Wireless mesh network for an asset tracking system
An asset tracking system includes a station, transmitting points, and an asset tag. The asset tag can be used for communicating with the transmitting points to form a mesh network. The station receives data associated with signal strengths between transmitting points and asset tag. The station analyzes the data associated with a number of the transmitting points and determines the location of the asset tag.
1. An asset tracking system, comprising:
a station;
a plurality of transmitting points each being at a respective fixed, known location; and
at least one asset tag for communicating with the plurality of transmitting points, the station receiving data associated with signal strengths between the plurality of transmitting points and the at least one asset tag, the asset tag providing the data associated with the signal strengths between the transmitting points and the asset tag, wherein the station analyzes the data associated with signal strengths from the plurality of the transmitting points and determines a location of the at least one asset tag.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transmitting points include at least one wireless access point.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transmitting points include at least one reference tag, the at least one reference tag providing a fixed reference point for the asset tracking system.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transmitting points include at least one gateway tag, the at least one gateway tag communicating data associated with signal strengths to the station via a network connection.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transmitting points include at least one reference tag and at least one gateway tag, the at least one reference tag providing a fixed reference point for the at least one asset tag and the at least one gateway tag communicating data associated with signal strength to the station via a network connection, the plurality of transmitting points forming a wireless mesh network configured to wirelessly communicate tag information among the plurality of transmitting points.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transmitting points are synchronized to conserve power.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one asset tag is configured to sense change in its environment.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one asset tag is configured to detect motion.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the station receives data associated with time of flight between the plurality of transmitting points and the at least one asset tag, wherein the station analyzes the data associated with time of flight from the plurality of the transmitting points.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one asset tag and at least one transmitting point of the plurality of transmitting points in battery powered.
11. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one reference tag is configured to sense change in its environment.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the station dynamically adjusts its location analysis to account for the sensed changes in the environment of the at least one reference tag.
13. A method of tracking an asset, the method comprising:
receiving a transmission at an asset tag from at least one transmitting point of a plurality of transmitting points, each transmitting point being at a respective fixed, known location wherein the asset tag is affixed to an asset to be tracked;
collecting data associated with a signal strength of the transmission; and
transmitting the collected data from the asset tag for eventual reception by a station, wherein the station analyzes the collected data and determines a location of the asset tag affixed to the asset to be tracked.
14. The method of claim 13 , the steps of the method further comprising:
transmitting a probe request from the asset tag to the plurality of transmitting points to solicit the transmission from the plurality of transmitting points.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the collected data being transmitted to the station is first transmitted to a transmitting point and then to the station.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the transmitting point is a gateway tag.
17. The method of claim 13 , the steps of the method further comprising:
powering up the asset tag in response an environmental change sensed by the asset tag.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the environmental change sensed by the asset tag is a detection of motion.
19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of transmitting points form a wireless mesh network configured to wirelessly communicate tag information among the plurality of transmitting points.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of transmitting points include at least one reference tag and at least one gateway tag, the at least one reference tag providing a fixed reference point for the at least one asset tag and the at least one gateway tag communicates data associated with signal strength to the station via a network connection.