# US 10,121,028 B2 · Asset tag apparatus and related methods

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- Number: US 10,121,028 B2
- Document ID: US10121028B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/304,195
- Filed: 2014-06-13
- Published: 2015-01-01
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-26
- Assignees: Vypin, LLC
- Applicants: TrackBlue, LLC
- Inventors: Robert W. Sengstaken, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121028B2

## CPC

- G06K 7/10009: {sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves}
- A61J 1/035: {Blister-type containers (blisters in general B65D75/36)}
- A61J 7/04: Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J 7/049: {automatically changing in response to a schedule deviation by the patient}
- G06K 19/0702: {the arrangement including a battery}
- G06K 19/0716: {at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor}
- G06K 19/0717: {the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure}
- G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs}
- A61J 7/0436: {resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container}
- A61J 7/0454: {for dispensing of multiple drugs}
- A61J 7/0472: {of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset}
- A61J 7/0481: {working on a schedule basis}
- A61J 2200/30: Compliance analysis for taking medication
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE

## Abstract

An asset tag apparatus and methods of monitoring assets with an asset tag are provided. The asset tag apparatus includes a housing and a wireless transmitter located within the housing. A processor is located within the housing, wherein the processor is in communication with the wireless transmitter. An accelerometer is positioned within the housing, wherein the accelerometer is in communication with the processor, wherein a wake-up signal is transmitted from the accelerometer to the processor in response to an activation of the accelerometer, and wherein the wireless transmitter transmits a signal externally from the housing in response to the wake-up signal received by the processor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An asset tag apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a wireless receiver located within the housing and configured to receive a first signal including data pertaining to an identity of a remote source of the first signal, wherein the first signal is a radio frequency signal;
a wireless transmitter located within the housing and configured to transmit a second signal including the data pertaining to the identity of the remote source of the first signal, wherein:
the second signal is a radio frequency signal; and
the first signal and the second signal are of different frequencies;
a processor located within the housing and configured to communicate with the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter; and
an accelerometer positioned within the housing and configured to transmit a first wake-up signal to the processor in response to an activation of the accelerometer, the first wake-up signal causing the processor to transition out of a sleep state;
wherein the processor is configured to transmit a second wake-up signal to the wireless transmitter in response to receipt of the first wake-up signal, the second wake-up signal causing the wireless transmitter to transition out of a sleep state; and
wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the second signal externally from the housing in response to receipt of the second wake-up signal transmitted by the processor in response to receipt by the processor of the first wake-up signal, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the second signal at both a first repetition rate and a second repetition rate that is greater than the first repetition rate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second signal is in an ISM band of between 2.4 GHz and 2.485 GHz.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first signal is in a 915 MHz ISM band.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to process data pertaining to an event that caused the activation of the accelerometer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a timer located within the housing and configured to transmit a third wake-up signal to the processor at a predetermined repetition rate, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the second signal externally from the housing at the second repetition rate in response to receipt of the second wake-up signal transmitted by the processor in response to receipt by the processor of the third wake-up signal at the predetermined repetition rate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 5, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to:
transmit the second signal at the first repetition rate in response to receipt by the processor of the first wake-up signal; and
transmit the second signal at the second repetition rate in response to receipt by the processor of the third wake-up signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor located at least partially within the housing and configured to communicate with the processor, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of:
a moisture sensor;
a humidity sensor;
a temperature sensor;
a proximity sensor;
a Near Field Communications (NFC) reader;
a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader; and
a magnetic field sensor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activation of the accelerometer comprises at least one of:
a change in motion of the housing;
a single-tap on the housing;
a double-tap on the housing;
a rotation of the housing;
an impact force received on the housing; and
a change in orientation of the housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery located within the housing and configured to provide a quantity of power to the processor and the accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is configured to use less than 10 μAh of the quantity of power.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second signal includes a beacon comprising a micro-zone identification code including the data pertaining to the identity of the remote source of the first signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 10, wherein the beacon further comprises at least one of:
a unique tag address associated with the asset tag apparatus;
a manufacture code associated with the asset tag apparatus;
a battery status associated with at least one of a battery of the asset tag apparatus and a battery of the remote source of the first signal; and
sensor data provided by at least one sensor of the asset tag apparatus.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second signal having the beacon is transmitted at a specific frequency that is dependent upon a sensor located at least partially within the housing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the second signal at the second repetition rate when the accelerometer is activated.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second repetition rate is greater than the first repetition rate to a degree such that the asset tag apparatus is easier to identify when transmitting the second signal, as compared to another asset tag apparatus of similar construction that is transmitting the second signal at only the first repetition rate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wireless transmitter and the processor is configured to utilize a Bluetooth communication protocol comprising a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication protocol.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The asset tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to scan for the first signal for a channel scan time that is greater than a transmission period of the first signal.

### Claim 17

A method for tracking an asset with a tagging system, the method comprising:
pairing an asset tag to an asset, the asset tag comprising:
a housing;
a wireless transmitter positioned within the housing;
a processor positioned within the housing and configured to communicate with the wireless transmitter; and
an accelerometer positioned within the housing and configured to communicate with the processor;
transmitting a first wake-up signal from the accelerometer to the processor in response to an activation of the accelerometer;
transitioning the processor from a sleep state upon receipt by the processor of the first wake-up signal transmitted from the accelerometer;
transmitting a second wake-up signal from the processor to the wireless transmitter in response to receipt by the processor of the first wake-up signal;
transitioning the wireless transmitter from a sleep state upon receipt by the wireless transmitter of the second wake-up signal; and
transmitting a first signal externally from the housing using the wireless transmitter in response to receipt by the processor of the second wake-up signal, wherein the first signal includes data pertaining to an identity of a remote source of a second signal received by the asset tag, wherein each of the first signal and the second signal is a radio frequency signal, wherein the first signal and the second signal are of different frequency bands, and wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the first signal at both a first repetition rate and a second repetition rate that is greater than the first repetition rate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein:
the first signal is in an ISM band of between 2.4 GHz and 2.485 GHz; and
the second signal is in a 915 MHz ISM band.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
transmitting a third wake-up signal from a timer to the processor, wherein the timer is positioned within the housing, and wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the first signal externally from the housing in response to receipt of the second wake-up signal transmitted from the processor in response to receipt by the processor of the third wake-up signal.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein:
the first signal is transmitted by the wireless transmitter at the first repetition rate in response to receipt by the processor of the first wake-up signal; and
the first signal is transmitted by the wireless transmitter at the second repetition rate in response to receipt by the processor of the third wake-up signal.