Method and apparatus for tracking assets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11937152-B2
Application number	US-202117191432-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2021
Priority date	Jul 1, 2019
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A tracking device is described. The tracking device receives, from a management server, pressure measurement thresholds. The tracking device monitors pressure measurements of the asset. Based on the pressure measurements, the tracking device enters an active mode of operation. When operating in the active mode of operation, the tracking device transmits sensor measurements of the asset to the management server. The tracking device determines new pressure measurements of the asset. Based on the new pressure measurements, the tracking device enters a passive mode of operation. When operating in the passive mode of operation, no data is transmitted or received from/to the tracking device to/from the management server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method in a tracking device mounted on an asset, the method comprising:
receiving, from a management server, one or more pressure measurement thresholds;
monitoring pressure measurements of the asset;
based on the pressure measurements, entering a non-passive mode of operation;
operating in the non-passive mode of operation, wherein operating in the non-passive mode of operation includes:
obtaining first current location data at a first time;
determining whether the first current location data is different from previously transmitted location data;
transmitting sensor measurements of the asset, including the first current location data, to the management server in response to determining that the first current location data is different from the previously transmitted location data;
storing the first current location data as latest transmitted location data;
obtaining second current location data at a second time that comes after the first time;
determining whether the second current location data is different from the latest transmitted location data; and
refraining from transmitting the second current location data to the management server in response to determining that the second current location data is not different from the latest transmitted location data;

determining new pressure measurements of the asset;
based on the new pressure measurements, entering a passive mode of operation; and
operating in the passive mode of operation, wherein no data is transmitted to or received from the management server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the entering the passive mode of operation includes disabling one or more interfaces used for communication with the management server causing the tracking device to no longer transmit to or receive data from the management server.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more interfaces includes at least one of a cellular communication interface, a short-range communication interface, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the entering the non-passive mode of operation is in response to determining that no change in the pressure measurements is detected when the pressure measurements are compared with previously recorded pressure measurements.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the entering the non-passive mode of operation is in response to determining that the pressure measurements are lower than the one or more pressure measurement thresholds.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the entering the passive mode of operation is in response to determining that a change in the new pressure measurements is detected when the new pressure measurements are compared with previously recorded pressure measurements.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the entering the passive mode of operation is in response to determining that the pressure measurements are greater than the one or more pressure measurement thresholds.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating in the passive mode of operation includes: monitoring pressure measurements of the asset.

9. A tracking device to be mounted on an asset, the tracking device comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to store instructions; and
a processor coupled with the non-transitory computer readable storage medium to process the stored instructions to:
receive, from a management server, one or more pressure measurement thresholds;
monitor pressure measurements of the asset;
based on the pressure measurements, enter a non-passive mode of operation;
operate in the non-passive mode of operation, wherein to operate in the non-passive mode of operation includes to:
obtain first current location data at a first time;
determine whether the first current location data is different from previously transmitted location data;
transmit location data of the asset, including the first current location data, to the management server in response to determining that the first current location data is different from the previously transmitted location data;
store the first current location data as latest transmitted location data;
obtain second current location data at a second time that comes after the first time;
determine whether the second current location data is different from the latest transmitted location data; and
refrain from transmitting the second current location data to the management server in response to determining that the second current location data is not different from the latest transmitted location data;

determine new pressure measurements of the asset;
based on the new pressure measurements, enter a passive mode of operation; and
operate in the passive mode of operation, wherein no data is transmitted to or received from the management server.

10. The tracking device of claim 9 , wherein to enter the passive mode of operation includes to disable one or more interfaces used for communication with the management server causing the tracking device to no longer transmit to or receive data from the management server.

11. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more interfaces includes at least one of a cellular communication interface, a short-range communication interface, or any combination thereof.

12. The tracking device of claim 9 , wherein to enter the non-passive mode of operation is in response to determining that no change in the pressure measurements is detected when the pressure measurements are compared with previously recorded pressure measurements.

13. The tracking device of claim 9 , wherein to enter the non-passive mode of operation is in response to determining that the pressure measurements are lower than the one or more pressure measurement thresholds.

14. The tracking device of claim 9 , wherein to enter the passive mode of operation is in response to determining that a change in the new pressure measurements is detected when the new pressure measurements are compared with previously recorded pressure measurements.

15. The tracking device of claim 9 , wherein to enter the passive mode of operation is in response to determining that the pressure measurements are greater than the one or more pressure measurement thresholds.

16. The tracking device of claim 9 , wherein the operating in the passive mode of operation includes to:
monitor pressure measurements of the asset.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that provide instructions, which when executed by a processor of a tracking device to be mounted on an asset, cause said processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a management server, one or more pressure measurement thresholds;
monitoring pressure measurements of the asset;
based on the pressure measurements, entering a non-passive mode of operation;
operating in the non-passive mode of operation, wherein operating in the non-passive mode of operation includes:
obtaining first current location data at a first time;
determining whether the first current location data is different from previously transmitted location data;
transmitting sensor measurements of the asset, including the first current location data, to the management server in response to determining that the first current location data is different from the previously transmitted location data;
storing the first current location data as latest transmitted location data;
obtaining second current location data at a second time that comes after the first time;
determining whether the second current location data is different from the latest t

Assignees

• Samsara Networks Inc
• Samsara Inc

Inventors

• Hajimiri Hadi
• Gupta Rishabh
• Kuo Ye-Sheng
• Lee Kenneth
• Ramos Siri Amrit
• Xiao Justin Tingao
• Chulick Pete Nicholas
• Ramaswamy Gautam Ravi

Classifications

• H04W4/33 Primary

  for indoor environments, e.g. buildings · CPC title

• G01S5/0027

  of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile · CPC title

• G06K7/10366

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• G06Q50/28

  Physics · mapped topic