Radio frequency identification (RFID) material tracking and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tracking system for tracking objects, the objects each having a corresponding radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated therewith, comprising:
- at least one conveyor belt that transports the objects;
at least one antenna placed in a corresponding stationary coverage area associated with said at least one antenna, wherein said coverage area is arranged adjacent to said at least one conveyor belt;
a reader that is coupled to said at least one antenna, wherein a unit load device (ULD) is positioned adjacent to said at least one conveyor belt in said stationary coverage area of said at least one antenna, wherein said reader reads the tags as the objects associated with the tags enter said coverage area;
an object management system (OMS) that receives information regarding read tags from said reader, and stores said information; and
an operator feedback unit (OFU) that enables an operator to interact with said reader.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for tracking items automatically are described. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is used with a material tracking system to enable the identification and locating of aviation assets in an airport environment. For example, passive (e.g., non-battery) RFID tags are attached to an aviation asset. Antennas are placed at locations where monitoring of assets is necessary. A local controller and RFID reader use the antennas to communicate with the passive RFID tags to determine the identity and location of the asset.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A tracking system for tracking objects, the objects each having a corresponding radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated therewith, comprising:
-
at least one conveyor belt that transports the objects; at least one antenna placed in a corresponding stationary coverage area associated with said at least one antenna, wherein said coverage area is arranged adjacent to said at least one conveyor belt; a reader that is coupled to said at least one antenna, wherein a unit load device (ULD) is positioned adjacent to said at least one conveyor belt in said stationary coverage area of said at least one antenna, wherein said reader reads the tags as the objects associated with the tags enter said coverage area; an object management system (OMS) that receives information regarding read tags from said reader, and stores said information; and an operator feedback unit (OFU) that enables an operator to interact with said reader. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31)
-
-
27. A method for tracking objects, the objects each having a corresponding radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated therewith, comprising:
-
(a) selecting an object from an object carrier; (b) analyzing a RFID tag associated with the object to determine a unit load device (ULD) to contain the object; (c) positioning the object in the determined ULD; (d) reading the RFID tag of the object; (e) receiving an indicator output that indicates whether the determined ULD is the correct ULD for the object; (f) if the indicator output indicates the determined ULD is not the correct ULD for the object; (1) removing the object from the determined ULD, and (2) returning to step (b) for the object, (g) if the indicator output indicates the determined ULD is the correct ULD for the object; (1) determining whether the object carrier has another object, and (2) if the object carrier is determined to have another object, selecting the another object from the object carrier, and returning to step (b) for the another object. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification