Wireless Gateway Relay for Asset Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Asset tracking systems face challenges when tracking devices are unable to receive location information or access networks, particularly in environments like buildings or cargo vehicles, leading to gaps in asset location data.
Innovation Solution
A wireless gateway relay system and method that includes a transceiver and processor to receive messages from tracking devices, determine null locations, and augment them with gateway location information, allowing for transmission through both wide and local area networks to ensure continuous asset tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tracking devices use wireless backhaul data links for sending data to remote monitoring facilities, then operational efficiency and service quality are improved, but tracking reliability deteriorates when devices are unable to access networks or receive location information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the tracking device and the remote monitoring facility. When the tracking device cannot access the network directly, the gateway receives messages from the tracking device via local area network and relays them through wide area network to the server. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing an alternative communication path that maintains tracking reliability without sacrificing operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the gateway device receive and store messages from tracking devices before network access is available. The gateway buffers location data and identification information, then transmits them to the server when network connectivity is established. This preliminary data collection and storage ensures that tracking reliability is maintained even during periods when direct network access is unavailable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tracking devices operate in environments like buildings or cargo vehicles, then asset monitoring coverage is improved, but location data accuracy deteriorates when devices cannot ascertain their location
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary that provides location information when the tracking device cannot determine its own location. The gateway receives messages from tracking devices with null location data and augments them with the gateway's own location information, which is then transmitted to the server. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining adaptability to operate in buildings or cargo vehicles while preserving measurement precision through the gateway's location data.
Solution Approach 2:
When the tracking device cannot ascertain its location, the system uses the gateway's location information as a copy or proxy for the tracking device's location. The gateway's known location serves as a representative substitute, allowing the server to infer the approximate location of the tracking device based on its communication with the gateway. This copying approach maintains monitoring coverage in challenging environments while providing reasonable location accuracy.
3Reliability
If the system uses both wide area network and local area network for message transmission, then tracking reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into two distinct parts: a local area network component for receiving messages from tracking devices and a wide area network component for transmitting messages to the server. The gateway device is divided into separate functional modules that handle local communication and remote communication independently. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by improving tracking reliability through multi-network support while managing device complexity through modular functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a local area network receiver and a wide area network transmitter. A single device performs multiple functions: receiving messages from tracking devices via LAN, determining location information, and transmitting augmented messages to the server via WAN. This universality resolves the contradiction by improving tracking reliability through dual-network capability while avoiding the complexity of separate dedicated devices for each network function.
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway, a tracking device, a server, and a method for tracking assets are provided. The method includes receiving a message from a tracking device. The received message includes an identification parameter associated with the tracking device and indicates at least one of a null location or a location of the tracking device. The method also includes determining whether the received message indicates a valid location of the tracking device, based on whether the location of the tracking device is within a predetermined range of the electronic device. The method also includes augmenting the received message with at least one of location information of the electronic device, and identification information of the electronic device when the received message indicates the null location or the location of the tracking device is not the valid location of the tracking device. The method further includes transmitting the message to a server.