Methods and devices for decommissioning micro-climate sensors

Abstract

A repository device for decommissioning a plurality of micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality of items of sale flowing through a supply chain is provided. The repository device includes an opening, at least one space, a plurality of sensors, and a sensor decommission circuit. The opening is for receiving at least two micro-climate sensors of the plurality. The at least one space is for storing the at least two micro-climate sensors, a plurality of sensors operative to detect a presence of the at least two micro-climate sensors; and a sensor decommission circuit structured to generate a decommission command value in response to detection of the at least two micro-climate sensors via the plurality of sensors.

1 . A repository device for decommissioning a plurality of micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality of items of sale flowing through a supply chain, the repository device comprising:
 an opening for receiving at least two micro-climate sensors of the plurality;   at least one space for storing the at least two micro-climate sensors;   a plurality of sensors operative to detect a presence of the at least two micro-climate sensors; and   a sensor decommission circuit structured to generate a decommission command value in response to detection of the at least two micro-climate sensors via the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The repository device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor communication circuit structured to transmit the decommission command value to at least one of:
 the at least two micro-climate sensors; or   a server.   
     
     
         3 . The repository device of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to the decommission command value, the at least two micro-climate sensors enters a decommissioned mode. 
     
     
         4 . The repository device of  claim 1 , wherein the decommission command value is structured to insert a marker in the product flow data for the at least two micro-climate sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The repository device of  claim 4 , wherein the marker denotes an end of valid product flow data. 
     
     
         6 . The repository device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of:
 magnetic sensors;   optical sensors;   pressure sensors; or   RFID sensors.   
     
     
         7 . The repository device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a status circuit structured to determine and transmit a status of the repository device. 
 
     
     
         8 . The repository device of  claim 7 , wherein the status is full, wherein full indicates the repository device contains a maximum number of micro-climate sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The repository device of  claim 7 , wherein the status is empty, wherein empty indicates an absence of micro-climate sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The repository device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a sensor identification circuit structured to determine and transmit an identification value of the at least two micro-climate sensors in response to detection of the at least two micro-climate sensors. 
 
     
     
         11 . The repository device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a backhaul initiation circuit structured to generate an initiate backhaul command value structured to initiate a pickup of the at least two micro-climate sensors from the repository device; and 
 a backhaul provisioning circuit structured to transmit the initiate backhaul command value. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method of decommissioning a plurality of micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality items of sale flowing through a supply chain, the method comprising:
 receiving at an opening of a repository device, at least two micro-climate sensors of the plurality;   detecting, via a plurality of sensors, a presence of the at least two micro-climate sensors; and   generating, in response to detecting the presence of the at least two micro-climate sensors, a decommission command value.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising transmitting the decommission command value to a server. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising decommissioning the at least two micro-climate sensors in response to the decommission command value. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising inserting a marker in the product flow data for the at least two micro-climate sensors in response to the decommission command value. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising storing the at least two micro-climate sensors in a space of the repository device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of:
 magnetic sensors;   optical sensors;   pressure sensors; or   RFID sensors.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 generating and transmitting a status of the repository device. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the status is full, wherein full indicates the repository device contains a maximum number of micro-climate sensors. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the status is empty, wherein empty indicates an absence of micro-climate sensors. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 identifying and transmitting an identification value of the at least two micro-climate sensors in response to detection of the at least two micro-climate sensors. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 generating and transmitting an initiate backhaul command value structured to initiate a pickup of the at least two micro-climate sensors from the repository device. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 in response to the initiate backhaul command value, removing the at least two micro-climate sensors from the repository device.