SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ASSET MANAGEMENT AND TRACKING CAPABILITIES
First Claim
1. A system for enabling enhanced asset management and tracking capabilities, comprising:
- a plurality of electronic asset identification devices, wherein each of the plurality of electronic asset identification devices is affixed to an asset whose location and information are to be managed, wherein each of the plurality of asset identification devices includes at least unique identification information relating to the asset to which it is affixed;
an asset management server computer system for maintaining at least one asset management database containing information regarding the asset identification devices and the assets to which they are affixed;
a remote client computer system operatively connected to the asset management server computer system for exchanging information over a computer network; and
at least one handheld computer operatively connected to the remote client computer system, wherein the handheld computer system operates to exchange information with the plurality of asset identification devices and with the remote client computer system, wherein the handheld computer system maintains at least one handheld computer database containing information exchanged between the remote client computer system and the plurality of asset identification devices.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A comprehensive method and system is provided for managing bulk and non-bulk material and assets using radio frequency and other asset identification devices, distributed mobile computing systems, centralized data storage environments, and client-server based computing. In particular, a process has been designed and to manage shipment items from businesses and third parties to customer designated locations. Components of this system include electronic asset identification devices, a central data repository, a mobile computing environment and associated software applications supporting a client-server system or n-tiered computer system. The mobile computing environment includes software which enables users to physically locate assets, view asset information, and modify such information to reflect current asset status. This information may then be exchanged and synchronized across the n-tiered computer system. Additionally, various personnel associated with the shipping arrangement may have access to the available information over a computer network such as the Internet. In this manner, such personnel can easily determine the status of various shipments and also promptly act on information collected during any status updates, thereby expediting the resolution of any potential exceptions which may arise.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A system for enabling enhanced asset management and tracking capabilities, comprising:
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a plurality of electronic asset identification devices, wherein each of the plurality of electronic asset identification devices is affixed to an asset whose location and information are to be managed, wherein each of the plurality of asset identification devices includes at least unique identification information relating to the asset to which it is affixed;
an asset management server computer system for maintaining at least one asset management database containing information regarding the asset identification devices and the assets to which they are affixed;
a remote client computer system operatively connected to the asset management server computer system for exchanging information over a computer network; and
at least one handheld computer operatively connected to the remote client computer system, wherein the handheld computer system operates to exchange information with the plurality of asset identification devices and with the remote client computer system, wherein the handheld computer system maintains at least one handheld computer database containing information exchanged between the remote client computer system and the plurality of asset identification devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for enabling enhanced asset management and tracking capabilities, comprising the steps of:
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affixing a plurality of electronic asset identification devices to at least one asset whose location and information are to be managed;
programming each of the plurality of electronic asset identification devices to include at least unique identification information relating to the asset to which it is affixed;
configuring an asset management server computer system to maintain at least one asset management database containing information regarding the asset identification devices and the assets to which they are affixed;
operatively connecting a remote client computer system to the asset management server computer system for exchanging information over a computer network;
operatively connecting at least one handheld computer to the remote client computer system, wherein the handheld computer system operates to exchange information with the plurality of asset identification devices and with the remote client computer system; and
configuring the handheld computer system to maintain at least one handheld computer database containing information exchanged between the remote client computer system and the plurality of asset identification devices. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification