Method and system for remote monitoring and tracking of inventory
First Claim
1. A system for remotely monitoring and tracking a plurality of units of inventory, comprising:
- a plurality of transponders each fixedly mounted onto a corresponding unit of inventory;
at least one interrogator located remotely from said plurality of transponders, said interrogator having means for conducting two-way communication with each of said transponders, and each of said plurality of transponders having means for conducting two-way communication with said interrogator; and
means for controlling operation of said interrogator whereby said interrogator controls operation of each of said plurality of transponders, whereinsaid interrogator includes means for periodically transmitting an interrogation signal to each of said plurality of transponders,each of said plurality of transponders includes means for controlling operation of said transponder between one of a fully active state and a minimal power conserving state, and means for monitoring for the presence of interrogation signals from said interrogator during said minimal power conserving state, and means for processing said interrogation signal and transmitting data signals to said interrogator in response to said interrogation signal in said fully active state, said data signals including data on at least one of a status, content, and description of said unit of inventory to which a corresponding one of said plurality of transponders is attached,said means for monitoring for the presence of interrogation signals includes a transceiver circuit having a signal receiving mode of operation for receiving said interrogation signals during said minimal power conserving state, andsaid means for controlling operation of said transponder includes a first timer circuit for timing when to alternatingly energize and de-energize said transceiver circuit into and out of the signal receiving mode, respectively, during said minimal power conserving state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention encompasses a system that utilizes radio frequency circuitry in combination with microprocessor devices and specially designed software to provide an improved structure and operation for the monitoring, protection and control of inventory assets. Generally, the system is embodied in a system controller unit, one or more interrogator devices and multiple transponder units. The system controller unit may be a personal computer (PC) based device for effecting the control and monitoring of the system'"'"'s operation. In addition, the system controller unit serves as a data collection device and as an alarm device. The interrogator device(s) incorporate a transceiver controlled by microprocessor circuitry within the interrogator devices. The transponder units also include a radio transceiver and microprocessor circuitry. The transponder units are attached to a container or item to be monitored and protected. The microprocessor circuit and the memory therein store the transponder identification code and can also contain data on the contents or nature of the container/item to which it is attached. When a transponder receives a RF signal from an interrogator device containing a correct transponder identification code, the transponder unit is enabled for receiving and processing messages. The transponder unit may also respond by sending out its own RF signal which contains an acknowledgment and all available data as requested by the interrogator device.
502 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system for remotely monitoring and tracking a plurality of units of inventory, comprising:
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a plurality of transponders each fixedly mounted onto a corresponding unit of inventory; at least one interrogator located remotely from said plurality of transponders, said interrogator having means for conducting two-way communication with each of said transponders, and each of said plurality of transponders having means for conducting two-way communication with said interrogator; and means for controlling operation of said interrogator whereby said interrogator controls operation of each of said plurality of transponders, wherein said interrogator includes means for periodically transmitting an interrogation signal to each of said plurality of transponders, each of said plurality of transponders includes means for controlling operation of said transponder between one of a fully active state and a minimal power conserving state, and means for monitoring for the presence of interrogation signals from said interrogator during said minimal power conserving state, and means for processing said interrogation signal and transmitting data signals to said interrogator in response to said interrogation signal in said fully active state, said data signals including data on at least one of a status, content, and description of said unit of inventory to which a corresponding one of said plurality of transponders is attached, said means for monitoring for the presence of interrogation signals includes a transceiver circuit having a signal receiving mode of operation for receiving said interrogation signals during said minimal power conserving state, and said means for controlling operation of said transponder includes a first timer circuit for timing when to alternatingly energize and de-energize said transceiver circuit into and out of the signal receiving mode, respectively, during said minimal power conserving state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for remotely monitoring and tracking a plurality of units of inventory, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of transponders each fixedly mounted onto a corresponding unit of inventory; providing at least one interrogator located remotely from said plurality of transponders; providing control data and instructions for controlling operation of said interrogator whereby said interrogator controls operation of each of said plurality of transponders; periodically transmitting an interrogation signal to each of said plurality of transponders from said at least one interrogator; and alternatingly operating each of said plurality of transponders between one of a fully active state and a minimal power conserving state, said step of alternatingly operating said transponders including the steps of alternatingly switching into and out of a signal receiving mode according to a predetermined cycle during said minimal power conserving state, monitoring for the presence of interrogation signals from said interrogator in said signal receiving mode during said minimal power conserving state, switching to said fully active state when said interrogation signal is present, receiving and processing said interrogation signal in said fully active state, transmitting data signals to said interrogator in response to said interrogation signal in said active state, said data signals including data on at least one of a status, content, and description of said unit of inventory to which said corresponding one of said plurality of transponders is attached, and reverting to said minimal power conserving state after transmitting said data signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for remote monitoring communication and control between a plurality of remotely tracked items, comprising:
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a plurality of transponder devices each fixedly mounted onto a corresponding item to be remotely tracked, each of said plurality of transponder devices having a first transceiver circuit; at least one interrogator device having a second transceiver circuit, said second transceiver circuit operatively communicating with each of said first transceiver circuits in said plurality of transponders; and a system controller device operatively connected to said at least one interrogator to generate parameter data for controlling said at least one interrogator, wherein said interrogator device includes means for controlling said second transceiver circuit to transmit an interrogation signal to each said transceiver circuit of said plurality of transponders based on said parameter data from said system controller device, and each of said plurality of transponders includes control means for alternatingly operating said transponder between one of a fully active state and a minimal power conserving state, said control means being operatively connected to said first transceiver circuit whereby said first transceiver circuit alternatingly switches, according to a predetermined cycle, into and out of a signal receiving mode during which said first transceiver circuit monitors for the presence of interrogation signals from said interrogator during said minimal power conserving state, and whereby said control means processes a received interrogation signal in response thereto in a fully active state, wherein said control means of each of said plurality of transponder devices includes a first digital data processing circuit device having means for generating a response signal to be transmitted to said at least one interrogator device via said first transceiver circuit in a transmitting mode during said fully active state in response to said received interrogation signal, said response signal including data on at least one of a status, content, and description of a remotely tracked item to which a corresponding one of said plurality of transponder devices is attached. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification