Adaptive Tracking Device Configuration for Shipment Routes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracking devices face limitations due to hardware restrictions such as memory capabilities and battery capacity, preventing near-real-time tracking and requiring pre-configuration for entire shipment routes, which lacks adaptivity.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving tracking device reports, determining the segment of the transportation route based on the report, and providing segment-specific configurations to the tracking device, allowing for adaptive configuration changes during route segments or when updated configurations are available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tracking devices are pre-configured for the entire journey, then the device can operate throughout the shipment route, but the device cannot adapt to segment-specific requirements and consumes excessive battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically reconfigures tracking devices based on their current transportation segment. The server determines which segment the device is in and sends updated configurations accordingly, allowing the device to adapt its behavior (sampling rates, active sensors, reporting frequency) to match segment-specific requirements rather than maintaining a static pre-configured state throughout the entire journey
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration of tracking devices is changed as a parameter based on segment identification. Different segments have different configuration parameters (data ingestion rates, active sensors, geofences) that are applied to the device depending on its current location in the transportation route, enabling energy-efficient operation by activating only necessary functions for each segment
2Loss of information
If tracking devices provide all available information, then complete visibility is achieved, but battery consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Different segments of the transportation route have different information requirements. The system applies local quality by configuring tracking devices with segment-specific settings that determine which sensors are active and what data is collected in each segment, rather than uniformly collecting all possible data throughout the entire journey. This ensures information completeness where needed while reducing data collection in segments where it is not required
3Loss of time
If offline geofencing is implemented for just-in-time ingestions, then latency is decreased and power efficiency is improved, but the device cannot maintain all required offline geofences for the entire route simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary actions by determining which segment the tracking device is in and preparing the appropriate configuration before sending it to the device. This allows the device to receive and apply configurations proactively rather than reactively, enabling just-in-time geofence updates that reduce latency while avoiding the need to maintain all possible geofences simultaneously in device memory
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the necessary geofences and configuration data for the current segment from the complete route information and sends them to the tracking device. This extraction approach allows offline geofencing to be implemented effectively for the current location without requiring the device to store and manage all geofences for the entire transportation route
Data Source
AI summary
Inter-alia, a method is disclosed comprising: receiving a tracking device report at least indicative of a position of a tracking device; determining a segment along a transportation route comprising a plurality of segments to which the position of the tracking device report corresponds to, based, at least in part, on the tracking device report; and providing a configuration associated with the determined segment to the tracking device, wherein the configuration is indicative of segment specific settings for the tracking device, wherein the configuration is provided if a segment change along the transportation route has occurred, or if an updated configuration for a current segment not provided to the tracking device is available. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, and a computer program.