Tracking System and Method for Tracking Objects

• US 20090232356A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deanna Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Deanna Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Deanna
• Application Number:
  US12/048,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20090232356A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

Disclosed are tracking system and a method for locating a plurality of objects. The tracking system includes an identification module, a receiver, a processing module, and a transmitter. The identification module is configured to obtain unit identification information associated with the one or more traceable units. The receiver is configured to receive an information of a spatial location and unit identification information of the one or more traceable units. The processing module is electronically coupled to the identification module and the receiver and is configured to identify the one or more traceable units based on the obtained unit identification information and the received unit identification information. The processing module is further configured to determine locations of the one or more traceable units based on the information of the spatial location of the one or more identified traceable units. The transmitter is electronically coupled to the processing module.

Claims

1. A tracking system for locating one or more traceable units, the tracking system comprising:

an identification module configured to obtain unit identification information associated with the one or more traceable units;

a receiver configured to receive

an information of a spatial location of the one or more traceable units, and

unit identification information of the one or more traceable units transmitted by the one or more traceable units;

a processing module electronically coupled to the identification module and the receiver, the processing module configured to

identify the one or more traceable units based on the obtained unit identification information and the received unit identification information, and

determine a location of the one or more traceable units based on the information of the spatial location of the one or more identified traceable units; and

a transmitter electronically coupled to the processing module, the transmitter configured to transmit notification information to the one or more traceable units based on the location of the one or more traceable units.

2. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein the unit identification information comprises one or more barcode numbers associated with the one or more traceable units.

3. The tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a memory module communicably coupled to the identification module, the memory module capable of storing the unit identification information associated with the one or more traceable units.

4. The tracking system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm system operatively coupled to the processing module, the alarm system capable of generating one or more alarm signals upon determining the location of the one or more traceable units being beyond a predefined distance from the tracking system.

5. The tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a control module operatively coupled to the processing module, the control module adapted to control one or more operations of the tracking system.

6. The tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a display module operatively coupled to the processing module, the display module capable of displaying the locations of the one or more traceable units determined by the processing module.

7. A traceable unit capable of communicating with a tracking system, the traceable unit comprising:

a memory module capable of storing unit identification information associated with the traceable unit, the unit identification information enabling the tracking system to identify the traceable unit;

a processing module configured to identify a spatial location of the traceable unit;

a transmitter electronically coupled to the processing module and the memory module, the transmitter configured to,

transmit the unit identification information associated with the traceable unit, and

transmit information of the spatial location of the traceable unit, wherein the information of the spatial location of the traceable unit enables the tracking system to determine a location of the traceable unit; and

a receiver electronically coupled to the processing module, the receiver configured to receive a notification information from the tracking system based on the location of the traceable unit.

8. The traceable unit of claim 7, wherein the unit identification information is a barcode number.

9. The traceable unit of claim 7, further comprising an alarm system operatively coupled to the processing module, the alarm system capable of generating one or more alarm signals upon determining the location of the traceable unit being beyond a predefined distance from the tracking system.

10. A method for locating one or more traceable units, the one or more traceable units capable of communicating with a tracking system, the method comprising:

obtaining unit identification information associated with one or more traceable units for communicably coupling the tracking system and the one or more traceable units;

receiving information of a spatial location of each of the one or more traceable units and unit identification information associated with the each of the one or more traceable units from the each of the one or more traceable units when the tracking system is communicably coupled with the one or more traceable units;

identifying the one or more traceable units based on the obtained unit identification information and the received unit identification information;

determining a location of the one or more traceable units based on the information of the spatial location of the identified one or more traceable units; and

transmitting notification information to the each of the one or more traceable units based on the determined location of the one or more traceable units.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the determined location of the each of the one or more traceable units.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating one or more alarm signals by the tracking system upon determining the one or more traceable units being located beyond a predefined distance from the tracking system.