TRANSPORT MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090026263A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Schmid, Rolf Hermann, Feuchtmueller, Hartmut, Epple, Matthias, Neuerburg, Hans-Juergen, Rampf, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,866,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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

Abstract

A transport monitoring system is provided for transporting goods that are provided with identification tags. The identification tags store identification data used to identify the goods. The transport device includes a closeable transport unit, at least one reader unit, an evaluation unit and activation unit. The closeable transport unit receives goods that are provided with identification tags. The at least one reader unit emits an inquiry signal to the transport unit in order to read the identification tags when an activation signal for activating the reader unit is received. The at least one reader unit also receives the identification data signals emitted by the identification tags. The evaluation unit is used to evaluate the identification data signals received by the reader unit. The activation unit produces the activating signal for activating the reader unit once the transport unit is closed.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. :

A transport device for transporting goods, the goods including identification tags that store identification data for identifying the goods, the transport device comprising;

(a) a closable transport unit configured to receive the goods including the identification tags;

(b) at least one reader unit configured to, upon receipt of an activation signal for activating the reader unit, emit, into the transport unit, an interrogation signal for reading the identification tags and to receive identification data signals that are then emitted by the identification tags;

(c) an evaluation unit configured to evaluate the identification data signals received by the reader unit; and

(d) an activation unit configured to generate an activation signal after the transport unit is closed so as to activate the reader unit.

26. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the reader unit has a transmit/receive antenna configured to emit the interrogation signal into the transport unit and configured to receive the identification data signals from the identification tags.

27. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the evaluation unit includes at least one interface for wireless data transfer.

28. :

The transport device recited in claim 27 wherein the activation signal is received by a central unit via an interface of the evaluation unit.

29. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, further comprising an additional activation unit including a speed sensor for measuring a traveling speed of the transport device, the activation signal generated when the traveling speed exceeds a settable speed threshold value.

30. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, further comprising an additional activation unit including a load sensor for sensing a load weight of the transport device, the activation signal generated when the load weight exceeds a settable weight threshold value.

31. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the transport unit includes a container.

32. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the identification tags include active tags having an integral power supply.

33. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the identification tags include passive tags without an integral power supply.

34. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the identification tags include RFID transponders.

35. :

The transport device recited in claim 34, wherein the RFID transponders are attached to an article label.

36. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, further comprising condition sensors configure to determine a condition of the goods in transit and connected to the evaluation unit.

37. :

The transport device recited in claim 36, wherein the condition sensors include temperature sensors configured to measure the temperature within the transport unit.

38. :

The transport device recited in claim 36, wherein the condition sensors include speed sensors configured to measure a traveling speed of the transport device.

39. :

The transport device recited in claim 36, wherein the condition sensors include acceleration sensors configured to measure an acceleration of the transport device.

40. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the transport device includes a motor vehicle.

41. :

The transport device recited in claim 40, wherein the motor vehicle includes condition sensors configured to determine the condition of the goods in transit, the condition sensors connected to the evaluation unit.

42. :

The transport device recited in claim 41, wherein the condition sensors include tire pressure sensors configured to measure the pressure in tires of the motor vehicle.

43. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the evaluation unit includes an interface to the reader unit and a processor configured to process the identification data signals received by the reader unit.

44. :

The transport device recited in claim 43, wherein the evaluation unit includes additional interfaces configured to connect at least one condition sensor and at least the activation unit.

45. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the evaluation unit includes a GSM unit configured to exchange messages with a central unit.

46. :

The transport device recited in claim 25, wherein the evaluation unit includes a Global Positioning System unit configured to determines the position of the transport device.

47. :

A method for tracking a flow of goods, comprising the steps of;

(a) providing the goods with identification tags stoning identification data and configured to identify the goods;

(b) loading a transport unit with the goods;

(c) activating a reader unit so to emit an interrogation signal into the transport unit so as to read the identification data stored in the identification tags;

(d) receiving, by the reader unit, identification data signals emitted by the read identification tags; and

(e) evaluating, by an evaluation unit, the identification data signals received by the reader unit.

48. :

A transport monitoring system for monitoring at least one flow of goods, the transport monitoring system comprising at least one transport device including;

(a) a closable transport unit configured to receive the goods including identification tags;

(b) at least one reader unit configured to, upon receipt of an activation signal for activating the reader unit, emit, into the transport unit, an interrogation signal for reading the identification tags and to receive identification data signals that are then emitted by the identification tags;

(c) an evaluation unit configured to evaluate the identification data signals received by the reader unit;

(d) an activation unit configured to generate air activation signal after the transport unit is closed so as to activate the reader unit;

the activation signal generated by an activation unit; and

(e) at least one central unit configure to exchange messages with the at least one transport device via an interface.