Beacon enabled distribution items
Systems and methods of tracking distribution items using hardware components on or in the distribution items. Shippers and recipients of distribution items can track or locate a distribution item, especially a high value item, if the distribution item is lost, misrouted, or delayed.
1. A distribution item comprising:
an outer package;
a power supply attached to the outer package; and
a beacon attached to the outer package and in electrical communication with the power supply, wherein the beacon is configured to emit a unique signal recognizable by an interrogation device, and wherein the beacon is configured to stop emitting the unique signal in response to a deactivate signal transmitted wirelessly, by the interrogation device or by another remote computing device, in response to a delivery event associated with the distribution item.
2. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the power supply and beacon are attached via one or more leads.
3. The distribution item of claim 2 , wherein the outer package comprises a pull tab connected to the one or more leads.
4. The distribution item of claim 3 , wherein the pull tab adheres to at least one of the one or more leads, and when the pull tab is pulled, a portion of the at least one of the one or more leads is removed with the pull tab.
5. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the unique signal uniquely identifies the distribution item.
6. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the beacon comprises an antenna and the unique signal is a radio frequency signal.
7. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the beacon comprises an audible annunciator, and wherein the audible annunciator is configured to emit an audible signal in response to an interrogation signal.
8. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the beacon comprises a mechanical vibration component configured to vibrate in response to an interrogation signal.
9. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the power supply and beacon are contained within a label that is adhered to the outer package.
10. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the power supply and the beacon are embedded within a portion of the outer package.
11. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the beacon comprises a pressure sensitive layer configured to activate the beacon upon application of pressure to the beacon.
12. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the delivery event comprises the distribution item approaching, entering, leaving, or transiting through a geofence corresponding to an intended delivery point for the distribution item.
13. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the delivery event comprises a delivery scan of the distribution item.
14. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the deactivate signal is transmitted automatically in response to a deactivation request received from a sender or a recipient of the distribution item.
15. The distribution item of claim 1 , wherein the deactivate signal is irreversible such that the beacon permanently stops emitting the unique signal.