Systems and methods for facilitating long-distance, automated interaction with consumables

Abstract

A system for remotely detecting events with an article. The system can involve coupling a communication interface with an article. The system can connect to a first network to receive configuration details about a second network.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for detecting interaction with an article comprising:
 an article; and   a communications system coupled to the article comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect a predetermined event occurring to the article; 
 a wireless communication interface; and 
 a processor configured to:
 receive configuration data from a first network, via the communication interface, wherein the configuration data comprises access point connection information; 
 connect, using the communication interface, to the access point over a second network using the access point connection information; 
 detect an interaction from the sensor corresponding to the predetermined event occurring to the article; 
 transmit, to the access point, interaction data describing the detected interaction encoded in a signal that causes the access point to retransmit the interaction data to an operating server. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the article is a shippable item and the predetermined event is the article being opened. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a camera, wherein the processor is configured to take a picture of the person opening the article. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the sensor senses light. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article is an inhaler and the predetermined event is a drop in pressure in the inhaler. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event is at least one of blood pressure, blood oxygen level, and exhaled carbon dioxide measuring beyond a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a medicine container and the predetermined event is the container having a predetermined level of depletion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a light emitting device and the predetermined event is failure of the light emitting device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a tire on a vehicle and the event is failure of the tire. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the communications system further comprises a location sensor, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the location of the system upon the failure occurring. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a portable electronic device and the communications system has a power source that is independent of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a power source which captures ambient energy. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor serves as a power source for the processor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the communications system is coupled to a surface of the article such that the communications system is substantially indistinguishable from the surface of the article. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the coupling of the communications system with the article comprises integrating the communications system within a surface of the article. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the coupling of the communications system with the article comprises coupling the communications system within a sealed portion of the article that is configured to be unsealed. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to transmit to the access point at a lower power than the access point's connection to the operating server. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a human hand and the sensor is an NFC sensor embedded in the hand. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event is a user pressing a button representing that the user is in physical danger. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a power outlet and the communications system has a power source independent of the power outlet. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article contains a consumable item and the predetermined event is a user ordering a replacement of the consumable item. 
     
     
         22 . A computer implemented method for detecting interaction with an article, wherein the article is coupled with a communications system, wherein the communications interface system includes a memory module, a power source, a sensor for detecting an interaction event with the article, a processor coupled with the sensor, and a communication interface coupled with the processor;
 receiving, by a processor coupled to the article, configuration data from a device, wherein the configuration data comprises access point connection information;   connecting, using the communication interface, to the access point using the access point connection information;   detecting an interaction with an article;   transmitting, to the access point, the interaction data and an instruction to retransmit the interaction data to an operating server.   
     
     
         23 . The computer implemented method of  claim 22  wherein transmitting further comprises transmitting geolocation data. 
     
     
         24 . The computer implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising placing the processor and the communication interface in a sleep state and waking the processor and the communication interface upon detecting the interaction event. 
     
     
         25 . The computer implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein the article is contained within a shippable container and the interaction is the article being removed from the shippable container.