Wireless Shipment Node Merging for Item Group Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current asset tracking systems, such as those using barcodes and RFID tags, are inefficient and costly, particularly when monitoring environmental conditions like temperature and humidity, and lack comprehensive management capabilities for shipments and logistics operations.
Innovation Solution
A context-aware wireless node network system comprising a master node and ID nodes, which communicate through a server to enable adaptive tracking, location determination, and condition monitoring of items, using programmable RF characteristics and sensors for real-time data exchange and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensor-based tracking systems are used to monitor environmental conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines RFID tracking functionality with environmental sensing capabilities into an integrated tag system. The RFID tag incorporates temperature, humidity, and other environmental sensors, allowing simultaneous tracking and environmental monitoring through a single device rather than separate systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID tag system performs multiple functions including location tracking, identification, and environmental condition monitoring. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensor systems, reducing device complexity and cost while providing comprehensive measurement capabilities for package tracking and environmental monitoring.
2Ease of operation
If RFID tags are used for tracking, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision worsens due to lack of environmental information
Solution Approach 1:
Environmental sensors are integrated directly into the RFID tag structure, combining automatic identification capabilities with environmental monitoring. This allows the system to maintain the ease of automatic RFID operation while simultaneously capturing precise environmental data such as temperature, humidity, and shock events throughout the supply chain.
3Reliability
If comprehensive sensor-based tracking is implemented, then reliability is improved, but loss of energy increases due to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic sampling of environmental conditions rather than continuous monitoring. Sensors take measurements at predetermined time intervals or when triggered by specific events such as threshold exceedances, maintaining reliable tracking data while minimizing energy consumption by keeping sensors in low-power states between measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system dynamically adjusts its operation based on conditions, transitioning between active sensing and low-power states. The system activates comprehensive monitoring only when needed (e.g., during critical transport phases or when anomalies are detected) and reduces monitoring intensity during stable conditions, optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system provides robust, cost-effective asset tracking and management, enhancing logistics efficiency by enabling real-time monitoring and adaptive communication, improving the visibility and integrity of shipments and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the master node detects a signal from each ID node as they respectively approach the master node
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for merging of a set of items being shipped using a wireless node network. In an example method, a master node receives ID node identification information from a server in the network. The ID node identification information defines the group of ID nodes. Each of the ID nodes is related to a different item from the set of items being shipped. Next, each of the ID nodes in the group is associated with the master node when the master node detects a signal from each ID node as they respectively approach the master node. When the master node detects a last one of the ID nodes in the group approaching the master node, the master node transmits a notification to the server. Thereafter, the master node receives a shipment merge indication from the server.