Systems and methods for tracking items using wirelessly-enabled devices

• US 20060091206A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Olsen, John A., Bradley, David Lewis
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/384
• 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 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a tracking and visibility system of a kind that augments aspects of traditional tracking systems by implementing mechanisms for independently detecting and verifying the whereabouts of particular objects moving through a carrier'"'"'s logistics network. These mechanisms are preferably implemented without having to alter the outward appearance or manner in which such objects would otherwise be shipped. At a high level, the present invention accomplishes this by providing a comprehensive tracking system that includes at least two levels of tracking, one of which involves physically associating a wireless device with an object to be tracked, the wireless device being configured to transmit a signal that can be used to independently detect and verify the location of the particular object as it moves through the carrier'"'"'s logistics network.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an object moving through a carrier'"'"'s logistics network having a plurality of scan points, said object associated with a tracking number for facilitating tracking of the object through said logistics network, said system comprising:

a plurality of scanning devices for generating first tracking data by scanning a label associated with said object at each of a plurality of scan points within said logistics network;

a wireless device physically associated with said object, said wireless device configured to transmit a signal comprising a device identifier for uniquely identifying said device;

a plurality of wireless access points for receiving said signal from said wireless device and generating second tracking data identifying a location of said wireless device and said physically associated object at a time said signal is received, said second tracking data based at least in part on the location of each said wireless access point receiving said signal;

a database for storing data associated with the movement of said object through said logistics network; and

a central processing unit in communication with said plurality of scanning devices, said plurality of wireless access points, and said database, said central processing unit configured to;

receive said first tracking data from said plurality of scanning devices;

receive said second tracking data from said plurality of wireless access points; and

store said first tracking data and said second tracking data in said database in association with at least one of said device identifier and said tracking number,

whereby said first and second tracking data combine to provide an enhanced level of monitoring of said object by providing at least two independent mechanisms for verifying the whereabouts of said object within said logistics network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is concealed from view within the object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a package.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said central processing unit is configured to store said device identifier in association with said tracking number in said database prior to shipping said object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said wireless access points receiving said signal is moving with said object during a time the object is being transported from a first location to a second location.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the location of said at least one wireless access point moving with the object and said object is determined using global positioning system (GPS) data received by said access point proximate the time of receiving said signal from said wireless device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the label scanned at at least one of said plurality of scan points is a label affixed directly to the object, said label comprising said tracking number.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said label includes at least one of a barcode and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag for storing said tracking number.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the label scanned at at least one of said plurality of scan points is a label affixed to a container used for holding a plurality of objects destined for a common delivery location within the said logistics network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit said signal using at least one of a Bluetooth-compatible, a WiFi-compatible, and a WiMAX-compatible wireless protocol.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the device identifier transmitted via said signal is a media access control (MAC) address unique to said wireless device.

12. A method of monitoring an object moving through a carrier'"'"'s logistics network having a plurality of scan points, said object associated with a tracking number for facilitating tracking of the object through said logistics network, said method comprising the steps of:

physically associating a wireless device with said object, said wireless device configured to transmit a signal comprising a device identifier for uniquely identifying said device;

associating said device identifier with said tracking number;

generating first tracking data by scanning a label associated with said object at each of a plurality of scan points within said logistics network;

receiving said signal from said wireless device at at least one of a plurality of wireless access points positioned throughout said logistics network;

generating second tracking data based at least in part on the location of each said wireless access point receiving said signal, said second tracking data identifying a location of said wireless device and said physically associated object at a time said signal is received; and

storing said first tracking data and said second tracking data in a database in association with at least one of said device identifier and said tracking number,

whereby said first and second tracking data combine to provide an enhanced level of monitoring of said object by providing at least two independent mechanisms for verifying the whereabouts of said object within said logistics network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless device is concealed from view within the object.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the object is a package.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of associating said device identifier with said tracking number comprises storing said device identifier in association with said tracking number in said database prior to shipping said object.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of said wireless access points receiving said signal is moving with the object during a time the object is being transported from a first location to a second location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the location of said at least one wireless access point moving with the object and said object is determined using global positioning system (GPS) data received by said access point proximate the time of receiving said signal from said wireless device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the label scanned at at least one of said plurality of scan points is a label affixed directly to the object, said label comprising said tracking number.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said label includes at least one of a barcode and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag for storing said tracking number.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the label scanned at at least one of said plurality of scan points is a label affixed to a container used for holding a plurality of objects destined for a common delivery location within the said logistics network.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit said signal using at least one of a Bluetooth-compatible, a WiFi-compatible, and a WiMAX-compatible wireless protocol.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the device identifier transmitted via said signal is a media access control (MAC) address unique to said wireless device.