Asset management and status system
First Claim
1. An asset management and status system comprising:
- a) a remote computing system configured with a wireless communication capability enabling, at minimum, an exchanging of information with any of a plurality of wireless data communication terminals, each data communication terminal available for use by an individual for identifying assets and aiding in management and status determining activities;
b) a database established and maintained on the remote computing system, and available for storing and retrieving information associated with any of a plurality of assets being managed by the asset management and status system; and
c) the plurality of data communication terminals, with each data communication terminal structured having an equivalent of at least three communication modules supporting;
i) establishing a local, short distance wireless communication link with a proximate wireless electronic device fixed to an asset of interest, such that the communication link enables a receiving by the data communication terminal of information transmitted from the electronic device, with the information including an identifying code assigned to the asset;
ii) receiving and processing position related information for determining a current location at which the asset and data communication terminal are located;
iii) exchanging information with the remote computing system, including transmitting to the remote computing system the identifying code and the current location of the asset for use in accessing and updating the database established on the remote computing system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An asset management and status system includes a number of data communication terminals and one or more interconnected remote computing systems, which may be utilized for managing and tracking a large number of varied and distributed assets. Each data communication terminal is arranged to interrogate a proximate electronic device of an asset to determine an identifying code, and further activate an included position determining module to determine a current location. Subsequently, the identifying code and current location information are transmitted to the remote computing system for use in updating a database established and maintained on the remote computing system.
81 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An asset management and status system comprising:
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a) a remote computing system configured with a wireless communication capability enabling, at minimum, an exchanging of information with any of a plurality of wireless data communication terminals, each data communication terminal available for use by an individual for identifying assets and aiding in management and status determining activities;
b) a database established and maintained on the remote computing system, and available for storing and retrieving information associated with any of a plurality of assets being managed by the asset management and status system; and
c) the plurality of data communication terminals, with each data communication terminal structured having an equivalent of at least three communication modules supporting;
i) establishing a local, short distance wireless communication link with a proximate wireless electronic device fixed to an asset of interest, such that the communication link enables a receiving by the data communication terminal of information transmitted from the electronic device, with the information including an identifying code assigned to the asset;
ii) receiving and processing position related information for determining a current location at which the asset and data communication terminal are located;
iii) exchanging information with the remote computing system, including transmitting to the remote computing system the identifying code and the current location of the asset for use in accessing and updating the database established on the remote computing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A distributed asset management and status system enabling a plurality of distributed assets to be inventoried, managed, and tracked such that a database, containing at least one record for each asset, can be established, maintained and updated, as an asset information repository that is available for remote accessing each time an asset is identified, the asset management and status system comprising:
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a) a plurality of data communication terminals structured with a user interface and a multi-function communications capability, the data communication terminal configured for;
i) establishing a communication link with at least one proximate electronic device of an asset for exchanging information therewith, including a receiving by the data communication terminal of information including a unique identifying code transmitted by a respective proximate electronic device;
ii) receiving and processing position information enabling a determining of a current location at which the asset and data communication terminal are located; and
iii) transmitting information, including at least the identifying code and the associated current location information to a remote computing system;
b) the remote computing system, providing access to the database housing the asset related information in the form of at least one record for each asset, with the database established, maintained and updated, for accessing by a user utilizing one of the wireless data communication terminals for gaining access to information related to one or more assets of interest;
c) a plurality of the electronic devices, with each electronic device associated with an asset by fixing thereto by way of a selected means, each electronic device configured having a unique and readable identifying code; and
d) means for enabling the exchanging of information between the data communication terminal and each of;
i) the electronic device;
ii) a position determining system; and
iii) the remote computing system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A hand-holdable data communication terminal, comprising:
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a) a controller module;
b) a local wireless transceiver module, responsive to the controller module for effecting a wireless exchange of information, including a providing to the controller module of an identifying code, received from an electronic device of a proximate asset over a communication link established between the local wireless transceiver module and the electronic device;
c) a position determining module responsive to the controller module and structured for determining a current location at which the data communication terminal and the proximate asset are located;
d) a wireless communication module operatively coupled to the controller module for enabling at least one of;
i) a transmitting to a remote computing system, via a wireless communication link, information including the identifying code and the current location of the proximate asset; and
ii) receiving information from the remote computing system, as required, including information related to the proximate asset identified by the identifying code. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of monitoring a plurality of distributed assets and maintaining a database of information associated with the assets, with each asset equipped with an electronic identification device having a unique identifying code contained therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) radiating an RF signal for detection by at least one proximate wireless electronic identification device of an asset;
b) receiving information from an electronic identification device radiated by the RF signal, with the information including at minimum an identifying code;
c) determining a current location; and
d) transmitting information, including the identifying code and the current location, to a remote computing system for use in accessing and updating a database of asset related information. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. An asset management and status system providing a computing system configured with a wireless communication capability for supporting an exchanging of information with any of a plurality of wireless data communication terminals remotely located from the computing system, with the computing system arranged for receiving information such as an identifying code of an asset from each data communication terminal, as well as information indicating a current location of the asset, for use in updating and maintaining a database of asset related records, the computing system comprising:
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a) the wireless communication capability, wherein information can be exchanged with each of the data communication terminals; and
b) the database established and maintained on the remote computing system, and available for storing and retrieving information associated with any of a plurality of assets being managed by the asset management and status system;
c) with records of the database accessed, at least in part, utilizing an identifying code received via the wireless communication capability, and additionally storing, at minimum, the current location for a respective asset associated with the accessed record.
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Specification