Mobile object tracking system

• US 7,202,785 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Inventors: Maloney, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/080,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.4, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/686.1, 340/686.4, 340/571, 700/236, 700/242, 700/244, 235/380, 235/375
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1454 Circuit arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2471 Antenna signal processing by receiver or emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

A mobile object tracking system is provided for tracking the removal and use of specific objects within a group checked out from storage between the time the objects are checked out and the replacement of the objects in the storage. The system includes a system controller and a storage unit that receive and store a series of object carriers therein. Each object carrier includes a series of object holders in which id tags for the group of objects checked out of the storage are received. The object carrier monitors the time each object is removed from the object carrier, which information is thereafter communicated to the system controller.

Claims

1. A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set, said system comprising:

at least one portable object carrier having a series of object holders mounted thereon for receiving and releasibly mounting each of the objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier;

a storage unit with at least one receptacle defined therein, said receptacle configured to receive a portable object carrier;

a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information for the objects; and

an identifier associated with each object received in said object holders for detecting placement and removal of objects within said object holders.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage unit has a plurality of receptacles defined therein and said system comprises a plurality of portable object carriers, wherein at least one portable object carrier has a plurality of object holders mounted thereon for receiving and releasibly mounting objects of a set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage unit comprises a cabinet with a door movable between an open position in which an object carrier can be removed and a closed position in which an object carrier is secured within said cabinet.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said cabinet includes a lock for securing the door in the closed position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said receptacle in said storage unit is defined by carrier guides mounted in said storage unit.

6. The system of claim 1, said storage unit further comprising a carrier lock capable of securing an object carrier within said storage unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said object carrier is rectangular in shape.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein an object holder comprises a support bracket.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an object holder includes a biasing element.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one ID device attached to an object to be tracked, the ID device including an identification code associated with the object to which the ID tag is attached.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said identification code is an optical bar code.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said optical bar code is printed on a bar code strap.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in a touch memory button.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in a memory chip.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an electronic storage device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an RFID device.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interval timer associated with each object carried in a receptacle.

18. A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set from a storage unit, said object tracking system comprising:

a storage unit with at least one storage unit receptacle defined therein;

at least one object carrier removably insertable into the storage unit receptacle, said object carrier comprising

at least two object receptacles defined on said object carrier, said object carrier being capable of receiving and releasably mounting each of the objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier; and

at least one sensor on said object carrier and associated with each receptacle; and

a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information for the objects.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said storage unit comprises a cabinet with a door movable between an open position in which an object carrier can be removed and a closed position in which an object carrier is secured within said cabinet.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said cabinet includes a lock for securing the door in the closed position.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said storage unit receptacle is defined by carrier guides mounted in said storage unit.

22. The system of claim 18, said storage unit further comprising a carrier lock capable of securing an object carrier within said storage unit.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one ID device attached to an object to be tracked, the ID device including an identification code associated with the object to which the ID tag is attached.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said identification code is an optical bar code.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said optical bar code is printed on a bar code strap.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in a touch memory button.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in a memory chip.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an electronic storage device.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an RFID device.

30. The system of claim 18, further comprising an interval timer associated with each object carried in a receptacle.

31. A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set from a storage unit, said object tracking system comprising:

a storage cabinet, said storage cabinet defining a compartment therein, and having a plurality of slots disposed in said compartment, said storage cabinet further including a door movable between an open position and a closed position in which said compartment is substantially enclosed;

a plurality of object carriers, each object carrier removably insertable into a slot within said compartment, each object carrier comprising;

a plurality of object receptacles defined on said object carrier, said object carrier being capable of receiving and releasably mounting objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier; and

a plurality of sensors, wherein each object receptacle is associated with a sensor;

the storage cabinet further comprising a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information of the object carriers;

an ID device attached to each object to be tracked, each ID device including an identification code associated with the object to which the ID tag is attached, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an electronic storage device mounted on said object; and

an interval timer associated with each object carried in an object receptacle.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising an object carrier controller mounted on each object carrier for monitoring usage information of the objects carried thereon.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein said object carrier includes a first opening for manipulating said object carrier.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said object carrier includes a second opening for manipulating said object carrier.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein said object carrier includes a handle on said object carrier.