Method For Tracking and Controlling Grainy and Fluid Bulk Goods in Stream-Oriented Transportation Process Using RFID Devices

• US 20080300712A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Zachmann, Guenter
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/116
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/47 Tracing, tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and system for tracking non-discrete goods. The method includes inserting a first identification device into a non-discrete good, detecting the first identification device within the non-discrete good, and determining a characteristic of the non-discrete good from the first identification device. The system includes a plurality of identification devices having characteristics similar to a non-discrete good, and a set of sensors to detect the plurality of identification devices and determine a characteristic of the non-discrete good based on the identification devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

inserting a first identification device into a non-discrete good;

detecting the first identification device within the non-discrete good; and

determining a characteristic of the non-discrete good from the first identification device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inserting a second identification device into the non-discrete good, the second identification device to provide additional data regarding the non-discrete good.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a rate of movement of the non-discrete good by detecting the first identification device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the non-discrete good is any one of a liquid, granular material and gas.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identification device has characteristics similar to the non-discrete good including any one of density, weight, buoyancy and particle size.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an origin of the non-discrete material through the first identification device.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing data about the non-discrete good in the first identification device during transportation of the non-discrete device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identification device is a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending an authentication key to the first identification device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data from the first identification device in response to the authentication key.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a rate of movement of the non-discrete good by determining the relative position of the second identification device to the first identification device.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

comparing data from the first identification device with data from the second identification device to verify an origin of the non-discrete good.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inserting a third identification device into another non-discrete good; and

detecting an improper mixture of the non-discrete good and another non-discrete good by detection of the first identification device and third identification device.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a speed of transport by determining a relative speed of the non-discrete good by comparing data received from the first device with data from the second device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a loss of the first device; and

determining a portion of the non-discrete good that is lost based on a detected loss of the first device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device indicates a transition between non-discrete goods.

17. A system comprising:

a plurality of identification devices having characteristics similar to a non-discrete good; and

a set of sensors to detect the plurality of identification devices and determine a characteristic of the non-discrete good based on the identification devices.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a server to store data from the set of sensors and to track the characteristic of the non-discrete good.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the identification devices are embedded in a transportation system for non-discrete goods.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

an authentication system to activate the identification devices.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the identification device is a radio frequency identification device.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the non-discrete good is any one of a particulate matter, a gas and a liquid.

23. A machine readable medium having instructions stored therein, which if executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a set of operations comprising:

transmitting a first signal to an identification device in a non-discrete good including an authentication key; and

receiving a second signal from the identification device in response to the first signal, the second signal including data indicating a characteristic of the non-discrete good.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the first signal includes an authentication key.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the first signal activates the identification device.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 23, having further instructions stored therein, which if executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a set of further operations comprising:

storing data from the identification device in a database.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 23, having further instructions stored therein, which if executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a set of further operations comprising:

transmitting a third signal to be stored in the identification device.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 23, having further instructions stored therein, which if executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a set of further operations comprising:

tracking movement of the identification device by changing a characteristic of the second signal.

29. The machine readable medium of claim 23, having further instructions stored therein, which if executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a set of further operations comprising:

accessing a database to update data related to the non-discrete good based on the second signal.