Radio frequency identification asset management system, and computer program product

• US 20050253704A1
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: TrenStar, Inc.
• Inventors: Neuwirth, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking system to track and manage assets. Each asset to be tracked is tagged with an RFID tag, and tracked using RFID readers located throughout a facility. Based on the tracking information, the system allows users to manage assets and generate reports regarding the various tagged assets.

Claims

1. A computer program product in a data server including a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for tracking and generating report data related to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, when executed, said computer readable instructions performing steps, comprising the steps of:

storing an RFID tag ID uniquely associated with an asset to which an RFID tag is attached, and asset data corresponding to the asset;

receiving an RFID tag ID and an RFID tag reader ID from an RFID tag reader having a coverage zone in which the RFID tag is located, wherein the RFID tag is configured to transmit a signal containing the RFID tag ID;

updating the data server with location information for the asset as provided from the RFID tag reader; and

receiving asset report parameters from an external source, and generating and displaying report data including asset data corresponding to assets associated with the report parameters.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

exchanging asset data with a database, the database having portions of data stored at a different physical location.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

mounting the RFID tag readers at a corresponding plurality of fixed locations within a facility, and the RF field generated by each RFID tag reader corresponds to a zone within the facility.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting asset data to a hand-held wireless device upon reading information from an RFID tag using the hand-held wireless device.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein

the stored asset data includes historical data describing past locations of the corresponding asset.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically performing a plurality of operations based upon a plurality of predefined rules.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the status of an asset based upon a current location of the asset and a past location of the asset.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a signal to a particular client device based upon a current location of the asset and a past location of the asset.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving report parameters that correspond to newly acquired assets; and

transmitting report data including asset data corresponding to new assets to the client device for display, wherein

the report data includes data indicating at least an activation date and type of asset.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an equipment request for a specific RFID tagged asset, and

updating the asset data corresponding to the specific RFID tagged asset to indicate that the asset has been requested at a specific location.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein

the stored asset data includes maintenance and repair information for an RFID tagged asset.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving report parameters requesting a report indicating all assets that are due for maintenance; and

transmitting a report to a client device including asset data for assets that are due for maintenance, wherein

the asset data indicates at least the location of the data, and the type of maintenance required.

13. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a target quantity of specific assets required in a specific zone, and

generating alerts to be transmitted to a client device if the number of assets in a specific zone falls below the target quantity.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a GUI map indicating where the RFID tagged assets are located, and

transmitting the map to a client device, allowing a user to view the distribution of assets in the facility.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein

the map includes hyperlinks that, when selected by a user, cause the data server to transmit asset data corresponding to a selected asset to the client device for display.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein

the stored asset data includes rental asset information when an asset is a rented asset.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein

the rental asset information includes at least one of due date, length of rental, from date, and to date.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving report parameters indicating that a rental report is requested, and

generating a rental report based on the report parameters and transmitting the rental report to a client.

19. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving report parameters indicating that a census report is requested, and

generating a census report based on the report parameters and transmitting the census report to a client, wherein

the census report includes asset data corresponding to RFID tagged assets and human population data corresponding to the number of people in geographic proximity to specific assets.