Mobile RFID management method and system

• US 20050088304A1
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MRID UK Limited
• Original Assignee: Dennis Lusk, Steven Hill, Tony Hines
• Inventors: Hill, Steven, Hines, Tony, Lusk, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• 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: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

The present invention is a mobile method and system for automatically monitoring the location and use of tools using radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) tags. An RFID tag is secured to each tool with a unique numerical identifier. The RFID tag transmits its unique numerical identifier associated with each of the RFID tags using a RF signal, wherein the RF signal is transmitted at different intervals for each of the RFID tags. A receiver on a mobile platform reads the RF signals and determines the unique numerical identifier being transmitted. An information processor interconnected with the receiver analyzes the unique numerical identifier from a predetermined index, and the information processor determines whether any tools were not found on the index and automatically alerts a user when a tool is missing.

Claims

1. A method for managing a mobile RFID tag system, the method comprising:

securing RFID tags each with a unique numerical identifier to a plurality of tools;

transmitting the unique numerical identifier associated with each of the RFID tags using a RF signal, wherein the RF signal is transmitted at different intervals for each of the RFID tags;

receiving the RF signals at a designated location;

reading the RF signals and determining the unique numerical identifier being transmitted by each of the RFID tags;

analyzing the unique numerical identifier for a corresponding identification of a tool from a predetermined index;

determining whether any tools were not found on the index; and

alerting a user when a tool is missing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the RF signals are necessarily low power so that the RF signals are only received when the RFID tags are in the proximity.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the RF signals are transmitted at random times distributed around a mean interval of 30 seconds.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the RF signals are transmitted at variably controlled times.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the RF signals are transmitted intermittently in short predetermined intervals.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the designated location is a mobile platform.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is alerted to a missing tool by an audible warning.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is alerted to a missing tool by a visible warning.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is alerted to a missing tool by an audible and visible warning.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the RFID tags each contains an independent power source.

11. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

receiving RF signals from a plurality of receivers on a mobile platform wherein the receivers are interconnected to an information processor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a unique receiver is associated with a particular set of tools.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the unique receiver and its particular set of tools is removable from the mobile platform to accompany the set of tools to a remote location.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:

providing a plurality of information processors wherein each information processor is interconnected to a system wide information processor.

15. A system for managing a mobile RFID tag system, the system comprising:

a mobile platform;

a set of tools wherein each set of tools further comprises a plurality of tools;

RFID tags each with a unique numerical identifier secured to the plurality of tools wherein the RFID tags transmit the unique numerical identifier using a RF signal;

an RFID receiver to receive the RF signals transmitted by the RFID tags;

an information processor for reading the RF signals and determining the unique numerical identifier being transmitted by each of the RFID tags and analyzing the unique numerical identifier for a corresponding identification of a tool from a predetermined index;

a user;

determining whether any tools were not found on the index; and

a warning means alerting the user when a tool is missing.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the RF signals are necessarily low power so that the RF signals are only received when the RFID tags are in the proximity.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the RF signals are transmitted at random times distributed around a mean interval of 30 seconds.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the RF signals are transmitted at variably controlled times.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the RF signals are transmitted intermittently in short predetermined intervals.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the designated location is a mobile platform.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the user is alerted to a missing tool by an audible warning.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the user is alerted to a missing tool by a visible warning.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the user is alerted to a missing tool by an audible and visible warning.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the RFID tags each contains an independent power source.

25. The system of claim 15, and further comprising:

a plurality of receivers on a mobile platform receiving RF signals wherein the receivers are interconnected to an information processor.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein a unique receiver is associated with a particular set of tools.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the unique receiver and its particular set of tools is removable from the mobile platform to accompany the set of tools to a remote location.

28. The system of claim 27, and further comprising:

a plurality of information processors wherein each information processor is interconnected to a system wide information processor.