FINDING AND PACKING TRAVEL ARTICLES

• US 20090243853A1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pomerantz, Ori, Breslau, Franklin C., Kumhyr, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,852,218 B2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A system and method for locating one or more travel articles for packing, out of a plurality of travel articles. A transponder having a unique locator tag is disposed on each travel article that can be potentially selected for packing. A user or computer selects one or more travel articles for packing using an article tracking unit. Article tracking unit communicates a ping signal to a transponder that is associated with a selected travel article for packing. Upon receipt of the ping signal, a transponder controller activates an indicator, such as an aural or visual cue. The activated indicator assists a user in locating the travel article that is associated with the activated indicator. Once the selected travel article for packing is located and packed in a travel container, the indicator is deactivated.

Claims

1. A system for locating at least one travel article for packing, out of a plurality of travel articles, the system comprising:

a transponder having a transponder transceiver, a unique locator tag, and an indicator for signaling a physical location of said travel article for packing;

wherein prior to packing said travel article, said transponder is disposed on each travel article of said plurality of travel articles;

a packing wizard for selecting at least one travel article for packing;

a memory for storing a packing list of at least one selected travel article for packing;

a location interrogator for communicating a ping signal to said transponder transceiver of said transponder of said at least one selected travel article for packing;

wherein, in response to receiving said ping signal, said indicator of said transponder of said at least one selected travel article for packing is activated to provide an indication of the location of said at least one selected travel article; and

a travel container for packing said at least one selected travel article for packing;

wherein said indicator of said transponder of said at least one selected travel article is deactivated when said at least one selected travel article is packed in said travel container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said indicator is at least one of an aural cue or a visual cue.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display for displaying a locator map for locating said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said indicator is deactivated when said at least one selected travel article is packed in said travel container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said unique locator tag includes at least one geographic or cultural data associated with a particular travel article.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said unique locator tag utilizes chipless RFID technology.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said packing wizard generates a suggested packing list that is based on a user'"'"'s inputted travel information.

8. A method of locating at least one travel article for packing of a plurality of travel articles, the method comprising:

disposing a transponder having a unique locator tag on each travel article of said plurality of travel articles;

selecting from a packing wizard said at least one travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

communicating a ping signal to said transponder associated with said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

receiving said ping signal, wherein said ping signal is received by said transponder associated with said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

in response to receiving said ping signal, activating an indicator associated with said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

locating said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles, by utilizing said indicator;

packing said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles in a travel container; and

in response to packing said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles in said travel container, deactivating said indicator associated with said at least one packed, selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said indicator provides at least one of an aural cue or a visual cue.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating a locator map for locating said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

communicating an alert signal when a travel article that is disposed with said unique locator tag, but is not selected, is packed in said travel container.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said unique locator tag includes at least one geographic or cultural data associated with a particular travel article.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said unique locator tag utilizes chipless RFID technology.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said packing wizard generates a suggested packing list that is based on a user'"'"'s inputted travel information.