Finding and packing travel articles

• US 7,852,218 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pomerantz, Ori, Breslau, Franklin C., Kumhyr, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/054,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 34053911-53923, 3405681-5687, 340/572.1, 340/5.92, 705 28- 29
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A system and method for locating one or more travel articles for packing, out of a plurality of travel articles. A transponder having a unique locator tag is disposed on each travel article that can be potentially selected for packing. A user or computer selects one or more travel articles for packing using an article tracking unit. Article tracking unit communicates a ping signal to a transponder that is associated with a selected travel article for packing. Upon receipt of the ping signal, a transponder controller activates an indicator, such as an aural or visual cue. The activated indicator assists a user in locating the travel article that is associated with the activated indicator. Once the selected travel article for packing is located and packed in a travel container, the indicator is deactivated.

Claims

1. A system for locating at least one travel article for packing, out of a plurality of travel articles, the system comprising:

a transponder having a transponder transceiver, a unique locator tag, and an indicator for signaling a physical location of said travel article for packing;

wherein said unique tag includes one or more of geographic data and cultural data associated with said at least one travel article for packing;

wherein prior to packing said travel article, said transponder is disposed on each travel article of said plurality of travel articles;

a packing wizard for selecting at least one travel article for packing;

wherein said packing wizard utilizes one or more of geographic data and cultural data to generate a suggested packing list;

a memory for storing a packing list of at least one selected travel article for packing;

a location interrogator for communicating a ping signal to said transponder transceiver of said transponder of said at least one selected travel article for packing;

wherein, in response to receiving said ping signal, said indicator of said transponder of said at least one selected travel article for packing is activated to provide an indication of the location of said at least one selected travel article, wherein said indication includes identification of said at least one selected travel article on a location map which assists in user orientation within a particular space; and

a travel container for packing said at least one selected travel article for packing;

wherein said indicator of said transponder of said at least one selected travel article is deactivated when said at least one selected travel article is packed in said travel container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said indicator is at least one of an aural cue or a visual cue.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display for displaying a locator map for locating said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

wherein said locator map identifies location of said at least one selected travel article on the locator map relative to the article tracking device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said indicator is deactivated when said at least one selected travel article is packed in said travel container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said unique locator tag includes at least one geographic or cultural data associated with a particular travel article.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said unique locator tag utilizes chipless RFID technology.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said packing wizard automatically generates a suggested packing list that is based on a user'"'"'s inputted travel information, wherein said travel information associates travel with a particular travel article;

wherein said travel information includes one or more of geographic data, cultural data and other travel-related information.

8. A method of locating at least one travel article for packing of a plurality of travel articles, the method comprising:

disposing a transponder having a unique locator tag on each travel article of said plurality of travel articles;

wherein said unique tag includes one or more of geographic data and cultural data associated with said at least one travel article for packing;

selecting from a packing wizard said at least one travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

wherein said packing wizard utilizes one or more of geographic data and cultural data to generate a suggested packing list;

communicating a ping signal to said transponder associated with said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

receiving said ping signal, wherein said ping signal is received by said transponder associated with said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

in response to receiving said ping signal, activating an indicator associated with said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

locating said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles, by utilizing said indicator;

wherein said indicator provides identification of said at least one selected travel article on a location map which assists in user orientation within a particular space;

packing said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles in a travel container; and

in response to packing said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles in said travel container, deactivating said indicator associated with said at least one packed, selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said indicator provides at least one of an aural cue or a visual cue.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating a locator map for locating said at least one selected travel article for packing of said plurality of travel articles;

wherein said locator map identifies location of said at least one selected travel article on the locator map relative to the article tracking device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

communicating an alert signal when a travel article that is disposed with said unique locator tag, but is not selected, is packed in said travel container.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said unique locator tag includes at least one geographic or cultural data associated with a particular travel article.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said unique locator tag utilizes chipless RFID technology.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said packing wizard automatically generates a suggested packing list that is based on a user'"'"'s inputted travel information;

wherein said travel information associates travel with a particular travel article;

wherein said travel information includes one or more of geographic data, cultural data and other travel-related information.