System and method for improved item tracking

• US 20070188324A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Morar, John, Moskowitz, Paul, Ballin, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• 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 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A method for tracking objects, including identifying and locating an object using a first method, identifying and locating a person using a second method, and associating the object and the person.

Claims

1. A method for tracking objects, comprising:

identifying and locating an object using a first method;

identifying and locating a person using a second method; and

associating the object and the person.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking the person from a first location to a second location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first method comprises one of reading a bar code associated with the object and reading a radio frequency identification tag associated with the object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second method comprises reading an active radio frequency identification tag associated with the person.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first location comprises a conveyor system.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the second location is within a transport vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second location within a transport vehicle is precisely determined.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing information associated with the person, the object, and track between the first location and second location; and

using the collected information to locate lost objects.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting a disassociation of the object from the person.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying the location of the object upon the disassociation of the object from the person.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing a warning if the object and the person are improperly associated.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing a warning if the second location is not the intended second location.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a history of the location of the person when associated with the object; and

using the generated history to determine the location of the object.

14. A method for tracking objects, comprising:

associating an object with a person;

identifying and locating the person;

recording a disassociation of the object with the person; and

locating the object based upon a location of the disassociation.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an enquiry for the location of the object;

retrieving data regarding the association of the object with the person;

retrieving the location of the disassociation of the object with the person;

assigning a person to search the location of the disassociation for the object; and

locating the object.

16. A system for tracking objects, comprising:

first means for determining an identification and location of a person;

second means associated with the person for reading identification data associated with an object; and

a computer system connected to the first means and the second means by a network,

wherein the computer system receives the identification data read by the second means, identifies the object based on the received identification data, identifies the person associated with the second means, associates the object with the person, collects tracking information regarding the location of the person based on data received from the first means until the person and the object are disassociated, and stores the tracking information.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first means comprises at least one of:

an identification tag attached to the person comprising a radio frequency identification tag; and

a biometric means comprising a video camera for vision-system identification of the person.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second means comprises at least one of a bar code reader, a radio frequency identification reader, a camera, and an ultra-sonic location sensor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer system further receives an enquiry for a location of the object, retrieves the tracking information, and determines the location of the object upon disassociation of the object with the person.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the network comprises a wireless network.