated circuit chip. The radio is defined to operate at an international frequency, and is defined to be powered on and off in accordance with a control signal to be transmitted by the processor. A location determination device is defined to electrically communicate with the processor. The location determination device is also defined to be powered on and off in accordance with a control signal to be transmitted by the processor. A power source is defined to supply power to the processor, the radio, and the location determination device. The processor, radio, location determination device, and power source are integrated together in a portable device that can be affixed to a moveable asset. A power management program is implemented to enable long-term deployment of the portable device without replacement of the power source.