Asset management device and method using simplex satellite transmitter augmented with local area transceiver

Abstract

A device, method, and computer program product for monitoring and transmitting a location and a local status of a remote device using a satellite transmitter is provided. The monitoring device includes a position location unit, a satellite transmitter, a power source, a controller, and a short-range radio transceiver. The position location unit is configured to determine a location of the remote device. The satellite transmitter is configured to transmit the location to one or more satellites in low earth orbit. The controller includes a power management unit configured to control a power state of the position location unit and the satellite transmitter, and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the position location unit and the satellite transmitter. The short-range radio transceiver is used to configure and remotely manage the monitoring device and is used by the monitoring device to monitor local sensors wirelessly.

1 . A monitoring device configured to monitor a remote status of mobile assets, comprising: 
 a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device;    a simplex satellite transmitter configured to transmit the location to one or more satellites;    a power source;    an external interface for communicating with one or more devices;    a controller in communication with the external interface and including a power management unit configured to control a power state of the position location unit and of the simplex satellite transmitter; and wherein    the controller is further configured to control the position location unit to determine the location and to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit the location based on the interval schedule.    
   
   
       2 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the position location unit comprises a GPS receiver subsystem.  
   
   
       3 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the power management unit is further configured to control a power state of the external interface and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the external interface.  
   
   
       4 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the external interface includes at least one of a plurality of alarm inputs.  
   
   
       5 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the external interface includes a configuration interface configured to receive modifications to configuration parameters.  
   
   
       6 . The monitoring device of  claim 5 , wherein the power management unit is further configured to control a power state of the configuration interface and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the configuration interface.  
   
   
       7 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the external interface includes an external data unit configured to receive external data.  
   
   
       8 . The monitoring device of  claim 7 , wherein the power management unit is further configured to control a power state of the external data unit and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the external data unit.  
   
   
       9 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the external interface includes at least one of a wired or wireless interface.  
   
   
       10 . A monitoring device for monitoring a remote status of a mobile asset, the monitoring device comprising: 
 a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device;    a satellite transmitter to transmit the location to one or more satellites;    an external interface for communicating with one or more devices;    a power source; and    a controller in communication with the external interface and including a power management unit configured to control the supply of power from the power source to the satellite transmitter on an interval schedule.    
   
   
       11 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the position location unit comprises a GPS receiver subsystem.  
   
   
       12 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the external interface includes at least one of a wired or wireless interface.  
   
   
       13 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the power source comprises a battery.  
   
   
       14 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the one or more satellites operate as a bent-pipe relay device.  
   
   
       15 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the external interface includes at least one of an alarm input, a configuration interface configured to receive modifications to configuration parameters, and an external data unit configured to receive external data.  
   
   
       16 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the external interface is periodically enabled by the power management unit to communicate with one or more devices.  
   
   
       17 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the external interface is used to modify an operating configuration of the monitoring device.  
   
   
       18 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the external interface is used to monitor one or more sensor devices.  
   
   
       19 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the external interface is used to relay information received from one or more devices.  
   
   
       20 . The monitoring device of  claim 18 , wherein a sensor is at least one of a door sensor, a cargo sensor, a dry contact circuit closure sensor, a temperature sensor, an analog voltage sensor, an analog measurement sensor, a volume sensor, a pressure sensor, or a humidity sensor.  
   
   
       21 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the external interface detects a remote sensor and initiates a satellite transmission.  
   
   
       22 . The monitoring device of  claim 21 , wherein the satellite transmission contains data from at least one of the remote sensor, the monitoring device, and the position location unit.  
   
   
       23 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the position location unit to determine the location and to control the satellite transmitter to transmit the location based on the interval schedule.  
   
   
       24 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the interval schedule is at least one of a repeated fixed interval, a set of fixed intervals sequentially executed and repeated as a set, or an interval which is randomly or pseudo-randomly adjusted over time.  
   
   
       25 . The monitoring device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, to cause the satellite transmitter to transmit alarm data.  
   
   
       26 . The monitoring device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, to enable power to the satellite transmitter and to the position location unit, and to cause the position location unit to determine the location and to cause the satellite transmitter to transmit the location and alarm data.  
   
   
       27 . The monitoring device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, to enable power to the external interface.  
   
   
       28 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to detect modifications to a configuration parameter, and upon detection of modifications to the configuration parameter, to modify operation in accordance with the configuration parameter.  
   
   
       29 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to detect external data from a device, and upon detection of external data, to cause the satellite transmitter to transmit the external data.  
   
   
       30 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to queue transmissions to the satellite transmitter and to control the satellite transmitter to transmit the queued transmissions as a block.  
   
   
       31 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to control the satellite transmitter to periodically transmit a health status of the remote device.  
   
   
       32 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , further comprising a motion detection unit.  
   
   
       33 . The monitoring device of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the position location unit to determine the location and to cause the satellite transmitter to transmit the location upon detection of motion by the motion detection unit.  
   
   
       34 . The monitoring device of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the satellite transmitter to transmit a motion detection message upon a determination by the motion detection unit of a stop of motion followed by a start of motion.  
   
   
       35 . The monitoring device of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the satellite transmitter to transmit a motion cease message upon a detection by the motion detection unit of a start of motion followed by a stop of motion.  
   
   
       36 . The monitoring device of  claim 10 , wherein the power management unit is configured to disable power and then enable power to the satellite transmitter on a duty cycle of less than a 1% power-on to power-off ratio  
   
   
       37 . A method for monitoring a remote device with an asset management device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 enabling power to an external interface of the asset management device;    transmitting a synchronization message through the external interface, the synchronization message containing a device identification data field associated with the asset management device;    enabling receive mode on the external interface for a period following transmission of the synchronization message and awaiting a potential response message from one or more remote devices; and    disabling power to the external interface.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the enabling power step comprises the step of enabling power to an external interface of the asset management device on at least one of a predetermined interval, a predetermined set of intervals, or an interval adjusted randomly or pseudo-randomly over time.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the remote device is a sensor.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the synchronization message contains a time data term instructing one or more remote devices of the next scheduled interval.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving by the asset management device a message from one or more remote devices; and    transmitting data using a satellite transmitter to one or more satellites.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the transmitted data contains data from at least one of the remote device or the asset management device.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of logically binding the remote device to the asset management device, whereby the remote device exclusively communicates with the asset management device for a period of time.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of roaming and temporarily binding by the remote device to one or more asset management devices.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the external interface is at least one of a wired interface or a wireless interface.  
   
   
       46 . A configuration tool for configuring one or more host satellite asset management devices using a wireless interface, wherein a host satellite asset management device includes a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device, a satellite transmitter to transmit the location to a satellite, and an external interface for communicating with the configuration tool.  
   
   
       47 . The configuration tool of  claim 46 , wherein the configuration tool provides for the configuration of a reduced set of host satellite asset management devices, with the reduced set based on data derived from the whole set of detected host asset management devices.  
   
   
       48 . The configuration tool of  claim 46 , wherein the configuration tool configures at least two of the host satellite asset management devices simultaneously.  
   
   
       49 . The configuration tool of  claim 46 , wherein the configuration tool configures one or more remote sensor devices.  
   
   
       50 . A gateway device for controlling one or more host satellite asset management devices, the gateway device comprising: 
 a wireless interface compatible with at least one of a host satellite asset management device or a remote sensor device; and    a controller device to control the wireless interface for communicating with a host satellite asset management device or a remote sensor device.    
   
   
       51 . The gateway device of  claim 50 , wherein at least one of a host satellite asset management device or the gateway device comprises: 
 a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device;    a satellite transmitter to transmit the location to one or more satellites;    an external interface for communicating with one or more devices; and    a power source.    
   
   
       52 . The gateway device of  claim 50 , wherein the controller device is further configured to detect new and exiting host satellite asset management devices and to communicate a change of device configuration based on proximity to the gateway device.  
   
   
       53 . The gateway device of  claim 50 , wherein the controller device is further configured to detect a host satellite asset management device and to configure the detected host device for low power operation while in proximity to the gateway device.  
   
   
       54 . The gateway device of  claim 50 , wherein the gateway device announces its presence to a host satellite asset management device and wherein the host satellite asset management device alters its mode of operation while in proximity to the gateway device.  
   
   
       55 . The gateway device of  claim 50 , wherein the controller device is further configured to relay information from nearby host satellite asset management devices to other gateway devices.  
   
   
       56 . The gateway device of  claim 50 , wherein the gateway device further comprises a communication interface for communicating with a remote system controller interface.  
   
   
       57 . The gateway device of  claim 56 , wherein the controller device is further configured to monitor nearby host satellite asset management devices and to relay data from the nearby host devices to the communication interface.  
   
   
       58 . The gateway device of  claim 56 , wherein the communication interface is at least one of a wired or wireless interface.  
   
   
       59 . An interrogator device comprising: 
 a wireless interface; and    a controller which monitors and detects the presence of one or more host asset management devices, and upon detection of a host device binds to and initiates a function that results in the host device transmitting a satellite message.    
   
   
       60 . The interrogator device of  claim 59 , wherein the transmitted satellite message contains at least one of location information, interrogator identification information, or interrogator information.  
   
   
       61 . The interrogator device of  claim 59 , wherein at least one of the interrogator device or the host satellite asset management device comprises: 
 a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device;    a satellite transmitter to transmit the location to one or more satellites;    an external interface for communicating with one or more devices; and    a power source.    
   
   
       62 . A method for modifying a configuration of a host satellite asset management device using a gateway device, wherein the host satellite asset management device comprises a position location unit, a satellite transmitter, a wireless interface, a power source, and a controller, and wherein the gateway device comprises a controller, a wireless interface, and a communication interface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 detecting by the gateway device the presence of the host satellite asset management device using the wireless interface of the gateway device;    establishing a wireless communication channel between the gateway device and the host satellite asset management device; and    modifying by the gateway device the configuration of the host satellite asset management device using the wireless communication channel, wherein the configuration is modified based on instructions received through the communication interface from a remote controller.    
   
   
       63 . A method for communicating data using one or more nodes, the method comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting from a master communication node a Network Master Idle Message comprising a Leader, Master Identification, Control register, Sequence Number, Dither parameter, and a checksum; and    initiating by the master communication node a period of input message detection during which the master communication node awaits a Network Slave Response Message from a slave communication node.    
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting by the slave communication node a Network Slave Response Message;    receiving the Network Slave Response Message by the master communication node; and    performing by the master communication node a function designated in the Network Slave Response Message.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising the step of resuming by the master communication node, upon receipt of a Network Slave Response Message, a low power mode for a periodic interval indicated by the Dither parameter.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising the step of resuming by the master communication node, upon failing to receive a Network Slave Response Message, a low power mode for a periodic interval indicated by the Dither parameter.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  63 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining a communications need by the slave communication node;    initiating by the slave communication node a period of input message detection during which the slave communication node awaits a Network Master Idle Message;    receiving the Network Master Idle Message by the slave communication node; and    qualifying the master communication node as acceptable using the Master Identification.    
   
   
       68 . The method of  67 , further comprising the step of initiating by the slave communication node a transmit function to the master communication node.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising the step of resuming by the slave communication node a lower power state until the slave communication node determines a communication need.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the Network Master Idle Message is transmitted on a an interval being at least one of a repeated fixed interval, a set of fixed intervals sequentially executed and repeated as a set, or an interval adjusted with a randomization term to randomly vary the interval.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein at least one of the one or more nodes is a device comprising a position location unit to determine a location of the device, a satellite transmitter to transmit the location to one or more satellites, an external interface for data communications, and a power source.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  71 , wherein the external interface is at least one of a wired or wireless interface.