Object control and tracking system with zonal transition detection

• US 6,427,913 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Keytrak, Inc. (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Inventors: Maloney, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/392,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/462.13, 235/384, 235/462.46, 235/472.02, 340/10.33, 340/10.42, 340/10.5, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1454 Circuit arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• 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 13/2471 Antenna signal processing by receiver or emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• 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 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

An improved object tracking and control system is particularly suited to implementation at an automobile dealership. The system includes a Key Track system adapted to control access to and log the check out and check in of keys to vehicles on the lot. RFID tags are provided on the vehicles and tag readers are embedded at selected locations within the dealership parking lot to detect movement of vehicles. In one embodiment, the lot is subdivided into zones and the readers are located at transition regions between the zones. Information about the check out and check in of keys from the Key Track system is combined and integrated with information about the movement of vehicles about the lot to reach conclusions regarding authorized movement and to provide useful information to dealership management.

Claims

1. A system for tracking movement of objects in a predefined area, said system comprising:

a central controller;

a readable tag on each object to be tracked, each readable tag comprising a radio frequency (RF) tag storing a code identifying a corresponding object;

readers at pre-selected locations within said predefined area for reading the codes of said readable tags as the objects corresponding to said readable tags move past said readers;

a communications link between said readers and said central controller for communication of codes read by said readers to said central controller;

said controller being programmed to collect data from said readers for tracking the movement of objects within the predefined area;

and further comprising at least two RF tags disposed in each object, said central controller being programmed to determine a direction of movement of the object by analyzing data collected by said readers from said at least two RF tags.

2. A system for tracking movement of objects in a predefined area, said system comprising:

a central controller;

a readable tag on each object to be tracked, each readable tag storing a code identifying a corresponding object;

readers at preselected locations within said predefined area for reading the codes of said readable tags as the objects corresponding to said readable tags move past said readers;

a communications link between said readers and said central controller for communication of codes read by said readers to said central controller;

said controller being programmed to collect data from said readers for tracking the movement of objects within the predefined area; and

at least one Key Track system having a Key Track system central controller, said system for tracking movement of objects including connections between said readers and said Key Track central controller for integration of data from said readers with data from said Key Track system.

3. The system for tracking the movement of objects as claimed in claim 2, wherein said Key Track system is configured to detect removal and return of keys providing access to the objects.

4. The system for tracking the movement of objects as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for generating reports on the movement of objects being tracked based on data from said readers and data from said Key Track system.

5. A method of tracking movement of an object between predetermined zones within an area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing transition regions between the predetermined zones;

(b) detecting the object as the object traverses a transition region;

(c) identifying the object as the object is detected traversing the transition region in step (b);

(d) determining a zone in which the object is located based upon the detection and identification of the object in steps (b) and (c);

step (b) further comprising the steps of providing the object with a readable tag and locating a reader in the transition region for reading the readable tag as the object traverses the transition region;

and wherein the readable tag in step (b) is and RF tag and the reader includes at least one antenna for receiving RF signals transmitted by the RF tag;

and wherein step (b) further comprises providing the object with at least two RF tags readable by the reader for determining a direction in which the object traverses the transition zone; and

wherein the at least two RF tags are spaced apart on the object to be read in sequence by the reader for determining the direction in which the object traverses the transition region.

6. A method of tracking movement of an object between predetermined zones within an area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing transition regions between the predetermined zones;

(b) detecting the object as the object traverses a transition region;

(c) identifying the object as the object is detected traversing the transition region in step (b);

(d) determining a zone in which the object is located based upon the detection and identification of the object in steps (b) and (c);

step (b) further comprising the steps of providing the object with a readable tag and locating a reader in the transition region for reading the readable tag as the object traverses the transition region;

and wherein the readable tag in step (b) is and RF tag and the reader includes at least one antenna for receiving RF signals transmitted by the RF tag;

and wherein step (b) further comprises providing the object with at least two RF tags readable by the reader for determining a direction in which the object traverses the transition zone; and

wherein the at least two RF tags transmit signals at different radio frequencies for determining the direction in which the object traverses the transition region.

7. A system for tracking and controlling movement of objects in a predefined area comprising:

a central controller;

an array of readers disposed at pre-selected locations in the predefined area, said readers being in communication with said central controller;

a readable tag on each of the objects, each readable tag storing a code identifying a corresponding object;

said codes of said readable tag being detected by said readers as objects move past said readers and being communicated to said central controller;

said central controller being programmed to determine the location of each object by analyzing the codes communicated by said readers;

and wherein the objects are vehicles and the predefined area is the lot of an automobile dealership;

and further comprising a Key Track system located at the automobile dealership, said central controller being a part of the Key Track system and having access to information regarding check out and check in of keys to vehicles at the automobile dealership;

said central controller being programmed to analyze Key Trak information regarding the check out and check in of keys and to integrate the Key Track system information with information communicated by said readers and to reach conclusions regarding authorized movements of vehicles based on said analysis.

8. The system of claim 7 and wherein said central controller uses the integrated information to authorize movement of vehicles.