System and method of forestry management using radio frequency identification tags

• US 7,100,817 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brad Close
• Original Assignee: B. R. Close
• Inventors: Leger, Christopher, Leger, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US10/648,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20040089708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 707/104.1, 707/7, 705/37
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/099 Auxiliary devices, e.g. felling wedges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method of forestry management using frequency identification tags. In one aspect, the present invention involves a forestry management process that comprises inserting at least one tag that has a frequency capable of being read by a scanner into a tree, then scanning the tag. The frequency of the inserted tag(s) will have a frequency that is identifiable over other frequencies. Information is associated with the tag before after or during the insertion. After insertion, a subsequent scan is performed on the tag and some or all of the associated information is obtained. The information obtained is then used in one or more aspects of forestry management.

Claims

1. A forestry management process comprising:

inserting, at least a first tag having a frequency capable of being read by a scanner into a trunk portion of a tree;

associating at least one item of information with said first tag;

performing at least one subsequent scan on said first tag, wherein said subsequent scan takes place after said first tag is inserted into said tree;

obtaining said at least one item of information associated with said first tag;

wherein said at least one item of information is relevant to forestry management;

wherein at least a second tag is inserted in the base portion of said tree, and wherein said second tag in the base portion of said tree matches said first tag, whereby matching includes at least one piece of common information;

harvesting said trunk portion of said tree, wherein said second tag in the base portion of said tree remains unharvested.

2. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein the inserting of said first tag leaves an immediate minimal visual mark on said tree.

3. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one item of information is changed after performing said subsequent scan.

4. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one item of information comprises at least one of a tree identifier, a border marking, an owner marking, an environmental assessment an area identifier, and a harvest date.

5. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one item of information is related to data in a remote data base.

6. The forestry management process as in claim 5, wherein said data in said remote data base comprises instructions on when to harvest said tree.

7. The forestry management process as in claim 1, further comprising sending said at least one item of information associated with, said first tag to a computer.

8. The forestry management process as in claim 7, wherein said computer gives instruction when to harvest said tree.

9. The forestry management process as in claim 7, wherein said computer system is linked with a computer.

10. The forestry management process as in claim 7, wherein said computer is linked with a scanning system.

11. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said subsequent scan is performed with a scanner mounted on at least one of a lumber yard entrance, a lumber yard building, and a truck inspection station.

12. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein said frequency is a radio frequency.

13. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first tag and said second tag is passive.

14. The forestry management process as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first tag and said second tag is active.

15. A forestry management process comprising:

inserting, at least first tag having a frequency capable of being read by a scanner into a tree;

scanning said first tag by a person;

associating at least one item of information with said first tag;

performing at least one subsequent scan on said first tag;

obtaining said at least one item of information associated with said first tag;

inserting a second tag into a tree;

wherein said frequency is identifiable over other frequencies;

wherein said at least one item of information is relevant to forestry management;

wherein said at least one item of information is related to data in a remote data base;

wherein information associated with said first tag includes a harvest identifier; and

harvesting said tree, wherein at least one tag remains in said tree at least until said tree arrives at a processing center;

wherein at least one tag is in the base portion of the tree

wherein at least one tag is not harvested with said tree, and wherein the tag not harvested matches at least one piece of information associated with the harvested tag.

16. The forestry management process as in claim 15, wherein said person may alter said associated data.

17. A forestry management process comprising:

inserting at least a first tag having a frequency capable of being read by a scanner into a harvesting portion of a tree and wherein said frequency is pre-associated with at least one item of information relating to forestry management;

scanning said first tag;

obtaining said at least one item of information associated with said at least one tag;

wherein said at least one item of information is related to forestry management; and

inserting at least a second tag into a stump portion of said, tree, where said stump portion is a non-harvested portion of said tree;

wherein said second tag matches said first tag;

wherein said first tag is associated with information concerning the location of said second tag.