Electronic physical asset tracking

• US 6,738,628 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Massey, Andrew Liam, Robertson, Neil Lindsay, McCall, Colin David
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/505,116
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 455/456, 455/458, 455/466, 455/422, 455/9, 455/134, 455/229, 455/456.1, 455/422.1, 340/991, 340/992, 340/988, 340/989, 340/825.49, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/5.8, 340/10.1, 340/505
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information

Abstract

Objects can be tracked within a building using a radio device associated with each object to be tracked and an array of transmitting beacons. Each of the beacons transmits identification data. The received identification data from the object to be tracked is sent to a server which determines the location of the object. The identification data may be sent from the object to the server using a data communications network such as a local area network. The beacons may have a variable power output allowing the receipt or non-receipt of the signal from the beacon to be used to assist in locating the object. The beacons may be associated with an existing wireless communication mechanism, such as Bluetooth.

Claims

1. Apparatus for tracking the location of one or more objects, the apparatus comprising:

one or more beacons, each beacon transmitting identification data, each of said beacons transmitting to one of two or more different powers, the transmission containing information indicating the transmit power, thereby allowing two or more different ranges from the one or more beacons to be determined;

one or more radio devices, each radio device being associated with one of the objects, each radio device being capable of receiving a signal from any one or more of said beacons;

data processing apparatus, in communication with the one or more objects by means of a data communications network separate from said beacons and said radio devices, for receiving identification data from the one or more objects, the identification data being derived from the transmitted identification data.

2. A method of tracking the location of one or more objects, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting identification data from one or more beacons, each of said beacons transmitting at one of two or more different powers, the transmission containing information indicating the transmit power, thereby allowing two or more different ranges from the one or more beacons to be determined;

receiving said identification data using one or more radio devices, each radio device being associated with one of the objects, each radio device being capable of receiving a signal from any one or more of said beacons;

transmitting the received identification data from the one or more objects to data processing apparatus by means of a data communications network separate from said one or more beacons and said radio devices.