Tracking assets between organizations in a consortium of organizations

• US 20070050261A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Lin, Tao
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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 system includes a network of auto-id nodes and a processor. Each auto-id node includes index data that defines a hierarchical relationship between the auto-id node and another auto-id node within the network, and the auto-id nodes include a storage for storing status and history data about one or more assets that have been read by the auto-id node. The processor is operable to extract data from the network of auto-id nodes by following index data within the auto-id nodes to query only selected auto-id nodes within the network, and the selected nodes are arranged in a hierarchical network defined by indices of the auto-id nodes.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a network of auto-id nodes, wherein each auto-id node comprise an index data that defines a hierarchical relationship between the auto-id node and another auto-id node within the network, and wherein the auto-id nodes comprise a storage for storing status and history data about one or more assets that have been read by the auto-id node; and

a processor operable to extract data from the network of auto-id nodes by following index data within the auto-id nodes to query only selected auto-id nodes within the network, wherein the selected nodes are arranged in a hierarchical network defined by indices of the auto-id nodes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the assets are physical objects.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the assets are associated with an identifier that is identified by the auto-id nodes.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the identifier is an RFID tag.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the auto-id nodes are operable to track a time at which the assets are identified with the auto-id node.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the auto-id nodes further comprise an auto-identification device in communication with at least one node, and operable to receive data provided from the nodes about progress of the asset through the system.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operable to receive an identifier of the asset.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network of auto-id nodes includes auto-id nodes that are associated with a single organization.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein different auto-id nodes within the network of auto-id nodes are associated with different organizations.

10. A method comprising:

within a network of auto-id nodes that each comprise a storage for storing status and history data about one or more assets that have been read by the auto-id node, defining hierarchical relationships between different auto-id nodes in an auto-ID system;

storing an index relating a first auto-id node to a second auto-id node in the first auto-id node; and

extracting data from the network of auto-id nodes by following index data within the auto-id nodes to query only selected auto-id nodes within the network, wherein the selected nodes are arranged in a hierarchical network defined by indices of the auto-id nodes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the assets are physical objects.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising associating the assets with an identifier that is identified by the nodes.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the identifier is an RFID tag.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing timing data about a time at which an asset is identified by an auto-id node.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the network of auto-id nodes includes auto-id nodes that are associated with a single organization.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein different auto-id nodes within the network of auto-id nodes are associated with different organizations.

17. A machine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions for causing a one or more processors to:

define hierarchical relationships between different auto-id nodes in an auto-ID system within a network of auto-id nodes that each comprise a storage for storing status and history data about one or more assets that have been read by the auto-id node,

store an index relating a first auto-id node to a second auto-id node in the first auto-id node; and

extract data from the network of auto-id nodes by following index data within the auto-id nodes to query only selected auto-id nodes within the network, wherein the selected nodes are arranged in a hierarchical network defined by indices of the auto-id nodes.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising executable instructions for causing the one or more processors to associate the assets with an identifier that is identified by the nodes.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein in the identifier is an RFID tag.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein different auto-id nodes within the network of auto-id nodes are associated with different organizations.