Method and apparatus for asset management in an open environment

• US 7,388,481 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cahn, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/233,426
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/572.1, 340/540, 340/551
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags

Abstract

A method and apparatus for asset management in an open environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method correlates a person'"'"'s RFID tag with an RFID of an asset and uses this information to determine whether an asset is allowed to pass an access point.

Claims

1. A method for managing assets in an open environment, comprising:

detecting at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with at least one of said assets at an access point, wherein said detecting said at least one RFID associated with said at least one of said assets at said access point is performed using encrypted communication comprising;

transmitting a challenge response comprised of a random string of data to an RFID chip on said at least one of said assets in response to detecting said at least one RFID associated with said at least one of said assets; and

receiving an encryption challenge response from said RFID chip, wherein said encryption challenge response is generated in accordance with said random string of data;

determining whether a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with an individual who is correlated with said at least one of said assets is also detected at said access point; and

generating an alarm signal if said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual is not detected at said access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said at least one of said assets is implemented by deploying an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag with each of the assets.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual is implemented by providing an RFID tag to said individual.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said RFID tag is deployed within at least one of:

a key ring or a badge.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining whether said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual who is correlated with said at least one of said assets is performed using encrypted communication.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said individual is carrying an amount of metal that exceeds a threshold; and

generating an alarm signal if said threshold is exceeded.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

denying passage of said access point if said alarm signal is generated.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing passage of said access point if said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual who is correlated with said at least one of said assets is also detected at said access point.

9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for managing assets in an open environment, comprising:

detecting at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with at least one of said assets at an access point, wherein said detecting said at least one RFID associated with said at least one of said assets at said access point is Performed using encrypted communication comprising;

transmitting a challenge response comprised of a random string of data to an RFID chip on said at least one of said assets in response to detecting said at least one RFID associated with said at least one of said assets; and

receiving an encryption challenge response from said RFID chip wherein said encryption challenge response is generated in accordance with said random string of data;

determining whether a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with an individual who is correlated with said at least one of said assets is also detected at said access point; and

generating an alarm signal if said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual is not detected at said access point.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said at least one of said assets is implemented by deploying an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag with each of the assets.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual is implemented by providing an RFID tag to said individual.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said RFID tag is deployed within at least one of:

a key ring or a badge.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said determining whether said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual who is correlated with said at least one of said assets is performed using encrypted communication.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether said individual is carrying an amount, of metal that exceeds a threshold; and

generating an alarm signal if said threshold is exceeded.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

denying passage of said access point if said alarm signal is generated.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

allowing passage of said access point if said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual who is correlated with said at least one of said assets is also detected at said access point.

17. An apparatus for managing assets in an open environment, comprising:

means for detecting at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with at least one of said assets at an access point, wherein said means for detecting said at least one RFID associated with said at least one of said assets at said access point is performed using encrypted communication comprising;

transmitting a challenge response comprised of a random string of data to an RFID chip on said at least one of said assets in response to detecting said at least one RFID associated with said at least one of said assets; and

receiving an encryption challenge response from said RFID chip, wherein said encryption challenge response is generated in accordance with said random string of data;

means for determining whether a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with an individual who is correlated with said at least one of said assets is also detected at said access point; and

means for generating an alarm signal if said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual is not detected at said access point.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said at least one of said assets is implemented by deploying an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag with each of the assets, and wherein said Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) associated with said individual is implemented by providing an RFID tag to said individual.