Method and system for asset management

Abstract

An asset management system can include one or more beacons, a remote computing system, and a program. The asset tracking method can include operating the beacon according to programmable instructions, and can additionally or alternatively learn to detect events.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A beacon system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a radio system; and   computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the system to:
 receive at least one beacon packet via the radio system, 
 determine a distance of at least one secondary beacon relative to the beacon system based on a respective beacon packet received via the radio system, and 
 perform an action based on a determined distance for at least one received secondary beacon. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the computer-readable media comprises computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the system to: periodically transmit at least one beacon packet using the radio system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein performing an action based on a determined distance for at least one secondary beacon comprises:
 sending a payload to a remote computing system.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein performing an action based on a determined distance for a secondary beacon comprises:   sending a payload to a remote computing system, wherein the payload includes the determined distance for the secondary beacon, and a beacon identifier included in the secondary beacon packet associated with the secondary beacon.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein for each received beacon packet, the beacon system determines a distance of the respective secondary beacon relative to the beacon system based on signal processing information associated with the beacon packet. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the signal processing information includes at least one of RSSI information and TOF (Time Of Flight) information. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each beacon packet includes a beacon identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the radio system comprises a Bluetooth radio, and   wherein for each received beacon packet, the beacon system determines a distance of the respective secondary beacon relative to the beacon system based on signal processing information associated with the beacon packet that is received via the Bluetooth radio.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the radio system further comprises an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) radio, and   wherein for each received beacon packet, the beacon system determines a distance of the respective secondary beacon relative to the beacon system based on signal processing information associated with the beacon packet that is received via the UWB radio.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 further comprising an inertial measurement unit (IMU),   wherein the computer-readable media comprises computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the system to detect movement of the system by using the IMU.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a cellular radio configured to transmit data from the system to a remote computing system. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 further comprising a GPS radio,   wherein the computer-readable media comprises computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the system to determine an outdoor position of the beacon system by using the GPS radio.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 further comprising a programmable push button,   wherein the computer-readable media comprises computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the system to detect a button press event associated with the push button, and report the button press event to a remote computing system via a cellular radio.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a battery. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a housing that is attached to a person. 
     
     
         17 . A beacon system, comprising:
 at least one processor;   a Bluetooth radio;   a UWB radio;   a cellular radio;   a GPS radio;   an IMU;   a programmable push button;   a battery; and   computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the system to:
 receive at least one beacon packet via the Bluetooth radio, 
 determine a distance of at least one secondary beacon relative to the beacon system based on a respective beacon packet received via the Bluetooth radio, and 
 perform an action based on a determined distance for at least one received secondary beacon. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 ,
 wherein performing an action based on a determined distance for a secondary beacon comprises:   sending a payload to a remote computing system via the cellular radio, wherein the payload includes the determined distance for the secondary beacon, and a beacon identifier included in the secondary beacon packet.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein for each received beacon packet, the beacon system determines a distance of the respective secondary beacon relative to the beacon system based on signal processing information associated with the beacon packet. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the signal processing information associated with the beacon packet is received via the Bluetooth radio. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the signal processing information associated with the beacon packet is received via the UWB radio.