Monitoring and tracking of assets by utilizing wireless commuications

• US 20040174260A1
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Wagner, Ronald E.
• Application Number:
  US10/804,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174260A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, and programs disclosed herein provide a solution for monitoring and tracking assets by utilizing wireless communications. A representative system for monitoring assets includes a remote monitoring station (RMS) and a network of identification (ID) tags. Each ID tag is coupled to an asset and is configured to wirelessly communicate with other ID tags in the network within a predetermined proximity. Each tag is also configured to relay communications from other ID tags so that a communication path is established between the RMS and any ID tag in the network, either directly or via other ID tags.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring assets across a supply chain, whereby each asset has a RFID tag coupled thereto, the method comprising:

forming a network of RFID tags by conducting a BFS for all tags within proximity, whereby existence in the network conveys the existence and location of the corresponding assets in the supply chain; and

polling the network of RFID tags to monitor the environmental conditions surrounding the corresponding assets.