INTELLIGENT CONTAINER

• US 20150287305A1
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Iyer, Prakash
• Granted Patent: US 9,507,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/248 EAS system combined with another detection technology, e.g. dual EAS and video or other presence detection system

Abstract

An intelligent container apparatus is provided. The intelligent container apparatus comprises a container further comprising a plurality of 3-D cells and an external electronic lock. Each 3-D cell is assigned to store at least one asset including an Asset/ID tag, and at least one asset position sensor. The external electronic lock further comprises: a reader gate; a timing device; a tech/ID authentication system; and a processor. The reader gate is configured to read an Asset/ID tag, configured to read a technician tech/ID tag, configured to assign a checked_in/checked_out status to at least one asset having an Asset/ID tag, and configured to associate the tech/ID of the latest technician who checked_in/checked_out the asset having the Asset/ID tag.

Claims

1. An intelligent container apparatus comprising:

a container further comprising a plurality of 3-D cells;

each said 3-D cell is assigned to store at least one asset;

each said 3-D cell is assigned to store at least one asset position sensor;

said at least one asset further including an Asset/ID tag;

and

an external electronic lock coupled to said container;

said external lock further comprising;

a reader gate configured to read an Asset/ID tag;

configured to read a technician tech/ID tag;

configured to assign a checked_in/checked_out status to at least one said asset having an Asset/ID tag;

configured to associate said tech/ID of a latest technician who checked_in/checked_out said asset having said asset/ID tag;

a timing device;

a tech/ID authentication system;

and

a processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a database;

said database configured to store a plurality of markers;

each said marker including a set of data compiled for one said asset having said Asset/ID tag;

said set of data including said at least one Asset/ID tag;

a checked_in/checked_out status associated with said at least one asset having said Asset/ID tag;

position coordinates of a cell inside said container assigned to store said asset having said Asset/ID tag;

a timing coordinate indicating a time and date when said asset was checked_in/checked_out;

a tech/ID tag of a technician who checked_in/checked_out said at least one asset having said Asset/ID tag.

3. The apparatus of claim 2;

wherein said database is selected from the group consisting of;

a database; and

a cloud integrated remote database.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

an asset report system further comprising a wireless transceiver;

said asset report system configured to periodically report to said database by using said transceiver an updated status of at least one said marker.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an automated asset transport system configured to transport at least one said asset from its assigned cell to said reader gate if said asset is being checked out; and

configured to transport at least one said asset back from said reader gate to its assigned cell if said asset is being checked in.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Asset/ID tag is selected from the group consisting of:

a quick response code (QR code) attached to said asset;

an RFID tag;

a low power RFID tag;

a barcode;

an infrared tag; and

an ultrasound tag.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said asset position sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a radio-based position sensor;

an image-capturing position sensor; and

Wi-Fi enabled position sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said image-capturing position sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a visible camera;

a monochromatic camera;

a multispectral camera;

a hyper spectral camera;

a digital camera;

a digital video camera;

a digital camcorder;

a stereo digital camera;

a stereo video camera;

an infrared (IR) camera;

an ultraviolet (UV) camera;

a motion picture camera;

a television camera; and

a non-photometric 3D scanner.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said non-photometric 3D scanner is selected from the group consisting of:

a laser sensor;

a contact and proximity sensor; and

a magnetic resonance sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said radio-based position sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a satellite navigation sensor;

a pseudolite navigation sensor; and

a cell phone sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Asset/ID code reader is selected from the group consisting of:

a radio transmitter/receiver RFID tag reader;

an optical transmitter/receiver barcode reader;

an IR tag reader; and

an ultrasound tag reader.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tech/ID authentication system is selected from the group consisting of:

a tech/ID tag reader; and

a personal authentication system.

13. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said intelligent container further comprises a classified intelligent container requiring the check of proper clearance of a technician;

and wherein said technician personal authentication system is selected from the group consisting of;

a voice authentication device;

a finger print authentication device; and

a retina scan authentication device.

14. A method for asset management by using an intelligent container;

said intelligent container further comprising a container and an electronic lock;

said container further comprising a plurality of 3-D cells;

said external electronic lock further comprising a reader gate;

an asset report system; and

a processor;

said method comprising;

(A) storing at least one asset having an Asset/ID tag and storing an asset position sensor associated with said asset having said Asset/ID tag in one said 3-D cell located inside said container;

said asset position sensor configured to determine the position coordinates of said asset having said Asset/ID;

(B) using said reader gate to read an Asset/ID tag of each said asset being checked in into said container;

wherein each said asset having said Asset/ID tag and being checked in into said container is assigned a checked in status;

(C) using said reader gate to read an Asset/ID tag of each said asset being checked out from said container;

wherein each said asset having said Asset/ID tag and being checked out from said container is assigned a checked out status;

and

(D) using said processor to communicate said checked_in/checked_out status of each said asset having said Asset/ID tag to said asset report system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said external electronic lock further comprises a reader gate configured to read a technician tech/ID tag;

configured to associate said tech/ID of said technician with said asset having said Asset/ID tag being checked_in/checked_out; and

a processor;

said method further comprising;

(E) using said reader gate to read a technician tech/ID tag and to associate said tech/ID of said technician with said asset having said Asset/ID tag being checked_in/checked_out;

and

(F) using said processor to communicate a checked_in/checked_out status of said asset having said Asset/ID tag being checked_in/checked_out by said technician having said tech/ID tag to said asset report system.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said external electronic lock further comprises a timing device and a processor;

said method further comprising;

(G) using said timing device to record a timing coordinate when said asset having said Asset/ID tag was checked out;

and

(H) using said processor to communicate to said asset report system said timing coordinate when said asset having said Asset/ID tag was checked out.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said external electronic lock further comprises a timing device and a processor;

said method further comprising;

(I) using said timing device to record a timing coordinate when said asset having said Asset/ID tag was checked in;

and

(K) using said processor to communicate to said asset report system said recorded timing coordinate when said asset having said Asset/ID tag was checked in.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said external electronic lock further comprises an asset report system and a processor;

said method further comprising;

(L) using said processor to transmit to said asset report system at least one marker including a set of data associated with at least one said asset having said Asset/ID tag;

wherein said set of data associated with each said asset having said Asset/ID tag includes;

a checked_in/checked_out status of each said asset having said Asset/ID tag;

a timing coordinate when said asset having said Asset/ID tag was checked out from said container;

a timing coordinate when said asset having said Asset/ID tag was checked in into said container;

a tech/ID tag of a technician who was the last to check in at least one said asset having said Asset/ID tag into said container;

a tech/ID tag of a technician who was the last to check out at least one said asset having said Asset/ID tag from said container.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

(N) using said wireless transceiver to transmit from said asset report system to a database a plurality of markers, each said marker including a set of data associated with at least one said asset having said Asset/ID tag.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

(M) using said wireless transceiver to transmit from said asset report system to a cloud integrated remote database a plurality of markers, each said marker including a set of data associated with at least one said asset having said Asset/ID tag.