IP Library Granted Patent US 12,279,177
Granted Patent B2
US 12,279,177 · App. 18/341,122 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

System and method to dynamically monitor location information of assets in a predefined area

Inventors: Diane Kathleen Bustamante (Elkhorn, WI); Erin Alan Hynum (Madison, WI); Glen Lawrence Rudie (Stoughton, WI); Jerome Paul Verhoeven (Sun Prairie, WI); Keith James Hosli (River Ridge, LA)
Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLC
H04W4/021G06Q10/087
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,279,177
App. No.
18/341,122
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus comprises a memory communicatively coupled to a processor. The memory may be configured to store tag identifiers, asset names, geofences, and asset location information. The processor may be configured to obtain a tag identifier and an asset name of a tagged device; determine whether the asset location information comprises global positioning coordinates of the tagged device. Further, in response to determining that the asset location information comprises the global positioning coordinates, the processor may be configured to determine that the tagged device is located in a predefined area based at least in part upon matching the global positioning coordinates to a geofence; and generate an update indicating that the tagged device is located in the predefined area. In response to determining that the asset location information does not comprise the global positioning coordinates, generate an alert indicating that the tagged device is not located in the predefined area.

Claims (101)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory, configured to store:

a plurality of tag identifiers associated with one or more tagged assets;

a plurality of asset names corresponding to a plurality of tagged assets, a first asset name of the plurality of asset names corresponding to a first tagged device of the one or more tagged assets;

a plurality of geofences, each geofence indicating a predefined area; and

asset location information comprising global positioning coordinates of the one or more tagged assets; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to:

obtain a first tag identifier of the plurality of tag identifiers and the first asset name of the plurality of asset names of the first tagged device;

determine whether the asset location information comprises first global positioning coordinates of the first tagged device;

in response to determining that the asset location information comprises the first global positioning coordinates, determine whether the first tagged device is located in a first predefined area based at least in part upon matching the first global positioning coordinates to a first geofence of the plurality of geofences;

in response to determining that the first tagged device is located in the first predefined area, generate a first update indicating that the first tagged device is located in the first predefined area; and

in response to determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, generate an alert indicating that the first tagged device is not located in the first predefined area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, determine whether the first tagged device is scanned by a first gateway; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is scanned by the first gateway, identify a first gateway location as a current location of the first tagged device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is scanned by the first gateway, determine whether the asset location information comprises second global positioning coordinates of the first gateway;

in response to determining that the asset location information comprises the second global positioning coordinates, determine whether the first tagged device is located in a second predefined area based at least in part upon matching the second global positioning coordinates to a second geofence of the plurality of geofences; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is located in the second predefined area, generate a second update indicating that the first tagged device is located in the second predefined area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, determine whether the first tagged device is coupled to a first gateway;

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is not coupled to the first gateway, determine whether the first tagged device is scanned within a threshold period of time; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is not scanned within the threshold period of time, identify as unknown with a current location of the first tagged device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in conjunction with identifying as unknown the current location of the first tagged device, retrieve a last known location of the first tagged device;

transmit a reconnection link to the first tagged device at the last known location of the first tagged device; and

generate the alert to a second gateway located within a threshold distance from the last known location of the first tagged device, the alert indicating the last known location of the first tagged device and that the first tagged device is not located in the first predefined area.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is missing in the asset location information, determine whether the first tagged device is coupled to a first gateway;

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is coupled to the first gateway, determine whether the first tagged device is scanned within a threshold period of time;

in response to determining that the first tagged device is scanned within the threshold period of time, determine whether the first tagged device is scanned by a second gateway; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is not scanned by the second gateway, identify a supplemental gateway location as a current location of the first tagged device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the asset location information comprises the first global positioning coordinates, trigger an output of the first tagged device to indicate operation of the first tagged device.

8. A system, comprising:

one or more gateways configured to track a plurality of tagged assets; and

a server communicatively coupled to the one or more gateways and configured to:

access a plurality of parameters, comprising:

a plurality of tag identifiers associated with one or more tagged assets;

a plurality of asset names corresponding to the plurality of tagged assets,

a first asset name of the plurality of asset names corresponding to a first tagged device of the one or more tagged assets;

a plurality of geofences, wherein each geofence indicates a predefined area; and

asset location information comprising global positioning coordinates of the one or more tagged assets;

obtain a first tag identifier of the plurality of tag identifiers and the first asset name of the plurality of asset names of the first tagged device;

determine whether the asset location information comprises first global positioning coordinates of the first tagged device;

in response to determining that the asset location information comprises the first global positioning coordinates, determine whether the first tagged device is located in a first predefined area based at least in part upon matching the first global positioning coordinates to a first geofence of the plurality of geofences;

in response to determining that the first tagged device is located in the first predefined area, generate a first update indicating that the first tagged device is located in the first predefined area; and

in response to determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, generate an alert indicating that the first tagged device is not located in the first predefined area.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, determine whether the first tagged device is coupled to a first gateway; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is coupled to the first gateway, identify a first gateway location as a current location of the first tagged device.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the server is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is coupled to the first gateway, determine whether the asset location information comprises second global positioning coordinates of the first gateway;

in response to determining that the asset location information comprises the second global positioning coordinates, determine whether the first tagged device is located in a second predefined area based at least in part upon matching the second global positioning coordinates to a second geofence of the plurality of geofences; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is located in the second predefined area, generate a second update indicating that the first tagged device is located in the second predefined area.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, determine whether the first tagged device is coupled to a first gateway;

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is not coupled to the first gateway, determine whether the first tagged device is scanned within a threshold period of time; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is not scanned within the threshold period of time, identify as unknown with a current location of the first tagged device.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to:

in conjunction with identifying as unknown the current location of the first tagged device, retrieve a last known location of the first tagged device;

transmit a location request to the first tagged device at the last known location of the first tagged device; and

generate the alert to a second gateway located within a threshold distance from the last known location of the first tagged device, the alert indicating the last known location of the first tagged device and that the first tagged device is not located in the first predefined area.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is missing in the asset location information, determine whether the first tagged device is coupled to a first gateway;

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is coupled to the first gateway, determine whether the first tagged device is scanned within a threshold period of time;

in response to determining that the first tagged device is scanned within the threshold period of time, determine whether the first tagged device is scanned by a second gateway; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is not scanned by the second gateway, identify a supplemental gateway location as a current location of the first tagged device.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to:

in conjunction with determining that the asset location information comprises the first global positioning coordinates, trigger an output of the first tagged device to indicate operation of the first tagged device.

15. A method, comprising:

accessing a plurality of parameters, comprising:

a plurality of tag identifiers associated with one or more tagged assets;

a plurality of asset names corresponding to a plurality of tagged assets, a first asset name of the plurality of asset names corresponding to a first tagged device of the one or more tagged assets;

a plurality of geofences, wherein each geofence indicates a predefined area; and

asset location information comprising global positioning coordinates of the one or more tagged assets;

obtaining a first tag identifier of the plurality of tag identifiers and the first asset name of the plurality of asset names of the first tagged device;

determining whether the asset location information comprises first global positioning coordinates of the first tagged device;

in response to determining that the asset location information comprises the first global positioning coordinates, determining whether the first tagged device is located in a first predefined area based at least in part upon matching the first global positioning coordinates to a first geofence of the plurality of geofences;

in response to determining that the first tagged device is located in the first predefined area, generating a first update indicating that the first tagged device is located in the first predefined area; and

in response to determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, generating an alert indicating that the first tagged device is not located in the first predefined area.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

in conjunction with determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, determining whether the first tagged device is coupled to a first gateway; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is coupled to the first gateway, identifying a first gateway location as a current location of the first tagged device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is coupled to the first gateway, determining whether the asset location information comprises second global positioning coordinates of the first gateway;

in response to determining that the asset location information comprises the second global positioning coordinates, determining whether the first tagged device is located in a second predefined area based at least in part upon matching the second global positioning coordinates to a second geofence of the plurality of geofences; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is located in the second predefined area, generating a second update indicating that the first tagged device is located in the second predefined area.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

in conjunction with determining that the asset location information does not comprise the first global positioning coordinates, determining whether the first tagged device is coupled to a first gateway;

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is not coupled to the first gateway, determining whether the first tagged device is scanned within a threshold period of time; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is not scanned within the threshold period of time, identifying as unknown with a current location of the first tagged device.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

in conjunction with identifying as unknown the current location of the first tagged device, retrieving a last known location of the first tagged device;

transmit a location request to the first tagged device at the last known location of the first tagged device; and

generate the alert to a second gateway located within a threshold distance from the last known location of the first tagged device, the alert indicating the last known location of the first tagged device and that the first tagged device is not located in the first predefined area.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is missing in the asset location information, determining whether the first tagged device is coupled to a first gateway;

in conjunction with determining that the first tagged device is coupled to the first gateway, determining whether the first tagged device is scanned within a threshold period of time;

in response to determining that the first tagged device is scanned within the threshold period of time, determining whether the first tagged device is scanned by a second gateway; and

in response to determining that the first tagged device is not scanned by the second gateway, identifying a supplemental gateway location as a current location of the first tagged device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2023
From: BUSTAMANTE, DIANE KATHLEEN; HYNUM, ERIN ALAN; RUDIE, GLEN LAWRENCE; VERHOEVEN, JEROME PAUL; HOSLI, KEITH JAMES
To: THERMA-STOR LLC
Reel/Frame 064059/0401 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240430641A1 · Dec 26, 2024
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