High-Reliability Product/Activity Tracking System

• US 20110254731A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telespazio SPA (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Telespazio SPA (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Musmeci, Mario
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.25
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a tracking system configured to track a product and/or an activity. The tracking system comprises a tracing device and a verification server. The tracing device is coupled with the verification server by means of communication means configured to allow exchange of data between the tracing device and the verification server. The tracing device is coupled with a first satellite localization receiver which is configured to receive signals from a satellite localization system, process the received signals to obtain satellite localization observables, and compute locations based on the satellite localization observables. The tracing device is configured to acquire from the first satellite localization receiver positioning data. The positioning data comprise a location computed by the first satellite localization receiver, and a location time which represents time and data at which the location is computed by the first satellite localization receiver. The positioning data are related to a product and/or an activity to be tracked. The tracing device is further configured to select a satellite localization observable based on which location is computed by the first satellite localization receiver, and to acquire from the satellite localization receiver the selected satellite localization observable. The tracing device is further configured to provide the verification server with the positioning data and the satellite localization observable acquired from the satellite localization receiver. Moreover, the verification server, in turn, is configured to perform a location consistency check based on the location comprised in the positioning data provided by the tracing device, and on the satellite localization observable provided by the tracing device. The verification server is further configured to generate a validation code on the basis of an outcome of the location consistency check, and on the basis of the positioning data provided by the tracing device. The verification server is further configured to provide the tracing device with the generated validation code. Furthermore, the tracing device is configured to store the positioning data and the validation code provided by the verification server on tracking means associated with the product and/or the activity to be tracked.

Claims

1. Tracking system (10;

10′

) configured to track a product and/or an activity, the tracking system (10;

10′

) comprising a tracing device (11), and a verification server (12), the tracing device (11) being coupled with the verification server (12) by means of communication means (13) configured to allow exchange of data between the tracing device (11) and the verification server (12);

the tracing device (11) being coupled with a first satellite localization receiver to acquire data therefrom;

the first satellite localization receiver being configured to;

receive signals from a satellite localization system;

process the received signals to obtain satellite localization observables; and

compute locations based on the satellite localization observables;

the tracing device (11) being configured to;

acquire positioning data (21;

31) from the first satellite localization receiver, the positioning data (21;

31) comprising a location computed by the first satellite localization receiver, and a location time which represents time and data at which the location is computed by the first satellite localization receiver, the positioning data (21;

31) being related to a product and/or an activity to be tracked;

the tracking system (10;

10′

) being characterized in that the tracing device (11) is configured to;

select a satellite localization observable based on which the location is computed by the first satellite localization receiver;

acquire from the first satellite localization receiver the selected satellite localization observable; and

provide the verification server (12) with the positioning data (21;

31) and the satellite localization observable acquired from the first satellite localization receiver;

the verification server (12) being configured to;

perform a location consistency check based on the location comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11), and on the satellite localization observable provided by the tracing device (11);

generate a validation code (23;

33) on the basis of an outcome of the location consistency check, and on the basis of the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11); and

provide the tracing device (11) with the generated validation code (23;

33);

the tracing device (11) being further configured to;

store the positioning data (21;

31), and the validation code (23;

33) provided by the verification server (12) on tracking means (50) associated with the product and/or the activity to be tracked.

2. System of claim 1, wherein the verification server (12) is further configured to:

generate instructions based on the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11); and

provide the tracing device (11) with the generated instructions;

the tracing device (11) being further configured to;

select the satellite localization observable to be acquired from the first satellite localization receiver according to the instructions provided by the validation server (12).

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the validation code generated by the verification server (12) comprises a first part and a second part, the first part being readable, the second part being encrypted with an encryption key known only by the verification server (12).

4. System according to claim 1, wherein the verification server (12) is configured to perform the location consistency check by checking whether the location comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11) is consistent with the satellite localization observable provided by the tracing device (11).

5. System according to claim 1, wherein the satellite localization system is Galileo Navigation System, and wherein the tracing device (11) is further configured to:

acquire from the first satellite localization receiver encrypted Galileo signal authentication data which are received by the first satellite localization receiver from the Galileo Navigation System, and are current at the location time; and

provide the verification server (12) also with the encrypted Galileo signal authentication data acquired from the first satellite localization receiver;

the verification server 12 being further configured to;

acquire a Galileo key from a key distribution facility of the Galileo Navigation System;

perform a first Galileo signal authenticity check based on the encrypted Galileo signal authentication data provided by the tracing device (11), and on the acquired Galileo key; and

generate the validation code (23;

33) also on the basis of an outcome of the first Galileo signal authenticity check.

6. System of claim 5, wherein the verification server (12) is configured to perform the first Galileo signal authenticity check by checking whether the encrypted Galileo signal authentication data provided by the tracing device (11) are decryptable using the Galileo key.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein the satellite localization system is Galileo Navigation System, and wherein the tracing device (11) is further configured to:

acquire from the first satellite localization receiver encrypted Galileo signal authentication data which are received by the first satellite localization receiver from the Galileo Navigation System, and are current at the location time; and

provide the verification server (12) also with the encrypted Galileo signal authentication data acquired from the first satellite localization receiver;

the verification server (12) being coupled with a second satellite localization receiver to acquire data therefrom, the second satellite localization receiver being configured to receive, and to process the signals from the Galileo Navigation System;

the verification server (12) being further configured to;

acquire from the second satellite localization receiver encrypted Galileo signal authentication data received by the second satellite localization receiver from the Galileo Navigation System;

store the encrypted Galileo signal authentication data acquired from the second satellite localization receiver;

perform a second Galileo signal authenticity check based on the encrypted Galileo signal authentication data provided by the tracing device (11), on the location time comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11), and on at least one of the stored encrypted Galileo signal authentication data; and

generate the validation code (23;

33) also on the basis of an outcome of the second Galileo signal authenticity check.

8. System of claim 7, wherein the verification server (12) is configured to perform the second Galileo signal authenticity check by checking whether the encrypted Galileo signal authentication data provided by the tracing device (11) are consistent with stored encrypted Galileo signal authentication data which are current at the location time comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11).

9. System according to claim 1, wherein the satellite localization system is Galileo Navigation System, and wherein the tracing device (11) is further configured to:

acquire from the first satellite localization receiver a Galileo Integrity message which is received by the first satellite localization receiver from the Galileo Navigation System, and is valid at the location time; and

provide the verification server (12) also with the Galileo Integrity message acquired from the first satellite localization receiver;

the verification server (12) being coupled with a second satellite localization receiver to acquire data therefrom, the second satellite localization receiver being configured to receive, and to process the signals from the Galileo Navigation System;

the verification server (12) being further configured to;

acquire from the second satellite localization receiver Galileo Integrity messages received by the second satellite localization receiver from the Galileo Navigation System;

store the Galileo Integrity messages acquired from the second satellite localization receiver;

perform a third Galileo signal authenticity check based on the Galileo Integrity message provided by the tracing device (11), on the location time comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11), and on at least one of the stored Galileo Integrity messages; and

generate the validation code (23;

33) also on the basis of an outcome of the third Galileo signal authenticity check.

10. System of claim 9, wherein the verification server (12) is configured to perform the third Galileo signal authenticity check by checking whether the Galileo Integrity message provided by the tracing device (11) is consistent with a stored Galileo Integrity message which is valid at the location time comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11).

11. System according to claim 1, wherein the first satellite localization receiver is further configured to:

receive signals also from a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS);

process the received signals to obtain augmentation data; and

compute the location also based on the augmentation data;

the tracing device (11) being further configured to;

acquire from the first satellite localization receiver a SBAS Integrity message which is received by the first satellite localization receiver from the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), and is valid at the location time; and

provide the verification server (12) also with the SBAS integrity message acquired from the first satellite localization receiver;

the verification server (12) being coupled with a second satellite localization receiver to acquire data therefrom, the second satellite localization receiver being configured to receive, and to process the signals from the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS);

the verification server (12) being further configured to;

acquire from the second satellite localization receiver SBAS Integrity messages received by the second satellite localization receiver from the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS);

store the SBAS Integrity messages acquired from the second satellite localization receiver;

perform a SBAS signal authenticity check based on the SBAS Integrity message provided by the tracing device (11), on the location time comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11), and on at least one of the stored SBAS Integrity messages; and

generate the validation code (23;

33) also on the basis of an outcome of the SBAS signal authenticity check.

12. System of claim 11, wherein the verification server (12) is configured to perform the SBAS signal authenticity check by checking whether the SBAS Integrity message provided by the tracing device (11) is consistent with a stored SBAS Integrity message which is valid at the location time comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11).

13. System according to claim 1, wherein the first satellite localization receiver is configured to:

receive signals also from a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS);

process the received signals to obtain augmentation data; and

compute the location also based on the augmentation data;

the tracing device (11) being further configured to;

acquire from the first satellite localization receiver SBAS augmentation data based on which the location is computed; and

provide the verification server (12) also with the SBAS augmentation data acquired from the first satellite localization receiver;

the verification server (12) being coupled with a second satellite localization receiver to acquire data therefrom, the second satellite localization receiver being configured to receive, and to process the signals transmitted by the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS);

the verification server (12) being further configured to;

acquire from the second satellite localization receiver SBAS augmentation data received by the second satellite localization receiver from the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS);

store the SBAS augmentation data acquired from the second satellite localization receiver;

perform a multiple check based on the SBAS augmentation data provided by the tracing device (11), on the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing server (12), and on at least one of the stored SBAS augmentation data; and

generate the validation code (23;

33) also on the basis of an outcome of the multiple check.

14. System of claim 13, wherein the verification server (12) is configured to perform the multiple check by checking whether the SBAS augmentation data provided by the tracing device (11) are consistent with stored SBAS augmentation data which are valid at the location time comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11), and whether the location comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11) is consistent with stored SBAS augmentation data which are valid at the location time comprised in the positioning data (21;

31) provided by the tracing device (11).

15. System according to claim 1, wherein the tracing device (11) is further configured to:

generate event log data (22;

32) comprising information about an event which corresponds to the positioning data (21;

31), and is related to the product and/or the activity to be tracked; and

provide the verification server (12) also with the event log data (22;

32);

the verification server (12) being further configured to;

generate the validation code (23;

33) also on the basis of the event log data (22;

32) provided by the tracing device (11).

16. System of claim 15, wherein the tracing device (11) is further configured to:

detect traceability data (20;

30) stored on the tracking means (50);

if the traceability data (20;

30) stored on the tracking means (50) are detected, update the traceability data (20;

30) stored on the tracking means (50) by adding to the traceability data (20;

30) stored on the tracking means (50) the positioning data (21;

31), the event log data (22;

32), and the validation code (23;

33) provided by the verification server (12); and

if the traceability data (20;

30) stored on the tracking means (50) are not detected, generate traceability data (20) and store the generated traceability data (20) on the tracking means, the generated traceability data (20) comprising the positioning data (21;

31), the event log data (22;

32), and the validation code (23;

33) provided by the verification server (12).

17. System according to claim 1, wherein the tracing device (11) is further configured to:

provide the verification server (12) also with a first identification code which identifies univocally the tracing device (11), and with a second identification code which identifies univocally a user of the tracing device (11);

the verification server (12) being further configured to;

generate the validation code (23;

33) also on the basis of the first and second identification code provided by the tracing device (11).

18. System of claim 17, wherein the verification server (12) comprises a Web portal which is configured to register the user and the tracing device (11), and to provide the user with the first and second identification code.

19. System according to claim 1, wherein the verification server (12) is coupled with storing means, and is further configured to:

store the generated validation code (23;

33) on the storing means.

20. System of claim 19, further comprising an inquiring device (14) which is coupled with the verification server (12) by means of second communication means (15) configured to allow exchange of data between the inquiring device (14) and the verification server (12);

the inquiring device (14) being configured to;

retrieve from tracking means (50) traceability data (20;

30) stored thereon, the tracking means (50) being associated with a tracked product and/or a tracked activity, the traceability data (20;

30) stored on the tracking means (50) comprising at least one validation code (23;

33);

provide a second user with the acquired traceability data (20;

30), the second user being using the inquiring device (14); and

provide the verification server (12) with the at least one validation code (23;

33) comprised in the acquired traceability data (20;

30);

the verification server (12) being further configured to;

perform a validation code check based on the at least one validation code (23;

33) provided by the inquiring device (14), and on at least one validation code (23;

33) stored on the storing means; and

provide the inquiring device (14) with a validation code check result which is an outcome of the validation code check;

the inquiring device (14) being further configured to;

provide the second user also with the validation code check result provided by the verification server (12).

21. System of claim 20, wherein the verification server (12) is configured to perform the validation code check by checking whether the at least one validation code (23;

33) provided by the inquiring device (14) corresponds to a validation code (23;

33) stored on the storing means, and whether the at least one validation code (23;

33) provided by the inquiring device (14) is consistent with the corresponding validation code (23;

33) stored on the storing means.

22. Tracing device (11) for the tracking system (10;

10′

) according to claim 1.

23. Verification server (12) for the tracking system (10;

10′

) according to claim 1.

24. Software program loadable in a memory of an electronic processor and comprising software code portions configured to implement, when the software program is run on the electronic processor, a verification server (12) for the tracking system (10;

10′

) according to claim 1.

25. Inquiring device (14) for the tracking system (10;

10′

) according to claim 20.