APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACKING AND GATHERING INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH ASSETS

• US 20150364017A1
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NewVistas LLC
• Original Assignee: NewVistas LLC
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Hyer, Davido L., Brinkworth, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,996,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A method for automatically tracking assets and gathering information associated therewith is disclosed. Such a method includes attaching a tracking beacon to an asset and wirelessly monitoring, with an asset tracking system, a location of the asset using the attached tracking beacon. The method further enables a user to manually input information associated with the asset using an input element (e.g., button, directional switching device, touchscreen, etc.) incorporated into the tracking beacon. The method wirelessly transmits the information from the tracking beacon to the asset tracking system. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for automatically tracking assets and gathering information associated therewith, the method comprising:

attaching a tracking beacon to an asset;

wirelessly monitoring, with an asset tracking system, a location of the asset using the attached tracking beacon;

manually inputting information associated with the asset through an input element incorporated into the tracking beacon; and

wirelessly transmitting the information from the tracking beacon to the asset tracking system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input element comprises at least one button.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input element is a directional switching device configured to provide directional control along multiple axes, wherein directional control along a first axis enables selection of a current function from a plurality of functions, and directional control along a second axis increases or decreases an amount associated with the current function.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the directional switching device comprises at least one indicator to indicate the current function of the directional switching device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least one colored light to indicate the current function based on light color.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising gathering, using at least one sensor incorporated into the tracking beacon, environmental information associated with the asset.

8. A system for automatically tracking assets and gathering information associated therewith, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory device operably coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions for execution on the at least one processor, the instructions causing the at least one processor to;

associate a tracking beacon with an asset;

wirelessly monitor a location of the asset using the tracking beacon and record the location in an asset tracking system;

receive information associated with the asset through an input element incorporated into the tracking beacon; and

wirelessly transmit the information from the tracking beacon to the asset tracking system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the input element comprises at least one button.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the input element is a directional switching device configured to provide directional control along multiple axes, wherein directional control along a first axis enables selection of a current function from a plurality of functions, and directional control along a second axis increases or decreases an amount associated with the current function.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the directional switching device comprises at least one indicator to indicate the current function of the directional switching device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least one colored light to indicate the current function based on light color.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to gather, using at least one sensor incorporated into the tracking beacon, environmental information associated with the asset.

15. A computer program product to automatically track assets and gather information associated therewith, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied therein, the computer-usable program code comprising:

computer-usable program code to associate a tracking beacon with an asset;

computer-usable program code to wirelessly monitor a location of the asset using the tracking beacon and record the location in an asset tracking system;

computer-usable program code to receive information associated with the asset through an input element incorporated into the tracking beacon; and

computer-usable program code to wirelessly transmit the information from the tracking beacon to the asset tracking system.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the input element comprises at least one button.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the input element is a directional switching device configured to provide directional control along multiple axes, wherein directional control along a first axis enables selection of a current function from a plurality of functions, and directional control along a second axis increases or decreases an amount associated with the current function.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the directional switching device comprises at least one indicator to indicate the current function of the directional switching device.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least one colored light to indicate the current function based on light color.