Controller device based varying virtual fencing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12256284-B2
Application number	US-202117453929-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2021
Priority date	Nov 8, 2021
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

A method for managing a virtual fence for a secondary device with respect to a controller device includes activating the controller device associated with a first object and a secondary device associated with a second object. The method includes establishing the virtual fence for the controller device and the secondary device, where the first virtual fence surrounds the secondary device and the controller device is positioned within the first virtual fence. The method includes receiving, from the controller device, a ping with location information for the controller device and the secondary device. The method includes, responsive to determining an adjustment to the first virtual fence is required, adjusting the first virtual fence based on a movement of the secondary device from a first location to a second location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
activating a controller device associated with a first object and a secondary device associated with a second object;
establishing a first virtual fence for the controller device and the secondary device, wherein the first virtual fence surrounds the secondary device and the controller device is positioned within the first virtual fence;
receiving, from the controller device, a ping with location information for the controller device and the secondary device; and
responsive to determining an adjustment to the first virtual fence is required, adjusting the first virtual fence based on a movement of the secondary device from a first location to a second location.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: establishing a second virtual fence for the controller device and another secondary device, wherein the second virtual fence surrounds the other secondary device and the controller device is positioned within the second virtual fence; and establishing an overall virtual fence for the controller device, the secondary device, and the other secondary device, wherein the overall virtual fence surrounds the first virtual fence and the second virtual fence.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: establishing a second virtual fence for another controller device and another secondary device, wherein the second virtual fence surrounds the other secondary device, and the other controller device is positioned within the second virtual fence; and establishing an overall virtual fence for the controller device, the secondary device, the other controller device, and the other secondary device, wherein the overall virtual fence surrounds the first virtual fence and the second virtual fence.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the first virtual fence further comprises: determining a portion of the first virtual fence has crossed a static virtual fence, wherein the secondary device cannot cross the static virtual fence; and adjusting the first virtual fence to conform to the static virtual fence, wherein the controller device remains positioned within the first virtual fence.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining the first virtual fence was breached by the controller device; and sending a notification to a client device indicating the controller device is no longer in a vicinity of the secondary device; wherein the notification includes one or more user selectable options with regards to a breach by the controller device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving one or more parameters for the first virtual fence, wherein the one or more parameters are selected from a group consisting of: a shape, dimensions, a deviation timer, a deviation distance, and an activation period.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first object is a primary package of a shipment and the second object is a secondary package of the shipment, and wherein the primary package is to remain within a vicinity of the secondary package as defined by the first virtual fence for a duration of the shipment between an origin location and a destination location.

8. A computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, the stored program instructions executable by one or more computer processors, the stored program instructions comprising:
program instructions to activate a controller device associated with a first object and a secondary device associated with a second object;
program instructions to establish a first virtual fence for the controller device and the secondary device, wherein the first virtual fence surrounds the secondary device and the controller device is positioned within the first virtual fence;
program instructions to receive, from the controller device, a ping with location information for the controller device and the secondary device; and
program instructions to, responsive to determining an adjustment to the first virtual fence is required, adjust the first virtual fence based on a movement of the secondary device from a first location to a second location.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , the stored program instructions further comprising: program instructions to establish a second virtual fence for the controller device and another secondary device, wherein the second virtual fence surrounds the other secondary device and the controller device is positioned within the second virtual fence; and program instructions to establish an overall virtual fence for the controller device, the secondary device, and the other secondary device, wherein the overall virtual fence surrounds the first virtual fence and the second virtual fence.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 , the stored program instructions further comprising: program instructions to establish a second virtual fence for another controller device and another secondary device, wherein the second virtual fence surrounds the other secondary device, and the other controller device is positioned within the second virtual fence; and program instructions to establish an overall virtual fence for the controller device, the secondary device, the other controller device, and the other secondary device, wherein the overall virtual fence surrounds the first virtual fence and the second virtual fence.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein program instructions to adjust the first virtual fence further comprises: program instructions to determine a portion of the first virtual fence has crossed a static virtual fence, wherein the secondary device cannot cross the static virtual fence; and program instructions to adjust the first virtual fence to conform to the static virtual fence, wherein the controller device remains positioned within the first virtual fence.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 , the stored program instructions further comprising: program instructions to determine the first virtual fence was breached by the controller device; and program instructions to send a notification to a client device indicating the controller device is no longer in a vicinity of the secondary device; wherein the notification includes one or more user selectable options with regards to a breach by the controller device.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 , the stored program instructions further comprising: program instructions to receive one or more parameters for the first virtual fence, wherein the one or more parameters are selected from a group consisting of: a shape, dimensions, a deviation timer, a deviation distance, and an activation period.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the first object is a primary package of a shipment and the second object is a secondary package of the shipment, and wherein the primary package is to remain within a vicinity of the secondary package as defined by the first virtual fence for a duration of the shipment between an origin location and a destination location.

15. A computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors;
one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media; and
program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to activate a

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Thomason Lowell
• Wandrey Jessica
• Maresh Mark E
• Finch Richard Burton
• Smoley Bradley

Classifications

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title

• H04W4/35

  for the management of goods or merchandise · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• G06Q50/60

  Business processes related to postal services (shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00) · CPC title

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title