Facility and method for tracking physical assets
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of monitoring an inventory of assets, each having a communication module, the method comprising:
- providing a facility having a first wireless communication system operable to communicate with each module;
generating a first communication between the first system and each module;
based on the communication, establishing an inventory of assets in the facility;
based on the inventory, identifying a missing asset absent from the facility; and
generating a second communication via a second communication system operating outside of the facility.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication module for an asset to be monitored operates to periodically receive a signal from a monitoring facility via a first wireless communication system, and in response to the absence of the signal at an expected time, communicating with the module via a second wireless system. The first system may be a short range system operating inside a limited facility, and the second system may be a cellular phone system. The module may include a global positioning receiver, so that the module may report its location via the second system to the monitoring system when it is taken from the transmission range of the first system.
552 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring an inventory of assets, each having a communication module, the method comprising:
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providing a facility having a first wireless communication system operable to communicate with each module;
generating a first communication between the first system and each module;
based on the communication, establishing an inventory of assets in the facility;
based on the inventory, identifying a missing asset absent from the facility; and
generating a second communication via a second communication system operating outside of the facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of monitoring an asset including a communication module, the method comprising:
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periodically transmitting a signal to the module via a first wireless communication system;
in response to an absence of receiving the signal at an expected time, automatically operating the module to initiate a communication via a second wireless system; and
wherein the step of periodically transmitting a signal includes transmitting a radio signal in a limited-area facility, and wherein the module is operable to detect removal from the facility by the absence of the signal.
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9. A method of monitoring an asset including a communication module, the method comprising:
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periodically transmitting a signal to the module via a first wireless communication system;
in response to an absence of receiving the signal at an expected time, automatically operating the module to initiate a communication via a second wireless system; and
operating the module to transmit supplementary information in response to receipt of the signal. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of monitoring an asset including a communication module, the method comprising:
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periodically transmitting a signal to the module via a first wireless communication system;
in response to an absence of receiving the signal at an expected time, automatically operating the module to initiate a communication via a second wireless system; and
wherein the second wireless system is a cellular network.
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12. A method of monitoring an asset including a communication module, the method comprising:
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periodically transmitting a signal to the module via a first wireless communication system;
in response to an absence of receiving the signal at an expected time, automatically operating the module to initiate a communication via a second wireless system;
wherein initiating a communication via the second wireless system includes reporting the location of the asset; and
receiving a global positioning system signal to establish the location of the asset.
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13. A asset locator module comprising:
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a first transceiver operable to communicate with a central inventory facility via a first wireless frequency;
a second transceiver operable to communicate with the central inventory facility via a second wireless frequency; and
control circuitry operable to initiate communication via the second transceiver in response to a loss of communication via the first transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification