Asset localization identification and movement system and method

• US 7,957,833 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GaN Corporation
• Original Assignee: Q-Track Corporation
• Inventors: Beucher, Peter J., Schantz, Hans Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGESS, RAMYA PRAKASAM
• Application Number:
  US11/890,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 700/215, 700/214, 700/213, 700/225, 700/229, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 342/125, 342/127, 340/127, 340/572.2, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 700/215
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method for identification and location of an asset by tracking the mover of the asset using a locating device associated with the mover and identifying the asset using an identification reader associated with the mover and a passive identification tag associated with the asset. A single mover may move many assets. An asset is identified; the mover then moves the asset to a destination location, whereupon the mover and asset position are determined. The asset location may then be recorded in memory. The measurement of the destination location may be extended from the location measured by the active location device by using additional measurement devices, for example a forklift height sensor. A further embodiment utilizes RFID or barcode technology for the passive tag and may utilize near field positioning technology for the active location device.

Claims

1. An asset control method comprising:

identifying an asset comprising the steps of;

associating an identification tag with said asset; and

reading said identification tag with a passive ID tag reader physically associated with a mover;

loading said asset on said mover, said mover having an active location tag thereon;

logically associating said asset with said active location tag;

moving said asset by said mover to a destination location;

determining location coordinates for said mover at said destination location based on signals from said active location tag;

unloading said asset from said mover; and

logically disassociating said asset from said active location tag;

recording destination location coordinates of said asset based on said determining said location coordinates for said mover at said destination location.

2. The asset control method of claim 1, wherein the identification tag is an RFID tag.

3. The asset control method of claim 1 wherein the identification tag is an optical barcode label.

4. The asset control method of claim 1, further including the step of utilizing a near field signal to track said active location tag.

5. The asset control method of claim 1, further including the step of selecting said destination location for said asset based on said reading of said identification tag.

6. The asset control method of claim 1, further including the step of wirelessly communicating said reading of said identification tag to a computer.

7. The asset control method of claim 6, wherein the wireless communication of said reading utilizes a radio frequency transmission of said active location tag.

8. The asset control method of claim 1, further including the step of determining the location coordinates for said asset by measured extension from the location coordinates for said mover.

9. The asset control method of claim 8, wherein the measured extension from the location coordinates for said mover includes a vertical dimension.

21. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the measured extension is vertical extension, horizontal extension, or direction.

22. The system in accordance with claim 21, further including a direction measuring device configured to measure the direction of said extension, and said measured extension includes extension direction measured by said direction measuring device.

23. The system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said direction measuring device comprises a magnetic compass or a radio direction device.

10. A logistics location and identification system comprising:

an active location tag for transmitting a location signal;

a set of locator receivers for receiving said location signal;

a computer in communication with said set of locator receivers, said computer configured for receiving measurements of said location signal made by said set of locator receivers and computing location coordinates of said active location tag based on said measurements of said location signal; and

an ID tag reader in communication with said computer, said ID tag reader for reading an asset identification from a passive ID tag associated with an asset;

said ID tag reader and said active location tag to be carried by a mover, said mover for moving said asset to a destination location;

said computer configured for determining destination location coordinates for said active location tag based on said measurements of said location signal upon arrival of said asset at said destination location while said active location tag is in known relative proximity to said asset;

said computer configured for associating said destination location coordinates with said asset identification.

11. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 10, wherein said passive ID tag is an RFID tag or an optical barcode label.

12. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 10, wherein said measurements of said location signal comprise near field signal measurements.

13. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 12, wherein said near field signal measurements comprise a comparison of E field and H field phase.

14. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 10, wherein said mover comprises a forklift, a handtruck, or a pallet jack.

15. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 10, wherein said mover comprises a person.

16. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 10, wherein said reading said asset identification occurs prior to said moving said asset to said destination location.

17. A logistics location and identification system comprising:

an active location tag for transmitting a location signal;

means for determining location coordinates for said active location tag based on said location signal;

an ID tag reader in communication with a computer, said ID tag reader for reading an asset identification from a passive ID tag associated with an asset;

said ID tag reader and said active location tag to be carried by a means for moving said asset to a destination location,

wherein said location coordinates for said active location tag are determined by said means for determining said location coordinates upon arrival of said asset at said destination location while said active location tag is in known relative proximity to said asset;

said logistics location and identification system configured for storing said destination location coordinates associated with said asset identification.

18. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 17, wherein said means for determining location coordinates is configured to utilize near field signal measurements of said location signal.

19. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 17, wherein said reading said asset identification occurs prior to said moving said asset to said destination location.

20. The logistics location and identification system as in claim 17, wherein said passive ID tag is an RFID tag or an optical barcode label.