Systems and methods for item tracking during logistics operations

1 . A method for item tracking, comprising:

determining at least one of a first state and a second state of a container based on first data received from an accelerometer associated with the container;

responsive to determining the first state of the container,

modifying a communication protocol of a first radio frequency identification (RFID) reader positioned in an interior of the container,

receiving, by the first RFID reader, first information of at least one item associated with a first RFID tag, and

determining the at least one item associated with the first RFID tag is positioned in the container based on the first information; and

responsive to determining the second state of the container,

identifying a first location of the container and modifying at least one of the communication protocol of the first RFID reader of the container and a communication protocol of a second RFID reader positioned on an exterior of the container based on whether the second RFID reader receives second information of the first location associated with a second RFID tag,

identifying the first location of the container and receiving, by the first RFID reader, third information of at least one item associated with a third RFID tag via another communication protocol when the second RFID reader receives the second information of the first location associated with the second RFID tag,

determining whether the at least one item associated with the third RFID tag is positioned in the container based on the identified first location of the container and the third information,

determining the at least one item associated with the third RFID tag is positioned in the container and setting the third RFID tag from a first state to a second state when a number of instances of receiving the third information by the first RFID reader is greater than a second threshold,

wherein the second state of the third RFID tag precludes the first RFID reader from receiving the third information.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the first RFID reader, the first information of the at least one item associated with the first RFID tag via one of a first communication protocol, a second communication protocol, a third communication protocol and a fourth communication protocol by switching between the first, second, third and fourth communication protocols when a rate of the received first information via any one of the first, second, third and fourth communication protocols is less than a first threshold.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein

the first communication protocol is Electronic Product Code (EPC) Generation 2 (Gen 2) Standard session 2A,

the second communication protocol is EPC Gen 2 Standard session 3A,

the third communication protocol is EPC Gen 2 Standard session 2B, and

the fourth communication protocol is EPC Gen 2 Standard session 3B.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

determining the at least one item associated with the third RFID tag is not positioned in the container and setting the third RFID tag from the second state to the first state when the second RFID reader receives the third information of the at least one item associated with the third RFID tag via the another communication protocol.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

synchronizing each of the first RFID reader and the second RFID reader to receive fourth information of at least one item associated with a fourth RFID tag via the another communication protocol when the second RFID reader does not receive the second information of the first location associated with the second RFID tag;

determining the at least one item associated with the fourth RFID tag is positioned in the container when a signal strength of the first RFID reader is greater than a signal strength of the second RFID reader; and

determining the at least one item associated with the fourth RFID tag is not positioned in the container when the signal strength of the first RFID reader is less than the signal strength of the second RFID reader.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the another communication protocol is Electronic Product Code (EPC) Generation 2 (Gen 2) Standard session 1A.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the container is one of

a storage unit affixed to or stored in a vehicle including a box affixed to a box truck, a trailer affixed to a platform having one or more sets of wheels and a hitch assembly for towing by the vehicle, and a unit loading device (ULD) stored in an aircraft, and

a storage area integrated in at least a portion of a vehicle including a van and a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

the first data is indicative of a velocity of the container,

the first state of the container is indicative of the container being in motion,

the second state of the container is indicative of the container being stationary, and

the first location of the container is one of a warehouse, manufacturing facility, retail facility, and transit facility.

9 . A system for item tracking, comprising,

an accelerometer;

a first radio frequency identification (RFID) reader positioned in an interior of a container;

a second RFID reader positioned on an exterior of the container;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable memory coupled to the accelerometer, the first RFID reader, the second RFID reader, and the one or more processors, the memory storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

determine at least one of a first state and a second state of the container based on first data received from the accelerometer, the accelerometer being associated with the container;

responsive to determining the first state of the container,

modify a communication protocol of the first RFID reader,

receive, by the first RFID reader, first information of at least one item associated with a first RFID tag, and

determine the at least one item associated with the first RFID tag is positioned in the container based on the first information;

responsive to determining the second state of the container,

identify a first location of the container and modify at least one of the communication protocol of the first RFID reader and a communication protocol of the second RFID reader based on whether the second RFID reader receives second information of the first location associated with a second RFID tag,

identify the first location of the container and receive, by the first RFID reader, third information of at least one item associated with a third RFID tag via another communication protocol when the second RFID reader receives the second information of the first location associated with the second RFID tag,

determine whether the at least one item associated with the third RFID tag is positioned in the container based on the identified first location of the container and the third information,

determine the at least one item associated with the third RFID tag is positioned in the container and set the third RFID tag from a first state to a second state when a number of instances of receiving the third information by the first RFID reader is greater than a second threshold,

wherein the second state of the third RFID tag precludes the first RFID reader from receiving the third information.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, by the first RFID reader, the first information of the at least one item associated with the first RFID tag via one of a first communication protocol, a second communication protocol, a third communication protocol and a fourth communication protocol by switching between the first, second, third and fourth communication protocols when a rate of the received first information via any one of the first, second, third and fourth communication protocols is less than a first threshold.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein

the first communication protocol is Electronic Product Code (EPC) Generation 2 (Gen 2) Standard session 2A,

the second communication protocol is EPC Gen 2 Standard session 3A,

the third communication protocol is EPC Gen 2 Standard session 2B, and

the fourth communication protocol is EPC Gen 2 Standard session 3B.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

determine the at least one item associated with the third RFID tag is not positioned in the container and set the third RFID tag from the second state to the first state when the second RFID reader receives the third information of the at least one item associated with the third RFID tag via the another communication protocol.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

synchronize each of the first RFID reader and the second RFID reader to receive fourth information of at least one item associated with a fourth RFID tag via the another communication protocol when the second RFID reader does not receive the second information of the first location associated with the second RFID tag;

determining the at least one item associated with the fourth RFID tag is positioned in the container when a signal strength of the first RFID reader is greater than a signal strength of the second RFID reader; and

determining the at least one item associated with the fourth RFID tag is not positioned in the container when the signal strength of the first RFID reader is less than the signal strength of the second RFID reader.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the another communication protocol is Electronic Product Code (EPC) Generation 2 (Gen 2) Standard session 1A.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the container is one of

a storage unit affixed to or stored in a vehicle including a box affixed to a box truck, a trailer affixed to a platform having one or more sets of wheels and a hitch assembly for towing by the vehicle, and a unit loading device (ULD) stored in an aircraft, and

a storage area integrated in at least a portion of a vehicle including a van and a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein

the first data is indicative of a velocity of the container,

the first state of the container is indicative of the container being in motion,

the second state of the container is indicative of the container being stationary, and

the first location of the container is one of a warehouse, manufacturing facility, retail facility, and transit facility.