Transport monitoring system

• US 7,866,555 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Schmid, Rolf Hermann, Feuchtmueller, Hartmut, Epple, Matthias, Neuerburg, Hans-Juergen, Rampf, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US11/813,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20090026263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/384, 235/385, 235/375, 340/572.1, 340/988, 340/989, 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 235/385
• 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 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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 transport monitoring system is provided for transporting goods that are provided with identification tags. The identification tags store identification data used to identify the goods. The transport device includes a closeable transport unit, at least one reader unit, an evaluation unit and activation unit. The closeable transport unit receives goods that are provided with identification tags. The at least one reader unit emits an inquiry signal to the transport unit in order to read the identification tags when an activation signal for activating the reader unit is received. The at least one reader unit also receives the identification data signals emitted by the identification tags. The evaluation unit is used to evaluate the identification data signals received by the reader unit. The activation unit produces the activating signal for activating the reader unit once the transport unit is closed.

Claims

1. A transport device for transporting goods, the goods including identification tags that store identification data for identifying the goods, the transport device comprising:

(a) a closable transport unit configured to receive the goods including the identification tags;

(b) at least one reader unit configured to, upon receipt of an activation signal for activating the reader unit, emit, into the transport unit, an interrogation signal for reading the identification tags and to receive identification data signals that are then emitted by the identification tags;

(c) an evaluation unit configured to evaluate the identification data signals received by the reader unit; and

(d) a plurality of activation units, each activation unit configured to generate the activation signal after a triggering event,

wherein the evaluation unit is configured to logically combine the activation signals from the plurality of activation units so as to activate the reader unit.

2. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the reader unit has a transmit/receive antenna configured to emit the interrogation signal into the transport unit and configured to receive the identification data signals from the identification tags.

3. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit includes at least one interface for wireless data transfer.

4. The transport device recited in claim 3, wherein the activation signal from each of the plurality of activation units is received by a central unit via an interface of the evaluation unit.

5. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of activation units is a speed sensor for measuring a traveling speed of the transport device, the activation signal generated when the traveling speed exceeds a settable speed threshold value.

6. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of activation units is a load sensor for sensing a load weight of the transport device, the activation signal generated when the load weight exceeds a settable weight threshold value.

7. he transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the transport unit includes a container.

8. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the identification tags include active tags having an integral power supply.

9. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the identification tags include passive tags without an integral power supply.

10. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the identification tags include RFID transponders.

11. The transport device recited in claim 10, wherein the RFID transponders are attached to an article label.

12. The transport device recited in claim 1, further comprising condition sensors configure to determine a condition of the goods in transit and connected to the evaluation unit.

13. The transport device recited in claim 12, wherein the condition sensors include temperature sensors configured to measure the temperature within the transport unit.

14. The transport device recited in claim 12, wherein the condition sensors include speed sensors configured to measure a traveling speed of the transport device.

15. The transport device recited in claim 12, wherein the condition sensors include acceleration sensors configured to measure an acceleration of the transport device.

16. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the transport device includes a motor vehicle.

17. The transport device recited in claim 16, wherein the motor vehicle includes condition sensors configured to determine the condition of the goods in transit, the condition sensors connected to the evaluation unit.

18. The transport device recited in claim 17, wherein the condition sensors include tire pressure sensors configured to measure the pressure in tires of the motor vehicle.

19. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit includes an interface to the reader unit and a processor configured to process the identification data signals received by the reader unit.

20. The transport device recited in claim 19, wherein the evaluation unit includes additional interfaces configured to connect at least one condition sensor and at least one of the plurality of activation units.

21. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit includes a GSM unit configured to exchange messages with a central unit.

22. The transport device recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit includes a Global Positioning System unit configured to determine the position of the transport device.

23. A method for tracking a flow of goods, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the goods with identification tags storing identification data and configured to identify the goods;

(b) loading a transport unit with the goods;

(c) activating, with at least one of a plurality of activation units, a reader unit so to emit an interrogation signal into the transport unit so as to read the identification data stored in the identification tags, wherein the activating includes logically combining an output signal from each of the plurality of activation units;

(d) receiving, by the reader unit, identification data signals emitted by the read identification tags; and

(e) evaluating, by an evaluation unit, the identification data signals received by the reader unit.

24. A transport monitoring system for monitoring at least one flow of goods, the transport monitoring system comprising at least one transport device including:

(a) a closable transport unit configured to receive the goods including identification tags;

(b) at least one reader unit configured to, upon receipt of an activation signal for activating the reader unit, emit, into the transport unit, an interrogation signal for reading the identification tags and to receive identification data signals that are then emitted by the identification tags;

(c) an evaluation unit configured to evaluate the identification data signals received by the reader unit;

(d) a plurality of an activation units, each activation unit configured to generate an activation signal after a triggering event ; and

(e) at least one central unit configured to exchange messages with the at least one transport device via an interface; and

wherein the evaluation unit is configured to logically combine the activation signals from the plurality of activation units so as to activate the reader unit.