Tracking and Managing Assets
First Claim
1. A munitions transactions system comprising:
- a local network formed of a plurality of identification devices, each identification device associated with an asset, the identification devices operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices to determine which identification devices are present in the network, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network;
a gateway in wireless communication with the local network via at least one of the plurality of identification devices to allow direct or indirect communication between the gateway and each identification device in the local network;
a central shipment controller configured to communicate with the gateway, the central shipment controller operable to receive data from and transmit data to the local network via the gateway; and
a secondary shipment controller configured to communicate with the local network and to communicate with the central shipment controller, the secondary shipment controller operable to generate and transmit a receipt to the central shipment controller upon arrival of one of the assets at a destination;
wherein each identification device has a plurality of operating states, and includes a local device controller operable to switch the identification device between device operating states.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method including a local network formed of a plurality of identification devices that are operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network. A gateway in wireless communication with the local network can allow direct or indirect communication between the gateway and each identification device in the local network. A central shipment controller can be configured to communicate with the gateway and is operable to receive data from and transmit data to the local network via the gateway. Each identification device can include a local device controller operable to switch the identification device between device operating states.
144 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A munitions transactions system comprising:
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a local network formed of a plurality of identification devices, each identification device associated with an asset, the identification devices operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices to determine which identification devices are present in the network, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network; a gateway in wireless communication with the local network via at least one of the plurality of identification devices to allow direct or indirect communication between the gateway and each identification device in the local network; a central shipment controller configured to communicate with the gateway, the central shipment controller operable to receive data from and transmit data to the local network via the gateway; and a secondary shipment controller configured to communicate with the local network and to communicate with the central shipment controller, the secondary shipment controller operable to generate and transmit a receipt to the central shipment controller upon arrival of one of the assets at a destination; wherein each identification device has a plurality of operating states, and includes a local device controller operable to switch the identification device between device operating states. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A munitions transfer method comprising:
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self forming a first local network from a plurality of identification devices, each identification device associated with an asset, the identification devices operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices to determine which identification devices are present in the network, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network; communicating availability of assets associated with the plurality of identification devices forming the local network to a central shipment controller via a gateway in communication with the local network; using the central shipment controller to generate a shipment order in response to an ammunition request, the shipment order including destination and priority codes for ordered assets associated with a first subset of devices of the plurality of identification devices; communicating the destination and priority codes from the central shipment controller to the first subset of devices; and using a secondary shipment controller to generate a receipt upon arrival of the ordered assets. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An asset inventory tracking system comprising:
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a local network formed of a plurality of identification devices, each identification device associated with an asset, the identification devices operable to initiate communication with other identification devices to form the local network and are further operable to poll other identification devices to determine which identification devices are present in the network, each identification device in wireless communication with at least one other identification device such that each identification device is capable of direct or indirect communication with other identification devices in the network; a gateway in wireless communication with the local network via at least one of the plurality of identification devices to allow direct or indirect communication between the gateway and each identification device in the local network; and a central shipment controller configured to communicate with the gateway, the central shipment controller operable to receive data from and transmit data to the local network via the gateway; wherein each identification device has a plurality of operating states and includes a local device controller operable to switch the identification device between device operating states. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An identification tag comprising:
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a power supply; wireless communications circuitry powered by the power supply; and a controller powered by the power supply, the controller configured to operate the communications circuitry to communicate with a second identification tag and further configured to switch the identification tag from a first operating state to a second operating state. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification