Wireless tracking system and method with optical tag removal detection
First Claim
1. A method for determining if a tracking tag has been removed from an asset, the method comprising:
- detecting motion of a tag with a motion sensor provided on the tag, the tag attached to an asset;
transmitting an activation signal to a tag removal sensor disposed on the tag, the activation signal activating the tag removal sensor from a low power consumption state;
determining if the tag is currently attached to the asset;
transmitting an unattached signal to a transceiver of the tracking tag to indicate that the tracking tag is currently unattached to the asset;
broadcasting the unattached signal to a plurality of network sensors positioned within an indoor facility; and
transmitting the unattached signal from at least one of the plurality of network sensors to a positioning engine to generate a warning.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless tracking system and method with a tag removal detection feature is disclosed herein. The system and method utilize a tag attached to an asset which includes a processor, a motion sensor (such as an accelerometer), a transceiver, a tag removal sensor and a power source having a limited supply of power. The tag removal sensor is an optical sensor which is activated only when the motion sensor detects motion. In this manner, the tag conserves power since the tag is typically only in motion ten percent of the day. If the tag is removed from the asset, the optical sensor confirms the removal and an alert is activated by the system.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for determining if a tracking tag has been removed from an asset, the method comprising:
-
detecting motion of a tag with a motion sensor provided on the tag, the tag attached to an asset; transmitting an activation signal to a tag removal sensor disposed on the tag, the activation signal activating the tag removal sensor from a low power consumption state; determining if the tag is currently attached to the asset; transmitting an unattached signal to a transceiver of the tracking tag to indicate that the tracking tag is currently unattached to the asset; broadcasting the unattached signal to a plurality of network sensors positioned within an indoor facility; and transmitting the unattached signal from at least one of the plurality of network sensors to a positioning engine to generate a warning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A system for determining if a tracking tag has been removed from an asset, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of network sensors, each of the plurality of network sensors positioned within an indoor facility; a tracking tag attached to an asset, the tracking tag comprising means for detecting motion of the tracking tag, a tag removal sensor activated from a low power consumption state to an activation state upon a signal from the motion detecting means, means for wirelessly transmitting to each of the plurality of network sensors a signal that the tracking tag has been removed from the asset; and means for processing the signals from the tracking tag. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A tracking and security device for monitoring a location and status of an asset in an indoor facility, the device comprising:
-
a housing having a window; a microcontroller positioned within the housing, the microcontroller having means for transmitting at a motion rate and at a stationary rate; a wireless network interface positioned within the housing and connected to the microcontroller, the wireless network interface transmitting a broadcast from the device using a wireless communication format; a power supply positioned within the housing and connected to the microcontroller; a motion sensor positioned within the housing and connected to the microcontroller, the motion sensor having means for transmitting a signal to the microcontroller when the device is in motion; and an optical sensor positioned within the housing, the optical sensor comprising an emitter for emitting a light beam through the window of the housing of the device, and a photodiode for receiving a reflected light beam generated by the emitter, the optical sensor having a resting mode to conserve power consumption and an activation mode to determine whether the device is attached to an asset, wherein during the activation mode the emitter generates the light beam which is reflected off the asset and received by the photodiode if the device is attached to the asset, the optical sensor further comprising means for informing the microcontroller that the device is attached to the asset. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification