TRACKING SYSTEM

• US 20080119957A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: G&K Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: G&K Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Ellis, Peter, Williamson, Robert J., Svensson, Lars O.H., Burke, Joseph, Fisher, David F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,649,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An improved tracking system for garments provided to a customer by a garment provider.

Claims

1. A method for tracking garments, comprising:

delivering garments to a customer as part of a program to provide the customer with garments in one or more customer facilities;

scanning an RFID tag associated with at least one of the garments to obtain garment identifying information;

associating the garment identifying information with delivery information for the garment, wherein the delivery information is selected from the group consisting of confirmation of delivery of the garment to the customer, confirmation of delivery of the garment to a particular location in a facility of the customer and assignment of the garment to a particular employee of the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving at least one of the garments from a customer facility, scanning the RFID tag associated with the retrieved garments to obtain the garment identifying information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising comparing the garment identifying information from the retrieved garments to delivery information for garments previously delivered to the customer.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the garment identifying information from the retrieved garments to plan for processing of the garments in a garment plant.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising combining the garment identifying information from the retrieved garments with garment identifying information from other retrieved garments.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising processing a retrieved garment in the garment plant.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein processing consists of one or more steps selected from the group consisting of receipt of the retrieved garment in the processing facility, sorting of the retrieved garments, laundering of the retrieved garments, storage of laundered garments, assembling laundered garments for delivery to the customer.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising scanning an RFID tag associated with a processed garment, determining the status of the garment, and storing the information.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the status of the garment is achieved by associating the location of the scanning with the presence of the garment in that location.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising using at least garment identifying information and status information from a processed garment to combine garments for delivery to a customer.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising using garment identifying information from the retrieved garments to identify the location to which a garment should be delivered.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the garment identifying information and the delivery information is provided to the customer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the delivery information is the assignment of the garment to a particular employee of the customer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the delivery information is used by the customer to monitor movement of the garment within the customer facility.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the delivery information is used by the customer to restrict movement of the garment into one or more areas of the customer'"'"'s facility.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein garment identifying information is obtained by scanning multiple garments in a single step of scanning.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising using garment identifying information to provide the customer with additional information selected from the group consisting of the total number garments in customer'"'"'s program, location of the garments in the customer'"'"'s program, status of the garment and rate of loss of garments in the program.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the garment is used in a clean room setting.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the garment is used in a food preparation setting.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least garment is part of a set of garments to be used concurrently.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the garment is a mat and the location information is the location in which the mat is deployed in a customer facility.

22. The method of claim 2, wherein garment identifying information is obtained by the customer for garments to be retrieved prior to retrieval from the customer facility.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising comparing garment identifying information is obtained by the customer for garments to be retrieved with the garment identifying information from the retrieved garments, the delivery information for garments previously delivered to the customer or both.