# US 11,308,441 B2 · Method and system for tracking and monitoring assets > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,308,441 B2 - Document ID: US11308441B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/952,170 - Filed: 2020-11-19 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2002-04-24 - Assignees: IpVenture, Inc. - Applicants: IpVenture, Inc. - Inventors: Chung Lau; C. Douglass Thomas; Peter P. Tong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308441B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/0833: Tracking - A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)} - A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet} - A61B 5/0024: {for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network} - A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature} - A61B 5/1112: {Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS} - A61B 5/1123: {Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running (A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence)} - A61B 5/6801: {specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface} - A61B 5/7282: {Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition (cough events A61B5/0823; seizures A61B5/4094; sleep apnoea A61B5/4818)} - A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)} - G06F 11/3013: {where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems (testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02)} - G06F 11/3055: {Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available (error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in operations G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16)} - G06F 11/3058: {Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations (thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206)} - G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management - G06Q 10/0832: Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods - G06Q 10/107: Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing] - G16H 10/60: for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records - G16H 20/10: relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems - H04L 67/04: specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability - H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 4/20: Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel - A61B 5/02: Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow - A61B 5/1116: {Determining posture transitions} - A61B 5/1118: {Determining activity level} - H04W 4/027: {using movement velocity, acceleration information} - H04W 64/00: Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management - Y10S 128/92: Computer assisted medical diagnostics - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Improved approaches for tracking and monitoring status of articles are disclosed. The monitoring can produce notifications to interested parties. The notifications typically contain status information pertaining to the articles being tracked. Alternatively, interested parties can gain access to status information pertaining to the articles being tracked via a website. According to one embodiment, the status information includes at least position (location) information and shipping conditions information. Also disclosed are improved approaches for monitoring real time status information impacting inventory management of a company and/or its partners. Adverse changes in the status information of specific items can be identified in real time, and changes implemented as needed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for tracking and monitoring a plurality of assets, comprising: a portable electronic apparatus physically coupled to or within a particular asset of the plurality of assets, the portable electronic apparatus including at least a location detection circuitry, a wireless communication circuitry, a circuit board, and at least one antenna, the location detection circuitry configured to acquire data pertaining to location of the portable electronic apparatus, the wireless communication circuitry supporting a plurality of wireless communication networks, including a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the portable electronic apparatus including shared frequency synthesizing circuitry including a crystal oscillator, the location detection circuitry being operatively connected to the shared frequency synthesizing circuitry, and the wireless communication circuitry being operatively connected to the shared frequency synthesizing circuitry, the crystal oscillator configured to produce a temperature-compensated oscillating signal, the temperature-compensated oscillating signal being shared by the location detection circuitry and the wireless communication circuitry; a sensor device configured to wirelessly couple to the portable electronic apparatus via the first wireless network, the sensor device being configured to sense a condition at, in or proximate to the particular asset, and wirelessly transmit via the first wireless network, to the portable electronic apparatus, data pertaining to the condition being sensed by the sensor device; and a tracking and monitoring computing apparatus configured to receive at least (i) location data based on the data pertaining to location of the portable electronic apparatus and (ii) condition data based on data pertaining to the condition being sensed by the sensor device, transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus via at least the second wireless network, and the tracking and monitoring computing apparatus configured to analyze at least the location data and the condition data related to the particular asset being tracked and monitored, determine whether an electronic notification is to be provided based on at least the location data and/or the condition data, and initiate transmission of the electronic notification to at least an interested party if it is determined that the electronic notification is to be provided. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic notification is wirelessly transmitted to a wireless device associated with the interested party. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic notification is determined to be provided based on at least comparison of the condition data with one or more predetermined levels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic notification provided to the interested party alerts the interested party that a monitored condition of the particular asset has exceeded a predetermined level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic apparatus includes a first substrate for supporting at least one integrated circuit, and a second substrate, with at least a portion of the at least one antenna on the second substrate, the second substrate being separate from the first substrate, and wherein the second wireless network is different than the first wireless network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first wireless network is a local area network, and the second wireless network is a wide area network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first wireless network is a short-range wireless network, and the second wireless network is a cellular network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic apparatus is battery powered. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the portable electronic apparatus includes a first substrate for supporting at least one integrated circuit, and a second substrate, with at least a portion of the at least one antenna on the second substrate, the second substrate being separate from the first substrate, and wherein the second wireless network is being different than the first wireless network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna includes a shared antenna for use with both the first wireless network and the second wireless network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes a first wireless communication circuit supporting wireless communications over the first wireless network, and a second wireless communication circuit supporting wireless communications over the second wireless network, and wherein the first wireless communication circuit and the second wireless communication circuit are electrically and physically coupled to the circuit board. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is configured to be used with the first wireless network and the second wireless network, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one antenna is provided on the circuit board. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the location detection circuitry comprising global positioning system circuitry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the particular asset is being shipped from a shipper to a recipient, and wherein the tracking and monitoring computing apparatus is configured to enable a user to interact with a web interface to configure the electronic notification to the interested party regarding shipment of the particular asset to the recipient. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the particular asset is to be shipped from a requestor to a recipient, and wherein the system further comprises a web interface that is configured to enable the requestor or the recipient to configure the electronic notification regarding shipment of the particular asset to the recipient. ### Claim 16 A system for tracking and monitoring a plurality of assets, comprising: an electronic controller configured to: retrieve at least location data and condition data from a portable electronic apparatus coupled to or within a particular asset of the plurality of the assets; analyze at least the location data and the condition data related to the particular asset being tracked and monitored; and enable a wireless notification to be transmitted to at least a wireless device associated with an interested party to alert the interested party concerning the particular asset, wherein the portable electronic apparatus is configured to wirelessly couple to at least one electronic sensor, wherein the portable electronic apparatus receives data from the at least one electronic sensor regarding the condition data, at least a portion of the condition data pertaining to an attribute of an environment proximate to the at least one electronic sensor, wherein the portable electronic apparatus includes wireless communication circuitry, a circuit board and an antenna, and includes or couples to a location acquisition device that is configured to acquire data regarding the location data, the wireless communication circuitry supporting wireless communication over a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the portable electronic apparatus including shared frequency synthesizing circuitry including a crystal oscillator, the location acquisition device being operatively connected to the shared frequency synthesizing circuitry, and the wireless communication circuitry being operatively connected to the shared frequency synthesizing circuitry, wherein the crystal oscillator that produces a temperature-compensated oscillating signal, the temperature-compensated oscillating signal being shared by the location acquisition device and the wireless communication circuitry, and wherein the location data and the condition data are related to the particular asset being tracked and monitored by the system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes a first wireless communication circuit supporting wireless communications over the first wireless network, and a second wireless communication circuit supporting wireless communications over the second wireless network, wherein the first wireless communication circuit and the second wireless communication circuit are electrically and physically coupled to the circuit board, and wherein the antenna is configured for use with both the first wireless network and the second wireless network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the antenna includes a shared antenna for use with both the first wireless network and the second wireless network. ### Claim 19 A system for tracking and monitoring a plurality of assets, comprising: a portable electronic apparatus physically coupled to or within a particular asset of the plurality of assets, the portable electronic apparatus including at least a location detection circuitry, a wireless communication circuitry, a circuit board, and an antenna, the location detection circuitry configured to acquire data pertaining to location of the portable electronic apparatus, the wireless communication circuitry supporting a plurality of wireless communication networks, including a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the portable electronic apparatus including shared frequency synthesizing circuitry including a crystal oscillator, the location detection circuitry being operatively connected to the shared frequency synthesizing circuitry, and the wireless communication circuitry being operatively connected to the shared frequency synthesizing circuitry; a plurality of sensor devices configured to wirelessly couple to the portable electronic apparatus via the first wireless network, the plurality of sensor devices being configured to sense one or more conditions at, in or proximate to the particular asset, and wirelessly transmit via the first wireless network, to the portable electronic apparatus, data pertaining to the one or more conditions being sensed by the plurality of sensor devices; and a tracking and monitoring computing apparatus configured to receive (i) location data based on the data pertaining to location of the portable electronic apparatus and (ii) condition data based on data pertaining to the one or more conditions being sensed by the plurality of sensor devices, transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus via at least the second wireless network, and the tracking and monitoring computing apparatus configured to analyze at least the location data and the condition data related to the particular asset being tracked and monitored, determine whether an electronic notification is to be provided based on at least the location data and/or the condition data, and initiate transmission of the electronic notification to at least an interested party if it is determined that the electronic notification is to be provided, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes a first wireless communication circuit supporting wireless communications over the first wireless network, and a second wireless communication circuit supporting wireless communications over the second wireless network, and wherein the includes crystal oscillator is configured to produce a temperature-compensated oscillating signal, the temperature-compensated oscillating signal being shared by the first wireless communication circuit and the second wireless communication circuit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the first wireless communication circuit and the second wireless communication circuit are electrically and physically coupled to the circuit board, and wherein the antenna is configured for use with both the first wireless network and the second wireless network. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the antenna is configured to be used with the first wireless network and the second wireless network, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one antenna is provided on the circuit board. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises: a light sensor configured to obtain information regarding light as a portion of the condition information; and an acceleration sensor configured to obtain information regarding acceleration as a portion of the condition information. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the plurality of sensor devices further comprises two or more of the following sensors: a temperature sensor configured to obtain information regarding temperature as a portion of the condition information; and a humidity sensor configured to obtain information regarding humidity as a portion of the condition information; and a pressure sensor configured to obtain information regarding pressure as a portion of the condition information. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises: a temperature sensor configured to obtain information regarding temperature as a portion of the condition information; and a humidity sensor configured to obtain information regarding humidity as a portion of the condition information. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises: a temperature sensor configured to obtain information regarding temperature as a portion of the condition information; and a pressure sensor configured to obtain information regarding pressure as a portion of the condition information.