Patent ID: 8392339

Claim:
A system for tracking a location of at least one item, comprising: a tag being shipped with the at least one item during a shipping journey from a point of origin to a destination, wherein the tag comprises: a tag sensor to sense at least one shipping parameter during the shipping journey and to generate tag shipping data at least for a portion of the shipping journey, a tag memory in communication with the tag sensor to store the tag shipping data, a tag radio in communication with the tag memory to transmit the tag shipping data, wherein tag radio wireless communication is disabled when the at least one item is disposed on an aircraft, a tag microcontroller to coordinate operation between the tag sensor, the tag memory, and the tag radio, and a tag power source to provide power to the tag sensor, the tag memory, the tag radio, and the tag microcontroller; a master unit being shipped with at least the tag, wherein the master unit comprises: a master unit sensor to sense at least one shipping parameter during the shipping journey and to generate master unit shipping data at least for a portion of the shipping journey, a master unit memory in communication with the master unit sensor to store the master unit shipping information and also to store tag shipping information received from the tag, a master unit radio in communication with the master unit memory to communicate with the tag and also to receive the tag shipping data from the tag and provide the tag shipping information to the master unit memory, wherein master radio wireless communication is disabled when the at least one item is disposed on an aircraft, a master unit microcontroller to coordinate operation between the master unit sensor, the master unit memory, and the master unit radio, a master unit communication modem to transmit master unit shipping data and tag shipping data, and a master unit power source to provide power to the master unit sensor, the master unit memory, the master unit radio, the master unit microcontroller, and the master unit communication modem; a transportation vehicle for transporting the at least one item during the shipping journey from the point of origin to the destination; means for automatically placing the master unit and tags in a deactivated state based upon placement of the at least one item on board the transportation vehicle; a system that determines a location of the transportation vehicle when the master unit and tags are in the deactivated state; and a central processor that receives shipping data from the master unit, determines at least one of a condition or location of the at least one item at one or more predetermined points during the shipping journey and receives tracking information via the location determining system rather than searching for signals from the master unit when the master unit and tags are in the deactivated state.