SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARRIER IDENTIFICATION IN A PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM

• US 20080180225A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Translogic Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Translogic Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Inventors: Hoganson, Kenneth Michael, Chaney, Gregory Richard, Hinnen, Bennett Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.31
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/046 RFID
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/42 according to indications on carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/44 without mechanical contact between carriers and controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/44 pneumatic only

Abstract

A system and method provides for the identification and monitoring of carriers within a pneumatic carrier system. Each carrier which is to be employed within the system includes an identification device such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip which has stored thereon identification information for the carrier. Positioned throughout the system are communications devices such as antennas and readers which are employed to read and/or write identification information on the chip. When a carrier is put in the system, a destination location can be associated with the particular carrier ID. This associated information is then employed to, among many things, monitor and confirm identity of the carrier as it moves to its destination.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for use in the operation of a pneumatic carrier system comprising the steps of:

using a first communications device, reading identification information from an identification device associated with a pneumatic carrier at a first location in a pneumatic carrier system;

receiving destination information for the pneumatic carrier from a user interface associated with the first location;

sending the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic carrier system to a second location associated with the destination information;

using a second communications device, reading the identification information from the identification device at the second location in the pneumatic carrier system;

generating an output on a display device at the user interface associated with the first location indicating that the pneumatic carrier is located at the second location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of reading comprises reading a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of reading at a second location is performed at one of:

a destination location for the pneumatic carrier within the pneumatic carrier system; and

an intermediate location between the origination location and a destination location for the pneumatic carrier within the pneumatic carrier system.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating an output comprises generating a text message on the display device indicating that the pneumatic carrier is located at the second location.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating an output comprises generating a graphical representation of the pneumatic carrier system on the display device and graphically depicting the pneumatic carrier at the second location on the graphical representation.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

reading the identification device at least at one intermediate location between the first location and the second location; and

graphically depicting the pneumatic carrier at the intermediate location on the graphical representation.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

after the pneumatic carrier arrives at the second location, monitoring personnel access of the pneumatic carrier at the second location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein upon personnel accessing the pneumatic carrier generating an output on a display device at the user interface associated with the first location.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing the identification information and an identifier associated with the first location to a transaction record in a computer readable storage medium.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

upon reading said identification information at said second location, accessing said transaction record to identify said first location; and

sending a signal to said first location to generate said output.

12. A method for use in operating a pneumatic carrier system comprising the steps of:

reading identification information from an identification device associated with a pneumatic carrier at a first location in a pneumatic carrier system;

receiving destination information for the pneumatic carrier from a first user interface associated with the first location; and

generating an output on a display device associated with a second user interface associated with a second location indicating that the pneumatic carrier is being sent to the second location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of reading comprises reading a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating an output comprises generating a text message on the display device indicating that the pneumatic carrier is being sent to the second location.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating a text message that indicates at least one of;

an origination location of the carrier;

an identification of a party sending the pneumatic carrier;

a priority of the carrier; and

an indication of the contents of the carrier.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating an output comprises generating a graphical representation of the pneumatic carrier system on the display device and graphically depicting the pneumatic carrier on the graphical representation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the travel path of the pneumatic carrier is graphically depicted between an origination location and the second location.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating an output at the first user interface indicating that the pneumatic carrier has arrived at the second location.

19. A method for use in operating a pneumatic carrier system comprising the steps of:

receiving a pneumatic carrier at a location in the pneumatic carrier system;

reading identification information from an identification device associated with the pneumatic carrier;

obtaining a transaction record associated with the pneumatic carrier based on the identification information;

comparing the location of the pneumatic carrier with destination location information associated with the transaction record; and

identifying the pneumatic carrier as being at one of;

a correct location; and

an incorrect location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein when the pneumatic carrier is at an incorrect location further comprising:

redirecting the pneumatic carrier to a location associated with the destination location information.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein when the pneumatic carrier is at an incorrect location generating an output indicating the pneumatic carrier is at an incorrect location at one of:

the current location of the pneumatic carrier

an origination location of the pneumatic carrier; and

an intended destination location of the pneumatic carrier.