Property entrance and exit notification, inventory control system

• US 7,333,016 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas A. Ancel
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Ancel
• Inventors: Ancel, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US11/211,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/572.1, 340/572.9, 235/375, 235/385, 700/215, 700/225
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/2882 operated by detectors or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system

Abstract

A property entrance and exit notification, inventory control system of the present invention automates the documentation of entry time, exit time and position of personnel entering, equipment, tools and vehicles exiting and movement throughout the property. Being logged into the system identifies time of entry onto the property and time of exit off the property. Logging in with an identification card into the system is identified and activated by one of the following; “RFID” Radio Frequency Identification, “SAW” Surface Acoustic Wave, Barcode or “GPS” Global Positioning System. Furthermore at time of entry login, GPS Responders are activated to monitor location of personnel on the property. At time of exit off the property the GPS Responders are deactivated.

Claims

1. A property entrance, notification, tracking, and inventory control system comprising:

a zone to be monitored;

an identification device related to an object, wherein the identification device is capable of communicating a signal within the zone to be monitored, wherein the signal is communicated by at least one of either a radio-frequency-identification (“

RFID”

) device, a surface acoustical wave (“

SAW”

) device, an electromagnetic wave device, a barcode device, or a global positioning system (“

GPS”

) device, and wherein the GPS device is capable of communicating a GPS signal that communicates data to a computer system to allow for the tracking of changes in location and movement of the identification device while within the zone to be monitored, and wherein the computer system is capable of generating inventory control information using at least one of either the signal or the GPS signal;

wherein the identification device is activated to communicate the signal and the GPS signal upon entrance into the zone to be monitored;

means for updating a computer database network;

wherein the inventory control information includes at least one of either a history of the movements of the object while in the zone to be monitored, the date the object moved from one location to another, the time the object moved from one location to another, the speed the object moved from one location to another, the rate of acceleration of the object as the object moved from one location to another, the rate of deceleration of the object as the object moved from one location to another, the amount of time the object remained at a single location, the date and time the object entered the zone to be monitored, the date and time the object exited the zone to be monitored, any apparent association between the object and a second identification device, and any predetermined correlation between the object and a second identification device;

the capability of sensing an opening or a closing of at least one of either a gate or barricade; and

the capability of sensing at least one of either a movement or a position of the gate or barricade; and

wherein the inventory control information includes information about a movement of a vehicle, a piece of equipment, a tool, a container, or a person, whereby as the gate or barricade is either opened or closed the inventory control information is automatically updated.

2. The property entrance, notification, tracking, and inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the object is at least one of either a vehicle, a tool, a piece of equipment, a container, or a person.