DYNAMIC ASSET MONITORING USING ELECTRONIC MARKERS

• US 20090150263A1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fjellanger, John L., Hurtis, George M., Thavasi, Manivannan
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• 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 novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for controlling movement of assets is provided. A method for controlling movement of assets can include reading a first information from a first electronic marker coupled to an asset and reading a second information from a second electronic marker of a transport mechanism in possession of the asset. The method can further include storing in a record the first and second information and a third information comprising a location of the asset. The method can further include retrieving at least one rule comprising at least one value and an action and comparing information in the record to the at least one value. The method can further include executing the action of the at least one rule if the information in the record matches the at least one value.

Claims

1. A method for controlling movement of assets, comprising:

reading a first information from a first electronic marker coupled to an asset;

reading a second information from a second electronic marker of a transport mechanism in possession of the asset;

storing in a record the first information, the second information and a third information comprising a location of the asset;

retrieving at least one rule comprising at least one value and an action;

comparing information in the record to the at least one value; and

executing the action of the at least one rule if the information in the record matches the at least one value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first step of reading comprises:

reading a first information from an RFID tag or a magneto acoustic marker coupled to an asset, wherein the first information includes at least one of a unique identifier for the asset, an asset type and a part number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second step of reading comprises:

reading a second information from an RFID tag or a magneto acoustic marker of a transport mechanism in possession of the asset, wherein the second information includes at least one of a unique identifier of the transport mechanism, a type of employee, a shift indicator and an area indicator.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of storing comprises:

storing in a record the first information, the second information and a third information comprising at least one of a unique identifier of the location and a location type.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of retrieving comprises:

retrieving at least one rule comprising at least one value and an action, wherein the at least one value includes;

a first value for at least one of a unique identifier for the asset, an asset type and a part number;

a second value for at least one of a unique identifier of the transport mechanism, a type of employee, a shift indicator and an area indicator; and

a third value for at least one of a unique identifier of the location and a location type.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of comparing comprises:

determining whether the first information matches the first value, whether the second information matches the second value and whether the third value matches the third information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of executing comprises:

executing the action of the at least one rule if the information in the record matches the at least one value, wherein the action comprises at least one of logging the record, sounding an alarm, sending an electronic message and closing a method of egress from the location.

8. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium embodying computer usable program code for controlling movement of assets, comprising:

computer usable program code for reading a first information from a first electronic marker coupled to an asset;

computer usable program code for reading a second information from a second electronic marker of a person in possession of the asset;

computer usable program code for storing in a record the first information, the second information and a third information comprising a location of the asset;

computer usable program code for retrieving at least one rule comprising at least one value and an action;

computer usable program code for comparing information in the record to the at least one value; and

computer usable program code for executing the action of the at least one rule if the information in the record matches the at least one value.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first computer usable program code for reading comprises:

computer usable program code for reading a first information from an RFID tag or a magneto acoustic marker coupled to an asset, wherein the first information includes at least one of a unique identifier for the asset, an asset type and a part number.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the second computer usable program code for reading comprises:

reading a second information from an RFID tag or a magneto acoustic marker of a person in possession of the asset, wherein the second information includes at least one of a unique identifier of the person, a type of employee, a shift indicator and an area indicator.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer usable program code for storing comprises:

storing in a record the first information, the second information and a third information comprising at least one of a unique identifier of the location and a location type.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable program code for retrieving comprises:

retrieving at least one rule comprising at least one value and an action, wherein the at least one value includes;

a first value for at least one of a unique identifier for the asset, an asset type and a part number;

a second value for at least one of a unique identifier of the person, a type of employee, a shift indicator and an area indicator; and

a third value for at least one of a unique identifier of the location and a location type.

13. A system on a computer for controlling movement of assets, comprising:

a scanner for reading a first information from a first electronic marker coupled to an asset and for reading a second information from a second electronic marker of a person in possession of the asset;

memory for storing in a record the first information, the second information and a third information comprising a location of the asset; and

a processor configured for retrieving at least one rule comprising at least one value and an action, comparing information in the record to the at least one value and issuing a command for executing the action of the at least one rule if the information in the record matches the at least one value.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first electronic marker and the second electronic marker comprise any one of an RFID tag and a magneto acoustic marker.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first information includes at least one of a unique identifier for the asset, an asset type and a part number.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second information includes at least one of a unique identifier of the person, a type of employee, a shift indicator and an area indicator.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the third information comprises at least one of a unique identifier of the location and a location type.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one value includes:

a first value for at least one of a unique identifier for the asset, an asset type and a part number;

a second value for at least one of a unique identifier of the person, a type of employee, a shift indicator and an area indicator; and

a third value for at least one of a unique identifier of the location and a location type.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising an alarm, wherein the processor is configured for sending a command to the alarm to sound if the information in the record matches the at least one value.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a lock for closing a mode of egress from the location, wherein the processor is configured for sending a command to the lock to close if the information in the record matches the at least one value.