Identification system

• US 7,978,060 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inteligistics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inteligistics, Inc.
• Inventors: McCredie, Alexander, Mandava, Panduranga Rao
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam V
• Application Number:
  US11/352,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,975 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340 101- 105, 340/505, 340/572.1, 340/551, 340/5.8, 705/28, 235/385, 235/375, 455/422.1, 455/449, 455/517
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• 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 7/10069 the collision being resolved in the frequency domain, e.g. by hopping from one frequency to the other frequency hopping or spread spectrum techniques H04B7/00

Abstract

An identification system for recognizing at least one item signal emitting device operating at a first frequency and in operable communication with at least one item. The system includes at least one support member having a support surface for supporting the items thereon and a support member signal emitting device operating a second, different frequency in communication with the support member. The system includes a local signal recognition system with a signal receiving device in communication with the support member for receiving signals therefrom and a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals. A transferable local signal recognition system, as well as a networked identification system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An identification system for recognizing at least one item signal emitting device operating at a first frequency and affixed to at least one item, the system comprising:

at least one support member, including;

(i) at least one support surface configured to support the at least one item thereon; and

(ii) at least one support member signal emitting device operating at a second, different frequency and affixed to the at least one support member; and

a local signal recognition system, including;

(i) a signal receiving device communicating with the at least one support member and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device, the at least one support member signal emitting device or any combination thereof; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals;

a network system, including;

(i) a signal receiving device configured to receive signals emitted from at least one of;

the local signal recognition system, the at least one item signal emitting device, the at least one support member signal receiving device, or any combination thereof;

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing, and transmitting signals; and

software configured to;

generate at least one manifest associated with at least one of the following;

the at least one item, the at least one support surface, at least one shipping container associated with the at least one item or the at least one support surface, or any combination thereof; and

locally store and associate the at least one manifest with at least one of the following;

the at least one item, the at least one support surface, at least one shipping container associated with the at least one item or the at least one support surface, or any combination thereof;

wherein the at least one manifest includes at least one of the following;

a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data, or any combination thereof;

wherein the signal receiving device of the local signal recognition system is configured to receive and read signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device operating at the first frequency and the at least one support member signal emitting device operating at the second frequency simultaneously.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the local signal recognition system further comprises a configurable tuning mechanism configured to be modified to receive a plurality of signals having different and discrete frequencies.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are radio frequencies, and wherein the first frequency is about 13.56 MHz and the second frequency is about 915 MHz.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member further comprises a signal receiving device configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device in the first frequency, and a support member control device configured to receive, process and transmit signals, wherein the support member control device communicates with the local signal recognition system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the support member control device is programmed with software to recognize at least one of:

a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data or any combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the software is configured to communicate with a specified destination in a satellite network, in or over a cellular phone network, in a computer network, over the Internet, in a web-based application, in a wireless format, in a hardwired format, over a local area network, over a wide area network, over a wireless local area network (Wi-Fi), or any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the software transfers data to a specified destination in a satellite network, in or over a cellular phone network, in a computer network, over the Internet, in a web-based application, in a wireless format, in a hardwired format, over a local area network, over a wide area network, over a wireless local area network (Wi-Fi), or any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the specified destination is a website, a computing device, a computer, a personal computer, a laptop, a palmtop, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, an electronic device, a network terminal or any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiving device is an event-activated device configured to activate a scan based upon a specified event or occurrence.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the event or occurrence is a prompt from a network, a prompt from an outside control device, a prompt from the system, an activation event, an access condition, an entry condition, a identity condition, an authorization condition, a non-event condition or any combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the support member is a pallet, a container, a cabinet, a drawer, a shelf, a box, a shipping container, a platform, a disassemblable container, a disposable container, a bulk liquid container or any combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a portable signal recognition system including:

(i) a signal receiving device affixed to the at least one support member and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device, the at least one support member signal emitting device or any combination thereof; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the item, the item signal emitting device, the support member, the support member signal emitting device, a shipping container, the local signal recognition device, a portable signal recognition device or any combination thereof is associated with a condition tracking device configured to emit a signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the signal is a location signal, an identification signal, a condition signal, an system signal, an environmental signal, a sensed condition, a sensed characteristic, a physical state, a physical condition, a chemical state, a chemical condition, a status signal, a warning signal or any combination thereof.

15. An identification system for recognizing at least one signal emitting device affixed to at least one item, the system comprising:

at least one shipping container having an interior area configured to contain at least one support member, including;

(i) at least one support surface configured to support the at least one item thereon; and

(ii) at least one support member signal emitting device affixed to the at least one support member;

a signal recognition system, including;

(i) a signal receiving device located in and communicating with the interior area of the shipping container and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device operating at a first frequency and the at least one support member signal emitting device operating at a second frequency simultaneously;

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals; and

(iii) a housing configured to at least partially contain at least one of the signal receiving device and the control device;

a security system comprising at least one locking mechanism configured to prevent unauthorized access to the interior area of the at least one shipping container; and

at least one signal-blocking material positioned on a surface of the at least one shipping container and configured to prevent signals from passing therethrough.

16. The identification system of claim 15, further comprising an alert system configured to alert or notify a user regarding the installation of at least one component of the signal recognition system, the removal of at least one component of the signal recognition system, movement of at least one component of the signal recognition system or any combination thereof.

17. The identification system of claim 15, further comprising software configured to:

generate at least one manifest associated with at least one of the following;

the at least one item, the at least one support surface, at least one shipping container associated with the at least one item or the at least one support surface, or any combination thereof; and

locally store and associate the at least one manifest with at least one of the following;

the at least one item, the at least one support surface, at least one shipping container associated with the at least one item or the at least one support surface, or any combination thereof;

wherein the at least one manifest includes at least one of the following;

a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data, or any combination thereof.

18. An identification system for recognizing at least one signal emitting device affixed to at least one item, the system comprising:

at least one shipping container having an interior area configured to contain at least one support member, including;

(i) at least one support surface configured to support the at least one item thereon; and

(ii) at least one support member signal emitting device affixed to the at least one support member;

a signal recognition system, including;

(i) a signal receiving device communicating with the interior area of the shipping container and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device operating at a first frequency and the at least one support member signal emitting device operating at a second frequency simultaneously, wherein the signal receiving device is an event-activated device configured to activate a scan based upon a specified event or occurrence; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing, and transmitting signals; and

at least one sensor positioned locally and configured to trigger the signal receiving device of the signal recognition system to activate a scan of at least a portion of the interior area of the at least one shipping container.

19. The identification system of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor configured to trigger the signal receiving device is at least one of a motion sensor and a sensor that senses the opening or closing of a door associated with the at least one shipping container.

20. The identification system of claim 18, further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense at least one condition associated with the at least one shipping container.

21. The identification system of claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense at least one condition is further configured to sense at least one of the following:

temperature, humidity, pressure, motion, product data, physical data, at least one state, at least one condition, at least one sensed characteristic, at least one measurable characteristic, or any combination thereof.

22. The identification system of claim 18, further comprising software configured to:

generate at least one manifest associated with at least one of the following;

the at least one item, the at least one support surface, at least one shipping container associated with the at least one item or the at least one support surface, or any combination thereof; and

locally store and associate the at least one manifest with at least one of the following;

the at least one item, the at least one support surface, at least one shipping container associated with the at least one item or the at least one support surface, or any combination thereof;

wherein the at least one manifest includes at least one of the following;

a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data, or any combination thereof.