Method and apparatus for tracking assets
A tracking device is described. The tracking device receives, from a management server, configuration parameters including a first data transmission rate and a second data transmission rate. The tracking device automatically enters into an active mode of the tracking device. When operating in an active mode, the tracking device, is operative to transmit, in response to determining based on first motion sensor measurements that the asset is stationary, first location data at the first data transmission rate. In response to determining, based on second motion sensor measurements and motion definition parameters, that the asset is mobile, the tracking device is operative to transmit, second location data of the asset at the second data transmission rate.
1. A method in a tracking device mounted on an asset, the method comprising:
receiving, from a management server, configuration parameters including first configuration parameters that include a first data transmission rate, second configuration parameters that include a second data transmission rate, and a first plurality of motion definition parameters that define a first type of movement for the asset to be considered as being mobile or stationary;
automatically entering into an active mode of the tracking device during a first interval of time, wherein the active mode includes:
responsive to determining, based on first motion sensor measurements and the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is stationary, transmitting, at the first data transmission rate, first location data of the asset to the management server, and
responsive to determining, based on second motion sensor measurements and the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is mobile, transmitting, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server; and
receiving, from the management server, a second plurality of motion definition parameters that define a second type of movement for the asset to be considered as being mobile or stationary, wherein the second type of movement is different from the first type of movement; and
when operating in the active mode of the tracking device during a second interval of time that is different from the first interval of time, performing the following
responsive to determining, based on the second plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is stationary, transmitting, at the first data transmission rate, third location data of the asset to the management server, and
responsive to determining, based on the second plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is mobile, transmitting, at the second data transmission rate, fourth location data of the asset to the management server.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration parameters include the first data transmission rate, a first start time at which the tracking device is to start transmission of location according to the first data transmission rate, whereby the first configuration parameters cause the battery life of the tracking device to be extended.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server includes:
transmitting, to the management server, a first location reading upon automatically detecting, based on the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the tracking device has started moving;
transmitting, to the management server, one or more additional location readings based on the second data transmission rate while the tracking device is determined to be moving; and
transmitting, to the management server, a second location reading upon automatically determining, based on the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the tracking device has stopped moving.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second data transmission rate is greater than the first data transmission rate causing the management server to obtain more frequent location data when the asset is mobile than when the asset is stationary.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatically entering, into the active mode of the tracking device is performed based on first pressure measurements; and the method further comprises:
automatically entering, based on second pressure measurements, into a passive mode of the tracking device in which no data is transmitted.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the configuration parameters includes receiving, through a connectionless communication protocol, one or more messages of serialized structured data including the configuration parameters.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting, based on the second configuration parameters, location data of the asset to the management server at the second data transmission rate, includes:
transmitting, to the management server at a first time, third location data determined based on a first positioning technology; and
transmitting, to the management server at a second time that is later than the first time, fourth location data determined based on a second positioning technology.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server, includes:
transmitting, to the management server at a third time and via a first cellular network from a plurality of cellular networks, fifth location data of the asset, wherein the first cellular network is available at the third time; and
transmitting, to the management server at a fourth time that is later than the third time and via a second cellular network from the plurality of cellular networks, sixth location data of the asset.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving updated configuration parameters, wherein the updated configuration parameters includes a smart mode of operation; and
transmitting, based on the smart mode of operation, new data location of the asset when the new data location is different from a previously transmitted data location.
10. A tracking device to be mounted on an asset, the tracking device comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to store instructions; and
a processor coupled with the non-transitory computer readable storage medium to process the stored instructions to:
receive, from a management server, configuration parameters including first configuration parameters that include a first data transmission rate, second configuration parameters that include a second data transmission rate, and a first plurality of motion definition parameters that define a first type of movement for the asset to be considered as being mobile or stationary,
automatically enter into an active mode of the tracking device during a first interval of time, wherein the active mode includes:
responsive to determining, based on first motion sensor measurements and the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is stationary, transmit, at the first data transmission rate, first location data of the asset to the management server, and
responsive to determining, based on second motion sensor measurements and the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is mobile, transmit, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server; and
receive, from the management server, a second plurality of motion definition parameters that define a second type of movement for the asset to be considered as being mobile or stationary, wherein the second type of movement is different from the first type of movement; and
when operating in the active mode of the tracking device during a second interval of time that is different from the first interval of time, perform the following
responsive to determining, based on the second plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is stationary, transmit, at the first data transmission rate, third location data of the asset to the management server, and
responsive to determining, based on the second plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is mobile, transmit, at the second data transmission rate, fourth location data of the asset to the management server.
11. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein the first configuration parameters include the first data transmission rate, a first start time at which the tracking device is to start transmission of location according to the first data transmission rate, whereby the first configuration parameters cause the battery life of the tracking device to be extended.
12. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein to transmit, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server, includes to:
transmit, to the management server, a first location reading upon automatically detecting, based on the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the tracking device has started moving;
transmit, to the management server, one or more additional location readings based on the second data transmission rate while the tracking device is determined to be moving; and
transmit, to the management server, a second location reading upon automatically determining, based on the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the tracking device has stopped moving.
13. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein the second data transmission rate is greater than the first data transmission rate causing the management server to obtain more frequent location data when the asset is mobile than when the asset is stationary.
14. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein to automatically enter, into the active mode of the tracking device is performed based on first pressure measurements; and the processor is further to:
automatically enter, based on second pressure measurements, into a passive mode of the tracking device in which no data is transmitted.
15. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein to receive the configuration parameters includes to receive, through a connectionless communication protocol, one or more messages of serialized structured data including the configuration parameters.
16. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein to transmit, based on the second configuration parameters, location data of the asset to the management server at the second data transmission rate, includes to:
transmit, to the management server at a first time, third location data determined based on a first positioning technology; and
transmit, to the management server at a second time that is later than the first time, fourth location data determined based on a second positioning technology.
17. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein to transmit, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server, includes to:
transmit, to the management server at a third time and via a first cellular network from a plurality of cellular networks, fifth location data of the asset, wherein the first cellular network is available at the third time; and
transmit, to the management server at a fourth time that is later than the third time and via a second cellular network from the plurality of cellular networks, sixth location data of the asset.
18. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further to:
receive updated configuration parameters, wherein the updated configuration parameters includes a smart mode of operation; and
transmit, based on the smart mode of operation, new data location of the asset when the new data location is different from a previously transmitted data location.
19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that provide instructions, which when executed by a processor of a tracking device to be mounted on an asset, cause said processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a management server, configuration parameters including first configuration parameters that include a first data transmission rate, second configuration parameters that include a second data transmission rate, and a first plurality of motion definition parameters that define a first type of movement for the asset to be considered as being mobile or stationary;
automatically entering into an active mode of the tracking device during a first interval of time, wherein the active mode includes:
responsive to determining, based on first motion sensor measurements and the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is stationary, transmitting, at the first data transmission rate, first location data of the asset to the management server, and
responsive to determining, based on second motion sensor measurements and the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is mobile, transmitting, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server; and
receiving, from the management server, a second plurality of motion definition parameters that define a second type of movement for the asset to be considered as being mobile or stationary, wherein the second type of movement is different from the first type of movement; and
when operating in the active mode of the tracking device during a second interval of time that is different from the first interval of time, performing the following
responsive to determining, based on the second plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is stationary, transmitting, at the first data transmission rate, third location data of the asset to the management server, and
responsive to determining, based on the second plurality of motion definition parameters, that the asset is mobile, transmitting, at the second data transmission rate, fourth location data of the asset to the management server.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the first configuration parameters include the first data transmission rate, a first start time at which the tracking device is to start transmission of location according to the first data transmission rate, whereby the first configuration parameters cause the battery life of the tracking device to be extended.
21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the transmitting, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server, includes:
transmitting, to the management server, a first location reading upon automatically detecting, based on the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the tracking device has started moving;
transmitting, to the management server, one or more additional location readings based on the second data transmission rate while the tracking device is determined to be moving; and
transmitting, to the management server, a second location reading upon automatically determining, based on the first plurality of motion definition parameters, that the tracking device has stopped moving.
22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the second data transmission rate is higher than the first data transmission rate causing the management server to obtain more frequent location data when the asset is mobile than when the asset is stationary.
23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the automatically entering, into the active mode of the tracking device is performed based on first pressure measurements; and the operations further comprise:
automatically entering, based on second pressure measurements, into a passive mode of the tracking device in which no data is transmitted.
24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the receiving the configuration parameters includes receiving, through a connectionless communication protocol, one or more messages of serialized structured data including the configuration parameters.
25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the transmitting, based on the second configuration parameters, location data of the asset to the management server at the second data transmission rate, includes:
transmitting, to the management server at a first time, third location data determined based on a first positioning technology; and
transmitting, to the management server at a second time that is later than the first time, fourth location data determined based on a second positioning technology.
26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the transmitting, at the second data transmission rate, second location data of the asset to the management server, includes:
transmitting, to the management server at a third time and via a first cellular network from a plurality of cellular networks, fifth location data of the asset, wherein the first cellular network is available at the third time; and
transmitting, to the management server at a fourth time that is later than the third time and via a second cellular network from the plurality of cellular networks, sixth location data of the asset.
27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving updated configuration parameters, wherein the updated configuration parameters includes a smart mode of operation; and
transmitting, based on the smart mode of operation, new data location of the asset when the new data location is different from a previously transmitted data location.
28. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of motion definition parameters includes a minimum amount of time during which the tracking device is to move for the asset to be determined as being in motion, a minimum distance that needs to be traveled by the tracking device for the asset to be determined as being in motion, or a motion pattern that includes motion in a first direction for an interval of time and motion in a second direction for another interval of time.
29. The tracking device of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of motion definition parameters includes a minimum amount of time during which the tracking device is to move for the asset to be determined as being in motion, a minimum distance that needs to be traveled by the tracking device for the asset to be determined as being in motion, or a motion pattern that includes motion in a first direction for an interval of time and motion in a second direction for another interval of time.
30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of motion definition parameters includes a minimum amount of time during which the tracking device is to move for the asset to be determined as being in motion, a minimum distance that needs to be traveled by the tracking device for the asset to be determined as being in motion, or a motion pattern that includes motion in a first direction for an interval of time and motion in a second direction for another interval of time.