US Patent 9990823 System and method for monitoring and tracking items

A method includes determining, by a tag, that a gateway is not within communication range of the tag using a first wireless communication mode and enabling, in response to the tag determining that the gateway is not within communication range of the tag, a second wireless communication mode. The method also includes determining, by the tag, that a mobile device is not within communication range of the tag using the second wireless communication mode and enabling, in response to the tag determining that the mobile device is not within communication range of the tag, a third wireless communication mode and a location detection capability. The method further includes determining, by the tag, a geographic location of the tag using the location detection capability and transmitting, using the third wireless communication mode, to a server the geographic location of the tag.