Lost and found system and method

• US 6,259,367 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klein, Elliot S.
• Original Assignee: Klein, Elliot S.
• Inventors: Klein, Elliot S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/562,937
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.6, 340/568.7, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/539, 235/375, 235/385, 235/487, 235/488
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/08 characterised by modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/12 manned
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/44 pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40304 Modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• 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 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for identifying and returning an object includes affixing to the object a passive two-way communication circuit such as a frangible radio security tag or smart label. The tag or label, when operational, is arranged to receive a remotely generated request for status information and, responsive to the request, to transmit status information to a remote device. If desired, the radio tag can be incorporated into a printed label, each label having an adhesive side and a printable side with information to notify the ‘finder’ of a tagged item to coordinate return to its registered owner by contacting a courier, postal or other delivery service network. In the event that a tagged item should become misplaced, the carrier and the supplier can cooperate to locate it and inform the owner of its whereabouts by using the information provided upon enrollment to an electronic ‘lost and found’ network service. In a preferred embodiment, a Web browser program is launched in response to e-mail, and return tracking at the URL of the vendor'"'"'s Web site is accessed through the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for returning lost objects to their owners comprising providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to the owner for application to the owner'"'"'s object or supplying the object with the tag preaffixed, the tag having a unique identification code number electronically recorded within the tag and a visible printed request to any finder to contact a package delivery service;

storing the unique identification code number and corresponding owner information, including owner address information and owner billing account information, in a computer system which is accessible over the Internet by the package delivery service;

providing RFID tag readers at the package delivery services;

upon return of any lost object to a package delivery service, reading the RFID tag identification code number, accessing the corresponding owner information over the Internet from the computer system, returning the object to the owner, and using the owner'"'"'s billing account information to charge the owner for the return of the object to the owner.

2. Method of claim 1 wherein the printed instructions include a promise of a reward if the finder returns the object to the package delivery service.

3. Method of claim 1 further including automatically notifying the owner that the object has been found, that it is being returned to the owner'"'"'s address recorded in the computer system, and that the owner'"'"'s credit card is being charged for the return delivery and any reward paid by the package delivery service to the finder of the lost object.

4. Method of claim 1 including notifying the owner by Internet e-mail or phone.

5. Method of claim 1 wherein the tag identification read by the RFID reading device is sent by the package delivery service as a query to a remote computer system over the Internet and the remote computer system answers the query by providing owner identification information, and the package delivery service in turn uses the owner information to return the object to the owner.

6. Method of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag can be electronically updated.

7. Method of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag also has delivery and account information electronically recorded thereon.

8. Method of claim 1 further including

a) encoding a RFID signal into an automated data capture file location pointer into a radio frequency readable identification (ID) code number;

b) rendering said radio frequency-readable code number within a data carrier;

c) transposing an input data string from said radio frequency-readable ID code number with a computer input device coupled to said client computer;

d) parsing said input data string to determine said file location pointer; and

e) utilizing said file location pointer to request the computer file designated thereby.