Systems and methods for facility matching and localization

Provided are methods, including computer-implemented methods, devices, and computer-program products applying systems and methods for facility matching and localization. According to some embodiments of the invention, the location of a pallet at a facility within a supply chain may be determined from location data received from a beacon on the pallet. In some embodiments, the position of the pallet within the facility may also be determined. Thus, the status of pallets may be monitored as they move through the supply chain.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to cargo transportation utilizing pallets, and more specifically to systems and methods for matching pallets to facilities and localizing pallets.

BACKGROUND

Monitoring pallet movement through a supply and distribution chain can aid in diagnosing issues with pallet loss and recovery, pallet damage and pallet cycle time. Reducing loss, damage and cycle time may have a material benefit for entities across the supply chain. Tracking pallets through the supply chain may also facilitate tracking of the assets they carry whenever an association between the two may be captured. A key requirement for tracking and tracing pallets through the supply chain is the ability to accurately assign a device attached to a pallet, such as an active tag including a BLE, WiFi, RFID, and/or cellular device that may also have GPS capabilities, to the correct known facility. Given the sometimes harsh constraints of the operating environment where pallets are primarily indoors, a technology such as GPS alone may be unreliable. Under certain conditions, satellite-based GPS may not work and no latitude and longitude information may be available. Even when satellite-based GPS provides accurate latitude and longitude, the latitude and longitude may not be resolved or mapped to the specific address of a facility that participates in the supply chain, rendering the latitude and longitude unusable. Without this mapping, actionable metrics about movement of assets in the supply chain may not be feasible.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Provided are methods, including computer-implemented methods, devices, and computer-program products applying systems and methods for facility matching and localization. According to some embodiments of the invention, the location of a pallet at a facility within a supply chain may be determined from location data received from a device (e.g., a beacon) on the pallet. As used herein, “location data” may include any data indicative of the location of the pallet, including, but not limited to, geographic data, pressure data, light sensor data, temperature data, humidity data, movement data, environmental condition data, etc. According to some embodiments, the methods, devices, and computer-program products described herein may intelligently generate, mark, or prioritize data based on heuristics that incorporate business context, such as average speed of movement of a forklift in a service center, so as to aid machine learning algorithms that drive facility mapping. In some embodiments, the position of the pallet within the facility may also be determined. Thus, the status of pallets may be monitored as they move through the supply chain.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a computer-implemented method is provided. The method comprises receiving, at a server computer located in a cloud, location data and a device identifier from a device affixed to a pallet. The location data was generated by hardware associated with the device. The location data may include geographic data, but may alternatively or additionally include any data indicative of the location of the pallet. The pallet is located at a facility of a plurality of facilities in a supply chain. The method further comprises accessing a database storing a plurality of sets of attributes indicative of a plurality of locations of the plurality of facilities in the supply chain. The method further comprises comparing the location data to the plurality of sets of attributes to identify a matching set of attributes associated with the facility of the plurality of facilities. The location data may match the set of attributes. The method further comprises outputting an identifier of the facility.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a device is provided. The device comprises one or more processors. The device further comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including the steps of the methods described herein.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a computer-program product is provided. The computer-program product is tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of a device. The computer-program product includes instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including the steps of the methods described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks (e.g., a computer-program product) may be stored in a computer-readable or machine-readable medium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks.

Pallets

A pallet may be a structure that supports physical assets for storage, presentation, handling, and/or transportation. As used herein, the term “pallet” may be used to describe any load carrier, including any type of platform, dolly, bin, container, and the like. The physical assets may be any physical assets, such as perishable or nonperishable physical goods.FIG. 1is a bottom perspective view of a pallet100, in accordance with some embodiments. The pallet100may include a base120and legs110. The pallet100may be of any size, shape, and/or dimension, and may be made of any material or combination of materials. The base120and legs110may be of any size, shape, and/or dimensions. The base120may be flat and/or otherwise configured to support the shape and/or weight of the physical asset to be held on the pallet100. Although shown as having a particular design inFIG. 1, it is contemplated that any design may be incorporated on or in the base120. For example, the base120may have smaller, larger, fewer, more, differently shaped, or differently placed spacing than those shown inFIG. 1, depending on characteristics of the particular physical asset to be placed on the base120(e.g., weight, shape, temperature requirements, size, etc.).

The legs110may be sized and positioned to support the particular physical asset. In some embodiments, the legs110may be sized and positioned to allow a forklift, crane, or jacking device to engage and lift the pallet100between the legs110. Although shown and described as having three legs110, it is contemplated that the pallet100may have any suitable number of legs or no legs. For example, in some embodiments, the pallet100may include a base120on both the top and bottom of the pallet100with no legs. In another example, for heavier physical assets, the pallet100may include one or more additional legs centrally located with respect to the pallet100to prevent sagging of the base120. Further, although shown and described as being in a particular orientation and having a particular size, it is contemplated that the legs110may be of any size (e.g., height, length, width, depth, etc.) and/or orientation (e.g., parallel to each other, perpendicular to each other, etc.).

The pallet100may be made of any suitable material, depending on the characteristics of the particular physical asset to be supported by the pallet100. For example, the pallet100may be wooden, plastic, and/or metal. In some embodiments, the pallet100may be constructed to include unique physical features. In some embodiments, the base120may be made of a same or different material than the legs110. In some embodiments, the base120and the legs110may form a single unitary body (e.g., formed from a single mold). In some embodiments, the base120may be removable from one or more of the legs110.

In some embodiments, additional components may be integrated with the pallet100. For example, the underside of the pallet100may include a beacon150. The beacon150may include a number of different functionalities. For example, the beacon150may be programmed with the type of physical asset located on the pallet100and/or an identifier of the pallet100. The beacon150may further include or be in operable communication with one or more sensors configured to monitor certain conditions of the pallet100(e.g., environmental conditions, movements, etc.). The beacon150is described further herein with respect toFIG. 3. Although shown as being located in a particular position on the pallet100, it is contemplated that the beacon150may be located in any suitable position on the pallet100.FIG. 2is a side view of another exemplary pallet200with a load220placed atop the pallet200for transportation, storage, presentation, etc. As used herein, pallet100may be referred to interchangeably with pallet200.

The pallet100and/or200may include components for performing multiple functions, as described herein.FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating the system components of the pallet100and/or200, in accordance with some embodiments. The pallet100and/or200may include a beacon115in operative communication with one or more external sensors350. The beacon115may include device hardware coupled to a memory340. The device hardware may include a processor325, a communication subsystem330, internal sensors335, and a power supply345. In some embodiments, the beacon115may be implemented as an active tag (e.g., an RFID tag). The beacon115may be associated with an identifier (e.g., an active tag identifier).

The processor325may be implemented as one or more integrated circuits (e.g., one or more single core or multicore microprocessors and/or microcontrollers), and may be used to control the operation of the beacon115. The processor325can execute a variety of programs in response to program code or computer-readable code stored in memory340, and can maintain multiple concurrently executing programs or processes. The communication subsystem330may include one or more transceivers and/or connectors that can be used by the beacon115to communicate with other devices (e.g., the external sensors350, access devices, etc.) and/or to connect with external networks. In some embodiments, the communication subsystem330may be configured to communicate using more than one protocol (e.g., protocol A332and protocol B333). Protocol A332and protocol B333may be two different wired or wireless communication protocols. For example, protocol A332and protocol B333may be selected from the group including Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, near field communication (including IoT), WiFi, cellular communication, Ethernet, fiber optics, etc. The particular protocol used for a particular communication may be determined based on any of a number of factors, including availability, signal strength, type and/or amount of power received from or remaining on power supply345, data throughput, type of data to be communicated, size of data to be communicated, and the like.

The internal sensors335may include any movement-related, location-related, and/or environmental-related sensors. For example, the internal sensors335may include a global positioning system (GPS), an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a barometer, a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a microphone, combinations thereof, and/or the like. The internal sensors335may be coupled to the communication subsystem330, such that sensor measurements may be transmitted off of the pallet100to other devices or systems, as described further herein.

The memory340may be implemented using any combination of any number of non-volatile memories (e.g., flash memory) and volatile memories (e.g., DRAM, SRAM), or any other non-transitory storage medium, or a combination thereof media. In some embodiments, the memory340may be included in the processor325. The power supply345may include any wired or wireless power supply, such as a power outlet supply, a solar panel, and/or a battery.

The beacon115may be coupled to one or more external sensors350on the pallet100in some embodiments. The external sensors350may include, for example, a weight sensor and/or any of the sensors described above with respect to the internal sensors335. In one example, the weight sensor may include circuitry that measures the weight of a load on the pallet100. The weight sensor may transmit the weight to the beacon115. The beacon may use the communication subsystem330to transmit this data off of the pallet100to other devices or systems, as described further herein.

Systems for Facility Matching and Localization

In some cases, it may be desirable to identify a pallet's location in the supply chain. According to some embodiments of the invention, the location of a pallet anywhere in the supply chain may be determined. Conventional tracking solutions that provide accurate location traceability rely on installed infrastructure, such as proximity sensors and fixed manual or automated processes. In other words, the instrumentation is aimed at digitizing specific events, and the location of the digitizing device provides the location of the pallet. According to some embodiments of the invention, however, fixed infrastructure and minimum human compliance are needed to determine the pallet's location. For example, according to some embodiments, data may be captured that in turn determines the pallet's location based on the installation location of the data capturing device. Once the pallet's location has been identified, this information may be used to compute supply chain visibility metrics, such as inventory at any given location or region, dwell time, and velocity metrics between regions of the supply chain or between any set of nodes within the supply chain.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating a system for facility matching and localization, in accordance with some embodiments. The system may include a pallet100, an access device410, a server computer420, a database425, and a controller computer430. The pallet100and the access device410may be located at a facility405in the supply chain, such as a warehouse or store. The server computer420and the database425may be located in the cloud, such as at one or more offsite or third party locations with online or networked storage. The controller computer430may be located at a controller location425, such as at a pallet logistics and tracking company. Although shown and described with respect to a certain number of entities performing certain functions, it is contemplated that a greater or fewer number of entities may perform the functions described herein. For example, the functions of the server computer420may be spread across multiple server computers. In another example, the database425may be incorporated internally to the server computer420.

In some embodiments, the pallet100may communicate data to the access device410via a beacon or other communication medium. The data may cause the access device410to perform one or more operations. For example, the pallet100may communicate (or cause to be communicated) data indicative of its location (e.g., GPS coordinates, a latitude and longitude, triangulated coordinates, etc.). The pallet100may alternatively or additionally communicate an identifier that uniquely identifies the pallet100and/or the beacon. The data may be communicated, for example, by a Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, WiFi, or cellular tag on the pallet100. When the access device410receives the signal, the access device410may process the data and forward it to the server computer420. In some embodiments, the access device410may only communicate with the pallet100if the pallet100is a recognized or registered pallet. A pallet100may be recognized or registered based on, for example, a pallet identifier. In some embodiments, the pallet100may communicate a ping to the access device410that causes the access device410to capture an image of the pallet100. The image of the pallet100may then be used to correlate the pallet100to the location where it is positioned.

The access device410may be any suitable electronic user device. The access device410may include a communication device. A communication device may provide remote communication capabilities to a network. Examples of remote communication capabilities include using a mobile phone (wireless) network, wireless data network (e.g., 3G, 4G or similar networks), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, or any other communication medium that may provide access to a network such as the Internet or a private network. Examples of devices include beacons, mobile phones (e.g., cellular phones), PDAs, tablet computers, net books, laptop computers, personal music players, handheld specialized readers, watches, fitness bands, wearables, ankle bracelets, rings, earrings, key fobs, physical wallets, glasses, containers, coffee mugs, takeout containers, etc., as well as automobiles with remote communication capabilities. The access device410may comprise any suitable hardware and software for performing such functions, and may also include multiple devices or components (e.g., when a device has remote access to a network by tethering to another device—i.e., using the other device as a modem—both devices taken together may be considered a single communication device). Further examples of an access device410may include a POS or point of sale device (e.g., POS terminals), cellular phone, PDA, personal computer (PCs), tablet PC, hand-held specialized reader, set-top box, electronic cash register (ECR), virtual cash registers (VCR), kiosk, and the like. In some embodiments, the access device410may be included in a pallet

The access device410may have an application installed that allows it to detect the pallet100, identify the pallet100, and upload location data from the pallet100to a server computer420. The access device410may be in communication with the server computer420. The access device410may forward the location data and the identifier of the pallet100to the server computer420. The server computer420may access a database425storing sets of attributes indicative of locations of facilities in the supply chain. For example, each facility in the supply chain may have an entry in the database425with a facility identifier (e.g., a name), a physical address (e.g., a street address), and a set of attributes (e.g., a latitude and longitude associated with the physical address, an ambient temperature, a wall color, a light level, a humidity level, etc.). The server computer420may compare the location data received from the pallet100to the sets of attributes to identify a matching set of attributes associated with the facility in which the pallet100is located. In the case of location coordinates, the location data may be within a threshold distance of the matching set of attributes (e.g., the GPS coordinates are within 0.1 miles of the facility's latitude and longitude).

The server computer420may store the identifier of the pallet100in association with the matched facility in the database425. For example, the server computer420may retrieve the entry in the database425associated with the matched facility and write the identifier of the pallet100in the record. In some embodiments, the identifier of the pallet100may be written to the record along with a timestamp indicating the date and time that the pallet100transmitted the location data that was ultimately matched to the facility. Thus, the record corresponding to a particular facility may include a plurality of identifiers of a plurality of pallets that were present at the facility at a plurality of times. In some embodiments, some or all of the functions of the server computer420may alternatively or additionally be performed by another entity or system, such as the access device410.

In some embodiments, the server computer420may provide these records from the database425to a controller computer430. The controller computer430may be an entity that tracks, maintains, and/or owns the pallet100. The controller computer430may use this data to determine whether the pallet100is at the correct facility405, to determine where the pallet100is in the supply chain, to determine the cycle time of the pallet100, to predict timing of the pallet100at a particular location, to compute supply chain visibility metrics, etc. In some embodiments, supply chain visibility metrics may include inventory at a given facility or in a given region, dwell time, and velocity metrics between regions or between facilities in the supply chain.

FIG. 5is a block diagram illustrating an access device410, in accordance with some embodiments. The access device410may include device hardware504coupled to a memory502. Device hardware504may include a processor505, a communication subsystem509, and a user interface506. In some embodiments, device hardware504may include a display507(which can be part of the user interface506).

Processor505can be implemented as one or more integrated circuits (e.g., one or more single core or multicore microprocessors and/or microcontrollers), and is used to control the operation of the access device410. Processor505can execute a variety of programs in response to program code or computer-readable code stored in memory502, and can maintain multiple concurrently executing programs or processes. Communication subsystem509may include one or more transceivers and/or connectors that can be used by access device410to communicate with other devices (e.g., the pallet100) and/or to connect with external networks (e.g., to connect to the server computer420). User interface506can include any combination of input and output elements to allow a user to interact with and invoke the functionalities of the access device410. In some embodiments, user interface506may include a component such as display507that can be used for both input and output functions. Memory502can be implemented using any combination of any number of non-volatile memories (e.g., flash memory) and volatile memories (e.g., DRAM, SRAM), or any other non-transitory storage medium, or a combination thereof media. Memory502may store an operating system (OS)520and an application environment510where one or more applications reside including application512to be executed by processor505.

In some embodiments, application512may be an application that detects and identifies pallets, and/or transmits data received from a pallet to a server computer via a communication medium that may not be available to the pallet (e.g., cellular communications). Application512may include a pallet detection engine514and a pallet identification engine515. In some embodiments, one or more of these components can be provided by another application or component that is not part of application512.

The pallet detection engine514may be configured to, in conjunction with the processor505and the communication subsystem509, receive a ping (i.e., a brief signal) from a pallet in proximity to the access device410. In some embodiments, the pallet may be configured to send a ping to the communication subsystem509when within a certain distance of the access device410(e.g., 10 feet). In some embodiments, the pallet may be configured to send a ping to the communication subsystem509when within any communication range of the access device410(e.g., 50 feet), and the pallet detection engine514may monitor the distance between the access device410and the pallet based on the pings. In some embodiments, when the ping is received by the pallet detection engine514, the pallet detection engine514may transmit a request for location data to the pallet. In some embodiments, when the ping is received by the pallet detection engine514, the pallet detection engine514sends a response ping indicating that the access device410is within communication range of the pallet. The response ping may cause the pallet to push the location data to the access device410. As used herein, “location data” may include any data indicative of the location of the pallet, including, but not limited to, geographic data, pressure data, light sensor data, temperature data, humidity data, movement data, environmental condition data, etc. Location data may be obtained using triangulation, as described further herein. In some embodiments, location data may be obtained using magnetometer data. In some embodiments, location data may be obtained from another device or pallet that has improved awareness of its location. For example, a first pallet may have a GPS fix and may assign a high confidence at being at a certain location, while a second pallet is deeper in the facility and does not have GPS access, WiFi access, or an uncertain cellular fix. If the first pallet detects a BLE signal from the second pallet, the location assignment and confidence may be transferred from the first pallet to the second pallet.

The pallet identification engine515may be configured to, in conjunction with the processor505, receive an identifier from a pallet with its location data. The pallet identification engine515may extract the identifier from the other data. In some embodiments, the pallet identification engine515may translate the identifier from a first format used by the pallet (i.e., a format stored on the beacon) into a second format used by external systems (e.g., the server computer, the controller computer, etc.). The pallet identification engine515may perform this translation by accessing a lookup table with entries corresponding to the received identifier and corresponding identifiers used by external systems.

FIG. 6is a block diagram illustrating a server computer420, in accordance with some embodiments. Server computer420may include a processor601coupled to a network interface602and a computer readable medium606. Server computer420may also include or otherwise have access to a database603that may be internal or external to the server computer420.

Processor601may include one or more microprocessors to execute program components for performing the facility matching and localization functions of the server computer420. Network interface602may be configured to connect to one or more communication networks to allow the server computer420to communicate with other entities, such as the access device, the controller computer, etc. Computer readable medium606may include any combination of one or more volatile and/or non-volatile memories, for example, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, ROM, flash, or any other suitable memory components. Computer readable medium606may store code executable by the processor601for implementing some or all of the facility matching and localization functions of server computer420. For example, computer readable medium606may include code implementing a facility location retrieval engine608, a location comparison engine609, a pallet location update engine610, a pallet position determination engine611, and a pallet position update engine612.

The facility location retrieval engine608may be configured to, in conjunction with the processor601, access the database603to retrieve sets of attributes, including any data indicative of locations of facilities in the supply chain (e.g., coordinates, environmental conditions, visual features, etc.). In some embodiments, the facility location retrieval engine608may be configured to retrieve only sets of attributes corresponding to facilities that meet certain criteria. The criteria may include facilities within a certain region (e.g., an expected region of the pallet), type of facility (e.g., shipper facility, carrier facility, storefront, etc.), etc. This may reduce the number of facility locations to which the location data from the pallet needs to be compared, which may reduce processing time.

The location comparison engine609may be configured to, in conjunction with the processor601, receive location data from a pallet (e.g., via an access device) and the retrieved facility locations from the facility location retrieval engine608. The location comparison engine609may be configured to compare the location data to the sets of attributes of facilities to identify a matching facility location. In some embodiments, the location comparison engine609may convert disparate formats between the location data and the facility locations into the same format to facilitate accurate comparison. For example, if the location data includes GPS coordinates and the facility locations include physical addresses, the location comparison engine609may convert the physical addresses into GPS coordinates before comparing them. The matching facility location may be identified based on its location within a threshold distance of the location data. For example, the distance between the location data and the matching facility location may be less than a 0.15 mile threshold.

In some embodiments, the location comparison engine609may be configured to identify multiple potential matching facilities (e.g., all facilities within 0.1 miles of the location data) and provide a distance metric between the matching facilities and the location data, e.g., 0.05 miles from the location data, 0.07 miles from the location data, etc. The multiple potential matching facilities may be ranked from the closest to the location data to the furthest from the location data in some embodiments. The multiple potential matching facilities may further be ranked based on certain criteria, such as the expected location or facility of the pallet within the supply chain at the time the location data was transmitted. For example, some factors that may make one facility more likely than another may include matching transaction data, a more likely facility type (such as a service center being likely to ship to a manufacturer), a model of the supply chain (e.g., one manufacturing facility may be most likely to ship to a certain store), and/or the like. In some embodiments, the highest ranked facility of the multiple potential matching facilities may be selected as the matching facility. In some embodiments, the location comparison engine609may provide a degree of confidence for the matching facility. In some embodiments, there may be no potential facility matches based on criteria.

In some embodiments, the location comparison engine609may compare other data indicative of the location of the pallet to data associated with a facility to select and/or rank facilities. For example, in some embodiments, the location data received from the pallet may include environmental condition data, such as temperature data, movement data (e.g., forklift speeds versus conveyor belt speeds), moisture data and humidity data (e.g., in a washing machine), etc. The location comparison engine609may translate this data into attributes associated with a facility in order to match the pallet to a known facility.

The pallet location update engine610may be configured to, in conjunction with the processor601, store the identifier of the pallet in association with the matching facility. For example, the pallet location update engine610may retrieve the entry in the database603associated with the matched facility (e.g., using a facility identifier, such as a name or a unique code) and write the identifier of the pallet in the record. In some embodiments, the identifier of the pallet may be written to the record along with a timestamp indicating the date and time that the pallet transmitted the location data that was ultimately matched to the facility. Thus, the record corresponding to a particular facility may include a plurality of identifiers of a plurality of pallets that were present at the facility at a plurality of times. This record may be used to analyze a particular facility's status and/or load in the supply chain.

Conversely, the pallet location update engine610may alternatively or additionally be configured to, in conjunction with the processor601, retrieve the entry in the database603associated with the identifier of the pallet and write the matched facility in the record. In some embodiments, the matched facility may be written to the record along with a timestamp indicating the date and time that the pallet transmitted the location data that was ultimately matched to the facility. Thus, the record corresponding to a particular pallet may include a plurality of facilities at which the pallet was present at a plurality of times. This record may be used to analyze a particular pallet's movement through the supply chain.

In some embodiments in which other location data (e.g., humidity data, temperature data, etc.) are provided by the pallet and specific attributes associated with a facility are previously unknown, the pallet location update engine610may create attributes in the record associated with the matching facility corresponding to the other location data provided by the pallet. In some embodiments, the pallet location update engine610may be self-learning and/or healing in that it may auto-learn attributes associated with a known location, auto-create known locations with well-known attributes while allowing administrators to review and update information, and/or auto-learn addresses based on third party services that can provide physical addresses and business and/or category information for a given set of facility data.

The pallet position determination engine611may be configured to, in conjunction with the processor601, receive the location data from the pallet (e.g., via an access device), along with the matching facility from the location comparison engine609. The pallet position determination engine611may be configured to retrieve from the database603a file including a floor plan of the matching facility. The pallet position determination engine611may be configured to map the location data from the pallet onto the floor plan of the facility to identify a position of the pallet within the facility (e.g., in a storage area, in a transportation area, at the loading dock, etc.). For example, the pallet position determination engine611may map a latitude and longitude of the pallet onto a visual representation of a floor plan of a facility to determine to which part of the floor plan the latitude and longitude correspond.

The pallet position update engine612may be configured to, in conjunction with the processor601, receive data indicative of the position of the pallet within the facility from the pallet position determination engine611. In some embodiments, the pallet position update engine612may be configured to store the position of the pallet along with its identifier in association with the matching facility in the database603. In some embodiments, the pallet position update engine612may be configured to retrieve the entry in the database603associated with the identifier of the pallet and write the position of the pallet along with the matched facility in the record.

Methods for Facility Matching and Localization

A variety of methods may be implemented by the above-described systems.FIG. 7is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for facility matching and localization, in accordance with some embodiments. At process block410, location data705and a device identifier707are received at a server computer. The location data705may be received from a device (e.g., a beacon) affixed to a pallet. The location data was generated by hardware (e.g., a GPS) associated with the device. In some embodiments, the hardware may be located in a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone). In some embodiments, the location data may include data generated using at least one WiFi router. For example, the location data may be generated by pinging three or more WiFi routers and triangulating the location of the device based on the signal strength. In some embodiments, the location data may include data generated using at least one cellular tower. For example, the location data may be generated by receiving data from three or more cellular towers and triangulating the location of the device based on the signal strength. In some embodiments, the device may not receive data from, or evoke a response from, the WiFi routers or the cellular towers. Instead, the triangulation may be based on the number of “sighted” WiFi routers and cellular towers and their relative signal strengths. In some embodiments, the location data may be generated using Bluetooth. In some embodiments, the location data may include a MAC ID. The pallet may be located at a facility of a plurality of facilities in a supply chain. Further at process block410, a database is accessed. The database may store one or more sets of attributes corresponding to locations of the plurality of facilities in the supply chain.

At process block713, the location data705is matched to the sets of attributes to identify a matching set of attributes associated with the facility in which the pallet is located. Further at process block715, if the location data705includes geographic data and the set of attributes includes geographic data, a threshold distance may be received, and the location data is determined to be within the threshold distance of the set of attributes. At process block720, the facility identifier707may be output. In some embodiments, the location data705and/or the device identifier707may further be stored in association with the facility identifier in the database.

In some embodiments in which the location data705includes geographic data, a file including a floor plan of the matching facility may further be retrieved from the database. The geographic data may be mapped onto the floor plan of the facility to identify a position of the device within the facility. Data indicative of the position of the device may be stored in the database.

As noted, the computer-readable medium may include transient media, such as a wireless broadcast or wired network transmission, or storage media (that is, non-transitory storage media), such as a hard disk, flash drive, compact disc, digital video disc, Blu-ray disc, or other computer-readable media. The computer-readable medium may be understood to include one or more computer-readable media of various forms, in various examples.

Where components are described as performing or being “configured to” perform certain operations, such configuration can be accomplished, for example, by designing electronic circuits or other hardware to perform the operation, by programming programmable electronic circuits (e.g., microprocessors, or other suitable electronic circuits) to perform the operation, or any combination thereof.