Method and apparatus for wireless asset tracking using asset tags with motion sensors

• US 7,982,614 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Holm, Henrik, Berezowski, Andrew G., Huseth, Steve D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US12/193,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/539.13, 340/539.32, 340/825.49, 342/450, 342/458, 342463-465
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• 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 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas

Abstract

A system includes an asset tag associated with an asset, the asset tag having a motion sensor to detect a movement of the asset. The system also includes a plurality of readers, each reader receiving one or more signals from the asset tag and measuring a distance between the asset tag and the reader based on the signals. The system further includes a controller receiving a measured distance from each of the plurality of readers and determining a location of the asset based on the measured distances.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an asset tag associated with an asset, the asset tag having a motion sensor configured to detect a movement of the asset;

a plurality of readers, each reader configured to receive one or more signals from the asset tag and measure a distance between the asset tag and the reader based on the one or more signals;

a controller configured to receive a measured distance from each of the plurality of readers and determine a location of the asset based on the measured distances; and

a user interface configured to highlight information associated with the asset when the asset is in motion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset tag is attached to the asset.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset tag is configured to transmit the one or more signals at a first rate when the asset is stationary.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the asset tag is configured to transmit the one or more signals at a second rate when the asset is in motion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first rate is different from the second rate.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate.

7. A method, comprising:

detecting a movement of an asset using an asset tag having a motion sensor;

transmitting one or more signals at a first rate in response to detecting a movement of the asset; and

displaying on a user interface highlighted information associated with the asset when the asset is in motion.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

measuring a distance from the asset tag to each of a plurality of readers using the one or more signals; and

determining a location of the asset using the measured distances.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

averaging at least some of the measured distances to determine the location of the asset.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting the one or more signals at a second rate in an absence of a detected movement of the asset.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first rate is different from the second rate.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first rate is faster than the second rate.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

signaling an alarm in response to detecting the movement of the asset.

14. A system, comprising:

a plurality of readers, each reader configured to receive one or more signals from an asset tag associated with an asset and measure a distance between the asset tag and the reader based on the one or more signals;

a controller configured to receive a measured distance from each of the plurality of readers and determine a location of the asset based on the measured distances; and

a user interface configured to highlight information associated with the asset when the asset is in motion.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each reader is configured to receive the one or more signals at a first rate when the asset is stationary and receive the one or more signals at a second rate when the asset is in motion.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first rate is different from the second rate.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to average at least some of the measured distances to determine the location of the asset.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more signals comprise information indicating whether the asset is stationary.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the measured distances of the asset from each of the plurality of readers are used to determine a location of the asset.