Asset management system

• US 20090042561A1
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, Brian Abraham
• Application Number:
  US11/891,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20090042561A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An asset management system comprising: (A) a plurality of tags, wherein at least one said tag further comprises: a wireless networking transceiver (WNT), and a tag sensor configured to attach to an asset; and (B) a dual wireless communication network further comprising: a cellular network and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

Claims

1. An asset management system comprising:

(A) a plurality of tags, at least one said tag further comprising;

a wireless networking transceiver (WNT);

and

a tag sensor;

each said tag sensor configured to attach to an asset;

and

(B) a dual wireless communication network;

said dual wireless communication network further comprising;

a cellular network and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless networking transceiver (WNT) further comprises:

a cellular modem;

and

a WLAN transceiver.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said cellular modem is selected from the

group consisting of:

{a GSM modem;

a CDMA modem;

a WCDMA modem; and

a GPRS modem}.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said WLAN transceiver is selected from the group consisting of:

{a WiFi transceiver;

a WiMax transceiver;

a Bluetooth transceiver;

a Zigbee transceiver; and

a UWB transceiver}.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said WLAN transceiver further comprises:

a RFID transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one said tag sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

{a GPS sensor;

an inertial sensor;

a Motion sensor;

a temperature sensor; and

a humidity sensor}.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said cellular network is selected from the group consisting of:

{GSM;

CDMA; and

WCDMA}.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) further comprises:

a first Access Point (AP);

and

a first number of tags, each said tag further comprising an active node, wherein each said active node is configured to wirelessly communicate with said first AP by using a WLAN transceiver via said Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and wherein each said active node is configured to wirelessly communicate with a Base Station (BS) via said first AP and via said cellular network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first Access Point is selected from the group consisting of:

{a router; and

a Zigbee main node}.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) further comprises:

a second number of tags;

each said tag further comprising a passive node, each said passive node is configured to wirelessly communicate with said Base Station (BS) directly by using said cellular network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein if said second number of passive nodes exceeds a threshold number, one said passive node is configured to become a second Access Point, and wherein each said remaining passive node is configured to become an active node configured to wirelessly communicate with said second AP by using said WLAN transceiver via said Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and configured to wirelessly communicate with said Base Station (BS) via said second AP and via said cellular network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said threshold number further comprises:

a predetermined number.

13. A method of minimizing communication costs of asset management by using a dual wireless communication network, said method comprising:

(A) providing a plurality of tags;

each said tag being attached to an asset;

said tag further comprising a wireless networking transceiver (WNT) and a tag sensor;

(B) providing said dual wireless communication network;

said dual wireless communication network further comprising a cellular network and a cost-free Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

and

(C) managing each said asset by using said dual communication system;

wherein communication between each two said assets is performed by using said cost-free Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN); and

wherein communication between each said asset and said BS is performed by using said cellular network.

14. A method of minimizing operational cost of asset management by using a dual wireless communication network, said method comprising:

(A) providing a plurality of tags;

each said tag being attached to an asset;

said tag further comprising a wireless networking transceiver (WNT) and a tag sensor;

(B) providing said dual wireless communication network;

said dual wireless communication network further comprising a cellular network and a cost-free self-organizing Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

(C) selecting one said tag having an optimum position location to become an Access Point (AP);

and

(D) managing each said asset by using said dual communication system;

wherein communication between each said tag and said AP is performed by using said cost-free Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN); and

wherein communication between said AP and said Base Station (BS) is performed by using said cellular network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step (C) further comprises:

(C1) determining position coordinates of each said tag by using said tag sensor;

(C2) transmitting said position coordinates of each said tag to said BS;

(C3) analyzing said positioning data by said BS in order to select one said tag to become said AP;

and

(C4) selecting one said tag to become said AP by using a selection algorithm configured to minimize energy consumption by said asset management system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step (C1) further comprises:

(C1,

     1) determining position coordinates of at least one said tag by using a tag sensor selected from the group consisting of;

{a GPS sensor; and

an inertial sensor}.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

(C5) periodically repeating said steps (C1)-(C4) to accommodate for the changes in position locations of each said asset.

18. A method of minimizing operational cost of asset management by using a dual wireless communication network, said method comprising:

(A) providing a plurality of tags;

each said tag being attached to an asset;

said tag further comprising a wireless networking transceiver (WNT) and a tag sensor;

(B) providing said dual wireless communication network;

said dual wireless communication network further comprising a cellular network and a cost-free self-organizing Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

(C) calculating a number of tags;

(D) determining a minimum number of Access Points (APs) based on said number of tags;

(E) selecting a first tag to become a first AP;

(F) repeating said step (E) until said AP selection process is exhausted;

and

(G) managing each said asset by using said dual communication system, wherein communication between each said tag and one said AP is performed by using said cost-free Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and wherein communication between each said AP and said Base Station (BS) is performed by using said cellular network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step (E) further comprises:

(E1) determining position coordinates of each said tag by using said tag sensor;

(E2) transmitting said position coordinates of each said tag to said BS;

(E3) analyzing said positioning data by said BS;

and

(E4) selecting each said AP by using a selection algorithm configured to minimize the energy consumption by said asset management system.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

(E5) periodically repeating said steps (E1)-(E4) to accommodate for the changes in position coordinates of each said asset.