Methods and systems for verifying the position and status of hierarchically arranged objects

摘要

A tracking system for tracking a plurality of items or boxes of items defines a plurality of levels that may be physically and logically organized in a hierarchy. Each level of the hierarchy only communicates with the next hierarchically lower level (if it exists) and/or a next hierarchically higher level (if it exists). The lowest hierarchical level includes a wireless tag coupled to each of the plurality of items. Each of the wireless tags may be configured to provide a unique identifier when queried. Remaining hierarchical levels may each include one or more uniquely identified computing devices that are configured to query the wireless tags or computing devices of the next hierarchically lower level, to store information including the unique identifier and any other information provided by the queried next hierarchically lower level and to provide the stored information to the computing device(s) of the next hierarchically higher level (if it exists). A sealed box or document may form a part of the hierarchy and may include a conductive mesh coupled to a wireless tag, repeater or computing device that is configured to report on the state of the conductive mesh.