Real time total asset visibility system

• US 7,576,650 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Touraj Ghaffari
• Original Assignee: Touraj Ghaffari
• Inventors: Ghaffari, Touraj
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/492,669
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/539.13, 340/998, 340/10.1, 340/825.34, 700/229, 700/225, 700/224, 700/115, 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31095 Read write intelligent chip on workpiece, pallet, tool for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31432 Keep track of conveyed workpiece, batch, tool, conditions of stations, cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system and method for tracking articles and monitoring them on a real time basis comprising the use of a tag and one or more reader disposed within a locale being monitored and structured to communicate received data transmission to or from a host controller, for additional administrative processing in terms of determining the existence, location, state and/or movement of various articles with which the plurality of tags are directly associated. Depending on their category the tags may be activated by either entering an electric field of a predetermined first frequency or by receiving an activation signal from the reader assembly also transmitted at the first predetermined frequency. Communication between the tags and the reader occurs at a second frequency being different from the first frequency.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an object on a real time basis, said system comprising:

at least one host controller,

at least one tag associated with the object being monitored and secured thereto,

a reader, said reader and said tag cooperatively structured to establish communication there between when within a communicative proximity range from one another,

said tag comprising a probe structured and disposed relative to the object to monitor at least one predetermined characteristic associated with the object,

said reader structured to identify at least a status of said predetermined characteristic being monitored to said host controller,

said predetermined characteristic comprising temperature, and

said probe structured to monitor the temperature associated with the object.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said probe is structured to monitor the temperature associated with the object within a predetermined range, said predetermined range of temperature being variably programmed by wireless communication with a program application.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tag comprises memory facilities structured to store object data.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tag further comprises a tracking facility structured to provide location data of the object being monitored.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein said tracking facility is structured for activation by radio frequency communication at least between said tag and said reader.

6. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein said tracking facility comprises an active mode regulated by said reader, said active mode defined by a predetermined communication link between said tag and said host controller.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said tracking facility includes a GPS capabilities.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said communication link comprises an activating link from said host controller to said reader and from said reader to said tag.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein said communication link further comprises a locating link from said tag to a satellite and from said satellite to said host controller or to said reader.

10. A system for monitoring an object on a real time basis, said system comprising:

at least one host controller,

at least one tag associated with the object being monitored and secured thereto,

a reader, said reader and said tag cooperatively structured to establish communication there between when within a communicative proximity range from one another,

said tag comprising a probe structured and disposed relative to the object to monitor at least one predetermined characteristic associated with the object,

said reader structured to identify at least a status of said predetermined characteristic being monitored to said host controller,

said predetermined characteristic comprising pressure, and

said probe structured to monitor the pressure associated with the object.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said probe is structured to monitor the pressure associated with the object within a predetermined range, said predetermined range of pressure being variably programmed by wireless communication with a program application.

12. A system for monitoring an object on a real time basis, said system comprising:

at least one host controller,

at least one tag associated with the object being monitored and secured thereto,

a reader, said reader and said tag cooperatively structured to establish communication there between when within a communicative proximity range from one another,

said tag comprising a probe structured and disposed relative to the object to monitor at least one predetermined characteristic associated with the object,

said reader structured to identify at least a status of said predetermined characteristic being monitored to said host controller,

said predetermined characteristic comprising vibration, and

said probe structured to monitor the vibration associated with the object.

13. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said probe is structured to monitor the vibration associated with the object within a predetermined range, said predetermined range of pressure being variably programmed by wireless communication with said program application.

14. A system for monitoring an object on a real time basis, said system comprising:

at least one host controller,

at least one tag associated with the object being monitored and secured thereto,

a reader, said reader and said tag cooperatively structured to establish communication there between when within a communicative proximity range from one another,

said tag comprising a probe structured and disposed relative to the object to monitor at least one predetermined characteristic associated with the object,

said reader structured to identify at least a status of said predetermined characteristic being monitored to said host controller,

said predetermined characteristic comprising motion, and

said probe structured to monitor the motion associated with the object.

15. A system as recited in claim 14 wherein said probe is structured to monitor the motion associated with the object within a predetermined range, said predetermined range of motion being variably programmed by wireless communication with a program application.

16. A system for monitoring an object on a real time basis, said system comprising:

at least one host controller,

at least one tag associated with the object being monitored,

a reader, said reader and said tag cooperatively structured to establish communication there between when within a communicative proximity range from one another,

said tag comprising a probe structured and disposed relative to the object to monitor at least one predetermined characteristic associated with the object,

said reader structured to communicate at least a status of said predetermined characteristic being monitored to said host controller,

an attachment assembly structured to dispose said tag in monitoring proximity to the object being monitored, and

said attachment assembly comprising a circuit electrically connected to said tag and securable to a location at which said tag is disposed.

17. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein said attachment assembly is fixedly secured in monitoring proximity to the object being monitored.

18. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein said attachment assembly is removably attached in monitoring proximity to the object.

19. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein said reader is structured to transmit data received from said tag to said host controller, said host controller responsive to the tag transmitted data and structured to be determinative of location parameters of said tag.