Method and apparatus for monitoring containerized ID tagged assets

• US 7,538,681 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: OnAsset Intelligence Incorporated
• Inventors: Sharma, Jugal, Crossno, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/533,207
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 235375-385
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for strategically arranging ID tag antennas in a container to accommodate various sizes of tagged assets and to assure a reading of all assets in the container when the tagged assets have different packing densities. An antenna bus in each container, that is connected to a container ID tag reader, allows bus connector insertable antennas to be strategically placed for accommodating various asset packing densities. The containers are designed to readily interconnect the data outputs of all the tag readers when the containers are stacked in any of three dimensions whereby a single master unit collects data from all the readers and transmits the data to a central data collection point.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reading ID (IDentification) tagged objects within a container comprising:

container means including internal and external surfaces;

ID tag reader means comprising a portion of said container means operable to read tags internal said container via signals obtained from tag reading relocateable antenna structures located internal said container;

an antenna bus comprising at least a portion of an internal surface of said container means, said antenna bus including a plurality of contact sets operable to receive signals from at least one inserted and relocatable antenna structure whereby an inserted antenna structure may be positioned intermediate tagged objects located within said container means;

at least one antenna structure guide located internal said container means and aligned with at least one contact set of said antenna bus; and

electrical signal means interconnecting said ID tag reader means and said antenna bus means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the tags of said tagged objects are RF (Radio Frequency) tags;

said tag reader is operable to read RF tags located internal said container; and

said apparatus comprises, in addition;

container access control means for securing said ID tagged objects and operable to prevent unauthorized removal of said ID tagged objects from said container means,

at least one relocateable antenna structure inserted in said at least one set of contacts and aligned with said at least one antenna structure guide, said at least one antenna structure being operable to receive RF signals from ID tags located internal said container, said at least one relocateable antenna structure operating to divide the interior of said container into separate sections,

container access authorization circuitry, interconnected with said container access control means, operable to retrieve authorization data from entities attempting access to said container before said container access control means is permitted to revert to a container accessible condition,

memory storage circuitry, including CPU means, and

signal communication means operable to provide data signal communication between said CPU, said memory storage means, said tag reader, said container access control means and said container access authorization circuitry, whereby data retrieved from said ID tags and from said container access authorization circuitry is retained in said memory storage means.

3. Container apparatus for securely storing ID tagged objects comprising:

means operable to detect unauthorized access to objects within said container apparatus;

at least one antenna structure bus internal said container, said bus including at least one set of contacts for receiving an insertable antenna structure;

at least one insertable antenna structure inserted in a set of contacts in said at least one antenna structure bus intermediate a plurality of ID tagged objects;

tag reader means, operably connected to said antenna structure bus, whereby tag data of ID tagged objects in said container is retrievable via signals received by an antenna structure operably connected to contacts of said antenna structure bus; and

memory means operable to store retrieved ID tag.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 comprising in addition:

tag reader data signal outputs;

electrical contacts on an external surface of said container operable to communicate tag reader data signal outputs of said container to mating contacts of an adjacent container whereby said tag reader data passes through said adjacent container to a master unit data collect and transceiver device.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 comprising:

electrical contacts on an external surface of said container apparatus operable to transfer received antenna signals to a tag ID reader means of a further container placed in a signal transfer position with respect to said first container apparatus.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 whereby,

said means operable to detect unauthorized access comprises electrical signal controlled locking means,

said at least one insertable antenna structure is positionally interconnected to a given set of contacts of said antenna bus in accordance with the physical size of at least one ID tagged object in said container and

said apparatus additionally includes:

authorization circuitry operable to receive authenticating data from an entity requesting access to objects secured in said container apparatus, said authorization circuitry outputting a signal authorizing said signal controlled locking means to be changed to an unlocked condition when it is determined that the entity requesting access is so authorized

wireless signal transmission means for outputting data stored in said memory means to external data retrieval apparatus; and

CPU (Computer Processing Unit) means, operably interconnected to said tag reader means, said authorization circuitry, said memory means and said wireless signal transmission means for processing signals therebetween.

6. Apparatus for reading and securing ID (IDentification) tagged objects internal a container comprising:

temperature controllable container means;

ID tag reader means, including memory storage means, comprising a portion of said container means;

at least one antenna structure located between internal surfaces of said container wherein tagged objects may placed on either side of said at least one antenna structure and operable when activated to communicate with said tagged objects located internal said container means;

container access means operable upon commands from said tag reader to secure and/or to allow access to said container;

authorization means, operating in conjunction with said ID tag reader means and said lock means, for permitting access to said container under predetermined conditions;

GPS circuitry operable in conjunction with said ID tag reader means to store container location data in said tag reader memory means;

transceiver circuitry, operable in conjunction with said ID tag reader means, for communicating tag data, location data and sensor data to a central database; and

circuitry interconnecting said at least one antenna structure, said ID tag reader means, said authorization means, said GPS circuitry, said container access means and said transceiver means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising in addition:

temperature control circuitry, comprising a portion of said tag ID reader, operable to effect control of the temperature of said container;

an antenna bus comprising at least a portion of an internal surface of said container means, said antenna bus including at least one contact set operable to receive signals from an inserted antenna structure; and

multiplex means, operable in conjunction with said ID tag reader, to sequentially and individually connect each antenna structure within said container to said ID tag reader means for retrieving ID tag data from tags located internal said container means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising in addition:

controller means, interconnected between said ID tag reader means and a control input of said temperature controllable container means, operable to control the temperature of the container in accordance with data contained in a tag of at least one tagged object located within said container.