Provided herein is, among other things, a packaging assembly comprising at least a substantially rigid panel, a tightening portion, a box portion, a flexible strip and securing members, wherein an object to be packaged is held securely between the flexible strip and the rigid panel. Also provided herein are methods of packaging an object using the packaging assembly disclosed herein.

Methods and systems are described for creating a hierarchical sensor network for enhanced monitoring of a grouped set of packages being shipped, the hierarchical sensor network using a wireless node network having a mobile master node, an ID node and a server. The mobile master node can communicate directly with the server over a first communication path, and is placed within a package in the grouped packages. The ID node can communicate directly with the master node over a second communication path but cannot communicate directly with the server over the first communication path. The ID node is placed within another package in the grouped packages. The mobile master node and the ID node are enabled with power, and the hierarchical sensor network for the grouped packages is activated by causing the server to associate the mobile master node with the ID node.

A brush container includes a box and two support members. The box has a U-shaped frame with two ends each having an end cover; hence, a storage space for containing a brush is defined between the U-shaped frame and two end covers. An upper cover for sealing the storage space is disposed on the top surface of the U-shaped frame. The U-shaped frame has an inner panel, an outer panel corresponding in position to the inner panel, and rib panels disposed between the inner and outer panels to allow a hollowed-out region to be defined between the inner and outer panels and two adjacent rib panels. Hence, despite being lightweight, the box has high structural strength. The two support members are slidably disposed in the storage space. Since their positions are adjustable according to the length of the brush, the two support members provide optimal support to the brush.

An intermodal device comprising: a base; a perimetric rectangular frame; the frame comprising a first rail mounted to the base, a second rail in spaced relation to the first rail and a plurality of posts connecting the first and second rail; the posts being pivotally mounted to the first rail and in sliding engagement with the second rail; wherein the posts are arranged to slide along the second rail from a position at right angles to the first and second rails to a position parallel to the rails, the frame arranged to move from an expanded position to a collapsed position as a result of the movement of the posts.

A catheter packaging includes a catheter tray, having a bottom, a raised edge connected to and surrounding the bottom, a first matrix of holes perforated through the bottom, and a protuberance protruding above a portion of the bottom, the protuberance being dimensioned to raise a distal end of a catheter attached to the protuberance by a predetermined height above the bottom. The protuberance includes a second matrix of holes perforated through the protuberance. The catheter packaging further includes first ties, configured to secure the catheter to the bottom of the catheter tray by threading the first ties through selected holes of the first matrix and tying the first ties around the catheter, and second ties, configured to secure the distal end of the catheter to the protuberance by threading the second ties through selected holes of the second matrix and tying the second ties around the distal end.

Methods and systems for context management of a wireless node network having at least a plurality of nodes and a server are described. The server identifies at least one of the nodes. The server determines what context data relates to an operating environment of the identified node as the identified node moves along a path within the operating environment. Based upon the determined context data (e.g., scan data, historic data, shipment data, and layout data), the server performs a management task related to the identified node (e.g., instructs the node to alter its operation, associate the node with the another node, locates the node, tracks and reports the location of the node) with an adjustment made to account for the determined context data.

Methods, computer-readable medium, and apparatus assemblies are described for assessing a current location for a node-enabled logistics receptacle. In the method, the node-enabled logistics receptacle is operative to detect a level of wireless communication signal activity on a communication interface on the node-enabled logistics receptacle as well as receive and temporarily maintain custody of a package being shipped. The receptacle then records the detected level of wireless communication signal activity over a predetermined period of time in a memory disposed in the node-enabled logistics receptacle. Next, the receptacle compares the recorded level of wireless communication signal activity over the predetermined period of time to a user criteria level for the node-enabled logistics receptacle. Using the comparison of the recorded level and the user criteria level, the node-enabled logistics receptacle is thus able to assess that suitability of the current location of the receptacle.

Improved methods, systems, and apparatus are described for determining a location using chaining triangulation for one of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network having a server. A first of the nodes determines a location of the first node, and transmits the location of the first node to the server. A second of the nodes determines a location of the second node, and transmits the location of the second node to the server. The server receives the locations of the first and second notes, and infers a location of a third of the nodes. Thereafter, the server triangulates the location of the one node based upon a determined distance of the one node to each of the locations of the first and second nodes and a determined distance of the one node to the inferred location of the third node.

Methods, media, apparatus, and systems are described for improved and enhanced node location determination related to one of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network. A first and second other node in the network are instructed to detect any message broadcast from the one node over a period of time. The server receives a first indication from the first other node, where the first indication relates to a characteristic of all messages broadcast from the one node that are detected by the first other node during the time period. The server receives a second indication from the second other node, where the second indication relates to the characteristic of all messages broadcast from the one node that are detected by the second other node during the time period. The server then determines a location of the one node based upon a difference in the first and second indications.

A means of suspending items within a transportable container, such as an environmental enclosure like a common cooler or ice-chest. Inside the container, items are supported by resting on top of a shelf or platform that may be rigid, semi-rigid, inflatable, pleated, telescoping, floating, cushioned, or flexible. The shelf may be supported by straps that may exit the container and are fastened to, or encircle, the interior and/or exterior of the container. The mechanism for attachment to the outside of the container may be a simple loop over an external anchor point affixed to the outside of the container, or a latch or latches, or a magnetic device, or a continuous loop or loops that encircle the container such that no external anchor is required.