Multi-sensor electronic device with wireless connectivity and sensing as a service platform and web application

1. A method of operating an electronic device configured to take and transmit data comprising sensor readings or measurements relating to an asset associated with the device wirelessly to a remote computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) operating a sensor in the device to detect a given event;

(b) when the sensor does not detect the given event during a defined time period, operating the device in a sleep mode, in which given parts of the device are switched to a power saving mode;

(c) when the sensor detects the given event during a defined time period, operating the device in a normal operating mode, in which the given parts of the device in the power saving mode are then activated and the device takes and wirelessly transmits the data comprising sensor readings or measurements to the remote computer system;

(d) repeating steps (a), (b), and (c) a plurality of times;

(e) operating the device in the sleep mode automatically upon receiving an instruction from the remote computer system to operate in the sleep mode until detection of a specified event or for a set period of time; and

(f) when the device detects the specified event during a defined time period or after the set period of time, operating the device in the normal operating mode,

wherein operating the device in a normal operating mode comprises causing the device to only transmit the data comprising sensor readings or measurements to the remote computer system that has changed from previously reported data comprising readings or measurements such that duplicate sensor data is ignored to reduce the amount of transmitted data comprising sensor readings or measurements.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the given event comprises movement of the device, and wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises exposure of the device to light, and wherein the sensor comprises an ambient light detector.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor readings or measurements comprise temperature measurement, humidity measurement, pressure measurement, infrared energy measurement, acceleration measurement, magnetic field measurement, angular velocity measurement, radio frequency spectrum power measurement, asset orientation detection, motion detection, light detection, location detection, shock or vibration detection, volatile organic compound detection, or proximity detection.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the device, an instruction from the remote computer system to wirelessly report sensor data comprising readings or measurements to the remote computer system at only a set time period, an updated frequency, and operating the device in accordance with the instruction.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further including disabling radios of the device when the event comprises aircraft takeoff or landing.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further including storing sensor measurements while the radios are off.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further including generating an alert when the event comprises the sensor readings having a measurement above a given threshold.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the event comprises an incorrect orientation of the device and the asset.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the event comprises tampering with the asset within a given period of time.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further including transmitting information for the event to the cloud after the tampering.

12. An electronic device configured to take and report sensor readings or measurements relating to an asset associated with the device wirelessly to a remote computer system, the device comprising:

a processor and a memory configured to:

(a) operate a sensor in the device to detect a given event;

(b) when the sensor does not detect the given event during a defined time period, operate the device in a sleep mode, in which given parts of the device are switched to a power saving mode;

(c) when the sensor detects the given event during a defined time period, operate the device in a normal operating mode, in which the given parts of the device in the power saving mode are then activated and the device takes and wirelessly reports sensor readings or measurements to the remote computer system;

(d) repeat steps (a), (b), and (c) a plurality of times;

(e) operate the device in the sleep mode automatically upon receiving an instruction from the remote computer system to operate in the sleep mode until detection of a specified event or for a set period of time; and

(f) when the device detects the specified event during a defined time period or after the set period of time, operate the device in the normal operating mode,

wherein operating the device in a normal operating mode comprises causing the device to only transmit sensor data comprising readings or measurements to the remote computer system that has changed from previously reported sensor data comprising readings or measurements such that duplicate sensor data is ignored to reduce the amount of transmitted data comprising sensor readings or measurements.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the given event comprises movement of the device, and wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the event comprises exposure of the device to light, and wherein the sensor comprises an ambient light detector.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the sensor readings or measurements comprise temperature measurement, humidity measurement, pressure measurement, infrared energy measurement, acceleration measurement, magnetic field measurement, angular velocity measurement, radio frequency spectrum power measurement, asset orientation detection, motion detection, light detection, location detection, shock or vibration detection, volatile organic compound detection, or proximity detection.

16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the processor and memory are further configured to receive, by the device, an instruction from the remote computer system to wirelessly report sensor readings or measurements to the remote computer system at only a set time period, an updated frequency, and operate the device in accordance with the instruction.

17. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the processor and memory are further configured to disable radios of the device when the event comprises aircraft takeoff or landing.

18. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the event comprises an incorrect orientation of the device and the asset.