Systems and methods of controlling an association between wireless devices while in an assigned domain

Abstract

Systems and methods of controlling an association between wireless devices in an assigned domain or bonded area of a transport unit are disclosed. Generally, the embodiments include identifying wireless devices in a bounded area, and establishing an association between the wireless devices. The method may include identifying new wireless device(s) when the transport unit is away from other transport units, and establishing an association with the new wireless device(s). Confirming that the transport unit is away from other transport units may include determining that the transport unit is in a motion state for a predetermined period of time.

1 . A method of establishing a wireless association in an assigned domain, comprising:
 confirming the assigned domain is away from other assigned domains; and   establishing a wireless association between wireless devices in the assigned domain.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein confirming the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains includes:
 determining whether the assigned domain is in motion for at least a predetermined period of time; and   confirming the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains when the assigned domain in in motion for at least a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein confirming the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains includes:
 determining whether the assigned domain travels at least at a predetermined speed for at least a period of time; and   confirming the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains when the assigned domain travels at least at a predetermined speed for at least a period of time.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein confirming the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains includes:
 scanning tags of the wireless devices;   determining whether a new tag is present; and   when a new tag is present,
 waiting for a predetermined period of read time; 
 scanning the tags of the wireless device again; 
 determining whether the new tag is still present to confirm that the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing a wireless association between wireless devices on the assigned domain includes:
 adding the tags of the wireless devices to a tag list; and   assigning a data storage location to each of the wireless devices.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether any of the wireless devices is removed from the assigned domain; and   when any of the wireless device is removed from the assigned domain, removing the wireless device from the wireless association.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining whether any of the wireless devices is removed from the assigned domain includes:
 scanning the tags of the wireless devices;   determining whether any of the tags is missing by comparing the tags against a tag list;   when at least one of the tags is missing from the tag list and the one of the tags has been missing from the tag list at least for a predetermined number of read cycles, confirming a wireless corresponding to the at least one of the tags has been removed from the assigned domain.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein removing the wireless device form the wireless association includes:
 removing the tag from the tag list; and   freeing a storage unit assigned to record from the wireless device.   
     
     
         9 . A wireless association system for establishing a wireless association in an assigned domain, comprising:
 a plurality of wireless devices provided within the assigned domain;   a coordinator configured to confirm that the assigned domain is away from other assigned domains and configured to establish a wireless association between the plurality of wireless devices in the assigned domain.   
     
     
         10 . The wireless association system of  claim 9 , wherein the coordinator is configured to confirm the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains includes:
 the coordinator configured to determine whether the assigned domain is in motion for at least a predetermined period of time; and   the coordinator configured to confirm the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains when the assigned domain in in motion for at least a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless association system of  claim 9 , wherein the coordinator is configured to confirm the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains includes:
 the coordinator configured to determine whether the assigned domain travels at least at a predetermined speed for at least a period of time; and   the coordinator configured to confirm the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains when the assigned domain travels at least at a predetermined speed for at least a period of time.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless association system of  claim 9 , wherein the coordinator configured to confirm the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains includes:
 the coordinator configured to scan tags of the wireless devices;   the coordinator configured to determine whether a new tag is present; and   when a new tag is present,
 the coordinator configured to wait for a predetermined period of read time; 
 the coordinator configured to scan the tags of the wireless device again; 
 the coordinator configured to determine whether the new tag is still present to confirm that the assigned domain is away from the other assigned domains. 
   
     
     
         13 . The wireless association system of  claim 9 , wherein the coordinator configured to establish a wireless association between wireless devices on the assigned domain includes:
 the coordinator configured to add the tags of the wireless devices to a tag list; and   the coordinator configured to assign a data storage location to each of the wireless devices.   
     
     
         14 . The wireless association system of  claim 9 , wherein the coordinator is configured to:
 determine whether any of the wireless devices is removed from the assigned domain; and   when any of the wireless devices is removed from the assigned domain, the coordinator is configured to remove the wireless device from the wireless association.   
     
     
         15 . The wireless association system of  claim 14 , wherein the coordinator configured to determine whether any of the wireless devices is removed from the assigned domain includes:
 the coordinator configured to scan the tags of the wireless devices;   the coordinator configured to determine whether any of the tags is missing by comparing the tags against a tag list;   when at least one of the tags is missing from the tag list and the one of the tags has been missing from the tag list at least for a predetermined number of read cycles, the coordinator is configured to confirm a wireless corresponding to the at least one of the tags has been removed from the assigned domain.   
     
     
         16 . The wireless association system of  claim 14 , wherein the coordinator configured to remove the wireless device form the wireless association includes:
 the coordinator configured to remove the tag from the tag list; and   the coordinator configured to free a storage unit assigned to record from the wireless device.