Node-enabled management of delivery of a shipped item using elements of a wireless node network

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs an improved method for managing a delivery of an item being shipped using a wireless node network having at least an ID node related to and traveling with the item being shipped, a mobile user access device operative to function as a master node, and a server, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node, shipping information from the server, the shipping information being related to the item being shipped and an identification of the ID node;
• detecting, by the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node, an unprompted advertising signal that includes an address of the ID node and a status of the ID node and that is broadcast from the ID node as the ID node comes within a communication range of the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node;
• associating the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item, wherein the step of associating the ID node and the mobile user access device further comprises generating association data on the mobile user access device reflecting a new logical connection between the mobile user access device and the ID node and including the address of the ID node and an address of the mobile user access device;
• and
• notifying the server by the mobile user access device operating as the master node about the acknowledged delivery.

A system for managing a delivery of an item being shipped using a wireless node network having at least an ID node related to and traveling with the item being shipped, the system comprising:

• a server;
• and
• a master node in communication with the server, the master node further comprising:
• a node processing unit,
• a node memory coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory maintaining code for execution by the node processing unit and shipping information related to the item being shipped, the shipping information comprising an identification of the ID node related to and traveling with the item being shipped,
• a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the ID node over a short-range communication path, and
• a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the server over a longer-range communication path;
• and
• wherein the node processing unit, when executing the code maintained on the node memory, is operative to:
• receive the shipping information from the server,
• receive an unprompted advertising signal detected by the first communication interface that includes an address of the ID node a status of the ID node and that is broadcast from the ID node, the signal being detected as the ID node comes within a communication range of the first communication interface,
• associate the ID node and the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item by generating association data to be stored on the node memory, the generated association data reflecting a new logical connection between the master node and the ID node and including the address of the ID node and an address of the master node, and
• transmit a message over the second communication interface to notify the server about the acknowledged delivery.