Real time total asset visibility system

• US 20050110636A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touraj Ghaffari
• Original Assignee: Touraj Ghaffari
• Inventors: Ghaffari, Touraj
• Granted Patent: US 7,082,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.270
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• 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: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system and method for tracking articles and controlling inventory thereof on a real time basis comprising the use of a tag assembly including a plurality of tags including both active tags and passive tags distinguishable from one another by the provision of a self contained power source in the active tags. One or more readers are disposed within a locale being monitored and are structured to communicate received data transmission from a host controller, for additional administrative processing in terms of determining the existence, location and/or movement of various articles with which the plurality of tags are directly associated. Depending on their category the tags may be activated by either entering an electric field of a predetermined first frequency or by receiving an activation signal from the reader assembly also transmitted at the first predetermined frequency. Communication between the tags and the reader occurs at a second frequency being different from the first frequency.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an object on a real time basis, said system comprising:

at least one host controller,

at least one tag associated with the object being monitored and moveable therewith,

a reader assembly, said reader assembly and said tag cooperatively structured to establish communication there between,

said tag comprising a probe assembly structured and disposed relative to the object to monitor at least one predetermined characteristic of the object, and

said reader assembly structured to communicate at least a non-compliant status of said predetermined characteristic being monitored to said host controller.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined characteristic comprises temperature.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said tag comprises a program application cooperative structured to monitor the object temperature within a predetermined range.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said predetermined range of temperature is variably programmed by wireless communication with said program application initiated from said host controller.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein said program application is structured to include calibration capabilities at least partially determinative of accurate establishment of said predetermined range of temperatures being monitored.

6. A system as recited in claim 5 wherein said accurate establishment of said predetermined temperature range is at least partially dependent on a location of said tag on the object being monitored.

7. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said program application is structured to include calibration capabilities at least partially determinative of accurate establishment of said predetermined range of temperatures being monitored.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said accurate establishment of said predetermined temperature range is at least partially dependent on a location of said tag on the object being monitored.

9. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tag and said reader assembly are cooperatively structured to establish and periodically communicate the status of said predetermined characteristic to said host controller, over a substantially continuous time period.

10. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tag and said reader assembly are cooperatively structured to establish and communicate the status of said predetermined characteristic to said host controller upon determination of said non-compliance status.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tag comprises memory facilities structured to store object data.

12. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein said tag and said memory facilities are cooperative structured for access of said object data.

13. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a program application operationally structured to access said memory facility and modify said object data.

14. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tag further comprises a tracking facility structured to provide location data of the object being monitored.

15. A system as recited in claim 14 wherein said tracking facility is structured for activation by radio frequency communication at least between said tag and said reader.

16. A system as recited in claim 14 wherein said tracking facility comprises an active mode regulated by said reader assembly, said active mode defined by a predetermined communication link between said tag and said host controller.

17. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein said tracking facility includes a GPS capabilities.

18. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein said communication link comprises an activating link from said host controller to said reader assembly and from said reader assembly to said tag.

19. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein said communication link further comprises a locating link from said tag to a satellite and from said satellite to said host controller or to said reader assembly.

20. A system for monitoring an object on a real time basis, said system comprising:

at least one host controller,

at least one tag associated with the object being monitored and moveable therewith,

a reader assembly, said reader assembly and said tag cooperatively structured to establish communication there between,

an attachment assembly structured to connect said tag to the object being monitored, and

said attachment assembly comprising a circuit assembly electrically connected to said tag and disposable on said object.

21. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said circuit assembly is at least partially defined by an electrically conductive coating.

22. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said electrically conductive coating is at least partially defined by a conductive paint.

23. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said electrically conductive coating is at least partially disposed on the object being monitored.

24. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein said attachment assembly is fixedly secured to the object being monitored.

25. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said electrical conductive coating is formed on said attachment assembly.

26. A system as recited in claim 25 wherein said attachment assembly is removably attached to the object.

27. A system as recited in claim 25 wherein said attachment assembly is structured to be removably secured to an animate object, whereby the animate object comprises the object being monitored.

28. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said circuit assembly is structured to facilitate communication to and from said tag and the object being monitored.

29. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein said circuit assembly comprises a transceiver assembly including receiving and transmission antenna structure.

30. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising tamper indication facilities incorporated within said circuit assembly and cooperatively structured with a remainder of said system to activate an alarm assembly upon indication of tampering.

31. A system as recited in claim 30 wherein said alarm assembly activation is at least partially determined by an incomplete circuit condition of said circuit assembly.

32. A system as recited in claim 31 wherein said incomplete circuit condition is at least partially defined by disconnection of said tag from said circuit assembly.

33. A system as recited in claim 31 wherein said circuit assembly is at least partially defined by an electrically conductive coating, said incomplete circuit condition being at least partially defined by failure of said electrically conductive coating.

34. A system for monitoring an object on a real time basis, said system comprising:

at least one host controller,

at least one tag associated with the object being monitored and movable therewith,

a reader assembly, said reader assembly and said tag cooperatively structured to establish communication there between,

said tag comprising a probe assembly structured and disposed relative to the object to monitor at least one predetermined characteristic of the object, said reader assembly structured to communicate at least a non-compliant status of said predetermined characteristic being monitored to said host controller,

an attachment assembly structured to connect said tag to the object being monitored, and

said attachment assembly comprising a circuit assembly electrically connected to said tag and securable to said object.

35. A system as recited in claim 34 wherein said attachment assembly is fixedly secured to the object being monitored.

36. A system as recited in claim 34 wherein said attachment assembly is removably attached to the object.

37. A system as recited in claim 34 wherein said attachment assembly is structured to be removably secured to an animate object, whereby the animate object comprises the object being monitored.

38. A system as recited in claim 34 wherein said circuit assembly is at least partially defined by an electrically conductive coating.

39. A system as recited in claim 34 wherein said reader assembly is structured to transmit data received from said tag to said host controller, said host controller responsive to the tag transmitted data and structured to be determinative of location parameters of said tag.

40. A system as recited in claim 34 wherein said tag is structured to be operative in an active mode.

41. A system as recited in claim 40 wherein said active mode is at least partially defined by operation of said tag utilizing a self-contained power source.

42. A system as recited in claim 34 further comprising an alarm assembly structured to be activated upon communication of said non-compliant status.

43. A system as recited in claim 42 wherein said alarm assembly is associated with said host controller.

44. A system as recited in claim 42 wherein said alarm assembly is associated with said tag.