Handheld tape node dispenser and method

1. A method comprising:

storing, by a handheld tape dispenser, a roll of tape within a frame of the handheld tape dispenser, wherein the roll of tape comprises a plurality of segments of tape, each segment corresponding to a tape node, and wherein each segment comprises one or more electronic components, each tape node in the roll of tape storing a unique identifier on a memory of the respective tape node, the unique identifier preassigned thereto;

driving, by the handheld tape dispenser, a set of mechanical components of the handheld tape dispenser to draw tape from the roll of tape along a tape feed path, wherein the driving results in a segment of tape being removed from the roll of tape by the handheld tape dispenser for deployment;

determining, by the handheld tape dispenser, the unique identifier of a tape node corresponding to the removed segment of tape;

associating, by the handheld tape dispenser, the unique identifier of the tape node with an asset corresponding to the tape node;

transmitting, by the handheld tape dispenser, the determined unique identifier, an identifier for the asset, and the association of the unique identifier of the tape node and the corresponding asset to a wireless tracking system, wherein the wireless tracking system stores the unique identifier, the identifier for the corresponding asset, and the association in a database.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a unique identifier of the tape node comprises scanning, by an imaging module of the handheld tape dispenser, a QR code with the unique identifier encoded in the QR code printed on the tape node.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a unique identifier of the tape node comprises receiving, by the handheld tape dispenser, a communication comprising the unique identifier of the tape node.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein receiving a communication comprises applying RSSI filtering to isolate a signal corresponding to the tape node from other signals in an environment of the handheld tape dispenser.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the unique identifier of the tape node with an asset corresponding to the tape node comprises:

receiving, by a handheld tape dispenser, information describing the asset corresponding to the tape node by an entity of the wireless tracking system, the information comprising a tracking number of the asset; and

storing, by the handheld tape dispenser, the unique identifier of the tape node in association with the tracking number of the asset.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the information describing the asset is received from a server or cloud of the wireless tracking system.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing, by a printing device of the handheld tape dispenser, indicia onto at least a front side of the tape while the tape is drawn along the tape feed path.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the indicia is one or more of: a barcode, a tracking device, and tracking information of the asset corresponding to the tape node.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating, by the handheld tape dispenser, the tape node upon deployment.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the tape node comprises removing a releasable backing layer from the tape, wherein removal of the backing layer activates a wake circuit that delivers power from an electrical power source to a respective processor and a respective wireless communications system of the tape node.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the tape node comprises cutting the tape transversely across the tape feed path, wherein cutting the tape creates an open circuit in an electrical path of a wake circuit that delivers power from an electrical power source to a respective processor and a respective wireless communications system of the tape node.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the tape node comprises communicating, by the handheld tape dispenser, with the tape node via an NFC communications system.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the tape node comprises communicating, by the handheld tape dispenser, with the tape node via an RFID tag associated with the tape node.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating, by the handheld tape dispenser, an audit of the tape node, the audit comprising one or more tests performed by the tape node; and

receiving, by the handheld tape dispenser, results of the audit by the tape node.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising

determining, by the handheld tape dispenser based on the results of the audit, that the tape node passes the audit; and

transmitting, by the handheld tape dispenser, a notification to an operator of the handheld tape dispenser that the audit is successfully completed.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising

determining, by the handheld tape dispenser based on the results of the audit, that the tape node fails the audit; and

transmitting, by the handheld tape dispenser, a notification to an operator of the handheld tape dispenser to perform one or more of: discarding the tape node; using the handheld tape dispenser to repeat the process of dispensing, associating, and initiating a second tape node; flagging the tape node for refurbishment or recycling; and modifying one or more parameters of the tape node.

17. A handheld tape dispenser comprising:

a frame comprising a set of mechanical components, the frame and set of mechanical components configured to perform operations comprising:

storing a roll of tape within the frame of the handheld tape dispenser, wherein the roll of tape comprises a plurality of segments of tape, each segment corresponding to a tape node, and wherein each segment comprises one or more electronic components, each tape node in the roll of tape storing a unique identifier on a memory of the respective tape node, the unique identifier preassigned thereto prior to deployment;

driving the set of mechanical components of the handheld tape dispenser to draw tape from the roll of tape along a tape feed path, wherein the driving results in a segment of tape being removed from the roll of tape by the handheld tape dispenser for deployment;

and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:

determining the unique identifier of a tape node corresponding to the removed segment of tape;

associating the unique identifier of the tape node with an asset corresponding to the tape node; and

transmitting the unique identifier, an identifier for the corresponding asset, and the association of the unique identifier of the tape node and the corresponding asset to a wireless tracking system.

18. The handheld tape dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the wireless tracking system stores the determined unique identifier, the identifier for the corresponding asset, and the association in a database of the wireless tracking system.

19. The handheld tape dispenser of claim 17 , wherein determining a unique identifier of the tape node comprises receiving, by the handheld tape dispenser, a communication comprising the unique identifier of the tape node.

20. The handheld tape dispenser of claim 17 , wherein associating the unique identifier of the tape node with an asset corresponding to the tape node comprises:

receiving, by a handheld tape dispenser, information describing the asset corresponding to the tape node by an entity of the wireless tracking system, the information comprising a tracking number of the asset; and

storing, by the handheld tape dispenser, the unique identifier of the tape node in association with the tracking number of the asset.