Systems and method for monitoring equipment

• US 7,557,712 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Fuqua, Charles, Shelton, Jerry, Gold, Curtis, Shelton, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/540,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.11, 340/5.2, 340/5.3, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

A system for monitoring equipment includes at least one sensor generating a detection field; an electronic equipment tag associated with a piece of secured equipment; an electronic personnel tag identifying a person; and a server, in communication with the at least one sensor, for matching detection in the detection field of the equipment tag with detection in the detection field of a personnel tag and determining whether a person identified by the detected personnel tag is authorized to use equipment corresponding to the detected equipment tag. A method of monitoring equipment includes detecting a electronic equipment tag associated with a piece of secured equipment in a detection field; detecting a personnel tag identifying a person in the detection field; and determining if the person identified by the detected personnel tag is authorized to use equipment corresponding to the detected equipment tag.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring equipment, said system comprising:

at least one sensor for generating a detection field;

an electronic equipment tag associated with a piece of secured equipment;

an electronic personnel tag identifying a person;

a server, in communication with said at least one sensor, for matching detection in said detection field of said equipment tag with detection in said detection field of a personnel tag and determining whether a person identified by the detected personnel tag is authorized to use equipment corresponding to the detected equipment tag; and

a warning system controlled by said server that is triggered when two or more personnel tags are detected within said detection field, said warning system indicating that only one person may leave the detection field with a piece of secured equipment at a time so that said sewer can match a personnel tag of a person exiting said detection field with a corresponding electronic equipment tag of secured equipment being removed.

2. The system of claim 1, farther comprising an alarm system in communication with said server, wherein said server activates said alarm system if movement of said equipment and equipment tag is detected without concurrent detection of a personnel tag identifying a person authorized to move or use that equipment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said alarm system comprises a visual or audible alarm.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said alarm system comprises a messaging system.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors generating a plurality of detection fields throughout a facility such that said server can track movement and location of said equipment tag, said personnel tag or both.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said server comprises a log in which is recorded when and by whom pieces of secured equipment are moved as determined by detection of said equipment tag and personnel tag in said detection field.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a door locking mechanism operated by said server for selectively locking and unlocking a door to prevent unauthorized removal of said piece of secured equipment from a storage location.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein either said equipment tag or said personnel tag is a passive electronic tag and said sensor comprises a passive electronic tag sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said detection field encompasses a storage location of said piece of secured equipment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said server detects removal of said piece of equipment from said detection field based on losing a signal from the equipment tag associated with that piece of equipment, said server also identifying a personnel tag that leaves said detection field contemporaneously with said equipment tag, wherein said server takes measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment unless the personnel tag detected leaving the detection field contemporaneously with the piece of equipment identifies a user authorized to remove said piece of equipment.

11. A method of monitoring equipment, said method comprising:

detecting an electronic equipment tag associated with a piece of secured equipment in a detection field;

detecting a personnel tag identifying a person in said detection field;

triggering a warning system when two or more personnel tags are detected within said detection field, said warning system indicating that only one person may leave the detection field with a piece of secured equipment at a time; and

determining if a person identified by a detected personnel tag who is leaving the detection field is authorized to use a corresponding piece of secured equipment having a detected equipment tag which is being removed from the detection field.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising taking measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment if the person identified by the detected personnel tag is not authorized to use said piece of equipment corresponding to the detected equipment tag.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein taking said measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment comprises issuing an alarm.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein taking said measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment comprises automatically locking a door.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein taking said measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment comprises tracking movement of either said person or said piece of equipment using a plurality of detection fields disposed throughout a facility.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising releasing a door locking mechanism if the person identified by the detected personnel tag is authorized to use said piece of equipment corresponding to the detected equipment tag.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting removal of said piece of equipment from said detection field based on losing a signal from the equipment tag associated with that piece of equipment;

identifying a personnel tag that leaves said detection field contemporaneously; and

taking measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment unless the personnel tag detected leaving the detection field contemporaneously with the piece of equipment identifies a user authorized to remove said piece of equipment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein taking said measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment comprises issuing an alarm.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein taking said measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment comprises automatically locking a door.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein taking said measures to prevent removal of said piece of equipment comprises tracking movement of either said person or said piece of equipment using a plurality of detection fields disposed throughout a facility.

21. A system for monitoring equipment, said method comprising:

means for detecting an electronic equipment tag associated with a piece of secured equipment in a detection field;

means for detecting a personnel tag identifying a person in said detection field;

means for determining if the person identified by the detected personnel tag is authorized to use equipment corresponding to the detected equipment tag; and

means for issuing a warning that only one person may leave the detection field with a piece of secured equipment at a time when two or more personnel tags are detected within said detection field so that said means for determining can match a particular personnel tag leaving said detection field with a particular equipment tag of secured equipment being removed from said detection field.