Mobile asset data management system

1 . A method for tracking the location of an asset utilizing at least one wireless device in an asset management system, said method comprising:

receiving at least one short range RF communication signal by a mobile wireless device from the asset management system;

periodically calculating, at a first frequency rate, a position of the asset, by the mobile wireless device, based on the received at least one short range RF communication signal; and

storing the position of the asset in the mobile wireless device.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the asset is in motion; and

determining the first frequency rate based on the speed of motion of the asset.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first frequency rate is increased as the speed of the asset increases.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the asset comprises a mobile asset.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein periodically calculating a position of the asset comprises performing a triangulation calculation.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein storing the position of the asset occurs based on an operating condition of the asset.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the operating condition comprises motion of the asset.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein storing the position of the asset is performed substantially periodically.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless device is an asset communicator.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one short range RF communication signal is received from a terrestrial based transmitter.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one short range RF communication signal is received from a satellite based transmitter.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

generating an identifier associated with the position of the asset, the identifier being in temporal relation to other identifiers generated for other positions of the asset;

forming a dataset including the identifier and position of the asset; and

wherein storing the position of the asset in the mobile wireless device includes storing the formed dataset.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising;

determining if a communication link between the mobile wireless device and a component of the asset management system exists; and

communicating the dataset to the component of the asset management system if a communication link exists.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising maintaining the dataset in the mobile wireless device until a determination is made that a wireless communication link is established.

15 . A wireless device coupled to an asset and operable to perform location tracking of the asset being monitored by an asset management system, said wireless device comprising:

a receiver operable to receive at least one short range RF communication signal from the asset management system;

a processor in communication with said receiver;

software executed by said processor and operable to calculate a position of the asset based on the received at least one short range RF communication signal; and

a storage unit in communication with said processor and operable to receive and store the calculated position of the asset.

16 . The wireless device according to claim 15 , wherein the software is further operable to:

determine whether the asset is in motion; and

calculate the position of the asset at a higher frequency rate based on whether the asset is in motion as compared to a frequency rate if it is determined that the asset is not in motion.

17 . The wireless device according to claim 15 , wherein said software utilizes a triangulation computation to perform the calculation to determine position.

18 . The wireless device according to claim 15 , wherein said software stores the position based on an operating condition of the asset.

19 . The wireless device according to claim 18 , wherein the operating condition comprises being in motion and being idle.

20 . The wireless device according to claim 15 , wherein the storage unit is operable to store the calculated position substantially periodically.

21 . The wireless device according to claim 15 , wherein said receiver is operable to receive terrestrial based signals.

22 . The wireless device according to claim 15 , wherein said receiver is operable to receive satellite based signals.

23 . The wireless device according to claim 15 , wherein said software is further operable to:

generate an identifier associated with the calculated position of the asset, the identifier being in temporal relation to other identifiers generated for other positions of the asset;

from a dataset including the identifier and position of the asset; and

wherein said storage unit is further operable to store the dataset.

24 . The wireless device according to claim 23 , wherein said software is further operable to:

determine if a communication link between the mobile wireless device and a component of the asset management system exists; and

communicate the dataset to the component of the asset management system if a communication link exists.

25 . The wireless device according to claim 24 , wherein said software is further operable to maintain the dataset in said storage unit until a determination is made that a wireless communication link is established.