Mesh Network Asset Tracking via Self-Service Transmitters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location systems for mobile assets, such as luggage and shipping containers, are inefficient due to manual reporting, time-consuming, and prone to errors, leading to misdirection and increased costs, while existing tracking methods require significant personnel time and are not effective for remote or shielded containers.
Innovation Solution
A mesh network communication system with individual devices storing unique identifications, allowing for automatic location and verification of items within a cargo hold or predefined area, using a primary mesh network device and portable computational device to facilitate quick identification and tracking through a global computer network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual reporting methods are used for locating mobile assets, then personnel can search through nodes to find lost items, but it requires considerable time and is prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile asset itself performs the tracking function through its onboard transmitter that automatically broadcasts its location and identification. The asset serves itself by continuously emitting signals that can be detected by receiving devices, eliminating the need for manual searching or external intervention to determine location.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical search process is replaced with an electronic signal-based system. Instead of personnel physically searching through nodes, the system uses electronic transmitters and receivers to automatically detect and report asset locations through broadcast signals and signal strength measurement.
2Loss of information
If radio transponders are used at each transportation node, then items can be tracked, but personnel must spend considerable time searching through each node
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having fixed transponders at stationary nodes that require active searching, the system inverts the approach by placing the transmitter on the mobile asset itself. The asset actively broadcasts its location, and receivers passively detect the signals, reversing the traditional active-searching paradigm and dramatically improving search efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile asset's transmitter acts as an intermediary that carries location information between the asset and the tracking system. Rather than requiring direct communication between controllers and assets, the transmitter mediates by broadcasting signals that can be detected by any receiver in range, enabling efficient tracking without direct node-by-node searching.
3Reliability
If container-by-container checking is performed against shipping manifest, then security can be ensured, but it is time consuming and causes scheduling delays
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical process of checking each container against the manifest is replaced with an electronic identification system. Transmitters in containers automatically broadcast their identification, and receivers electronically verify them against the shipping manifest, dramatically speeding up the security verification process while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The containers perform self-verification by broadcasting their own identification information through transmitters. Rather than requiring external personnel to manually check each container, the containers themselves provide their identification data electronically, enabling rapid automated verification against the shipping manifest.
4Reliability
If bar-coded tags are used for luggage tracking, then misdirection can be reduced, but tags can be inadvertently removed or incorrectly applied
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical bar-coded tag system is replaced with an electronic transmitter system that is more difficult to remove or misapply. The electronic transmitters can be integrated into the asset structure or attached more securely, and their signals cannot be accidentally misread like barcodes, improving the reliability of tracking information.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for locating mobile assets includes a plurality of fixed mesh network communications devices, an asset-specific location device, and a computer. Each fixed mesh network communications device is associated with a different location within a predefined area. The asset-specific location device is coupled to the mobile assets and communicates an asset-specific identification to a nearest fixed mesh network communications device via a mesh network. The computer is in communication with each of the fixed mesh network communications devices and receives a request for a location of one of the mobile assets; polls each fixed mesh network communications device to determine which one is in communication with a selected asset-specific location device affixed to the selected mobile asset; and identify the location associated with the fixed mesh network communications device in communication with the asset-specific location device.