System and method of tracking objects being serviced
First Claim
1. A service shop comprising:
- a plurality of physical locations, at least some of the physical locations being configured as a place for the performance of at least one service on a service object; and
a computer network configured to track movement of tagged service objects from physical location to physical location, the computer network comprising;
one or more tag readers comprising one or more antennae configured to receive transmissions from tags each encoded with an identifier and connected to an associated tagged service object and to transmit identifiers obtained from the tag transmissions;
one or more servers configured to receive identifiers transmitted from the tag readers, to determine, based at least on the identifiers and information, derived from the transmissions, about which tag reader antennae received the transmissions, which physical location each service object associated with the received identifiers occupies, and to maintain information sufficient to generate a report showing at least any past physical locations visited by each service object and a current physical location occupied by each service object; and
one or more client workstations configured to receive information from the one or more servers and to generate from the received information at least a visual map depicting a graphical representation displaying at least some of the physical locations of the service shop together with summary status information showing which service objects occupy the displayed physical locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system of tracking objects through a service process at a service shop comprises a computer network configured to track movement of tagged service objects from physical location to physical location within the service shop. The computer network comprises tag readers with antennae configured to receive transmissions from tags encoded with identifiers and connected to associated tagged service objects. The tag readers transmit identifiers obtained from the tag transmissions together with an indication as to which antenna received each transmission. Servers receive the identifiers transmitted from the tag readers and determine, based at least on the identifiers and which tag reader antenna received the transmissions, which physical location each service object associated with the received identifiers occupies. Client workstations generate a visual map of physical locations together with summary status information showing which service objects occupy the displayed physical locations.
74 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A service shop comprising:
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a plurality of physical locations, at least some of the physical locations being configured as a place for the performance of at least one service on a service object; and
a computer network configured to track movement of tagged service objects from physical location to physical location, the computer network comprising;
one or more tag readers comprising one or more antennae configured to receive transmissions from tags each encoded with an identifier and connected to an associated tagged service object and to transmit identifiers obtained from the tag transmissions;
one or more servers configured to receive identifiers transmitted from the tag readers, to determine, based at least on the identifiers and information, derived from the transmissions, about which tag reader antennae received the transmissions, which physical location each service object associated with the received identifiers occupies, and to maintain information sufficient to generate a report showing at least any past physical locations visited by each service object and a current physical location occupied by each service object; and
one or more client workstations configured to receive information from the one or more servers and to generate from the received information at least a visual map depicting a graphical representation displaying at least some of the physical locations of the service shop together with summary status information showing which service objects occupy the displayed physical locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer readable storage medium comprising a substrate configured to encode computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions being configured, when executed on one or more computers, to perform the following:
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track movement of tagged service objects from physical location to physical location, each physical location being one of a plurality of physical locations and configured as a place for the performance of at least one service on a service object;
receive identifiers and source information from one or more radio frequency identification receivers configured to receive transmissions from tags each encoded with an identifier and connected to an associated tagged service object, the source information configured to identify which receiver received each identifier;
determine, based at least on the identifiers and which receivers received the transmissions, which physical location each service object associated with the received identifiers occupies, and to maintain information sufficient to generate a report showing at least any past physical locations visited by each service object and a current physical location occupied by each service object; and
generate from the maintained information at least a visual map depicting a graphical representation displaying at least some of the physical locations together with summary status information showing which service objects occupy the displayed physical locations. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of tracking service objects through a service process, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of service objects to be serviced;
associating each service object with an identifier tag;
receiving signals indicative of identifiers at receivers located within a service shop;
determining which service objects are at each location based at least on the received signals; and
displaying a map depicting at least some physical locations and service objects located at the depicted physical locations. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 23)
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19. A method of tracking service objects through a service process, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of service objects;
associating each service object with an identifier tag comprising a radio frequency identification tag;
associating a service process with each service object;
receiving from at least some of the identifier tags signals indicative of identifiers at receivers located at physical locations within a service shop;
determining which objects are at each physical location based at least in part on the received signals; and
calculating an estimated time for a given service object to complete its service process based at least in part on current physical locations and associated service processes of the service objects. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 24)
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Specification