A method of forming an ad hoc hierarchical communication network involves
associating a plurality of wireless transceivers with articles, and
assigning to each of the transceivers a class designation representative
of a characteristic or behavior of the article with which the transceiver
is associated. A network organization routine of the wireless transceivers
operates to establish the hierarchical network based on the transceivers'
class designations, resulting in a logical network organization that
provides efficiencies for asset tracking. Each wireless transceiver's
class designation is used by a digital processor of the wireless
transceiver to selectively receive packets intended for receipt by
transceivers of the same class. The class-based network reduces power
consumption and signal interference, which increases battery life in the
wireless transceivers. The wireless transceivers may include a query
handling routine in communication with a memory of the transceiver for
serving as a dynamic distributed hierarchical database system.
