Zone-Based asset tracking and control system
First Claim
1. A system for automatically maintaining records of respective locations of a plurality of objects in real time, the system comprising:
- a plurality of object markers each physically associated with a respective one of said plurality of objects for movement with the respective object, each marker transmitting an identification signal that is unique to the respective object;
a plurality of sensor devices each installed at a respective doorway of a building, each said device for receiving said identification signal transmitted from said object marker as the respective object is moved through the respective doorway and for detecting a direction in which the respective object is moved through the doorway, each said device generating a detection signal indicative of said detected direction of movement and said identification signal of the respective object in response to said device receiving said identification signal; and
data processing means for receiving the detection signals from the sensor devices and for maintaining a data record with respect to each of said objects, each said data record including data indicative of a present location in said building of the respective object.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing system automatically maintains records of respective locations of a plurality of objects in real time. Each of the objects has secured thereto a respective object marker which transmits an identification signal that is unique to the respective object. Sensor devices are installed at respective doorways of a building. Each sensor device receives the identification signal transmitted from the object marker as the respective object is moved through the doorway. The sensor device detects from the identification signal a direction in which the object is being moved through the doorway and generates a detection signal indicative of the detected direction of movement and also indicative of the identification signal for the object. The data processing system receives the detection signals from the sensor devices and maintains a data record with respect to each of the objects indicating the present location in the building of each of the objects.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for automatically maintaining records of respective locations of a plurality of objects in real time, the system comprising:
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a plurality of object markers each physically associated with a respective one of said plurality of objects for movement with the respective object, each marker transmitting an identification signal that is unique to the respective object; a plurality of sensor devices each installed at a respective doorway of a building, each said device for receiving said identification signal transmitted from said object marker as the respective object is moved through the respective doorway and for detecting a direction in which the respective object is moved through the doorway, each said device generating a detection signal indicative of said detected direction of movement and said identification signal of the respective object in response to said device receiving said identification signal; and data processing means for receiving the detection signals from the sensor devices and for maintaining a data record with respect to each of said objects, each said data record including data indicative of a present location in said building of the respective object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 32)
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21. A system for selectively inhibiting movement of an object, the system comprising:
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marker means, physically associated with said object, for transmitting a marker signal; sensor means, installed at a doorway, for receiving said marker signal transmitted from said marker means as the object is moved through said doorway and for detecting a direction in which said object is moved through the doorway, said sensor means generating a detection signal indicative of said detected direction of movement; and control means responsive to said sensor means for determining on the basis of said detection signal whether movement of said object through said doorway in said detected direction is authorized and for inhibiting movement of said object in said detected direction of movement if said control means determines that said movement of said object in said detected direction is not authorized. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for determining the respective positions of a plurality of objects within a storage facility that includes a plurality of object storage locations, each of said storage locations being sized and shaped to permit storage of only one of said objects in the respective location, the system comprising:
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a plurality of object markers each physically associated with a respective one of said plurality of objects for movement with the respective object, each said marker transmitting a marker signal that is indicative of the presence of the respective object; a plurality of sensor devices each installed at a respective one of the object storage locations in said facility, each said device for receiving a respective marker signal for an object present at the respective storage location; and data processing means connected to said sensor devices for storing with respect to each storage location an indication signal which indicates whether one of said objects is present at said storage location. - View Dependent Claims (31, 33, 34)
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Specification