1. A power efficient method for wireless remote health monitoring and tracking of items across multiple modes of transportation using existing wireless infrastructures; wherein the method comprises:
registering a wireless radio tracking device located with tracked items using an application processor on a network through a base station to facilitate location and health determination;
determining by the backend system of the network, utilizing appropriate software and accessing databases, the health and location of items tracked wherein progress information of the items tracked is stored in a database; and providing the progress information to authorized users, through an access point via at least one of the internet, web-service, email, SMS, or automated phone calls;
wherein determining the health and location of tracked items comprises:
obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items, comprising: retrieving from a network database or from stored cell-tower location information in the backend system a rough geographical position of the tracked items and providing a rough estimate of the location of the wireless radio tracking device within 1.5 miles or less, wherein the network comprises a cellular network;
obtaining a finer geographical location resolution, when requested by the application processor on the wireless tracking device; wherein obtaining a finer location resolution comprises: augmenting the rough geographical location information by sending additional data about the surrounding base stations and recent historical base station information; wherein recent historical base station information comprises: the base stations or networks to which the wireless radio tracking device is connected, the radio networks or bases stations detected by the wireless radio tracking device and global positioning location data of the wireless radio tracking device;
if the network comprises a WiFi network in combination with the cellular network, obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items additionally comprises: determining of a geographical location by the wireless radio tracking device; sending one data packet to the backend system; retrieving by the backend system the access point location by looking up the IP address location of the access-point, or requesting the access point location from the operator or third party location provider; and providing a rough estimate of the location of the wireless radio tracking device within 3 miles or better accuracy;
if the network comprises a LTE or VII network in combination with the cellular network, obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items additionally comprises: requesting by the tracking unit location information of the local access point; sending an information package to the backend system including the location information;
wherein determining the health and location of tracked items further comprises:
retrieving, other information, which is not from the wireless radio tracking unit or the network, the other information comprising:
known schedules for carriers of the tracked items, wherein the schedules for carriers of the tracked items comprise at least one of shipping company schedules, and airline schedules;
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data, flight tracking information and airport location;
locations of known sorting and reloading facilities wherein the locations of known sorting and reloading facilities includes at least one of locations of airports and major on the road work sites;
historical data from previous transports on the same or similar route;
fusing the other information with the geographical location of the tracked items;
using the additional information and the geographical location to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items;
wherein using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items comprises: wherein the other information that is retrieved further comprises known schedules, determining when expected pickup time is past due using the additional information including known schedules and triggering an alarm regarding the health an location of tracked items;
wherein using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items comprises: wherein other information that is retrieved further comprises: weather data, determining possible delays in transports using the additional information including weather data and raising alert levels regarding the health and location of tracked items for possible item damage due to hot, cold, or damp conditions;
wherein using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items comprises: wherein other information that is retrieved further comprises: airline schedules, flight tracking information and airport location determining if the tracked items missed the expected flights and triggering an alarm regarding the health an location of tracked items;
wherein using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items comprises: wherein other information that is retrieved further comprises: historical data from previous transports on the same or similar route, comparing current tracked items progress and routing, measuring the current items progress relative to the historical data and detecting anomalies regarding the tracked items progress using the historical data.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: changing the wireless radio tracking device behavior based on the current environment and prediction of the future environment wherein the current environment or future environment of the wireless radio device is determined based on local data and information provided by the backend system; and wherein the current environment or future environment is one of: airport, inside closed metal containers, warehouse, storagetransfer facilities and locations where no connection signal is expected;
determining, by the back end system, where the wireless radio device is located, a predicted path and environment going forward and devising an appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device relative to the location and environment;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises, when the environment is a airport or aircraft, the wireless radio tracking device behavior is modified to guarantee that the external transmitters are turned off when required by regulations and that the device comply with FAA DO-182, DO-294FCC recommendations for portable electronic devices aboard aircraft;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device further comprises: using multiple external sensors to ensure the-transmitters are powered down when it is unsafe to operate; turning transmitters of the wireless radio tracking device back on from aircraft mode so it safely can return to normal operation when on the ground based on external sensor information; wherein the external sensor information comprises at least one of acoustics engine sound, altitude, motion, lack of motion and rapid deceleration;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises causing causes a power down of the radio devices for a certain period of time, in order to save power, or better conceal the device;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises causing the wireless radio tracking device to connect to an aircraft communication or passenger WiFi system when it is safe to do so, and communicate with the backend system;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises causing the wireless radio tracking device to wake-up from a powered down state if some pre-set condition is true even if the device is in a low-power mode, wherein the pre-set condition is at least one of a phone call or a sensor attached to the wireless radio device registers an event; wherein a sensor registering an event causes the tracking device to wake-up even if a units wireless modem of the wireless radio tracking device is turned off;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises: processing the event registered by the sensors by the application processor of the wireless radio tracking device; and transmitting event information to the backend system, wherein that sensors include least one of: shock, vibration, magnetic contact, external current or voltage loop, light, and motion; and the sensors have set limits on when to register an event.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless radio tracking device is capable of \u201creal time\u201d item tracking and detects tampering using sensors associated with the wireless radio tracking device which trigger an alarm that is sent to the backend system; and wherein the wireless radio tracking device is concealed within the tracked items due to the size of the wireless radio tracking unit, wherein the operational time of the wireless radio tracking device is field is more than 14 days.
4. A power efficient system for wireless remote health monitoring and tracking of items across multiple modes of transportation using existing wireless infrastructures comprising a wireless radio tracking device, and a backend system wherein in the wireless radio tracking device comprises: a rugged enclosure; a radio device; an application processor; at least one sensor; and a battery pack or alternate power source; and the backend system comprises appropriate software and databases;
wherein the wireless radio tracking device is located with tracked items and registers using an application processor on a network through a base station to facilitate location and health determination;
backend system of the network comprises a determining unit which determines, utilizing appropriate software and accessing databases, the health and location of items tracked wherein progress information of the items tracked is stored in a database; and providing the progress information to authorized users, through an access point via at least one of the internet, web-service, email, SMS, or automated phone calls;
wherein determining the health and location of tracked items comprises:
obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items, comprising: retrieving from a network database or from stored cell-tower location information in the backend system a rough geographical position of the tracked items and providing a rough estimate of the location of the wireless radio tracking device within 1.5 miles or less, wherein the network comprises a cellular network;
obtaining a finer geographical location resolution, when requested by the application processor on the wireless tracking device; wherein obtaining a finer location resolution comprises: augmenting the rough geographical location information by sending additional data about the surrounding base stations and recent historical base station information; wherein recent historical base station information comprises: the base stations or networks to which the wireless radio tracking device is connected, the radio networks or bases stations detected by the wireless radio tracking device or global positioning location data of the wireless radio tracking device;
if the network comprises a WiFi network combination with the cellular network, obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items additionally comprises: determining of a geographical location by the wireless radio tracking device; sending one data packet to the backend system; retrieving by the backend system the access point location by looking up the IP address location of the access-point, or requesting the access point location from the operator or third party location provider; and providing a rough estimate of the location of the wireless radio tracking device within 3 miles or better accuracy;
if the network comprises a LTE or VII network in combination with the cellular network, and obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items additionally comprises: requesting by the tracking unit location information of the local access point; sending an information package to the backend system including the location information;
wherein determining the health and location of tracked items further comprises:
retrieving, other information, which is not from the wireless radio tracking unit or the network, the other information comprising:
known schedules for carriers of the tracked items, wherein the schedules for carriers comprise at least one of shipping company schedules, and airline schedules;
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data, flight tracking information and airport location;
locations of known sorting and reloading facilities wherein the locations of known sorting and reloading facilities includes at least one of locations of airports and major on the road work sites;
historical data from previous transports on the same or similar route;
fusing the other information with the geographical location of the tracked items;
using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items;
wherein using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items comprises: wherein the other information that is retrieved further comprises: known schedules, determining when expected pickup time is past due using the additional information including known schedules and triggering an alarm regarding the health an location of tracked items;
wherein using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items comprises: wherein other information that is retrieved further comprises: weather data, determining possible delays in transports using the additional information including weather data and raising alert levels regarding the health and location of tracked items for possible item damage due to hot, cold, or damp conditions;
wherein using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items comprises: wherein other information that is retrieved further comprises: airline schedules, flight tracking information and airport location determining if the tracked items missed the expected flights and triggering an alarm regarding the health an location of tracked items;
wherein using the additional information to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items comprises: wherein other information that is retrieved further comprises: historical data from previous transports on the same or similar route, comparing current tracked items progress and routing, measuring the current items progress relative to the historical data and detecting anomalies regarding the tracked items progress using the historical data.
5. The system of claim 4 further comprising changing the wireless radio tracking device behavior based on the current environment and prediction of the future environment wherein the environment or future environment if the wireless radio device is determined based on local data or information provided by the backend system; and wherein the environment is one of: airport, inside closed metal containers, warehouse, storagetransfer facilities and locations where no connection signal is expected;
determining, by the back end system, where the wireless radio device is located, a predicted path and environment going forward and devising an appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device relative to the location and environment;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises, when the environment is a airport or aircraft, the wireless radio tracking device behavior is modified to guarantee that the external transmitters are turned off when required by regulations and that the device comply with FAA DO-182, DO-294FCC recommendations for portable electronic devices aboard aircraft;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device further comprises: using multiple external sensors to ensure the-transmitters are powered down when it is unsafe to operate; turning transmitters of the wireless radio tracking device back on from aircraft mode so it safely can return to normal operation when on the ground based on external sensor information; wherein the external sensor information comprises at least one of acoustics engine sound, altitude, motion, lack of motion and rapid deceleration;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises causing causes a power down of the radio devices for a certain period of time, in order to save power, or better conceal the device;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises causing the wireless radio tracking device to connect to an aircraft communication or passenger WiFi system when it is safe to do so, and communicate with the backend system;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises causing the wireless radio tracking device to wake-up from a powered down state if some pre-set condition is true even if the device is in a low-power mode, wherein the pre-set condition is at least one of a phone call or a sensor attached to the wireless radio device registers an event; wherein a sensor registering an event causes the tracking device to wake-up even if a units wireless modem of the wireless radio tracking device is turned off;
wherein devising the appropriate behavior for the wireless radio tracking device comprises: processing the event registered by the sensors by the application processor of the wireless radio tracking device; and transmitting event information to the backend system, wherein that sensors include least one of: shock, vibration, magnetic contact, external current or voltage loop, light, and motion; and the sensors have set limits on when to register an event.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Cyclone separator (1) with a vertically extending housing (2), with an upper housing segment (3) in which is located a separator (6) with a separator wheel, and which is equipped with a carrier gasproduct inlet (7) as well as a carrier gasfine grain product discharge (8), with a middle housing segment (4) which conically tapers in downward direction and in which is located a central built-in element (10) serving for gasproduct guidance, extending up to the upper housing segment (3), preferably up to the lower end of the separator wheel blades, as well as with a lower housing segment (5), which is equipped with a coarse grain discharge (14) and with at least one pipe connection (15) for secondary air supply, characterized in that the lower opening of the central built-in element (10) is located at the level of the conical housing segment (4), that below the lower opening is arranged another built-in element (11) which has the shape of a downwardly expanding cone and is attached to the upper central built-in element (10), and that the lower edge of the built-in element (11) forms a slot (18) with housing (2) in which takes place another separation.
2. Cyclone separator according to claim 1, characterized in that the central built-in element (10) is likewise designed at the level of the conical housing segment (4) in downwardly conically tapering shape.
3. Cyclone separator according to claim 2, characterized in that the conicity of the built-in element (10) and the housing segment (4) is approximately the same.
4. Cyclone Separator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the outer edge of the cone-shaped built-in element (11) is located in the lower region of the conical housing segment (4).
5. Cyclone Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower cone-shaped built-in element (11) is height-adjustable.
6. Cyclone Separator according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the central built-in element (10) is designed cylindrically (segment 10b) in the region of the upper housing segment (3).
7. Cyclone Separator according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper opening of the central built-in element (10) is followed by a downwardly expanding segment (10c), which is followed, in downward direction, by either the cylindrical segment (10b) or the conical segment (10a).
8. Cyclone Separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or several pipe connection(s) (15) isare provided at the lower housing segment (15) for radially or tangentially oriented air supply.
9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the carrier gas-product inlet (7) and at least one pipe connection (15) are tangentially arranged in such fashion that the generated gas vortices have an opposite rotational direction.
10. Method for operating a Cyclone Separator (1) with a vertically extending housing (2), with an upper housing segment (3) in which is located a separator (8) with a separator wheel, and which is equipped with a carrier gasproduct inlet, as well as with a carrier gasfine grain discharge, with a middle housing segment (4) which conically tapers in downward direction and in which is located a central built-in element (10) serving for gasproduct guidance, extending up into the upper housing segment (3), preferably up to the lower end of the separator wheel blades, as well as with a lower housing segment (5) which is equipped with a coarse grain discharge (14) and with at least one pipe connection (15) for secondary air supply, whereby the Cyclone Separator (1) additionally presents the characteristics that the lower opening of the central built-in element (10) is located at the level of the conical housing segment (4), that below the lower opening is arranged another built-in element (11), which has the shape of a downwardly enlarging cone, is fastened to the upper built-in element (10) and that the lower edge of the built-in element (11) forms with housing (2) a slot (18), in which takes place another separation, characterized in that the fines percentage of the grain distribution is influenced by making a change in the number of revolutions of the separator (6), in the supplied secondary air volume andor in the height of the cone-shaped built-in element (11).