Activation mechanism for tracking tags

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a system including a linear material 560 and tracking tags 500, 580, 582, 584. The tracking tags may be at least initially disposed on the liner material. The first tracking tag 500 may also include a beacon transmission circuit 520 including one or more batteries 530, an upper layer 510, a lower layer 550 including an adhesive, and an activation mechanism. The activation mechanism may be configured to activate the first tracking tag and cause the beacon transmission circuit to transmit a beacon signal to enable tracking of the object. The activation mechanism may further include an initial closed circuit 570 extending beyond the periphery of the upper layer, and the activation mechanism may be configured to automatically activate the tracking tag when it is separated from an adjacent tracking tag 582 on the liner material.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing dates of U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 235,123, filed August 17, 2023, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 446,375, filed February 17, 2023, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 400,891, filed August 25, 2022, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] background The Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnection of physical objects, such as products, luggage, vehicles, and buildings, that are embedded with electronic components for network connectivity. The embedded components enable the objects to detect, be detected by, collect data, and / or transmit data to other objects. In some examples, the embedded components may include tags or labels attached to the physical objects. These tags or labels may be passive or active. The interconnection capabilities may be leveraged to track the location of the physical objects. In many situations, objects may be moved at different times, such as luggage or equipment being moved from a truck to a loading dock, a warehouse, or medical equipment being moved between different rooms (or floors) in a hospital. These types of situations can make it very difficult to characterize the object's location with adequate accuracy, including updating the location as the object's position changes. Additionally, systems using GPS or WiFi may experience signal loss or transmitters going offline, which may reduce the ability to properly identify the object's location. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] A brief overview An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system that includes a liner material and a first tracking tag that is at least initially disposed on the liner material. The tracking tag includes a beacon transmission circuit including one or more batteries, an upper layer, a lower layer including an adhesive, and an activation mechanism configured to activate the tracking tag and cause the beacon transmission circuit to transmit a beacon signal to enable tracking of an object. The activation mechanism includes an initial closed circuit that extends beyond the periphery of the upper layer, and the activation mechanism is configured to automatically activate the tracking tag when the tracking tag is separated from a second tracking tag also disposed on the liner material.

[0004]

[0004] In one example, the initial closed circuit includes a conductive material including copper foil tape. Additionally, the copper foil tape is at least 3 millimeters wide. Additionally or alternatively, the copper foil tape is perforated. Additionally or alternatively, the initial closed circuit connects one or more batteries to a processor configured to activate a beacon transmission circuit when the initial closed circuit is broken. Additionally or alternatively, the initial closed circuit is configured such that breaking the initial closed circuit activates the tracking tag and causes the beacon transmission circuit to transmit a beacon signal. Additionally or alternatively, the second tracking tag has the initial closed circuit at least partially disposed between the second underlayer and the liner material. Additionally, the initial closed circuit is configured such that removing the first tracking tag from the liner material breaks the initial closed circuit, with a portion of the initial closed circuit remaining attached to the second tracking tag. Additionally or alternatively, the first tracking tag further includes a deactivation circuit configured to deactivate the beacon transmission circuit when the deactivation circuit is disconnected. Additionally, the first tracking tag further includes a guideline on the upper layer for aligning the first tracking tag with an opening in the package, the guideline being positioned such that cutting along the guideline cuts the deactivation circuit. Additionally or alternatively, the system also includes a second tracking tag, the first tracking tag being configured to be separated from the second tracking tag by cutting, tearing, or ripping a liner material between the first and second tracking tags. Additionally or alternatively, the system also includes a second tracking tag, the first tracking tag being configured to be separated from the second tracking tag by peeling the first tracking tag from the liner material.

[0005] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for activating a first tracking tag disposed on a liner material. The method includes removing the first tracking tag from a second tracking tag on the liner material. Separating the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag breaks an initial closed circuit of the first tracking tag, thereby activating a beacon transmission circuit of the first tracking tag to generate a beacon signal, and a portion of the initial closed circuit remains attached to the second tracking tag.

[0006] In one example, the method also includes attaching a first tracking tag to the object via an adhesive on the first tracking tag, where attaching the first tracking tag to the object enables tracking of the object via a beacon signal. Additionally or alternatively, a portion of the initial closed circuit extends beyond the outer periphery of the top layer of the first tracking tag, such that separating the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag results in a portion of the initial closed circuit remaining attached to the liner material. Additionally or alternatively, the portion remains attached to the liner material between the second tracking tag and the liner material. Additionally or alternatively, the initial closed circuit includes a conductive material including copper foil tape that breaks upon removal of the first tracking tag from the liner material. Additionally or alternatively, the initial closed circuit connects one or more batteries of the first tracking tag to a processor of the first tracking tag, whereby separating the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag enables the one or more batteries to power the processor. Additionally or alternatively, the first tracking tag further includes a deactivation circuit, and the method further includes deactivating the beacon transmission circuit by cutting or otherwise disrupting the deactivation circuit. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes affixing the first tracking tag to the luggage using guidelines on an upper layer of the first tracking tag to align the first tracking tag with an opening in the luggage. Additionally or alternatively, deactivating the beacon transmission circuit includes cutting open the luggage. Additionally or alternatively, cutting or otherwise disrupting the deactivation circuit causes a signal to be sent to a processor of the first tracking tag, which in turn causes the processor to send a signal to the beacon transmission circuit, thereby causing the first tracking tag to stop transmitting a beacon signal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [Figure 1A]

[0007] Various examples of object localization in accordance with aspects of the present technology are provided. [Figure 1B]

[0008] FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of an exemplary tracking system according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 2]

[0009] FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram of an exemplary network according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 3]

[0010] FIG. 3 is a functional diagram of the example network of FIG. 2 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 4A]

[0011] 1 illustrates an exemplary scenario according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 4B]

[0011] An exemplary scenario according to an aspect of the present disclosure is illustrated. [Figure 5A]

[0012] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 5C] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 5D] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 6A]

[0013] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 6B] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 7A]

[0014] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 7B] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 8A]

[0015] 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag placed on a package, according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 8B]

[0015] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a tracking tag placed on a package in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 9]

[0016] FIG. 1 is an exemplary flow diagram according to aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Detailed Description overview

[0017] The present technology relates to the precise location and tracking of goods or other objects transported, for example, by logistics companies. To track such goods or other objects, tracking tags can be used. Such tracking tags can be active and include a battery or are configured to be coupled to another power source. In the case of a battery, delaying battery activation until the end user is ready to use the tracking tag is important to extend the tracking tag's useful life.

[0009]

[0018] To enable the use of the aforementioned tracking tags with as many different types of shipped goods and other objects as possible, the tracking tags may be designed to be both thin and flexible. In this regard, the tracking tags may be configured as adhesive shipping labels. In such an example, the tracking tags may be manufactured on a roll of liner material that allows for printing of the tracking tag. In use, each tracking tag may be removed (e.g., peeled) from the roll of liner material and applied by a human operator to the item or another object being shipped.

[0010]

[0019] Each tracking tag may include various components, such as a top layer for printing a label, a frame, a beacon transmission circuit, and a bottom layer containing an adhesive (for attaching the tracking tag to a shipped item or another object). The beacon transmission circuit may include a printed circuit board (PCB) and one or more batteries. The PCB may include various features, such as an identification chip and / or a transmitter, for the purpose of transmitting the beacon signal.

[0011]

[0020] The tracking tag may also include an activation mechanism configured to activate the tracking tag and initiate transmission of a beacon signal by the beacon transmission circuit. The initial closed circuit may be connected to a battery and a processor to enable the processor to monitor the continuity of the closed circuit.

[0012]

[0021] The initial closed circuit may be formed from a conductive material such as a foil tape, such as copper foil tape, or by using embedded trace and inlay techniques such as etched aluminum on polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The conductive material may extend beyond the outer periphery of the tracking tag label and may be at least partially disposed under adjacent tracking tags on the roll prior to activation.

[0013]

[0022] When a tracking tag is removed (e.g., peeled off) from the liner paper of a roll, the continuity of the initial closed circuit is broken, activating the tracking tag and enabling the transmission of a beacon signal that allows a tracking system to track the location of the tracking tag. This removal separates the tracking tag from both the liner material (e.g., the roll of liner material) and the adjacent tracking tag. In this regard, when the tracking tag is removed, the portion of the initial closed circuit that is no longer closed may remain attached to the adjacent tracking tag.

[0014]

[0023] In some examples, the tracking tag may include a deactivation circuit. For example, the deactivation circuit may connect a battery. In this example, if the deactivation circuit is broken, the tracking tag may be deactivated or may no longer be able to transmit the aforementioned beacon signal. In other examples, the deactivation circuit, when broken, may send a signal to the processor indicating that the tracking process has ended. This may then cause the processor to send a signal that causes the tracking tag to stop transmitting beacon signals.

[0015]

[0024] The features described herein may provide simple, cost-effective, and useful tracking tags that can be automatically activated without additional steps. For example, logistics companies do not need to change their existing shipping processes by adding an additional step to activate tracking tags. Rather, labels can be printed and affixed to boxes or envelopes as usual, and each tracking tag is automatically activated. Thus, the benefits of beacon tracking are added without additional labor costs. Additionally, in many cases, beacon tracking may prevent a human operator from inadvertently forgetting to activate a tracking tag.

[0016] Exemplary System

[0025] FIG. 1A shows examples of various objects in various environments. As shown in the image on the left side of the drawing, there may be packages or equipment on a pallet in a warehouse. The pallet may have been unloaded from a cargo truck, as shown by the "in transit" image in the center of the drawing. The pallet may be moved to one or more different locations within the warehouse, such as by a forklift, as shown in the image on the left. The image on the right side of the drawing shows a situation where boxed medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs) and supplies are stored in a supply room within a hospital.

[0017]

[0026] In all of these situations, whether in a warehouse, on a cargo truck, or in a hospital, an object of interest may be moved many times. It may be to a different aisle or room in a warehouse, a different room (or even a different floor) in a hospital, or a different part of a cargo container on a truck. In the latter case, the cargo may have shifted during transport or its location may have changed because different packages were delivered to different locations. Knowing the current location of an object of interest, as opposed to an estimated location based on its initial placement, is valuable information for an operations manager, warehouse manager, nurse, or organizer. Ideally, these people would be able to obtain the current location of a given object on their client computing device, such as a laptop, cell phone, or smartwatch.

[0018]

[0027] FIG. 1B is a functional diagram of tracking system 100. Tracking system 100 may include multiple tracking devices, such as tracking tags 102 and 104, and a reader 106. As discussed further below, one or more server computing devices 108 may also be part of tracking system 100. A given tracking tag may be placed on, or otherwise attached to, or inserted into, a tracked object, such as a package, equipment, vehicle, warehouse section, room, etc. Tracking tag 102 may be associated with an object, such as a package, equipment, or vehicle (e.g., a forklift or autonomous fulfillment robot that can retrieve packages from different locations in a warehouse), while tracking tag 104 may be fixed to an aisle in a warehouse or fixed from a specific room in a hospital. In this manner, different tracking tags may be used depending on the needs of the customer. As an example, different customers may have varying accuracy and "liveness" needs. For example, one customer may only want to know aisle-level accuracy daily (e.g., before the warehouse closes for the evening), while another customer, such as a hospital nurse, may need to know which room a patient's equipment is in every hour so that they can access it if they need it. Each tracking tag 102 or 104 can emit an information signal, e.g., a beacon signal, via an antenna, such as using a transmission device, to communicate data. In this regard, each tracking tag may include an identifier chip (e.g., for radio frequency (RF) identification) and / or a transmission device (e.g., an RF module configured to transmit a beacon signal using a selected frequency band and transmission protocol). In this regard, the beacon signal, in the case of tracking tags discussed further below, may simply transmit identifying information to enable tracking of the object. To facilitate this, each tracking tag may be embedded with a unique identifier, such as a unique MAC address or Bluetooth identifier, which can serve as a tracking tag identifier. This tracking tag identifier may be assigned to the tracking tag during a manufacturing or provisioning process (described further below).

[0019]

[0028] The transmitting device may transmit such information via radio frequency transmission in a selected frequency band using a standard or proprietary protocol. As an example, the transmitting device may employ BLUETOOTH (e.g., BLUETOOTH Low Energy (BLE)) or 802.11 protocols in the 2.4 GHz and / or 5 GHz frequency bands. In some examples, each beacon tracking tag and each tracking tag uses the BLUETOOTH or BLE protocol.

[0020]

[0029] In some examples, a tracking tag may include one or more sensors. In such examples, the communicated data may be formatted according to a selected protocol and may include one or more sensed characteristics of a given tracking tag or its environment. For example, the sensed characteristics may be temperature, location, motion, battery status, trip status, and / or other detectable characteristics of the tracking device or its environment.

[0021]

[0030] The reader 106 may be a computing device configured to detect beacon signals emitted by multiple tracking tags 102 and 104 and store and / or transmit data related to the tracking tags. Although only one reader is shown in FIG. 1B , a system may employ multiple readers. The reader 106 may include one or more processors 110, memory 112, and other components typically found in a general-purpose computing device. The reader 106 includes a receiver module 118 having an antenna and a processing unit (not shown), which may include bandpass filters for frequency bands of interest, an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter, and a signal processing module for evaluating information in the received beacon signals. The processing unit may also convert the received beacon signals to baseband signals before or after A / D conversion.

[0022]

[0031] The one or more processors 110 may be any conventional processor, such as a commercially available CPU or microcontroller. Alternatively, the one or more processors may be dedicated devices, such as an ASIC or other hardware-based processor, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Although FIG. 1B functionally depicts one or more processors, memory, and other elements of reader 106 as being within the same block, a processor, computing device, or memory may actually include multiple processors, computing devices, or memories that may or may not be housed within the same physical housing. For example, a memory may be a hard drive, removable USB drive, or other storage medium located in a housing different from that of reader 106. Thus, reference to a processor or computing device is understood to include reference to a collection of processors, computing devices, or memories that may or may not operate in parallel.

[0023]

[0032] Memory 112 stores information accessible by one or more processors 110, including instructions 114 and data 116 that may be executed or otherwise used by one or more processors 110. Data may include sensed characteristics from any of tracking tags 102 and / or 104 received by reader 106. Memory 112 may be of any type capable of storing information accessible by one or more processors, including computing device-readable media or other media that store data readable using electronic devices, such as hard drives, memory cards, ROM, RAM, DVDs or other optical disks, and other writable and read-only memories. Systems and methods may include different combinations of the above, whereby different portions of the instructions and data are stored on different types of media.

[0024]

[0033] Data 116 may be obtained, stored, or modified by one or more processors 110 according to instructions 114. For example, data may be stored in a register of a computing device, in an XML document, or in a flat file, in a relational database as a table with multiple different fields and records, although claimed subject matter is not limited by any particular data structure. Data may also be formatted in any computing device-readable format.

[0025]

[0034] The instructions 114 may be any set of instructions that are executed by a processor directly (e.g., machine code) or indirectly (e.g., script). For example, the instructions may be stored as computing device code on a computing device-readable medium. In that regard, the terms "instructions" and "program" may be used interchangeably herein. The instructions may be stored in object code format for direct processing by a processor, or may be stored in any other computing device language, including script or a collection of independent source code modules that are interpreted on demand or pre-compiled. The functions, methods, and routines of the instructions are described in more detail below.

[0026]

[0035] In some implementations, the tracking system 100 may further include a central server, such as one or more server computing devices 108, accessible by the one or more processors 110 of the readers 106. In some implementations, one or more tracking devices in the tracking system 100, such as the tracking tags 104, may be configured to obtain and communicate data directly with the one or more server computing devices 108. The one or more server computing devices 108 may include one or more processors 120, memory 122, and other components typically found in a general-purpose computing device. The one or more processors 120 may be of the same or similar type as the one or more processors 110, and the memory 122 may be of the same or similar type as the memory 112. The memory 122 stores information accessible by the one or more processors 120, including instructions 124 and data 126 that may be executed or otherwise used by the one or more processors 120. Data 126 and instructions 124 may be of the same or similar type as data 116 and instructions 114, respectively.

[0027]

[0036] After detecting the beacon signals of one or more tracking tags 102 or 104, the reader 106 can transmit data from the tracking tags to one or more server computing devices 108 via an existing connection or network. Thus, in this case, the reader 106 may include a transmitter module (not shown) configured for wired or wireless transmission to the server computing device. Data may be received continuously, at one or more set intervals, or ad hoc whenever a tracking tag transmits within a series of payloads (e.g., data packets). Thus, if multiple tracking tags are present, the data is received effectively as multiple separate data streams. A given payload (which may include one or more data packets) may include measurements taken at one or more time intervals, and each measurement may have a corresponding timestamp. In one scenario, the reader 106 may include a transceiver including both a receiver and a transmitter configured to receive beacon signals from the tracking tags 102 and 104 and to also send and receive information with the server computing device 108.

[0028]

[0037] One or more server computing devices 108 may be configured to track characteristics of the tracking device for one or more alerts based on multiple conditions. The multiple conditions may include at least one condition for each characteristic, such as a minimum value, a maximum value, a threshold value, a duration, or a geofence. The conditions may be predetermined or set based on user input. For example, a first alert may be set if (1) the temperature is higher than, for example, 0°C to 11°C for 30 minutes and (2) the tracking device is in motion, which may indicate an overheated refrigerated package or storage room. A second alert may be set if (1) no motion is detected for 11 minutes, (2) two of three locations are within a geofence, and (3) the tracking device is in motion, which may indicate a package is being delivered. A third alert may be set if (1) a threshold amount of light is detected from inside the package and (2) the tracking device is in motion, which may indicate unexpected opening or tampering with the package. A fourth alert can be set when (1) a threshold amount of light is detected from inside the package and (2) two of the three locations are within the destination geofence, which may indicate the package has been opened after delivery or receipt. Many other alert conditions and tracking scenarios are possible, and the above examples are not intended to be limiting.

[0029]

[0038] Tracking system 100 may optionally include applications that may be installed on one or more client computing devices that can access data from readers 106 and / or server computing device 108 over a network.

[0030]

[0039] 2 and 3 are pictorial and functional diagrams, respectively, of an exemplary system 200 including multiple client computing devices 220, 230, 240 and a storage system 250 connected via a network 260. System 200 also includes tracking system 100, which includes tracking tags 102, 104, a reader 106, and a server computing device 118. For simplicity, only a few tags and computing devices are shown, although a typical system may include many more.

[0031]

[0040] Using the client computing devices, users such as users 222, 232, 242 can view location data on displays such as displays 224, 234, 244 of their respective client computing devices 220, 230, 240. As shown in Figure 3, each client computing device 220, 230, 240 may be a personal computing device intended for use by an individual user and may have all of the components typically used in association with a personal computing device, including one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU)), memory (e.g., RAM and an internal hard drive) for storing data and instructions, a display such as display 224, 234, 244 (e.g., a monitor having a screen, a touchscreen, a head-mounted display, a smartwatch display, a projector, a television, or other device operable to display information), and user input devices 226, 236, 246 (e.g., one or more of a mouse, a keyboard, a touchscreen, and / or a microphone). The client computing devices may also include speakers, a network interface device, and all components used to connect these elements to each other.

[0032]

[0041] Client computing devices 220, 230, and 240 may each include a full-sized personal computing device, or alternatively, a mobile computing device capable of wirelessly exchanging data with a server over a network such as the Internet. By way of example only, client computing device 220 may be a mobile phone or wireless-enabled PDA, a tablet PC, a wearable computing device or system (e.g., a smart watch or head-mounted display, or a netbook) capable of obtaining information over the Internet or other network, or other devices. By way of example, a user may input information using a miniature keyboard, keypad, microphone, visual signals (gestures) via a camera or other sensor, or a touchscreen.

[0033]

[0042] Similar to memory 112, storage system 250 may be any type of computerized storage capable of storing information accessible by one or more server computing devices 108, such as a hard drive, memory card, ROM, RAM, DVD, CD-ROM, writable and read-only memory, etc. Additionally, storage system 250 may include a distributed storage system in which data is stored on multiple different storage devices that may be physically located in the same or different geographic locations. As shown in FIG. 2, storage system 250 may be connected to a computing device via network 260 and / or directly connected to or incorporated into any of client computing devices 220, 230, 240. Storage system 250 may store information about the tracking tags, including, for example, location, status (e.g., activated, time of activation), identifier, last update, sensor data (e.g., temperature readings), information about the object to which the tracking tag is attached (e.g., manufacturing data), etc. In this regard, information may be determined from received beacon signals provided by one or more of server computing device 108 and / or any of client computing devices 220, 230, 240 to storage system 250 and updated therein.

[0034]

[0043] FIG. 4A shows an example system 400 having several tracking tags located in various locations in a building (e.g., a hospital). In this example, several rooms 402A-402D, such as patient rooms, may be located along one side of a hallway 404. On the other side of the hallway 404 is a storage room 406, such as for storing equipment or supplies, and another room 408, which may be a conference room, common area, rehabilitation facility, etc. One or more fixed tracking tags 410 corresponding to tracking tags 102 or 104 may be located in each room, including the hallway. Each fixed tracking tag 410 is configured to emit a beacon signal 412 (e.g., an RF signal in a selected frequency band according to a particular communication protocol). While the beacon signal 412 may appear directional, it need not be; the beacon signal may be transmitted omnidirectionally from tracking tags 410 located on, for example, a ceiling, a pillar, or a floor. In some implementations, the tracking tags 410 may be configured to emit a beacon signal that includes information related to its environment (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.).

[0035]

[0044] Tracking tag 414 may correspond to tracking tag 102 or 104 when placed on various objects (e.g., the equipment case shown in storage room 406 or the wheelchair shown in room 402A). In some examples, tracking tags may also be configured to emit beacon signals with information related to the object to which the tracking tag is applied (e.g., temperature, motion information, object details, and / or other detectable characteristics of the tracking device or its environment). Reader 416 may be found in various locations within the building, such as a patient's room, a storage room, a hallway, or other locations. Note that even when transmitted omnidirectionally, the beacon signal from a given tracking tag may be attenuated in a non-uniform manner by the presence of walls, furniture, floors / ceilings, equipment, etc.

[0036]

[0045] FIG. 4B shows another example system 420 with several fixed tracking tags positioned along different aisles in a warehouse setting. In this example, there are several aisles 422A-422D, but there may be more (or fewer) aisles, and the aisles may be arranged in configurations other than those shown. Here, fixed tracking tags 424 are located at various locations in the aisles, such as along the end caps of the aisles, along the ceiling (or floor), on shelves, storage lockers, cabinets, or other locations along the aisles. Similar to FIG. 4A, fixed tracking tags 426 are positioned on or otherwise associated with various objects, such as pallets of equipment or forklifts that remove items from their locations in the warehouse. As above, the fixed tracking tags are configured to transmit beacon signals detectable by one or more readers 428.

[0037]

[0046] To determine the location of a given tracking tag, the system can use signal strength information obtained from the beacon signals of one or more tracking tags. A series of beacon signals can be ramped at various power levels (a ramp sequence). Evaluating received beacon signals in terms of their transmission power can enable the system to identify which room or other location a given tracking tag is in. From there, the system can determine the location of the given tracking tag (and its corresponding object) with reasonable accuracy, such as by triangulating the location of the given tracking tag relative to related tracking tags.

[0038]

[0047] To enable the use of the aforementioned tracking tags on as many different types of objects and locations as possible, the tracking tags may be designed to be both thin and flexible. Additionally, each tracking tag may be passive, such as one configured to be activated or powered by ambient energy, or may be active, including a battery or configured to be coupled to another power source. In the case of a battery, delaying battery activation until the end user is ready to use the tracking tag is important to extend the tracking tag's useful life.

[0039]

[0048] To enable the use of such tracking tags with as many different types of shipped goods and other objects as possible, the tracking tags may be designed to be both thin and flexible. In this regard, the tracking tags may be configured as adhesive shipping labels (e.g., 4x6 shipping labels commonly used by logistics companies to ship packages such as envelopes, boxes, bags, etc.).

[0040]

[0049] Each tracking tag may include various components, such as an upper layer for printing a label, a frame, beacon transmission circuitry, and a lower layer containing an adhesive (for attaching the tracking tag to a shipped item or another object). FIG. 5A is an exemplary top view of multiple tracking tags 500, 580, 582, 584, which may be configured the same as or similar to any of the tracking tags 102, 104, 410, 414 described above. In this example, tracking tag 500 includes an upper layer 510 (partially transparent), beacon transmission circuitry 520, one or more batteries 530, a processor 540, and a lower layer 550 below the upper layer and beacon transmission circuitry. Lower layer 550 is shown in cutaway in FIG. 5B. Tracking tags 580, 582, 584 may be configured the same as or similar to tracking tag 500.

[0041]

[0050] The upper and lower layers may provide impact protection and prevent the ingress of liquids and other contaminants, as well as provide a smooth surface for attaching labels or printing information (whether or not an additional adhesive label is used). The upper and lower layers 510 and 550 may each be thin sheets (e.g., 0.1 mm) of polyester or paper with an adhesive backing. In this regard, the upper layer 510 may be pressed onto the lower layer 550 with the beacon transmission circuit 520, one or more batteries 530, and processor 540 (and in some cases, a frame, discussed further below) sandwiched therebetween. In this regard, the beacon transmission circuit 520, one or more batteries 530, and processor 540 are disposed between the upper and lower layers. Additionally, the adhesive backing of the upper layer may secure the upper layer to the lower layer, and the adhesive backing of the lower layer may be used to attach the tracking tag to an object (e.g., luggage). Alternatively, the bottom layer may include an adhesive on both sides (e.g., top and bottom) of the bottom layer, allowing the top layer to be attached onto the bottom layer without additional adhesive. As noted above, the adhesive backing may include a commercially available adhesive or a double-sided tape such as those offered by 3M, including 3M Double Coated Tape 93015LE.

[0042]

[0051] The top layer 510 may be configured to be printed during manufacturing and / or by an end user prior to affixing the tracking tag to an object (e.g., luggage, a wall, a shelf, etc.). For example, an end user may be able to print tracking and identification information directly onto the top layer. Alternatively, the tracking and identification information may be printed on a separate label and affixed to the surface (e.g., top layer) of the tracking tag 500 when the tracking tag is ready to be used. Such labels may include proprietary labels or commercially available labels such as those offered by AVERY, including Avery Ultra Duty White Film 94211.

[0043]

[0052] The beacon transmission circuitry 520 may include a printed circuit board (PCB) and one or more batteries. The PCB may include various features, such as an identification chip and / or a transmitter, for the purpose of transmitting the beacon signal. The PCB may be a commercially available PCB that can be connected to one or more batteries. For example, the PCB may include a PCB, such as a surface mount technology (SMT) PCB, that includes a device that enables BLUETOOTH LE 4.0 technology for the purpose of enabling the beacon signal.

[0044]

[0053] The one or more batteries 530 may be relatively thin. For example, the one or more batteries 530 may include coin cells, prismatic cells, pouch cells, thin-film cells, or screen-printed cells. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A , the one or more batteries 530 are thin-film cells. In this example, the thin-film cells may be commercially available thin-film MOLEX 13299-0002 cells, CPO042350 cells offered by RENATA BATTERIES, or the like. In this regard, given the configuration of the tracking tag 500, such a configuration may allow for bending along the length of the tracking tag 500, as shown in FIG. 6A , as well as bending along the width of the tracking tag 500, as shown in FIG. 6B .

[0045]

[0054] Instead, coin batteries such as CR2016, CR1216, CR1220, CR2012, etc. may be used. Coin batteries are typically used in powered badges and key cards and offer various advantages such as improved safety (e.g., due to metal-encased batteries that reduce the risk of puncture compared to thin-film batteries), high capacity or significantly longer life for extended runtime operation, low cost, ease of storage (e.g., coin batteries are typically encased in a battery holder and therefore can be stored separately and attached near the point of use, which may also allow tracking tags to be stored in facilities that are not rated for battery storage, whereas flat-pack batteries or other custom batteries are typically bonded to devices at the time of manufacture), and shorter lead times (e.g., for manufacturing and procurement), etc.

[0046]

[0055] Additionally, while coin cells do not bend, their small form factor may allow the tracking tag to be less rigid. In other words, the tracking tag is more resistant to bending away from the coin cell, whereas thin-film batteries should be avoided to prevent damage to the thin-film battery, which may have a larger form factor. The further the raised portions are from each other and from the PCB, the greater the amount of flexibility that can be achieved. In this regard, given the configuration of the tracking tag 500, bending along the length of the tracking tag 500 shown in FIG. 6A may be less desirable (e.g., more likely to damage rigid components) than bending along the width of the tracking tag 500 shown in FIG. 6B.

[0047]

[0056] Processor 540 may be configured the same as or similar to processor 110 and may include a conventional processor such as a commercially available CPU. For example, processor 540 may also include BLUETOOTH wireless functionality such as a NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR nRF52832 or INPLAY IN100. In some examples, processor 540 may actually include multiple processors that may or may not be housed within the same physical housing.

[0048]

[0057] In some examples, the tracking tag may include a frame (not shown) to provide additional support to the tracking tag. For example, the frame may be formed from a variety of materials, such as polycarbonate or other plastics, such as cellulose fibers (paper / wood), polyethylene (PE / LDPE / HDPE), polypropylene (PP), vinyl (PVC), nylon, polyurethane (foam), rubber, silicone, resin, carbon fiber, etc. The frame may be die-cut, molded, or manufactured using other processes. The frame material may be selected so that the frame can be flexible yet strong and puncture-resistant. In this regard, the frame may allow the tracking tag 500 to be attached (via the adhesive of the bottom layer 550) to objects of various shapes, including curved surfaces, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B .

[0049]

[0058] In some examples, a liner sheet or liner material, such as liner material 560 in FIGS. 5A and 5B, may be used to protect the adhesive before the tracking tag is attached to an object. The liner material 560 may allow multiple labels to be adhered to the liner material during manufacturing, which can be rolled or folded into a single continuous strip of labels for feeding into a printer. For example, the tracking tag 500 may be attached to liner material 560, such as kraft paper or other paper, before use to protect the adhesive on the bottom underlying layer. In such examples, the tracking tag may be provided on a roll that can be run through a printer to allow information to be printed on the top layer of the tracking tag. In this regard, the tracking tags 500, 580, 582, and 584 in FIG. 5A may represent unrolled portions of a larger roll. Accordingly, multiple tracking tags may be manufactured on a roll of liner material 560, such as a wax paper liner or other suitable backing, which allows the tracking tag to be printed.

[0050]

[0059] In use, each tracking tag can be removed from the adjacent tracking tag. For example, one tracking tag can be removed (e.g., peeled) from the roll of liner material and affixed by a human operator to the item to be shipped or another object. In this regard, the tracking tag 500 can be removed from the liner material before affixing it to the object to expose the adhesive on the bottom surface of the underlying layer. As described above, the tracking tag can be printed during manufacturing and / or by a human operator before being removed from the liner material to affix the tracking tag to the item to be shipped or another object. The tracking tag 500 can then be attached to the item to be shipped or another object.

[0051]

[0060] The tracking tag may also include an activation mechanism configured to activate the tracking tag and initiate transmission of a beacon signal by the beacon transmission circuit. The initial closed circuit 570 may be connected to one or more batteries 530 (e.g., at the terminal) and the processor 540 to enable the processor to monitor the continuity of the closed circuit. The circuit 570 may also be connected to the processor's ground or alternatively to another pin to enable the same monitoring function. The initial closed circuit may be formed from a conductive material such as a foil tape, such as copper foil tape, or by using embedded trace and inlay techniques, such as etched aluminum on polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The conductive material may extend beyond the periphery of the tracking tag's top layer 510 and may be at least partially disposed under a second or adjacent tracking tag 582 on the liner material 560 prior to activation.

[0052]

[0061] The width of the conductive material may be at least approximately 3 mm wide, and may rather be wide enough to allow for continuity and reliability of the copper foil, for example, in instances where the paper liner is perforated during manufacturing to allow one or more tracking tags to be removed from the roll (e.g., torn) without being completely removed from the paper liner. In this regard, the exact dimensions of the material used may depend on other characteristics of the tracking tag (e.g., dimensions, thickness, weight, etc.) and the characteristics of the paper liner (e.g., stiffness, etc.).

[0053]

[0062] When the tracking tag 500 is removed from the roll's liner paper (e.g., by peeling it off), the continuity of the initial closed circuit is broken, activating the tracking tag and enabling the transmission of a beacon signal that enables a tracking system to track the location of the tracking tag (and the item or other object to which it is attached). As shown in Figure 5C, this removal separates the tracking tag from both the liner material (e.g., the roll of liner material) and the adjacent tracking tag. In this regard, when the tracking tag 500 is removed, a portion of the initial closed circuit that is no longer closed (shown within dashed area 572 in Figure 5A or represented by portion 590 in Figures 5B and 5C) may remain attached to the adjacent tracking tag 582.

[0054]

[0063] In another example, tracking tag 500 and other tracking tags may initially be placed on a roll of liner material. However, rather than peeling the tracking tag from the liner material to separate adjacent tracking tags, adjacent tracking tags may be separated from one another by cutting, tearing, or ripping the liner material between the two tracking tags. In this regard, tracking tag 500 may be activated simply by cutting, tearing, or ripping the liner material between tracking tag 500 and an adjacent tracking tag (e.g., tracking tag 582). This cutting, tearing, or ripping may also serve to break the initial closed circuit between the two tracking tags, as shown with respect to tracking tags 500 and 582 in FIG. 5D . This cutting, tearing, or ripping may occur immediately after printing the identifying information, for example, by pulling the liner material against a serrated metal edge to ripped tracking tag 500 from tracking tag 582. In some examples, perforations may be provided between tracking tags to facilitate tearing. In this regard, when tracking tag 500 is removed from tracking tag 582, the portion of the initial closed circuit that is no longer closed (represented by portion 590 in FIG. 5D ) may remain attached to the adjacent tracking tag 582. The portion of the liner material that remains attached to tracking tag 500 can then be removed in order to affix tracking tag 500 to an object.

[0055]

[0064] In some examples, the tracking tag may include a deactivation circuit. FIGS. 7A and 7B show the tracking tag 500 with a deactivation circuit 710. FIG. 7B shows the tracking tag 500 with tracking tags 580, 582, each with a corresponding deactivation circuit. The deactivation circuit 710 may connect one or more batteries 530 (e.g., at a terminal). The deactivation circuit 710 may also be connected to the processor's ground or alternatively to another pin to enable the same monitoring function. In this example, if the deactivation circuit is broken, the tracking tag 500 may be deactivated or may no longer be able to transmit the aforementioned beacon signal. In other examples, the deactivation circuit, when broken, may send a signal to the processor 540 indicating that the tracking process has ended. This may then cause the processor 540 to send a signal to cause the tracking tag 500 to stop transmitting beacon signals.

[0056]

[0065] In any of these examples, each tracking tag may further include one or more guidelines 720, 730 or other similar markings to enable a human operator, robot, or other mechanical device to generally align the guidelines with an opening in an item or package between or at the meeting points of two flaps of a box. Figures 8A and 8B show tracking tags 500 disposed on packages 800, 810, respectively. In the example of Figure 8A, guideline 730 is aligned with opening 802 in package 800 (e.g., between or at the meeting points of two flaps), and in the example of Figure 8B, guideline 720 is aligned with opening 812 in package 810.

[0057]

[0066] Upon reaching its destination, when packages 800, 810 are opened, such as by cutting along openings 802, 812 (e.g., through packing tape, not shown) and generally along guidelines 720, 730, the act of cutting may also sever deactivation circuit 710. Alternatively, rather than cutting deactivation circuit 710, the deactivation circuit may be otherwise broken along openings 802, 812. This cutting or other breaking may therefore effectively deactivate the tracking tag as described above.

[0058] Exemplary Methods

[0067] In addition to the operations described and illustrated above, various operations are now described. It should be understood that the following operations do not have to be performed in the exact order described below. Rather, various steps may be processed in a different order or simultaneously, and steps may be added or omitted.

[0059]

[0068] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram 900 illustrating an exemplary method for activating a tracking tag, such as tracking tag 500, disposed on a liner material, such as liner material 560. The method may be performed by a human operator, a robot, or other mechanical device. In block 910, the tracking tag is removed from the adjacent tracking tag and the liner material. Removing the tracking tag breaks the tracking tag's initial closed circuit, thereby activating the tracking tag's beacon transmission circuit to generate a beacon signal. This removal separates the tracking tag from an adjacent second tracking tag, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D. In this regard, a portion of the initial closed circuit remains attached to the second tracking tag.

[0060]

[0069] As described above, because initial closed circuit 570 extends beyond the periphery of top layer 510 of tracking tag 500, removing a tracking tag from an adjacent tracking tag results in a portion of the initial closed circuit remaining attached to the liner material (as shown within dashed area 572 in FIG. 5A or represented by portion 590 in FIG. 5B ). Accordingly, liner material 560 may include a second tracking tag, such as tracking tag 580, 582, or 584, with a portion of the initial closed circuit remaining attached to the liner material between the second tracking tag and the liner material (as shown within dashed area 572 in FIG. 5A or represented by portion 590 in FIGS. 5B and 5C ). In this regard, adhesive on the bottom layer of the second tracking tag may hold a portion of initial closed circuit 570 to liner material 560. Additionally, initial closed circuit 570 may include material that is broken when separating tracking tag 500 from adjacent tracking tag 582, which may also include removing the tracking tag from the liner material (as shown in FIG. 5C ). The material may be wide enough to both allow the material to break and for the second tracking tag to retain a portion of the initial closed circuit in the liner material 560 .

[0061]

[0070] In block 920, the tracking tag is affixed to an object via the tracking tag's adhesive. Affixing the tracking tag 500 to an object, such as luggage 800, 810, enables tracking of the object via a beacon signal. For example, an initial closed circuit 570 connects the tracking tag's battery(ies) 530 to the tracking tag's processor 540, and removing the tracking tag from the liner material 560 enables the battery(ies) to power the processor and beacon transmission circuitry 520. In response, the processor 540 can send a signal to activate the beacon transmission circuitry 520.

[0062]

[0071] In some examples, the tracking tag 500 may also include a deactivation circuit 710. Accordingly, an activated beacon transmission circuit 520 may be deactivated by disconnecting the deactivation circuit 710. For example, the tracking tag 500 may be affixed to a package, such as package 800 or 810, using guidelines 720 or 730 on the tracking tag's top layer 510 to align the tracking tag with package opening 802 or 812. In this regard, deactivating the activated beacon transmission circuit 520 may also include cutting open the package. In some examples, disconnecting the deactivation circuit 710 causes the deactivation circuit to send a signal to the tracking tag's processor 540 indicating that the tracking process has ended. This, in turn, causes the activated beacon transmission circuit 520 to send a signal to the processor, which deactivates the activated beacon transmission circuit and causes the tracking tag 500 to stop transmitting beacon signals.

[0063]

[0072] The features described herein may provide simple, cost-effective, and useful tracking tags that can be activated automatically without additional steps. For example, logistics companies do not need to change their existing shipping processes by adding an additional step to activate tracking tags. Rather, labels can be printed and affixed to boxes or envelopes as usual, and each tracking tag is automatically activated. Thus, the benefits of beacon tracking are added without additional labor costs. Additionally, in many cases, beacon tracking may prevent a human operator from inadvertently forgetting to activate a tracking tag.

[0064]

[0073] Unless otherwise specified, the foregoing alternatives are not mutually exclusive and may be implemented in various combinations to achieve unique advantages. Because these and other variations and combinations of the above-described features may be utilized without departing from the subject matter defined by the claims, the description of the foregoing embodiments should be construed as illustrative, rather than limiting, of the subject matter defined by the claims. Additionally, providing examples and phrases such as "such as," "including," and the like, described herein should not be construed as limiting the subject matter of the claims to any particular example; rather, the example is intended to illustrate only one of many possible embodiments. Furthermore, the same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

Claims

1. A liner material; a first tracking tag at least initially disposed on the liner material; A system comprising: the first tracking tag includes a beacon transmission circuit including one or more batteries, an upper layer, a lower layer including an adhesive, and an activation mechanism configured to activate the first tracking tag and cause the beacon transmission circuit to transmit a beacon signal to enable tracking of an object; the activation mechanism includes an initial closed circuit extending beyond the periphery of the top layer; the activation mechanism is configured to automatically activate the first tracking tag when the first tracking tag is separated from a second tracking tag also disposed on the liner material; system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial closed circuit includes a conductive material including copper foil tape.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the copper foil tape is at least 3 millimeters wide.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the copper foil tape is perforated.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial closed circuit connects the one or more batteries to a processor configured to activate the beacon transmission circuit when the initial closed circuit is broken.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial closed circuit is configured such that breaking the initial closed circuit activates the first tracking tag and causes the beacon transmission circuit to transmit the beacon signal.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the second tracking tag, and wherein the initial closed circuit is disposed at least partially between the second tracking tag and the liner material.

8. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the initial closed circuit is configured such that removing the first tracking tag from the liner material breaks the initial closed circuit, with a portion of the initial closed circuit remaining attached to the second tracking tag.

9. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tracking tag further comprises a deactivation circuit configured to deactivate the beacon transmission circuit when the deactivation circuit is disconnected.

10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first tracking tag further includes a guideline on the upper layer for aligning the first tracking tag with an opening in a package, the guideline positioned such that cutting along the guideline cuts the deactivation circuit.

11. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising the second tracking tag, wherein the first tracking tag is configured to be separated from the second tracking tag by cutting, tearing, or ripping the liner material between the first and second tracking tags.

12. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising the second tracking tag, wherein the first tracking tag is configured to be separated from the second tracking tag by peeling the first tracking tag from the liner material.

13. 1. A method of activating a first tracking tag disposed on a liner material, comprising: removing the first tracking tag from a second tracking tag on the liner material; Separating the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag breaks an initial closed circuit in the first tracking tag, thereby activating a beacon transmission circuit in the first tracking tag to generate a beacon signal, and a portion of the initial closed circuit remains attached to the second tracking tag. method.

14. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising affixing the first tracking tag to the object via an adhesive on the first tracking tag, wherein affixing the first tracking tag to the object enables tracking of the object via the beacon signal.

15. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the initial closed circuit extends beyond an outer periphery of the top layer of the first tracking tag, such that separating the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag results in the portion of the initial closed circuit remaining attached to the liner material.

16. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion remains attached to the liner material between the second tracking tag and the liner material.

17. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the initial closed circuit comprises a conductive material comprising copper foil tape that is broken upon removal of the first tracking tag from the liner material.

18. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the initial closed circuit connects one or more batteries of the first tracking tag to a processor of the first tracking tag, and wherein isolating the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag allows the one or more batteries to power the processor.

19. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first tracking tag further includes a deactivation circuit, the method further including deactivating the beacon transmission circuit by cutting or otherwise disrupting the deactivation circuit.

20. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising affixing the first tracking tag to the package using guidelines on an upper layer of the first tracking tag to align the first tracking tag with an opening in the package.

21. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein deactivating the beacon transmission circuitry comprises slicing open the package.

22. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein cutting or otherwise disrupting the deactivation circuitry causes a processor of the first tracking tag to send a signal, which in turn causes the processor to send a signal to the beacon transmission circuitry, thereby causing the first tracking tag to stop transmitting the beacon signal.

Images