Identification and tracking system

• US 6,275,153 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Brooks
• Original Assignee: Andrew Brooks
• Inventors: Brooks, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/626,068
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.6, 340/572.6, 340/568.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.52, 342/51, 342/42, 342/44
• US Class Current: 340/568.6
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 11/003 Signalling devices, e.g. acoustical or visual A63C11/225 takes precedence; means for indicating the location of accidentally snow-buried persons A63B29/021
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 11/004 Anti-theft devices for skis or ski equipment A63C11/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 11/005 on the ski or pole
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/22 Radio waves emitting or receiving, e.g. remote control, RFID
• 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 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A system for tracking a plurality of recreational items for sliding on snow-covered surfaces of a hill. The system comprises, for each item in the plurality of recreational items, an associated integral ID storing device for storing an associated item ID, the associated item ID being electronically readable from the associated integral ID storing device. The system also comprises an interrogator for reading the associated item ID stored on the associated integral ID storing device for each item in the plurality of recreational items.

Claims

1. A system for tracking a plurality of recreational items for sliding on snow-covered surfaces of a hill, the system comprising:

(a) for each item in the plurality of recreational items, an associated integral ID storing means including a transponder for storing a unique associated item ID, the associated item ID being electronically readable from the transponder; and

,

(b) an interrogator means for reading the associated item ID stored on the transponder for each item in the plurality of recreational items, wherein

the hill has an associated user transport means for transporting a plurality of users and the plurality of recreational items; and

,

the interrogator means for the hill is associated with the user transport means to read the transponder of each item in the plurality of recreational items.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the user transport means is a chairlift.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising, for each recreational item in the plurality of recreational items, an associated separate ID storing means for storing the associated item ID apart from the recreational item.

4. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the associated item ID is electronically readable from the associated separate ID storing means.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein the associated separate ID storing means is a card having a magnetic strip for electronically reading the associated item ID.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 further comprising

a card reading means for reading the associated item ID from the magnetic strip of the card for a recreational item in the plurality of recreational items

a server for storing a list of item IDs, the server being linked to the interrogator means and to the card reading means;

ID verification means for checking each associated item ID read by the interrogator against the list of item IDs stored on the server; and

,

alarm means for indicating when the associated item ID read by the interrogator corresponds to an item ID stored in the list of item IDs.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising

a server for storing a list of item IDs, the server being linked to the interrogator means;

ID verification means for checking each associated item ID read by the interrogator against the list of item IDs stored on the server; and

alarm means for indicating when the associated item ID read by the interrogator corresponds to an item ID stored in the list of item IDs.

8. A system for tracking a plurality of recreational items for sliding on snow-covered surfaces at a plurality of locations, each location in the plurality of locations having an associated user transport means for transporting an associated set of users of an associated set of recreational items in the plurality of recreational items, the system comprising:

(a) for each item in the plurality of recreational items,

(i) an associated transponder for unchangeably storing an associated item ID, the associated item ID being electronically readable from the associated transponder, and

(ii) an associated card having a magnetic strip for electronically storing the associated item ID for the item;

(b) for each location in the plurality of locations,

(i) an associated interrogator means for reading the associated item ID stored on the associated transponder for each item in the associated set of recreational items, the associated interrogator means being located within a reading range of the user transport means,

(ii) a card reading means for reading the associated item ID from the magnetic strip of the card for a recreational item in the plurality of recreational items,

(c) a server for storing a list of item IDs, the server being linked to the associated interrogator means for each location in the plurality of locations and to the associated card reading means for each location in the plurality of locations;

(d) ID verification means for checking each associated item ID read by the associated interrogator means for each location in the plurality of locations against the list of item IDs stored on the server; and

,

(e) alarm means for indicating when the associated item ID read by the associated interrogator means for each location in the plurality of locations corresponds to an item ID stored in the list of item IDs.

9. A method for tracking a plurality of recreational items for sliding on snow-covered surfaces of a hill having an associated user transport means for transporting a plurality of users and the plurality of recreational items, the recreational items each having an associated integral ID storing means for storing an associated item ID, the associated item ID being electronically readable from the associated integral ID storing means, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing interrogator means that are associated with the user transport means; and

(b) causing the interrogator means to read the associated item ID of the recreational items that are transported by the user transport means.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

(c) comparing the read associated item ID'"'"'s to a stored database of item ID'"'"'s and signaling if one of the read associated item ID'"'"'s matches one of the stored item ID'"'"'s.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of recreational items are tracked ata plurality of snow-covered hills, each hill having an associated user transport means, and the steps (a) and (b) are respectively performed at each hill, the method including a step of connecting the interrogator means of the plurality of hills to a common electronic network.

12. The method of claim 11 including a step of providing a common database accessible by the plurality of interrogator means through the common electronic network, the common database containing information about at least some of the recreational items.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the associated item ID'"'"'s are unique, and including a step of storing in the common database associated item ID'"'"'s that are associated with recreational items that have been identified as stolen, and including a step of comparing the associated item ID'"'"'s read by the interrogator means with the stored associated item ID'"'"'s of the stolen recreational items and indicating when there is a match.