Method and system for discrete location triggering for enhanced asset management and tracking

• US 20070120736A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Breen, Thomas, Jesson, Joseph, Forman, Douglas, Theurer, Charles, Good, Brandon, MacKenzie, Patricia, Chan, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US11/289,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120736A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.660
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping

Abstract

A method and system for discrete location triggering for enhanced asset management and tracking. The system includes an electronic discrete location tracking device affixed to the discrete location and configured to transmit a signal from the discrete location. The system also includes an electronic location trigger processing module to receive and process the signal transmitted by the discrete location tracking device into a location communication signal, wherein the electronic location trigger processing module is affixed to an asset whose discrete location and information are to be managed. The system also includes a remote client computer system operatively connected to the electronic location trigger processing module for exchanging information over a computer network.

Claims

1. A system for discrete location triggering for global asset management and tracking, the system comprising:

an electronic discrete location tracking device affixed to a discrete location and configured to transmit a signal from said discrete location; and

an electronic location trigger processing module having a location receiver and a communications transceiver, the location receiver configured to receive and process said signal transmitted by said discrete location tracking device into a location communication signal, and the communications transceiver configured to transmit the location communication signal globally, wherein said electronic location trigger processing module is affixed to an asset whose discrete location and information are to be managed and tracked globally.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said discrete location tracking device includes a radio frequency identification trigger emitter to transmit said signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said discrete location tracking device includes a power source to power said radio frequency identification trigger emitter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic location trigger processing module includes a radio frequency identification trigger reader to detect said signal transmitted by said electronic discrete location tracking device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic location trigger processing module further includes a geographical location device to provide geographical location data corresponding to the position of the asset being tracked, the geographical location device configured to send the geographic location data to the communications transceiver.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said electronic location trigger processing module device is further configured to include said geographic location data in the location communication signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said location communication signal corresponds to an event related to said discrete location.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said discrete location comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a railway yard, a railway track, a retail distribution center, and any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said location communication signal corresponds to at least one element selected from a group consisting of dock-in status, dock-out status, and any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal includes identification information relating to said discrete location.

11. A method for discrete location triggering for global asset management and tracking includes:

transmitting a signal from a discrete location;

receiving said signal on an asset to be tracked;

processing said signal into a location communication signal, wherein said location communication signal includes an identification information related to said discrete location and information identifying the asset; and

transmitting said location communication from the asset via a wireless communications network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said transmitting a signal includes:

affixing an electronic discrete location tracking device to a location whose location and information are to be managed; and

programming said discrete location tracking device to generate and transmit said signal that includes identification information relating to said location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said discrete location tracking device includes a radio frequency identification trigger emitter.

14. The method of claim 13 also includes powering said radio frequency identification trigger emitter.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said processing said signal includes:

affixing an electronic location trigger processing module to an asset whose discrete location and information are to be managed;

receiving at said electronic location trigger processing module said signal transmitted by said discrete location tracking device; and

combining said signal received at said electronic location trigger processing module and a geographical location data of said asset to generate said location communication signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic location trigger processing module also includes a radio frequency identification trigger reader, a communication transceiver and a geographical location device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said location communication signal corresponds to an event related to said discrete location.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said discrete location comprises a element selected from the group consisting of a railway yard, a railway track, a retail distribution center, and any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said event includes an event selected from a group consisting of a gate-in event, a gate-out event, and any combination thereof related to said discrete location and transacted by said asset.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said location communication signal corresponds to an element selected from a group consisting of dock-in status, dockout status, and any combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein said signal includes the identification information relating to said discrete location.