Communication elements, communication systems, time-of-use tracking elements, methods of communicating, and methods of controlling communication of information regarding assets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10999700-B2
Application number	US-201816649415-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2018
Priority date	Oct 3, 2017
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A communication element, comprising a communication element transceiver, a sensor (configured to detect jerking motion), and an electronic storage device, the communication element configured to: [A] repeat a sequence comprising a broadcast mode in which is sends broadcast signals followed by a sleep mode in which it does not send any broadcast signal, [B] discontinue the sequence and enter a communication mode (in which stored information regarding an asset, e.g., a heavy-duty attachment, is transmitted to a controller, e.g., in a heavy-duty vehicle, upon request) upon receiving (during the broadcast mode or within a set time span after detecting a jerking motion). Also, communication systems comprising one or more such communication elements and one or more controllers, and methods of broadcasting and, upon specific conditions being met, communicating. Also, an element for cumulatively tracking time that an element has been in use.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A communication element, comprising:
a communication element transceiver,
a sensor, and
an electronic storage device,
the sensor configured to detect jerking motion,
the communication element configured to:
repeat a sequence comprising [1] sending from the communication element transceiver a series of broadcast signals during a time period of a first duration, followed by [2] not sending any broadcast signal from the communication element transceiver for a time period of a second duration,
discontinue said sequence if [a] during a time period during which the communication element transceiver sends a series of broadcast signals, the communication element transceiver receives from any controller a controller signal that comprises a valid identification key, or [b] any time during said sequence the sensor detects a jerking motion,
enter a mode in which the communication element performs any authorized functions requested by a first controller, if:
during a time period during which the communication element transceiver sends a series of broadcast signals, the communication element transceiver receives from the first controller a controller signal that comprises a valid identification key,

or
during a time period of a third duration starting immediately after the sensor detects a jerking motion, the communication element transceiver receives from the first controller a controller signal that comprises a valid identification key,
said authorized functions comprising communicating to the first controller information stored in the electronic storage device regarding an asset if such information is requested by the first controller,
and exit said mode in which the communication element performs any authorized functions requested by the first controller, and resume said repeating of said sequence if a time period of a fourth duration passes during which [A] the communication element transceiver does not receive any communication from the first controller and [B] the sensor does not detect any jerking motion.

2. The communication element recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the broadcast signals comprises at least some information regarding an asset.

3. The communication element recited in claim 1 , wherein the communication element is attached to an asset.

4. The communication element recited in claim 1 , wherein said authorized functions further comprise changing to a different communication channel if such change is requested by the first controller.

5. A communication system, comprising:
a communication element as recited in claim 1 ; and
the first controller,
the first controller comprising a controller transceiver,
the controller transceiver configured to:
transmit to the communication element a controller signal that comprises a valid identification key;
transmit to the communication element requests that the communication element transmit to the first controller information stored in the electronic storage device regarding an asset, and receive from the communication element information stored in the electronic storage device regarding said asset.

6. The communication system recited in claim 5 , wherein the first controller is also configured to request that the communication element change to a different communication channel.

7. The communication system recited in claim 5 , wherein the first controller is attached to a receiving element.

8. The communication system recited in claim 7 , wherein the receiving element is a vehicle.

9. The communication system recited in claim 5 , wherein:
the first controller further comprises a display element, and
the first controller is configured to display on the display element information received from the communication element regarding said asset.

10. A communication system, comprising:
a communication element as recited in claim 1 ; and
a plurality of controllers,
each controller comprising a respective controller transceiver,
each controller transceiver configured to:
transmit to the communication element a respective controller signal that comprises a valid identification key; and
transmit to the communication element requests that the communication element transmit to the respective controller information stored in the electronic storage device regarding an asset, and receive from the communication element information stored in the electronic storage device regarding said asset.

11. A communication system, comprising:
a plurality of communication elements, each of said communication elements as recited in claim 1 ; and
the first controller,
the first controller comprising a controller transceiver,
the first controller transceiver configured to:
transmit to at least some of the communication elements a controller signal that comprises a valid identification key; and
transmit to at least some of the communication elements requests that the respective communication element transmit to the first controller information stored in the respective electronic storage device regarding an asset, and receive from the respective communication element information stored in the respective electronic storage device regarding said asset.

12. A communication system, comprising:
a plurality of communication elements, each of said communication elements as recited in claim 1 ; and
a plurality of controllers,
each controller comprising a respective controller transceiver,
each controller transceiver configured to:
transmit to at least some of the communication elements a respective controller signal that comprises a valid identification key; and
transmit to at least some of the communication elements requests that the respective communication element transmit to the respective controller information stored in the respective electronic storage device regarding an asset, and receive from the respective communication element information stored in the respective electronic storage device regarding said asset.

13. A method, comprising:
repeating a sequence comprising [1] sending from a communication element transceiver a series of broadcast signals during a time period of a first duration, followed by [2] not sending any broadcast signal from the communication element transceiver for a time period of a second duration,
discontinuing said sequence upon [a] the communication element transceiver receiving from any controller a controller signal that comprises a valid identification key during a time period during which the communication element transceiver is sending a series of broadcast signals, or [b] a sensor that is attached to an asset detecting a jerking motion during said sequence,
entering a mode in which the communication element performs at least one authorized function requested by a first controller, upon:
the communication element transceiver receiving from the first controller a controller signal that comprises a valid identification key during a time period during which the communication element transceiver is sending a series of broadcast signals,

or
the communication element transceiver receiving from the first controller a controller signal that comprises a valid identification key during a time period of a third duration starting immediately after the sensor detecting a jerking motion,
said authorized functions comprising communicating to the first controller information stored in an electronic storage device regarding an asset upon such information being requested by the first controller,

and exiting said mode in which the communication element performs any authorized functions requested by a first controller, a

Assignees

• Marquardt Gmbh

Inventors

• Berry Christopher
• Mcmahon Stephen
• Chaston Keith

Classifications

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• H04W4/70

  Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] · CPC title

• H04W12/03

  Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption · CPC title

• H04L63/0435

  wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06) · CPC title

• H04W12/04

  Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA] · CPC title