System and method of forestry management using radio frequency identification tags

• US 20040089708A1
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brad Close
• Original Assignee: Brad Close
• Inventors: Leger, Christopher, Leger, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,100,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/099 Auxiliary devices, e.g. felling wedges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method of forestry management using frequency identification tags. In one aspect, the present invention involves a forestry management process that comprises inserting at least one tag that has a frequency capable of being read by a scanner into a tree, then scanning the tag. The frequency of the inserted tag(s) will have a frequency that is identifiable over other frequencies. Information is associated with the tag before after or during the insertion. After insertion, a subsequent scan is performed on the tag and some or all of the associated information is obtained. The information obtained is then used in one or more aspects of forestry management.

Claims

1. A forestry management process comprising:

inserting at least one tag having a frequency capable of being read by a scanner into a tree;

associating at least one item of information with said at least one tag;

performing at least one subsequent scan on said at least one tag, wherein said subsequent scan takes place after said at least one tag is inserted into said tree;

obtaining said at least one item of information associated with said at least one tag;

wherein said at least one item of information is relevant to forestry management.

2. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein the inserting of said at least one tag has a negligible physiological impact on said tree.

3. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein the inserting of said at least one tag leaves a minimal visual mark on said tree.

4. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one tag is inserted into the trunk portion of said tree.

5. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one tag is inserted in the base portion of said tree.

6. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one item of information is changed after performing said subsequent scan.

7. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one item of information comprises at least one of a tree identifier, a border marking, an owner marking, an environmental assessment, an area identifier, and a harvest date.

8. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one item of information is related to data in a remote data base.

9. The forestry management process as in claim 8, wherein said data comprises instructions on how to manage said tree.

10. The forestry management process as in claim 1, further comprising sending said at least one item of information associated with said at least one tag to a computer

11. The forestry management process as in claim 10, wherein said computer gives instruction on how to manage said tree.

12. The forestry management process as in claim 10, wherein said computer system is linked with a computer.

13. The forestry management process as in claim 10, wherein said computer is linked with a scanning system.

14. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said subsequent scan is performed with a scanner mounted on at least one of a vehicle, a lumber yard entrance, a lumber yard building, and a truck inspection station.

15. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said frequency is a radio frequency.

16. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one tag is passive.

17. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one tag is active.

18. A forestry management process comprising:

attaching at least one tag having a frequency capable of being read by a scanner to a tree;

scanning said at least one tag by a person;

associating at least one item of information with said at least one tag;

performing at least one subsequent scan on said at least one tag;

obtaining said at least one item of information associated with said at least one tag;

wherein said frequency is identifiable over other frequencies;

wherein said at least one item of information is relevant to forestry management

wherein said at least one item of information is related to data in a remote data base.

19. The forestry management process as in claim 18, wherein said person may after said associated data.

20. A forestry management process comprising:

attaching at least one tag having a frequency capable of being read by a scanner to a tree and wherein said frequency is pre-associated with at least one item of information relating to forestry management;

scanning said at least one tag;

obtaining said at least one item of information associated with said at least one tag;

wherein said at least one item of information is related to forestry management.