Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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GPS MICRO TAG
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S Provisional
Application No.
63/151,886, filed on February 22, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in
its entirety.
FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY
[0002] The present invention generally relates to object tracking and theft
prevention, and more specifically to systems and methods for locating objects
and
the disclosure relates to GPS Micro tags that are tagged to the objects to
obtain a
real-time location. The GPS Micro tag is designed to communicate with other
tags or
with a network. The GPS Micro tags can be arranged for tracking the movement
of
objects, using Radio Frequency communication methods or any wireless
communication methods.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Basically packages are shipped from companies to customers. When a
package is left from the company and enters a delivery channel, the company
and
customer have access to status of the package. But, post the packages are
delivered
at a final destination, the customers, companies, shipping or logistics
companies
have not been able to track the theft or tampering of the delivered packages.
Usually,
the companies or the customers were able to check the status of the object
during
the transit but not after the package is delivered at a location due to which
claims on
the theft of the package are not processed as there is no proper evidence to
determine the theft.
[0004] In addition to theft of the packages, situations also commonly arise
where
tampering of items in a delivered package is performed. Various existing
approaches
to update the customer or the company of the delivery are utilized, but the
updates
provided by these approaches regarding delivery of the package is limited and
not
always reliable as they do not provide real-time status post the delivery of
the
package. However, without adequate evidence, it may be difficult to determine
if the
item in the delivered package was theft or already damaged, due to which
neither the
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company nor the customer is able to register a complaint with the local
authority or
any relevant authority regarding the theft of the item in the delivered
package .
[0005] Notwithstanding the recent advances in tracking object, there still
exists
various problems that lead to lack of understanding of the status of the item
in the
delivered package and its condition.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need for innovative solution where the
customers and
companies can track the delivered items or objects in real-time and alert
local
authorities at the time of theft. Also, there is a need for a solution for
sharing evidence
of the delivered items or objects, with the local authorities, which can be
utilized in
finding and retrieving the stolen items or objects from the suspects.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention is a system and method for Object tracking
that
enables customers and companies to track the delivered objects. The Object
tracking
systems update or notify customers or companies through Consumer App or
Business Licensed Integrated Software regarding a real-time location status of
the delivered objects using GPS Micro tags connected to them.
[0008] In one embodiment, the object can be a product, item, package,
container
or box but not restricted to the above explained.
[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, an object movement
notification is generated by the GPS Micro tags connected or equipped in to
the
object. The GPS Micro tag is configured to determine a movement of the object,
generate a sensor signal related to a current location of the object and
wirelessly
transmit the sensor signal to a wireless network and update or notify the
customer or
the company via Consumer App or Business Licensed Integrated Software
regarding
a real-time location status of the delivered object. Wireless communications
circuitry
is configured to communicate over a wireless network and processing circuitry
is
coupled to the GPS Micro tag and to the wireless communications circuitry to
communicate over the wireless network. The processing circuitry is configured
to
send location information over the wireless network responsive to the sensor
signal
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indicating the movement of the object and sharing a particular location or
vicinity of
the delivered object. The real-time location details received at the Consumer
App or
Business Licensed Integrated Software can be utilized as an evidence and can
be
shared with any local authorities which can help in finding and retrieving the
theft or
tamper of the delivered object.
[0010] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form. The concepts are further described in the Detailed
Description
section. Elements or steps other than those described in this Summary are
possible,
and no element or step is necessarily required. This Summary is not intended
to
identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor
is it
intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject
matter.
The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or
all
disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a GPS Micro tag equipped in an object.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a signalling process between the GPS Micro tag
and the
Application User Interface on device of the customer or company.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The invention relates to improved approaches for tracking location
of
objects not only during transport but also, after delivery of the objects. The
tracking
of the delivered object can provide location information to customers and
companies
if any movement of the object detected. The movement can be cased due to theft
or
moving of the object from one place to other. The tracking information
typically
contain real-time location information pertaining to the objects and the
tracking can
only be stopped by manual deactivation of the GPS Micro tag by customer.
Alternatively, companies or customers can gain access to tracking information
pertaining to the delivered objects via a website or a consumer application or
Business Integrated Software. According to one embodiment, the tracking
information includes at least location information and object condition
information.
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[0014] In the following description, numerous specific details are set
forth in order
to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will
become
obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced
without these
specific details. The description and representation herein are the common
meanings
used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the
substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-
known
methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in
detail to
avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present invention.
[0015] Reference herein to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a
particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the
embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The
appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the
specification
are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or
alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Further, the
order
of blocks in process flowcharts or diagrams representing one or more
embodiments
of the invention do not inherently indicate any particular order nor imply any
limitations
in the invention.
[0016] In one embodiment, when an object is delivered at a customers
location in
absence of the customer, the GPS Micro tag is activated in order to gather
location
information associated with the delivered objects current location in response
to a
movement or change in position of the delivered object. The location
information
includes at least location information and/or object condition information.
The location
information is generated typically by a location sensor or a global
positioning system
(GPS) receiver within the GPS Micro tag. The location information pertains to
conditions of or surrounding the object after it is delivered at a temporary
location or
a location of the customer's choice. The location information may also include
objects
conditions information which can vary with application. Examples of object
conditions
that can be provided within object conditions information include one or more
of
vibration, acceleration, speed, or direction of travel of, or force or
pressure on, the
delivered object.
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[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a GPS Micro tag configured to generate location
information of the delivered object when a movement is detected.
[0018] The GPS Micro tag communicates over the wireless communications
network through wireless communications circuitry coupled to the GPS Micro
tag.
The wireless communications circuitry may be any suitable type of wireless
communications circuitry such as Wi-Fi circuitry, Bluetooth circuitry, or
other wireless
local area network (WLAN) circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry
would
typically be Wi-Fi circuitry as most homes include a WLAN utilizing a Wi-Fi
communications standard.
[0019] FIG. 2, illustrates a communication between the GPS Micro tag and a
Network server, where the network server receives object location information
from
the GPS Micro tag which includes information related to a location of the
package
and object condition information. The Network server sends the received object
location information to the customer or company device where the information
is
displayed via an Application Programming Interface. The device may include a
Consumer App or Business Integrated Software. Further, An Application User
Interface at customer's or company's device can present the location
information of
the delivered object where a movement is detected.
[0020] In some embodiments, the location information can be one of real-
time
location information, object condition information, current location
information or
object status information etc.
[0021] In some implementations, the real-time location information
generated by a
GPS sensor equipped in the GPS Micro tag can be used as an evidence against
the
theft of the delivered object or to find the suspect. The real-time location
information
can be shared by the customer or the company, with any of the local
authorities or
any international authorities to find and retrieve the delivered object from
the suspect.
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[0022] In another embodiment, the real-time location information can be
shared
with the insurance companies or any third party businesses for claim
processing
against the delivered objects.
[0023] In other embodiment, the Consumer App or Business Integrated
Software
can be licensed to the companies or customers. The licensing may include a
monthly
subscription fee and a one-time installation fee for the GPS Micro tag.
[0024] In other embodiment, the GPS Micro tag can be tagged to the object
by a
Merchant or Manufacturer or Company. The object can be one of a consumer
electronic device, automobile, medical device or any item or product but not
restricted
to the above explained.
[0025] In another embodiment, the Business integrated licensed software can
be
integrated with existing delivery or tracking systems used by the companies or
manufacturers or merchants and have real time monitoring of the objects once
dropped to at the customers door, or dropped in a safe location intended by
customers instructions.
[0026] In one embodiment, the customer can be an end user or a consumer.
The
company can be a merchant, a manufacturer, an agency or a delivery partner.
[0027] In another embodiment, the location information can be a real-time
location
information or object condition information or current location of the object
etc.
[0028] Embodiments may also include computer program products for use in
the
systems of the present invention, the computer program product having a
physical
computer-readable having a computer readable program code stored thereon, the
computer readable program code comprising computer executable instructions,
that
when executed by a processor, cause the system to perform the methods of the
present invention.
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[0029] The
present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described
embodiments are
to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The
scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by appended claims rather than by the
foregoing
description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of
equivalency of
the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
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