Methods and systems for unresponsive ID node monitoring for an environmental anomaly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10639509-B2
Application number	US-201916456800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2019
Priority date	Sep 22, 2018
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An improved method for monitoring a shipping container and responding to an environmental anomaly related to the shipping container using a wireless node network having at least a plurality of ID nodes disposed within the shipping container and a command node associated with the shipping container, each of the ID nodes being associated with a respective one of a plurality of packages maintained within the shipping container, and wherein the command node being operative to communicate with each of the ID nodes and an external transceiver associated with a transit vehicle, the method comprising:
monitoring, by the command node, the ID nodes for an unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes according to a communication profile maintained on the command node for each the ID nodes;
sensing, by the command node, an initial group of one or more of the ID nodes to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting based upon the monitoring step;
detecting, by the command node, the environmental anomaly when a size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds a threshold setting maintained by the command node;
generating, by the command node, a layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container, wherein the layered alert notification identifies a targeted mediation recipient, identifies a targeted mediation action, and establishes a mediation response priority based upon a size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes and context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes, the context data being maintained locally on the command node; and
transmitting, by the command node, the layered alert notification to the transceiver unit to initiate a mediation response related to the targeted mediation action.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node based upon a material characteristic of what is contained in at least one of the packages.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node related to a count of how many of the ID nodes are disposed within the shipping container.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring step comprises monitoring a select subset of the ID nodes for the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes in the select subset according to a communication profile maintained on the command node for each the ID nodes in the select subset;
wherein the sensing step comprises sensing the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes from the select subset of ID nodes monitored, the initial group of one or more of the ID nodes being sensed to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting;
wherein the detecting step comprises detecting the environmental anomaly when the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds the threshold setting maintained by the command node.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node based upon a material characteristic of what is contained in at least one of the packages.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the threshold setting maintained by the command node comprises a dynamic value defined by the command node related to a count of how many of the ID nodes are in the select subset of ID nodes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes identifies a programmatic setting for a broadcast timing parameter that defines when a respective ID node is programmed to transmit an advertising message in the future.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes defines an anticipated broadcast behavior for a respective ID node, wherein sensing of the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting for a respective ID node reflects an inoperative state of the respective ID node inconsistent with the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the communication profile maintained on the command node for each of the ID nodes defines an anticipated broadcast behavior for a respective ID node, wherein sensing of the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting for a respective ID node reflects that the respective ID node is not anticipated to be absent from the shipping container and an inoperative state of the respective ID node inconsistent with the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of monitoring the ID nodes for the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting from any of the ID nodes comprises monitoring for a shift in broadcast behavior of any of the ID nodes away from the anticipated broadcast behavior for the respective ID node.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating step further comprises generating the layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container based upon which of the ID nodes are (a) sensed to be the initial group of ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting and (b) indicated by the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes to be still maintained within the shipping container.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating step further comprises generating the layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container based upon how quickly the sensed initial group of the ID nodes has changed broadcast behavior when detecting the environmental anomaly.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating step further comprises generating the layered alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container based upon where the sensed initial group of the ID nodes are located within the shipping container according to the context data related to the sensed initial group of the ID nodes.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensed initial group of the ID nodes forms a first sensed pattern of unresponsive ID nodes; and further comprising the steps of:
sensing, by the command node, a subsequent group of one or more of the ID nodes to be in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting after the command node senses the initial group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting, the subsequent group of the ID nodes being larger than the initial group of the ID nodes;
detecting, by the command node, a further environmental anomaly when a pattern of the subsequent group of the ID nodes in the unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting exceeds a threshold pattern setting maintained by the command node when compared to the first sensed pattern of unresponsive ID nodes; and
wherein the step of generating the layered alert notification is based upon the size of the sensed initial group of the ID nodes, a size of the subsequent group of the ID nodes, a change in the pattern of the subsequent group of the ID nodes and the pattern of the initial group of the ID nodes, and context data related to the subsequent group of the ID nodes, the context data being maintained locally on the command node.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the targeted mediation recipient is automatically selected by the command node based

Assignees

• Fedex Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Skaaksrud Ole-Petter

Classifications

• B64D25/00

  Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G01N33/0075

  for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring · CPC title

• B65D2203/10

  Transponders · CPC title

• G06K19/0717

  the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure · CPC title

• H04Q9/00

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title