System and method for monitoring and managing an environment

• US 20070225879A1
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carttronics LLC (Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Carttronics LLC (Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nebolon, Joseph, French, John
• Application Number:
  US11/386,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A network for monitoring and managing the occurrence of specified events in an environment requires a plurality of beacons. Specifically, the beacons are positioned at predetermined locations in the environment to emit respectively unique signals. Tags, with each tag having a distinctive identifier, are separately responsive to each beacon signal to generate a data record that is indicative of an interaction between the tag and a beacon signal. The data record is then transferred to a network control center for use in monitoring and managing the occurrence of specified events in the environment.

Claims

1. A network for monitoring and managing the occurrence of specified events in an environment which comprises:

a system integrator;

at least one beacon positioned at a predetermined location in the environment, wherein the particular beacon emits a unique signal;

a tag having a distinctive identifier, wherein the tag is separately responsive to the unique signal of the beacon to generate a data record whenever the tag interacts with the unique signal of a particular beacon;

a means for transmitting the data record to the system integrator; and

a means incorporated into the system integrator for transferring the data record to a network control center for use in monitoring and managing the occurrence of specified events in the environment.

2. A network as recited in claim 1 wherein each beacon emits its unique signal into a respective space, and the data record is generated when the tag with distinctive identifier enters the unique space of a particular beacon.

3. A network as recited in claim 2 wherein there is a plurality of tags, and at least one tag is mounted on an object for movement through the environment.

4. A network as recited in claim 3 wherein the object is a shopping cart having a wheel, and further wherein the data record initiates a response signal for locking the wheel of the shopping cart.

5. A network as recited in claim 1 wherein the distinctive identifier of the tag is programmable.

6. A network as recited in claim 1 wherein the unique signal of each beacon is programmable.

7. A network as recited in claim 1 further comprising a web protocol incorporated in the system integrator for transferring the data record to the network control center via a connection over the Internet.

8. A network as recited in claim 1 further comprising a means at the network control center for creating a report based on data records received by the network control center.

9. A network as recited in claim 8 wherein the report is used for an inventory control purpose.

10. A network for monitoring and managing the occurrence of specified events in an environment which comprises:

a means for generating a plurality of unique signals, wherein each unique signal is emitted into a predetermined portion of the environment;

a means for separately interacting with each unique signal to generate a respective data record indicative of the occurrence of a specified event; and

a means for receiving the data records as they are generated in real time for use in monitoring and managing the occurrence of specified events in the environment.

11. A network as recited in claim 10 wherein the generating means is a plurality of beacons positioned at predetermined locations in the environment.

12. A network as recited in claim 11 wherein the interacting means is a plurality of tags, with each tag having a distinctive identifier.

13. A network as recited in claim 12 wherein the receiving means is a network control center.

14. A network as recited in claim 13 further comprising a system integrator having a web protocol for transferring the data records to the network control center via a connection over the Internet.

15. A network as recited in claim 12 wherein each beacon emits its unique signal into a respective space, and the data record is generated when the tag with distinctive identifier enters the unique space of a particular beacon.

16. A network as recited in claim 15 wherein the data record includes information about the time duration the tag remains in the unique space of a particular beacon.

17. A method for monitoring and managing the occurrence of specified events in an environment which comprises the steps of:

positioning at least one beacon at a predetermined location in the environment, wherein each particular beacon emits a unique signal;

providing at least one tag, wherein each tag has a distinctive identifier, and wherein each tag is separately responsive to the unique signal of each beacon to generate a data record whenever the tag interacts with the unique signal of a particular beacon; and

transmitting the data record to the system integrator for subsequent use in monitoring and managing the occurrence of specified events in the environment.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

programming the unique signal for each beacon; and

programming the distinctive identifier for each tag.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein the transmitting step includes incorporating a web protocol in the system integrator for transferring the data record to the network control center via a connection over the Internet.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising the step of creating a report based on data records received by the network control center.