Mobile wireless network for asset tracking and supply chain monitoring

A method for supply chain monitoring, the method comprising:

• establishing a communication network, the communication network including a plurality of mobile sensor nodes;
• each of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes receiving status information obtained by other mobile sensor nodes in the communication network;
• each of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes periodically transmitting the received status information to at least one other mobile sensor node in the communication network;
• each of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes compiling at least one log file, the at least one log file including the received status information;
• each of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes storing the at least one log file;
• at least one of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes operating in a watchman mode, the at least one of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes operating in the watchman mode operates in a standby mode to receive the status information from other mobile sensor nodes operating in the watchman mode, and determines whether any of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes are in an alarm condition based on the received status information;
• placing the mobile sensor nodes not operating in the watchman mode in a sleep mode;
• and
• responsive to determining that any of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes are in an alarm condition, the watchman mode further comprising:
• waking the mobile sensor nodes not operating in the watchman mode from the sleep mode;
• and
• transmitting a notification of the alarm condition.

A system for supply chain monitoring, the system comprising:

• a plurality of mobile sensor nodes, at least one of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes operable in a watchman mode to determine if a different one of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes is in an alarm condition, and when the different one of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes is in an alarm condition, to wake the plurality of mobile sensor nodes not operating in the watchman mode from a sleep mode;
• a data collection server;
• and
• a network bridge communicatively coupled to the data collection server and to at least one mobile sensor node of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes, the network bridge operating to:
• receive at least one log file, the at least one log file containing status information obtained by other mobile sensor nodes of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes;
• and
• transmit the log file to the data collection server,
• each of the plurality of mobile sensor nodes periodically transmitting the status information to at least one other mobile sensor node.

A first mobile sensor node in a communication network for supply chain monitoring, the communication network including the first mobile sensor node and other mobile sensor nodes to form a plurality of mobile sensor nodes, the first mobile sensor node comprising:

• a transceiver operating to:
• receive status information obtained by other mobile sensor nodes in the communication network;
• and
• periodically transmit the status information to at least one other mobile sensor node in the communication network;
• a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, the processor operating to compile a log file, the log file including status information for each of the other mobile sensor nodes in the communication network, the processor further operating in a watchman mode, and responsive to determining that any of the plurality of other mobile sensor nodes are in an alarm condition, waking mobile sensor nodes not operating in the watchman mode from a sleep mode;
• and
• a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing the log file.

A first mobile sensor node in a communication network for supply chain monitoring, the communication network including the first mobile sensor node and other mobile sensor nodes to form a plurality of mobile sensor nodes, the first mobile sensor node comprising:

• a transceiver operating to:
• receive status information obtained by other mobile sensor nodes in the communication network;
• and
• periodically transmit the status information to at least one other mobile sensor node in the communication network;
• a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, the processor operating to compile a log file, the log file including status information for each of the other mobile sensor nodes in the communication network;
• and
• a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing the log file,
• the first mobile sensor node operating in a watchman mode, the processor further operating to place the first mobile sensor node in a sleep mode when not operating in the watchman mode, wherein when the first mobile sensor node operates in the watchman mode, the transceiver further operates in a standby mode to receive the status information from the other mobile sensor nodes in the communication network, and the processor further operates to determine whether at least one of the other mobile sensor nodes in the communication network are in an alarm condition based on the received status information, and
• responsive to determining that at least one of the other mobile sensor nodes are in an alarm condition, the transceiver further operates to:
• wake all other mobile sensor nodes of the communication network from sleep mode;
• and
• transmit a notification of the alarm condition.