Long-distance, automated event detection

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for detecting events occurring to an article at a remote location using low-power event detection circuitry and transmission of event detection messages over a network.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting interaction data from an article comprising:
 coupling a communication system with the article, wherein the communication system includes a memory, a power source, a sensor for detecting an interaction event with the article, a microcontroller coupled with the sensor, and a communication interface coupled with the microcontroller;   associating the communication system with an article identifier;   storing the article identifier in the memory;   sending the article to a location;   receiving, from a telecommunication network, a message indicating that the telecommunication network received the article identifier from the location upon the sensor detecting the interaction event with the article; and   recording, in the memory, the occurrence of the interaction event for the article identifier at the location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recording the location of the interaction event in the memory. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing the microcontroller and the communication interface in a sleep state and configuring the power source to wake up the microcontroller and communication interface upon detecting the interaction event. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the communication system with the article comprises coupling the communication system to a surface of the article such that the communication system is substantially indistinguishable from the surface of the article. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the communication system with the article comprises integrating the communication system within a surface of the article. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the communication system with the article comprises coupling the communication system within a sealed portion of the article that is configured to be unsealed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining, from the telecommunication network, a bulk portion of network bandwidth; and   provisioning the article identifier to have access to the bulk portion of network bandwidth.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining, from the telecommunication network, a bulk portion of network bandwidth; and   provisioning, from the bulk portion of network bandwidth, a predetermined portion of network bandwidth to the article associated with the article identifier.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing an ad hoc telecommunication network; and   configuring the network interface to communicate with the ad hoc telecommunication network.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article comprises a shipping package and the sensor is configured to detect the interaction event when the shipping package is opened. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the interaction event comprises breaking a circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the circuit comprises a sealed package, and wherein breaking of the circuit comprises unsealing the sealed package. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining an address for the shipping package to be shipped;   labeling the package with the address; and   associating the address with the article identifier.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising recording, in the memory, an occurrence of the detection event at the address. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication system is initially charged and periodically polls the sensor to determine if the interaction event has occurred. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the communication system further includes an additional sensor to determine when the package is opened, wherein the communication system polls the sensor to determine if the interaction event has occurred. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 housing the article in a shipping package, such that when the article is removed from the shipping package, the sensor detects the interaction event.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor comprises two circuit contacts that are configured to be blocked by the article when housed in the shipping package, and wherein the interaction event involves the contacts becoming unblocked when the article is removed from the shipping package. 
     
     
         19 . A system for detecting interaction with a paper article comprising:
 a paper article; and   a communication system comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect a predetermined physical event occurring to the paper article; 
 a microcontroller; 
 a power source operatively coupled with the microcontroller, wherein the power source is configured to supply the microcontroller with an operating voltage upon the microcontroller detecting predetermined physical event occurring to the paper article; 
 a memory containing an article identifier; and 
 a communication interface configured to send the article identifier to an operating server via a telecommunication network upon the microcontroller detecting the exogeneous physical event and the power source supplying the microcontroller with an operating voltage. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the network identifier is assigned to the communication system for recording the occurrence of the interaction event for the article identifier in an operating server. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the communication system is substantially indistinguishable from the paper article. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the communication system is instantiated on the paper article. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the communication system is embedded within the paper article. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the sensor comprises a photodetector and wherein detection of an interaction event comprises the photodetector detecting a threshold luminosity. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the power source is configured in a sleep state. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the power source comprises an ambient power source that derives power from a light source, and wherein the power source is configured to wake up from the sleep state upon being exposed to the threshold luminosity. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a battery or a capacitor.