Seagate Technology Incorporated

Senaya, Inc.

Chep Technology Pty Limited

Brian Lee

Jamshed Dubash

Jahangir Nakra

Mrinmoy Chakraborty

Haiwen Xi

Dadi Setiadi

Yiran Chen

Hongyue Liu

Insik Jin

Maroun Khoury

Andrew John Gjevre Carter

Antoine Khoueir

Harry Hongyue Liu

Michael Xuefei Tang

Dimitar Velikov Dimitrov

Yong Lu

Wei Tian

Hai Li

Chad Connors

Yuankai Zheng

Xiaobin Wang

Patrick Joseph Ryan

Paul E Anderson

Venugopalan Vaithyanathan

Ran Wang

Yuan Yan

Pat J Ryan

Mrinmoy Chakroborty

Chulmin Jung

Olle Gunnar Heinonen

John D Stricklin

Shuiyuan Huang

Ivan Petrov Ivanov

Rod V Bowman

Wei Tan

Gonzalo Carrillo

Ryan Daigle

Visva Visvanathan

A method of determining locations of tracking devices may include receiving a data ping from a tracking device, where the data ping may be sent in response to the tracking device detecting a predetermined sequence of movements indicating a logistic event from a plurality of predefined logistics events. The method may additionally include accessing a hierarchical logistics flow for the tracking device, where the hierarchical logistics flow may include an ordered sequential list of event sites through which the tracking device is likely to move. The method may further include assigning an event site from the ordered sequential list of event sites based on the logistic event and the hierarchical logistics flow.

Site matching for asset tracking

A wireless RF tracking system comprising a transmitter (tag) and a receiver, the transmitter having a motion sensor, an RF communication module and a processor. The system has an algorithm configured to send a data ping from the transmitter via the RF communication module to the receiver, the algorithm being a smart location algorithm including both event-based ping methodology and time-based ping methodology. The system additional utilizes a geofencing system to expand the area around the smart location.

An asset tracking system that optimizes the value per ping by tying the ping to a pattern of movements of the asset. The asset tracking device will send a ping to a remote host (i.e., receiver) when pre-determined condition(s) regarding the movement are met, conditions such as the pattern of movement, and number of movements within a time period. In such a manner, the value per ping is optimized, leading to increased battery life and decreased operational cost. To satisfy these conditions, the asset tracking device is equipped with appropriate sensors, actuators, and trigger mechanism(s). The sensors and actuators detect movements and/or confirm or recognize a sequence of movements. When the detected movements and/or sequence of movements match a predetermined, recognized pattern or condition, the trigger mechanism is activated, after which a data ping is sent.

Asset tracking system activated by predetermined pattern of asset movement

A wireless transmitter device that has a baseline 'off' status, turning its data transmission module 'on' only under certain specific circumstances, thus allowing the device to be used on aircraft without concern of the device activating and transmitting location data that might interfere with the aircraft navigation and/or communication systems. The data transmission module may be turned on manually, may be activated based on time, or may be activated based on motion. Activation of the data transmission module occurs only after it has been determined that it is safe to activate the module(s), for example, if no motion of the device has been sensed for a predetermined period of time. Only after the device has assuredly determined that the aircraft is in a mode where data transmission is allowed (e.g., not in flight) is the data transmission module activated.

Aircraft container tracking device

An asset tracking system that optimizes the value per ping by tying the ping to a pattern of movements of the asset. The asset tracking device will send a ping to a remote host (i.e., receiver) when predetermined qualified event is detected by the device. In such a manner, the value per ping is optimized, leading to increased battery life and decreased operational cost. To satisfy these conditions, the asset tracking device is equipped with appropriate sensors, actuators, and trigger mechanism(s). A four-phase methodology or algorithm used to detect and determine when detected motions and movements warrant triggering the data ping.

Pattern recognition based motion detection for asset tracking system

A wireless transmitter device that has a baseline 'off' status, turning its data transmission module 'on' only under certain specific circumstances, thus allowing the device to be used on aircraft without concern of the device activating and transmitting location data that might interfere with the aircraft navigation and/or communication systems. The data transmission module may be turned on manually (i.e., manual activation), may be activated based on time (i.e., time-based activation), or may be activated based on motion (i.e., motion-based activation). Activation of the data transmission module occurs only after it has been determined that it is safe to activate the module(s), for example, if no motion of the device has been sensed for a predetermined period of time. Only after the device has assuredly determined that the aircraft is in a mode where data transmission is allowed (e.g., not in flight) is the data transmission module activated.

An asset tracking system that utilizes a wireless network system and has primary (main) and secondary (sub) tracking devices or 'tags' that are assigned to assets. The main tracking device acts as a coordinator and the sub tracking devices surrounding the coordinator act as end-devices. Each main device acts as a gateway network to long range communication while each sub device can only communicate in proximity profile (short range or nearby communication). Each sub device can communicate only with a main device. The main device passes data from the sub device to a remote host transparently. Each sub device sends its data when it triggered by a 'ping' from the main device.

Wireless asset tracking systems with heterogeneous communication

An asset tracking system that utilizes a wireless network system and which includes primary (active) and secondary (passive) tracking devices. The primary tracking device acts as a coordinator and the secondary devices surrounding the coordinator act as end-devices. Each secondary device can communicate only with the primary device. The primary device passes messages (data) from the secondary devices to the remote host transparently. Each secondary device only sends its data when it triggered by a 'ping' from the primary device. When a ping event occurs, the primary device broadcasts a main data packet, in some embodiments followed by two additional data packets. Within this time span of the primary data packet, the secondary devices send their data packets to the primary device, in some embodiments, as two small data packets.

Asset tracking system having primary and secondary tracking devices

A tracking system that includes equipment and methodology to determine when the tracked container is in close proximity to an aircraft. In general, the tracking device is deactivated while the aircraft container is close to or on board of the aircraft, and the tracking device is activated while the aircraft container is outside the aircraft. The tracking system includes multiple machine vision sensors associated with the tracking device positioned on the container to identify the curvature associated with the container's surroundings. Activation and deactivation of the tracking device is associated with the information transmitted and received by the tracking device, based on various features of the geographic position of the container.

Method and apparatus for activation and deactivation of aircraft container tracking device

An RF asset tracking device for cargo containers that has an extended operational life, due to a power management system and multiple power sources. The device has a solar cell and high capacity supercapacitor as a principal power source and a rechargeable battery as an auxiliary power source. Control circuitries manage and regulate the usage of the primary and secondary sources. Together, these power sources provide sufficient power for the tracking device to operate for an extended period of time, thus increasing the period between needed maintenance and decreasing downtime and thus cost.

Power management system for aircraft container tracking device

An RF asset-tracking device that has an extended operational life, thus increasing the duration between battery replacement or maintenance. The asset-tracking device is provided with an electro-mechanical energy-harvesting device to supplement the battery. The energy-harvesting device provides additional power to augment the battery on a temporary basis, when the battery level is low, until the battery can be replaced. In one particular embodiment, the tracking device has a power management system, a battery power source and a battery monitor, and an electro-mechanical energy-harvesting device and a high capacity supercapacitor operably connected to the power management system.

System to extend battery power in remote tracking devices

A protocol and methodology that extends the battery power in a remote asset tracking device by storing location data more than once (i.e., 'n' times), yet transmitting that data only once to a server. In other words, multiple data points are transmitted simultaneously. Devices and systems incorporating the protocol are also provided.

Methodology to extend battery power in asset-tracking device

Asset tracking system that utilizes a time-based ping in which the ping rate and the ping period are based on a predetermined event. Over the period of use of the system and device, the ping rate and ping period are adjusted based on the expected occurrence of an event. The system has lower operational cost, particularly battery maintenance cost, than conventional active ping systems that have a set ping rate or a random ping rate.

Asset tracking system with adjusted ping rate and ping period

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Boston, MA, United States of America

Brian Lee