System and method for tracking assets

A method of tracking the location of an object, comprising:

• assigning a unique identifier for a first communication device, wherein the first communication device does not have the capability to determine its location;
• associating the first communication device with an object;
• associating the first communication device with a destination device of an intended recipient of the object;
• storing the unique identifier associated with the first communication device in a location server;
• periodically receiving, from respective ones of a plurality of second communication devices, a respective message comprising the unique identifier of the first communication device;
• associating the periodic location of the respective one second communication device with the first communication device;
• receiving, at the location server, data comprising spatial, temporal, and contextual data elements from a plurality of sources;
• identifying an event as satisfying a rule associated with the object and the destination device using the received spatial, temporal, and contextual data elements;
• and
• responsive to the identified event, and based on the rule associated with the object and the destination device, transmitting a message to one or more of the destination device and a delivery mechanism carrying the object.

A system for tracking the location of an object, comprising:

• a first communication device having a unique identifier, wherein the first communication device does not have the capability to determine its location, wherein the first communication device is configured to periodically transmit a message including the unique identifier, and wherein the first communication device is associated with an object;
• a location server comprising:
• a receiver configured to receive data indicating a projected travel path for the object and data comprising spatial, temporal, and contextual data elements;
• a rules/decision engine module configured to determine, based on two or more of the received spatial, temporal, and contextual data elements, the availability of second communication devices in the vicinity of the projected travel path for the object;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit, as a function of the determined availability of the second communication devices in the vicinity of the projected travel path for the object, a command to modify a transmission property of the first communication device;
• and
• a database, associated with the location server, configured to store the unique identifier.