Systems and methods for building multiple gps trackers from a common core

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for tracking an asset are provided. In particular, a device is provided that includes a processor; a wide-area network radio; a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; an accelerometer; and a physical interface. The processor communicates with two or more sensors via the physical interface. Based on the communication with the two or more sensors, the processor determines a type of sensor associated with each of the two or more sensors. The processor receives first information from a first sensor of the two or more sensors via the physical interface. The processor determines the first information received from the first sensor is related to a significant event. The processor records second information received from a second sensor of the two or more sensors via the physical interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer system comprising:
 a processor;   a physical interface; and   a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform:   communicating with two or more sensors via the physical interface;   based on the communication with the two or more sensors, determining a type of sensor associated with each of the two or more sensors;   receiving first information from a first sensor of the two or more sensors via the physical interface;   determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to a significant event, wherein the determination that the first information is related to the significant event is made based on the type of sensor associated with the first sensor; and   based on the determination that the first information is related to the significant event, recording second information received from a second sensor of the two or more sensors via the physical interface.   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more sensors comprise one or more of:
 one or more temperature sensors;   one or more humidity sensors;   one or more pressure sensors;   one or more gas sensors;   one or more light sensors;   one or more magnetometer sensors; and   one or more flow sensors.   
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the physical interface comprises one or more of:
 one or more CAN buses;   one or more universal serial buses; and   a wireless local area interface.   
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the significant event is a movement of the computer system. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to the significant event comprises determining the first information is associated with one of a movement or a lack of movement following a period of the other of the one of the movement or the lack of movement. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first information is associated with ambient air pressure, wherein the significant event is a change in ambient air pressure, wherein determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to the significant event comprises determining the change in ambient air pressure is greater than a threshold value. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to the significant event comprises determining a change in a quality associated with the first sensor is greater than a threshold value. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 communicating, by a processor of a computer system, with two or more sensors via a physical interface of the computer system;   based on the communication with the two or more sensors, determining, by the processor, a type of sensor associated with each of the two or more sensors;   receiving, by the processor, first information from a first sensor of the two or more sensors via the physical interface;   determining, by the processor, the first information received from the first sensor is related to a significant event, wherein the determination that the first information is related to the significant event is made based on the type of sensor associated with the first sensor; and   based on the determination that the first information is related to the significant event, recording, by the processor, second information received from a second sensor of the two or more sensors via the physical interface.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the two or more sensors comprise one or more of:
 one or more temperature sensors;   one or more humidity sensors;   one or more pressure sensors;   one or more gas sensors;   one or more light sensors;   one or more magnetometer sensors; and   one or more flow sensors.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the physical interface comprises one or more of:
 one or more CAN buses;   one or more universal serial buses; and   a wireless local area interface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the significant event is a movement of the computer system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to the significant event comprises determining the first information is associated with one of a movement or a lack of movement following a period of the other of the one of the movement or the lack of movement. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first information is associated with ambient air pressure, wherein the significant event is a change in ambient air pressure, wherein determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to the significant event comprises determining the change in ambient air pressure is greater than a threshold value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to the significant event comprises determining a change in a quality associated with the first sensor is greater than a threshold value. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code configured when executed by a processor of a computer system to:   communicate with two or more sensors via a physical interface of the computer system;   based on the communication with the two or more sensors, determine a type of sensor associated with each of the two or more sensors;   receive first information from a first sensor of the two or more sensors via the physical interface;   determine the first information received from the first sensor is related to a significant event, wherein the determination that the first information is related to the significant event is made based on the type of sensor associated with the first sensor; and   based on the determination that the first information is related to the significant event, record second information received from a second sensor of the two or more sensors via the physical interface.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the two or more sensors comprise one or more of:
 one or more temperature sensors;   one or more humidity sensors;   one or more pressure sensors;   one or more gas sensors;   one or more light sensors;   one or more magnetometer sensors; and   one or more flow sensors.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the physical interface comprises one or more of:
 one or more CAN buses;   one or more universal serial buses; and   a wireless local area interface.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the significant event is a movement of the computer system. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to the significant event comprises determining the first information is associated with one of a movement or a lack of movement following a period of the other of the one of the movement or the lack of movement. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the first information is associated with ambient air pressure, wherein the significant event is a change in ambient air pressure, wherein determining the first information received from the first sensor is related to the significant event comprises determining the change in ambient air pressure is greater than a threshold value.