Object carriers for an object control and tracking system

• US 20040113785A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Keytrak, Inc. (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Inventors: Maloney, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,005,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/10 Key holders; Key boards key cases A45C11/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1454 Circuit arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2471 Antenna signal processing by receiver or emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

Object carriers are provided for use with an object tracking and control system of the type having a storage receptacle with a tray provided with an array of slots for receiving ID tags bearing touch memory devices. A computer-based controller is provided for detecting the absence or presence and identity of ID tags disposed in the slots. The carrier of this invention includes a container with an openable panel for placing objects in and removing objects from the carrier. A thin plastic tongue projects from the carrier and bears a touch memory device. Carriers bearing objects to be tracked are placed in the storage receptacle with their tongues extending into the slots of the receptacle. The controller can thus detect and log the removal and replacement of the carrier in the storage receptacle. In one embodiment, the opening and closing of the carrier when it is not stored in the receptacle is detected and logged for tracking access to the carrier in more detail.

Claims

1. An object carrier assembly for use with an object control and tracking system wherein a storage receptacle is provided with an array of slots for receiving identification tags bearing touch memory devices and a controller for determining the absence or presence and identity of identification tags disposed in the slots, said object carrier assembly comprising:

a container having an opening for accessing the interior of the container to place objects in the container and remove objects from the container,

a panel adapted to cover said opening to close objects within said container, and

a tongue projecting from said container when an object is disposed therein, said tongue bearing a touch memory device storing a ID code identifying an object within said container and being insertable in a selected slot of the tray for detection and identification by the controller.

2. An object carrier assembly as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said container is generally rectangular having one open side defining said opening.

3. An object carrier assembly as claimed in claim 2 and wherein said panel is hingedly attached to said container and is hingable between a closed position closing said container and an open position opening said container.

4. An object carrier assembly as claimed in claim 2 and wherein said panel is attachable to said container to close said opening and displacable to said container to open said opening.

5. An object carrier assembly as claimed in claim 4 and wherein said panel is slidably attachable to said container to cover and close said opening.

6. An object carrier assembly as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said container is formed with a narrow slot and wherein said tongue is fixed to an identification tag attached to an object in said container, said tongue extending through said narrow slot to project from said container when the object is contained therein.

8. An object carrier assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a guide member associated with said storage receptacle, said guide member defining openings sized to receive said container and being positioned to direct said tongue into a selected slot of storage receptacle when said container is inserted into one of said openings.

9. An object carrier assembly as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said guide member is formed of sheet metal.

10. An object carrier assembly as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said guide member is defined by a wire frame.

7. An object carrier assembly as claimed 1 and wherein said tongue is attached to said carrier and projects therefrom.

11. An object control and tracking system comprising:

at least one carrier for receiving and containing objects to be tracked;

a memory device on said carrier, said memory device storing a ID code identifying said carrier,

conductive pads on said carrier coupled to said memory device for accessing stored information therein;

a storage unit defining an array of receptacles sized to receive said carrier;

an array of sets of electrical contacts underlying said receptacle panel, each set of electrical contacts being associated with a respective one of said receptacles and being positioned to engage said conductive pads of said carrier when said carrier is inserted into said receptacle; and

a controller coupled through a communications link to said electrical contacts, said controller being programmed to access the memory devices of carriers disposed in receptacles of said storage unit to determine the absence or presence and identity of carriers in the storage unit.

12. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising a locking mechanism associated with each receptacle for releasably locking said carrier in place when said carrier is inserted in a receptacle, said locking mechanism being coupled to and controllable by said controller for selective release of said carrier.

13. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising a switch for detecting the opening and closing of said carrier when said carrier is not disposed in one of said receptacles, said memory device storing the detected opening and closing events.

14. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 13 and further comprising a microcontroller on said carrier coupled to said memory device and to said switch for monitoring opening and closing of said carrier and storing information relevant thereto in said memory device.

15. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 14 and wherein the information stored in said memory device relevant to opening and closing of said carrier is transferred to said controller upon placement of said carrier into one of said receptacles.

16. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 14 and further comprising a transmitter on said carrier coupled to said microcontroller and a receiver coupled to said main controller, said transmitter transmitting in real time to said receiver information relevant to the opening and closing of said carrier when said carrier is not disposed in one of said receptacles.

17. A method of tracking access to an object, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing the object in a carrier;

(b) placing the carrier in a storage location;

(c) detecting and logging the presence of the carrier at the storage location;

(d) detecting and logging the removal of the carrier from the storage location;

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) each time the carrier is placed in and removed from the storage location and compiling the logged information as a record of access to the object in the carrier.

18. The method of claim 17 and comprising the steps of detecting and logging information relevant to the condition and use of the carrier in the interim between removal of the carrier from the receptacle and replacement of the carrier back into the receptacle and combining this logged information with the logged information relevant to removal and replacement of the carrier as a more detailed record of use of the object in the carrier.

19. The method of claim 18 and further comprising transmitting the information relevant to the condit ion and use of the carrier to the main controller in real time as the carrier is opened and closed.

20. The method of claim 18 and wherein the information relevant to the condition and use of the carrier includes a record of the opening and closing of the panel of the carrier.