GB2625387A

GB2625387A - Tracking system and method

Info

Publication number: GB2625387A
Application number: GB2219120.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Yarranton Matthew; Archard Lawrence
Original assignee: Ispaniel Ltd
Current assignee: Ispaniel Ltd
Priority date: 2022-12-16
Filing date: 2022-12-16
Publication date: 2024-06-19
Also published as: GB202219120D0

Abstract

An asset tracking system 100 comprises a plurality of tags 10-29 that communicate wirelessly with one another and with a hub 101, each tag being allocated to a subset. One tag in each subset is assigned a status of principal tag for that subset. The principal tag communicates on behalf of each tag in its subset. The principal tag may communicate with the hub on behalf of each tag belonging to its subset. The assignment of principal tag status is determined by comparing one or more characteristics of each tag, such as battery life, communication signal strength, and confidence in location. The characteristics may be compared periodically to determine if the principal tag should remain the same or change to a different tag. A tag may leave one subset and become a member of another subset. When a first subset 1 and a second subset 2 of tags having respective principal tags are within communication range of each other, their constituent tags become members of a combined subset. The tags may be associated with a mobile asset such as a refillable alcoholic beverage container. A super tag 30 having a superior characteristic to the other tags may act as the principal tag.

Description

TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD

The invention relates to a tracking system and method, in particular, but not exclusively to a tracking system and method of tracking commercial property.

BACKGROUND

It is known in the art to track items of personal or commercial property or "assets". An electronic tag may be attached to an item of property, for the purposes of identifying the item and/or monitoring the location of the item.

In the field of brewing alcohol, it is known to fill large numbers of containers, e.g. casks, kegs, etc. with beer or other beverages, and for the containers to be transported from the filling location, e.g. the brewery, to a second or further location, e.g. a distribution centre, or a retail establishment, for example a pub, bar or restaurant, in other words, some or all of the assets are mobile. Containers are typically returned to the filling location, for example once they are empty, to be refilled. By applying an electronic tag to a container, it is possible to identify the filling location, to identify the individual container, as well as the contents of the container. Other information, such as a use by date, may be stored in memory of the tag. The tag may be readable by a reader. A reader may be provided at the filling location, and any secondary or further destination of the container, to read the data stored on the tag. A control system may be provided to store and update data relating to the containers, for example, data relating to a tag's last known location may be stored in the control system.

It will be appreciated that similar systems are utilised in various industries, and are particularly useful in industries having a large asset population (i.e., a large number of items to track). However, for industries where each asset is small and/or has a relatively low value, it may be cost-prohibitive to supply and fit a tag to each item and to provide the necessary infrastructure for the system, e.g., to provide the tags, control system, and the readers necessary to identify and/or track the items.

Another difficulty which arises in relation to the brewing industry is that containers typically spend a considerable proportion of their time in environments which cause problems for over-the-air communications -they are typically surrounded by other metal containers, and often stored underground, for example in cellars. Repeated attempts to transmit or receive communications (for example in the event of failed attempts) depletes the on-device battery quickly, leading to even higher cost because the battery or whole device needs to be replaced relatively quickly. This is exacerbated as the size of the asset necessitates a smaller tag, and therefore, smaller battery, than other tracking systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is provided an asset tracking system including a plurality of tags operable to communicate wirelessly with one another and a hub; wherein each tag of the plurality of tags is allocated to a subset of the plurality of tags, and wherein one tag in each subset is assigned a status of principal tag for the subset, the principal tag being operable to communicate on behalf of each tag belonging to the subset for which it is the principal tag.

The principal tag may be operable to communicate with the hub on behalf of each tag belonging to the subset for which it is the principal tag.

The assignment of the status of principal tag may be determined by comparison of one or more characteristics of each of the plurality of tags The one or more characteristics may include one or more of battery life, communication signal strength and confidence in location.

The or each of the one or more characteristics of each of the plurality of tags may be compared periodically to determine whether the tag assigned the status of principal tag should remain the principal tag for the subset or whether a different tag in the subset should be assigned the status of principal tag for the subset.

A tag may leave one subset and become a member of an alternative subset.

The asset tracking system may include two or more subsets of tags, a first tag assigned the status of principal tag for a first one of the subsets and a second tag assigned the status of principal tag for a second one of the subsets, wherein when the first subset and the second subset are within communication range of each other, members of the first and second subsets become members of a combined subset and one of the first tag and the second tag is assigned the status of principal tag for the combined subset.

Each tag may be associated with a corresponding asset.

One or more of the plurality of tags may be associated with a mobile asset.

Each of one or more of the plurality of tags may be associated with a refillable container.

The asset tracking system may include a super tag having at least one characteristic that is superior to each of the plurality of tags, to enable the super tag to be a principal tag in favour of each of the plurality of tags.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order that the present disclosure may be more readily understood, preferable embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of an asset tracking system as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Figure 1 shows an asset tracking system 100. The asset tracking system 100 includes a hub 101. The hub 101 may be cloud-based. The hub 101 may be positioned at a first location. The first location may be substantially fixed, geographically. The hub 101 is operable to transmit and receive data. The hub 101 may be operable to store data. The hub 101 may include and/or be communicable with a user interface, including an input device and/or a display. The hub 101 may be communicable with one or more fixed and/or mobile devices. The hub 101 may be operable as a portal to access data relating to the asset tracking system 100.

The asset tracking system 100 also includes a plurality of electronic tags 10-19, 20-29. Each tag 1029 may be associated with a respective asset. Each asset may be mobile. Each asset may be a container, for example. Each tag 10-29 may be operable to communicate with the hub 101. Each tag 10-29 may be operable to transmit and/or receive data. The data that a tag 10-29 may transmit may include an indication of location confidence and/or a remaining power signal (i.e. an indication of battery status). Each tag 10-29 may include a battery or similar. Each tag 10-29 may have a rugged outer surface. Each tag 10-29 may be configured to be attached to an asset, for example a container. Each tag 10-29 may be disabled and enabled. The hub 101 may be operable to enable or disable a tag 10-29. Each tag 10-29 may be disabled whilst it is in a particular location, for example whilst it is at the first location.

The asset tracking system 100 may also include a first beacon 110. The first beacon 110 may be positioned in a second location. The asset tracking system 100 may also include a second beacon 120. The second beacon 120 may be positioned at a third location. Each of the first beacon 110 and the second beacon 120 may be operable to communicate with one or more of the tags 10-29 and/or the hub 101. Each of the first beacon 110 and the second beacon 120 may be operable transmit signals, which may include location data, for example. A signal transmitted by the first beacon 110 and/or the second beacon 120 may be received by any of the tags 10-29 that may be close enough to the first or second beacon 110, 120 to receive the signal.

The assets may belong to a subset or group of assets. Each specific subset of assets may exist temporarily, with assets leaving and joining the subset, to create a subset with different assets, each time. The number of assets in a subset may vary over time. For example, where each asset is a container, with a tag 10-29 associated with each container, a first plurality of tags 10-19 may belong to a first subset 1. A second plurality of tags 20-29 may belong to a second subset 2. There may be any number of tags in each subset -the skilled person will understand that ten tags per subset 1, 2 is an example only. Each of the tags may be operable to communicate with each of the other tags belonging to the same subset. Each tag 10-29 in a subset may have substantially the same location as the other tags in the same subset. In other words, a tag's allocation to a subset may depend on its approximate geographical location.

For example, the first subset 1 may include a plurality of tags 10-19, associated with assets located at a second location. The second location may be remote from the first location, which may be the location of the hub 101. The second location may vary, for example, each of the assets (and the associated tags 10-19) of the first subset 1 may be in transit. The first beacon 110 may transmit location data which may be intended to be received by any tag within the communication range of the beacon 110.

A second subset 2 may include a second plurality of tags 20-29. The second subset 2 may be positioned at a third location. The second beacon 120 may transmit location data which may be intended to be received by any tag which is within the communication range of the beacon 120.

Membership of a subset may depend on the proximity of the tags 10-29 with one another. If any two tags are within communication range with each other then they may be in the same subset. The maximum communication range for defining membership of a subset may be within the limitations of a short-range communication technology.

The asset tracking system 100 may also include one or more super tags 30. The or each super tag 30 may be provided with a superior battery compared with a "standard" tag 10-29. A super tag 30 may have different physical characteristics from a "standard" tag 10-29. For example, the or each super tag 30 may be larger than a standard tag 10-29 and/or have a superior transmitter/receiver for transmitting/receiving signals and/or may have a less rugged outer surface. The or each super tag 30 may be capable of transmitting and/or receiving signals on behalf of a subset 1, 2 with which it is associated. The or each super tag 30 may be a principal tag for the subset 1, 2 with which it is associated, and this will be explained in more detail below.

Each tag 10-29 may attempt to determine its location. Crowd-source location data may be used, e.g., proximity to other devices using the same or similar geolocation protocol may enable sharing of location data between devices. A tag 10-29 may communicate the location data it has established with the hub 101 (or at least attempt, to), in order to verify the location data. The hub 101 may have stored data relating to an intended or actual location of the tag 10-29, with which the location data established by the tag may be compared, to estimate a confidence level in the location data. Actual location data may be transmitted to the hub 101 by another device, e.g. when a tag and its associated asset arrives at a location, there may be a manual or automatic check of the tags which are present, and that data may be communicated to the hub 101. The confidence level may be established in an alternative manner, for example by communicating with another device, e.g. a beacon 110, 120.

Once a tag 10-29 has established its location, it transmits that data, to be intended to be received by any other tag within the communication range of the transmitting tag 10-29. A tag which has established its location may also transmit location confidence data, e.g. how accurate the location data is likely to be. Each tag may use short range radio frequency (RE) technology, e.g. Bluetooth, WiFi, Ultra-Wideband, or any other suitable technology to transmit the data. The communication method may be a low-energy communication method.

One of the tags 10-19 in the first subset 1 may be identified as and/or allocated the status of principal tag for the subset. The principal tag may be identified and/or allocated the status of principal tag on the basis of one or more advantages over the other tags 10-19 in the subset 1. Characteristics which may provide an advantage may be battery power remaining and/or confidence in its own location, and/or communication signal strength, for instance. It will be understood that additional or alternative characteristics or advantages may identify or assist in identifying the principal tag 10-19 of the subset. Each tag 10-19 transmits characteristic data, e.g battery power used data (which may be expressed in milliseconds used, for example) and/or location confidence data. Each tag 10-19 may communicate with every other tag 10-19 that is within a certain communication range. Each tag 1019 may communicate with each other tag 10-19 in the subset using a low-energy communication method. Each tag 10-19 may communicate with the other tags in the subset 1 or in its vicinity via using short-range radio frequency technology. Each tag 10-19 in the same subset 1 receives the characteristic data from each of the other tags 10-19 in the subset 1. Each tag 10-19 in the subset 1 compares the characteristic data received from the or each other tag in the same subset with its own characteristic data. In the event that the tag receives data indicating that it has one or more advantages over the other tags in the subset 1, then the tag identifies itself as the principal tag of the subset 1. Each characteristic may have a priority, so for example, higher battery power remaining may be considered a higher priority characteristic than location confidence (or vice versa) and therefore, in which case, a tag having a higher battery life but lower location confidence than another tag in the same subset may be identified as the principal tag. In the example shown, tag 13 is identified as the principal tag of the first subset 1. The principal tag, in this case tag 13, is then responsible for communicating on behalf of all of the tags 10-19 in the subset 1. The principal tag may be responsible for communicating on behalf of the entire subset, until such time as it is replaced as the principal tag. The principal tag 13 may be responsible for performing or at least attempting to perform attempting long range communication, for example with the hub 101. The principal tag 13 knows how many tags are part of its subset and may communicate this information to the hub 101, for example. The principal tag 13 may communicate information relating to itself and/or the other members of the subset 1 for which it is the principal tag. The principal tag 13 may communicate one or more of identification data, location data, battery life data location confidence data on behalf of itself and/or on behalf of other members of the subset for which it is the principal tag.

Each tag 10-19 may transmit its own characteristic data and receive characteristic data from the other tags 10-19 in the subset 1 at predetermined time intervals, and/or in response to a trigger event. The predetermined time interval may be a number of hours, or minutes, for example 24 hours. A trigger event may be a tag changing location and/or leaving the subset and/or a tag joining the subset and/or the characteristic data of one or more tags changing, for instance the battery power remaining of the principal tag falls below a threshold, or the confidence level in the location data becomes lower (e.g. below a previous confidence level or below a confidence level of at least one other tag in the subset 1) or the confidence level in the location data falls below a threshold. In the event that the principal tag no longer exhibits one or more advantages (or the advantages its characteristics provide are of lower priority compared with those of another tag in the subset), the tag which exhibits one or more of the highest priority advantages/characteristics may become the principal tag.

A principal tag may be identified for each subset. The same principles described above apply in the second subset 2, to identify a principal tag of the second subset 2. The principal tag of the second subset 2 is shown as tag 20, as an example.

It will be understood that any tag 10-29 is capable of being the principal tag of a subset. In fact, upon manufacture or initialisation, each tag 10-29 is, temporarily at least, the principal tag of a subset which includes only itself. Each tag 10-29 is a principal tag until it receives a communication indicating that it is a member of a subset 1, 2, and that it is not the principal tag of the subset 1, 2. VVhen a principal tag of a subset 1, 2 is within range of another principal tag, there is an exchange of data and the principal tag with one or more advantageous characteristics, for example longer battery life remaining, and/or location confidence, and/or communication signal strength remains the principal tag of its subset 1, 2, and the other principal tag becomes a member of that subset. The members of the subset 1, 2 of the "other" principal tag (i.e. the principal tag which ceases to be a principal tag) may also be included in the subset of the principal tag with one or more advantageous characteristics.

Two or more subsets may combine, for example in the event that the member tags of each subset are sufficiently close to one another to be able to communicate with each other. The principal tag of each subset transmits its characteristic data, and it is determined which of the principal tags should be the principal tag for the new, larger subset. The "unsuccessful" principal tag may receive a communication from the principal tag, indicating that the unsuccessful principal tag is a member of the subset and no longer a principal tag. The unsuccessful principal tag ceases long range communication attempts.

In the unlikely event that no tag 10-19, 20-29 in a subset 1, 2 is able to determine its location, a principal tag of the subset 1, 2 may still be identified on the basis of another characteristic. The principal tag may attempt to communicate with the hub 101, for example to try to ascertain its location. The hub 101 may have stored data relating to previous locations of the principal tag and/or subset, and/or data relating to an intended location of the principal tag and/or its subset, and such stored data may be used to determine the current location of the principal tag and/or the subset 1, 2 to which it belongs.

In the event that the principal tag is removed from the subset, for example the asset to which the tag is attached is moved outside the communication range of the subset, then it continues to act as a principal tag, even if its subset only includes itself, until such time as it comes within range of another tag which is operating as a principal tag, and then the principal tags determine which of them should operate as the principal tag of the new subset. The tags remaining in the original subset from which the principal tag was removed transmit their characteristic data to each other to identify a new principal tag of the subset, in the manner described above.

Where a super tag 30 is provided, the super tag 30 may be the default principal tag in a subset 1, 2. The super tag 30 may be positioned in a location where wireless communications are easier to achieve. For example, if the tags 10-29 are positioned (or likely to be positioned) in a location where wireless communication is difficult, e.g. a cellar, then the super tag 30 may be installed in a different location from the tags 10-29, for example above ground, perhaps in a bar or office. The super tag 30 may have a superior battery compared with a standard tag 10-29. The super tag 30 may be operable to communicate with the or each tag 10-29 in the subset 1, 2 with which the super tag 30 is associated. The super tag 30 may be operable to communicate with the hub 101. The super tag 30 may be operable to transmit data relating to the location of the tags 10-29 in the subset 1, 2 with which it is associated. The super tag 30 may be delivered to a location, and remain there permanently or semi-permanently. The super tag 30 is not associated with an asset, but is effectively associated with a location. Each asset (and associated tag 10-29) that comes within range of the super tag 30 becomes a member of the subset of the super tag 30. The super tag 30 is the default principal tag of the subset since it has a superior battery to all standard tags 10-29. In the event that the battery life of the super tag 30 becomes shorter than that of another tag 10-29 in its subset and/or stops communicating with tags 10-29 and/or the hub 101, then that may be an indication of failure of the super tag 30. This may be an indication that the battery need to be replaced and/or other maintenance or replacement of the super tag 30 is required.

The hub 101 may be operable to display or communicate location data of each tag and/or subset of tags to a user. The user may use an app or similar to access the data held by the hub.

In the case of the brewing industry, the presently disclosed system and method is particularly advantageous. Each container may have a tag applied. Each tag may be enabled. Each container may be filled at a first location, and information relating to the contents of the container may be communicated to the hub 101. Each container may have an intended destination, in other words it may be assigned to a particular order. A first subset 1 of containers may be positioned in a first location. The first location may be "dispatch" within a distribution centre or on a mode of transport, for example. All of the tags 10-19 in the first subset are close enough to one another to be able to communicate with one another using a short-range communication protocol. A principal tag 13 of the first subset 1 is identified. The subset 1 may include tags (i.e. containers) intended to fulfil multiple orders, for example. As the containers are delivered, the make-up of the subset 1 alters. As some of the tags are removed from the first subset 1, it may be necessary to determine a new principal tag for the subset. For example, if principal tag 13 is removed from the first subset 1, perhaps as a result of being delivered, then the subset must identify a new principal tag. Tags may join the first subset, for example if containers are collected, and placed in proximity with the containers belonging to the first subset. Each of the tags belonging to the subset transmit their characteristic data to each other to determine which of the tags should be the principal tag of the subset. The tag identified as the principal tag of the subset may communicate location data of the subset to the hub 101. The principal tag may also communicate identity information relating to the tags within its subset to the hub 101.

One or more tags 10-19 from the first subset 1 may join the tags 20-29 in another subset, e.g. the second subset 2, for example as a result of being delivered to the second location. If the principal tag 13 joins the second subset 2, then it is necessary for the two principal tags to determine which of them should be the principal tag of the new subset, as described above. The new principal tag then communicates with the hub to provide information relating to the location of the subset. The principal tag may also communicate identity data of the tags within its subset to the hub.

The system may be used to communicate other characteristics of tags and/or the assets to which they are attached to the hub. For example, the length of time that a tag has been in a certain location may be an indicator that the asset should be returned to the first location. Each tag may be updated with information relating to the contents of the container -e.g. fill level data, which may be communicated to the hub via the principal tag. Such data may enable automated ordering and collection methods, for example.

An advantage of the system and method disclosed herein is that the energy is conserved by only the principal tag of a group communicating or attempting to communicate on behalf of the whole group of tags to which it belongs. Therefore, as long as there is more than one tag in a group, energy is conserved, since all of the tags except the principal tag avoid wasting energy on communication attempts. The life of each tag may be extended, which reduces electronic waste, and/or the time between the battery of the tag being replaced and/or charged is increased. The ability to disable and enable each tag 10-29 also conserves energy.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components The invention may also broadly consist in the parts, elements, steps, examples and/or features referred to or indicated in the specification individually or collectively in any and all combinations of two or more said parts, elements, steps, examples and/or features. In particular, one or more features in any of the embodiments described herein may be combined with one or more features from any other embodiment(s) described herein.

Protection may be sought for any features disclosed in any one or more published documents referenced herein in combination with the present disclosure Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and/or to encompass equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An asset tracking system including a plurality of tags operable to communicate wirelessly with one another and a hub; wherein each tag of the plurality of tags is allocated to a subset of the plurality of tags, and wherein one tag in each subset is assigned a status of principal tag for the subset, the principal tag being operable to communicate on behalf of each tag belonging to the subset for which it is the principal tag.
2 An asset tracking system according to claim 1 wherein the principal tag is operable to communicate with the hub on behalf of each tag belonging to the subset for which it is the principal tag.
3 An asset tracking system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the assignment of the status of principal tag is determined by comparison of one or more characteristics of each of the plurality of tags 4 An asset tracking system according to claim 3 wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of battery life, communication signal strength and confidence in location.An asset tracking system according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the or each of the one or more characteristics of each of the plurality of tags are compared periodically to determine whether the tag assigned the status of principal tag should remain the principal tag for the subset or whether a different tag in the subset should be assigned the status of principal tag for the subset.6. An asset tracking system according to any of the preceding claims wherein a tag may leave one subset and become a member of an alternative subset.7. An asset tracking system according to any of the preceding claims including two or more subsets of tags, a first tag assigned the status of principal tag for a first one of the subsets and a second tag assigned the status of principal tag for a second one of the subsets, wherein when the first subset and the second subset are within communication range of each other, members of the first and second subsets become members of a combined subset and one of the first tag and the second tag is assigned the status of principal tag for the combined subset.8. An asset tracking system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each tag is associated with a corresponding asset.9 An asset tracking system according to any of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the plurality of tags is associated with a mobile asset.10. An asset tracking system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of one or more of the plurality of tags is associated with a refillable container.11. An asset tracking system according to any of the preceding claims including a super tag having at least one characteristic that is superior to each of the plurality of tags, to enable the super tag to be a principal tag in favour of each of the plurality of tags.