Transaction originating proximate position unattended tracking of asset movements with or without wireless communications coverage

• US 20090115609A1
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Frederick Michael Weaver
• Original Assignee: Frederick Michael Weaver
• Inventors: Weaver, Frederick Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/220,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115609A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An asset in a group is automatically tracked wherein each asset is tagged, and at least one transport means are associated with at least one Proximate GPS (PGPS) location devices each equipped with a sensor which is receptive to the presence of a known asset. The sensor is able to detect the type of tag(s) associated with assets and associated with the transport means. The transport means transporting a PGPS device during the course of it activities passes by, associates with and/or may relocate a known tagged asset, the PGPS automatically detects the asset tag and stores the first sensed GPS location, asset tag ID, first time in a newly created PGPS record. When the transport means moves away from the asset by greater than a proximate distance set for the PGPS device reader the asset tag no longer is detected and the PGPS device recognizing such creates then adds to an asset transaction history log the previously stored last reading GPS location associated with the asset and last time of reading with associated details. The next time the PGPS is in communication with the PGPS host system the PGPS transaction history log of one or more transactions is transmitted to the host system providing the most recent asset location, associated transaction details and optionally specific relocation location path history for each asset in the transaction history log. Optionally the current location of the transport means can be mapped on the PGPS device in real-time together with the start and end locations of the asset, movement path and other associated information stored in the PGPS data base accessible independent of the host system availability.

Claims

1. A system for proximate tracking of assets, said system comprising:

at least one item, each with an identification means thereon,

at least one mobile transport means used when performing assigned tasks that periodically move where said items are located within a geographic area;

at least one mobile wireless scanning device, transported by said mobile transport means, that may or may not be in communication with a host system at all times, each of said mobile wireless scanning devices having a unique identifier;

said mobile wireless scanning device at times being proximate to an item detecting said item identification means automatically while said mobile transport means is proximate to said item, and in the instance said item is detected, said mobile wireless devices storing first location detected and subsequently a second location where last detected thereafter creating a transaction detail based on a set of rules, storing the said rule based transaction details on the mobile wireless device and transferring said transaction details to the host system when in communications with the said host system, regarding the detected item, including first location detected and second location where last detected, times for first and last detecting an item tag and said unique identifier together with additional reference data of interest, to said host system;

said host system capable of transferring information to and from said at least one mobile wireless scanning devices when in communications with mobile wireless scanning devices;

whereby said item locations and relocations are tracked while each mobile transport means moves about within the geographic area undertaking assigned tasks, which may involve relocating said items, without requiring cognitive action on the part of the mobile transport means itself to capture and report said item location transaction data to the host system.

2. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 1, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, said identification means comprises any of the following:

active RFID tag, passive RFID tag, infrared tag or other automatic identification method.

3. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 1, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said information about location is obtained using at least a global positioning system (GPS) system as available or alternatively a local location network such as fixed position location array.

4. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 1, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said mobile wireless scanning devices is implemented in any of the following devices:

laptop computer, mobile computer, wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, integrated communications device, or integrated with a transport means movement system having at least periodic wireless wide area network (WAN) connectivity within the domain containing the items.

5. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 1, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said information regarding tagged items, including information about locations and times for first and last detected and said unique identifiers, is transmitted to said host system over any of the following networks:

Internet, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), a wireless network or by direct connections when the mobile wireless device is in its home base.

6. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 1, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said mobile wireless scanning device further comprises:

a sensor interface, said sensor interface detecting said items;

a positioning interface, said positioning interface identifying said location of said mobile wireless scanning device;

a wireless interface, said wireless interface transferring information regarding said detected items, including information about said first and last detected locations and said unique identifiers, to and from said host system when in communications;

a graphical user interface (GUI) interface, said GUI interface displaying said information regarding items information about said first and last detected locations stored when initially no longer detecting the tag, and said unique identifiers;

resident data storage for holding data captured and computed until sent forward;

power reservoir providing power to operate the wireless mobile device, and a client program, said client program managing interaction between each of said interfaces.

7. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 1, wherein at least one items receive an identification means thereon, wherein said host system further comprises:

a wireless interface, said wireless interface receiving said information regarding items, including information about first and last detected locations and said unique identifiers, from said at least one mobile wireless scanning devices;

a session manager program, said session manager program updating an item location data base using said information received by said wireless interface, and at least one interfaces, said at least one interfaces linking said session manager program to at least one databases storing information about said items and said transport means.

8. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 7, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said client information is stored in a client database, which is accessed by said session manager program via a wireless mobile device interface.

9. A system for proximate tracking of items of claim 7, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said information regarding said item is stored in a item database, which is accessed by said session manager program via a items database interface.

10. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 7, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said information regarding said location of said item is stored in a location database, which is accessed by said session manager program via a location interface.

11. A system for proximate tracking of assets of claim 7, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein information regarding status of said item is stored in a history database, which is accessed by said session manager program via a history interface.

12. A system for proximate tracking of items of claim 1, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said identification means incorporates a GPS location means providing the mobile wireless device integrated identification and location data with a shared timeline reference.

13. A system for proximate tracking of items of claim 12, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said identification means receives GPS locations data by a Bluetooth enabled GPS means.

14. A method for proximate tracking of assets, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, said method comprising:

periodically sensing an area for items via a mobile wireless scanning device, each of said mobile wireless scanning devices having a unique identifier;

said mobile wireless scanning device detecting a item in said scanned area while its transport means perform its assigned tasks, said scanning performed in an automatic manner not requiring the attention of its transport means for scanning action;

said mobile wireless scanning device determining and recording first tag location noted and subsequent second being last detected location stored when initially no longer detecting the tag, thereafter creating a transaction, storing a transaction and transferring information of said detected item relocation, if any;

updating information regarding said detected item, including information about recording first location and subsequently a second location when last detecting the tag and said unique identifiers, in a host system; and

outputting graphically said information regarding said detected item information on a resident mobile wireless scanning device that may include an optional map display means.

15. The method for proximate tracking of assets of claim 14, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said tag comprises any of the following:

active RFID tag, passive RFID tag, infrared tag or other automatic identification method.

16. The method for proximate tracking of assets of claim 14, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said location of said detected item is obtained using at least a global positioning system (GPS) system as available or alternatively a local location network such as fixed position location array.

17. The method for proximate tracking of assets of claim 14, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said mobile wireless scanning devices is implemented in any of the following devices:

laptop computer, mobile computer, wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, integrated communications device, or a transport means movement system having at least periodic wireless wide area network (WAN) connectivity within the domain containing the items.

18. The method for proximate tracking of assets of claim 14, wherein at least one item receives an identification means thereon, wherein said information regarding tagged items, including information about first location noted and subsequent second being last detected location stored, therefor creating a transaction, storing a transaction with said unique identifiers, is transmitted to said host system over any of the following networks:

Internet, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), or a wireless network or by direct connections when the mobile device is in its home base.

19. A method for finding a item by utilizing information stored in a database regarding previously tracked instances of tagged items in the geographic area, said tagged items proximately tracked while mobile transport means perform its tasks using at least one mobile wireless scanning device, each having an unique identification, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying said item to be located in the geographic area;

querying said database for said identified item;

receiving at least said last recorded no longer sensed location used to locate said identified item.

20. The method for finding a item by utilizing information stored in a database regarding previously tracked instances of tagged items of claim 19, said tagged items tracked using at least one mobile wireless scanning devices, each having an unique identification, wherein said identified item to be located is displayed by means of map display operating as part of the mobile wireless scanning device independent of the host system, or on the host system or both.

21. The method for finding a item by utilizing information stored in a database regarding previously tracked instances of tagged items of claim 19, said tagged items tracked using at least one mobile wireless scanning devices, each having an unique identification, wherein identification means on said identified items comprises any of the following:

active RFID tag, passive RFID tag, infrared tag or other automatic identification method.

22. The method for finding a item by utilizing information stored in a database regarding previously tracked instances of tagged items of claim 19, said tagged items tracked using at least one mobile wireless scanning devices, each having an unique identification, wherein said database is accessed over a network.

23. The method for finding a item by utilizing information stored in a database regarding previously tracked instances of tagged items of claim 22, said tagged items tracked using at least one mobile wireless scanning devices, each having an unique identification, wherein said network comprises any of the following:

local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), wireless network, HTTP protocol-based networks, or Internet or by direct connections when the mobile device is in its home base.

24. A method for identifying items from a set of at least one item and logging information regarding said items in a database, said method comprising the steps of:

proximately identifying an item from said set of at least one items while transport means perform its tasks carrying mobile wireless scanning devices;

recording a time and location of detection associated with when said item is first identified and a the subsequent time and location when said item is no longer detected;

tagging said identified item;

assigning a unique tag identification to said tagged item;

detecting first identified location and a subsequent second being last detected location stored when initially no longer detecting the tag, and creating a entry in said database with information about said identified item, including said unique tag identification, said detected first time and location identified and a the subsequent time and location when said item is no longer detected, said times of detection and loss of detection, and said unique transport means identification.

25. The method for identifying items from a set of at least one items and logging information regarding said items in a database of claim 24, wherein tags in said tagged items comprises any of the following:

active RFID tag, passive RFID tag, infrared tag or other automatic identification method.

26. The method for identifying items from a set of at least one items and logging information regarding said items in a database of claim 24, wherein said step of detecting a location is accomplished using at least a global positioning system (GPS) as available or alternatively a local location network such as fixed position location array.

27. The method for identifying items from a set of at least one items and logging information regarding said items in a database of claim 26, wherein said network comprises any of the following:

local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), wireless network, HTTP protocol-based networks, or Internet.

28. The method for identifying items from a set of at least one items and logging information regarding said items in a database of claim 24, wherein said database is accessed over a network.