Method and system for collaborative and fail-tolerant deployment of automatic identification and data collection (AIDC) devices

• US 6,919,807 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TrackX, Inc. (TrackX Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vizional Technologies, Inc. (TrackX Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaestle, Greg, Shek, Eddie C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/360,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/568.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.19, 235/376, 235/377, 235/384, 235/385, 235/487, 235/488, 705/7, 705/8, 705/22, 705/9, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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: 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

Abstract

Data is stored on a tag unit. The tag unit provides for alert monitoring capabilities and monitoring of events, these capabilities allow for supply chain plans to be restructured and for events to be rescheduled. The tag unit is attached to an item for tracking purposes. The tag unit monitors and stores a status of the item. Then the item is sent to a destination. The tag unit is scanned when the item has been sent to a destination. The data on the tag unit is updated as a function of scanning. The data is updated when the tag unit is scanned at a destination. Then the data on the tag unit is validated. The data is validated for security purposes. The data on the tag unit is scanned to identify conditions to trigger actions. The system recovers from failure to read data on the tag unit by reconstructing the expected data from a history of the tag unit. Failure may be a result of identified or unidentified tempering of tag units, failure of the tag unit mechanism, or violation of the tag unit access limitations.

Claims

1. A method for tracking items, comprising:

(a) storing data on a tag unit, the data including information regarding tracking of an item and the tag unit being at least one of readable and writeable, the tag unit monitoring and storing a status of the item;

(b) attaching the tag unit to the item;

(c) sending the item to a destination;

(d) scanning the tag unit when the item has arrived at a destination;

(e) updating the data on the tag unit as a function of scanning, the data being updated when the tag unit is scanned at the destination; and

(f) validating the data on the tag unit;

wherein a set of tag units forms a database for tracking items.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag unit is in communication with a locationing system in order to provide a location data of the tag unit and the item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag unit is configured for at least one of environmental sensing and other sensing.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of tag units forms a distributed database for tracking items.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes a time of scanning.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking information includes at least one of a destination, a weight, a bill of lading, and a delivery time.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) providing authenticated access to the data via at least one edge interaction agent.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one edge interaction agent includes a software-based application.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one edge interaction agent forms a peer-to-peer network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the set of tag units form a non-centralized storage arrangement for the peer-to-peer network.

4. A computer-readable storing medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor to implement a method for tracking items, the set of instructions performing the steps of:

(a) storing data on a tag unit, the data including information regarding tracking of an item and the tag unit being at least one of readable and writeable, the tag unit monitoring and storing a status of the item;

(b) attaching the tag unit to the item;

(c) sending the item to a destination;

(d) scanning the tag unit when the item has arrived at a destination;

(e) updating the data on the tag unit as a function of scanning, the data being updated when the tag unit is scanned at the destination; and

(f) validating the data on the tag unit;

wherein a set of tag units forms a database for tracking items.

5. The computer-readable storing medium of claim 4, wherein the tag unit is in communication with a locationing system in order to provide a location data of the tag unit and the item.

6. The computer-readable storing medium of claim 4, wherein the tag unit is configured for at least one of environmental sensing and other sensing.

7. A system comprising:

a processor;

at least one computing arrangement configured to communicate with the processor via a communications network; and

a computer-readable storing medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by the processor to implement a method for tracking items, the set of instructions performing the steps of;

(a) storing data on a tag unit, the data including information regarding tracking of an item and the tag unit being at least one of readable and writeable, the tag unit monitoring and storing a status of the item;

(b) attaching the tag unit to the item;

(c) sending the item to a destination;

(d) scanning the tag unit when the item has arrived at a destination;

(e) updating the data on the tag unit as a function of scanning, the data being updated when the tag unit is scanned at the destination; and

(f) validating the data on the tag unit;

wherein a set of tag units forms a database for tracking items.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the tag unit is in communication with a locationing system in order to provide a location data of the tag unit and the item.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the tag unit is configured for at least one of environmental sensing and other sensing.