SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING OBJECTS

• US 20120199648A1
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Nigel P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,488,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

A system, device and methods are provided for tracking objects, such as shipping containers and other movable items. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an object based on detection of an object identification tag and detecting a marker during transport of the object, wherein detection of the marker includes determining location data of the marker. The method may further include storing position data for the object based on the location data of the marker, and outputting the position data for the object.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an object, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting an object, by a device, based on detection of an object identification tag;

detecting a marker during transport of the object, wherein detection of the marker includes determining location data of the marker;

storing, by the device, position data for the object based on the location data of the marker; and

outputting, by the device, the position data for the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a shipping container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is one or more of a container, rail car, tractor trailer, car hauler, transport container, and vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the object identification tag is a barcode target including at least one of a two-dimensional barcode, a matrix code and an encoded pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the object identification tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag of the container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting a barcode target, wherein location data of the marker is encoded in the barcode target.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, wherein location data of the marker is encoded in the RFID tag.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting one or more of a ground marker, pathway marker, and structure including a marker.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a marker includes determining a time of detection for the marker and storing the time of detection in a data record for the object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining location data of the marker includes decoding location data encoded in the marker.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein storing position data includes storing the location data associated with the marker in an electronic record for the object.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the position data for the object includes one or more of transmitting the position data to a server and displaying the position data by the device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a display of a controller of the device based on the position data for the object, wherein the display is updated for one or more of tracking scheduling, mapping and routing the container.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the marker stores position data including at least one of location coordinates, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) position data, surveying data and global position data.

15. A device configured for object tracking comprising:

a display;

a detection module configured to detect a marker during transport of an object; and

a processor coupled to the display and the detection module, the processor configured to;

receive data identifying an object, by a device, based on detection of an object identification tag;

determine location data of the marker based on marker data for the object;

control storage of position data for the object based on the location data of the marker; and

control output of position data for the object.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the object is a shipping container.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the object is one or more of a container, rail car, tractor trailer, car hauler, transport container, and vehicle.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the object identification tag is a barcode target including at least one of a two-dimensional barcode, a matrix code and an encoded pattern.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the object identification tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag of the container.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting a barcode target, wherein location data of the marker is encoded in the barcode target.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, wherein location data of the marker is encoded in the RFID tag.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting one or more of a ground marker, pathway marker, and structure including a marker.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein detecting a marker includes determining a time of detection for the marker and storing the time of detection in a data record for the object.

24. The device of claim 15, wherein determining location data of the marker includes decoding location data encoded in the marker.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein storing position data includes storing the location data associated with the marker in an electronic record for the object.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein outputting the position data for the object includes transmitting the position data to a server.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein outputting the position data for the object includes displaying the position data by the device.

28. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to update the display based on the position data for the object, wherein the display is updated for one or more of tracking scheduling, mapping and routing the container.

29. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to output the location data including transmitting the location data to a transport device.

30. The device of claim 15, wherein the marker stores position data including at least one of location coordinates, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) position data, surveying data and global position data.