Asset tag power optimization
A technique for saving power in a tag that is operationally connected to an asset involves using telemetry data to enter an appropriate power state. An asset tracking system according to the technique can make use of context to better track assets to which power-saving tags are operationally connected. Secure tag configuration techniques and asset-agnostic tags are described. Location-agnostic tags are also described.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving a pull request from a wireless tag for asset-agnostic configuration data such that the wireless tag is evaluated with respect to a configuration validity policy, the wireless tag configured to be operationally associated with an asset; and
when the wireless tag is acting in accordance with a configuration validity policy, sending the asset-agnostic configuration data to the wireless tag in response to the pull request, the configuration validity policy including an asset-tag association requirement.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the wireless tag is violating the configuration validity policy, the method further comprising: not pulling the asset-agnostic configuration data from a configuration server.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: maintaining asset-agnostic configuration data associated with the asset.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: maintaining location-agnostic configuration data associated with a location of the wireless tag.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: operationally connecting the asset-agnostic wireless tag to the asset.
6. An apparatus, comprising:
a telemetry-dependent power optimization engine configured to be coupled to a processor that pulls asset-agnostic configuration data to the wireless tag based on a configuration validity policy, the configuration validity policy including an asset-tag association requirement,
the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine configured to set a power-saving transmitter to a state based on telemetry data and the asset-agnostic configuration data, the state including all of, but at different times, a chirp state, an idle state, a utilization state, and a burst state, the utilization state being associated with a power consumption lower than a power consumption associated with the burst state.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to be coupled to a power source.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to be coupled to a telemetry data acquisition engine that obtains telemetry data from a sensor.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to set a power-saving receiver to a state based on the telemetry data.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to be coupled to a data module storing asset-agnostic configuration data during operation.
11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to be coupled to a data module storing location-agnostic configuration data during operation.
12. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to set the power transmitter such that the power-saving transmitter sends at least one frame that includes a MAC address when in the chirp state,
telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to set the power transmitter such that the power-saving transmitter changes the idle state from the chirp state after the power-saving transmitter has sent the at least one frame.
13. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to transition the power-saving transmitter from the idle state to the utilization state when a telemetry data value associated with a motion sensor exceeds a sensitivity threshold.
14. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to transition the power-saving transmitter from the utilization state to the burst state when a telemetry data value associated with a motion sensor falls below a sensitivity threshold.
15. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to transition the power-saving transmitter from the burst state to the idle state after a period of time.
16. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telemetry-dependent power optimization engine is configured to transition the power-saving transmitter from the burst state to the utilization state when a telemetry data value associated with a motion sensor exceeds a sensitivity threshold.
17. A method, comprising:
sending from a wireless tag a pull request for asset-agnostic configuration data such that the wireless tag is evaluated with respect to a configuration validity policy, the wireless tag configured to be operationally associated with an asset; and
when the wireless tag is acting in accordance with a configuration validity policy, receiving at the wireless tag the asset-agnostic configuration data, the configuration validity policy including an asset-tag association requirement.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising entering a configurability validation state in response to sending the request.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising entering a configured state in response to pulling the asset-agnostic configuration data.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
sending from the wireless tag a request for a location-agnostic configuration data update; and
when the wireless tag is acting in accordance with a reconfiguration validity policy, pulling location-agnostic configuration data, the reconfiguration validity policy different than the configuration validity policy.