Radio frequency identification asset management system, and computer program product

• US 8,125,339 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Neuwirth, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/613,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking system to track and manage assets. Each asset to be tracked is tagged with an RFID tag, and tracked using RFID readers located throughout a facility. Based on the tracking information, the system allows users to manage assets and generate reports regarding the various tagged assets.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a tagged asset having a tag ID, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a tag ID and a tag reader ID from a tag reader having a coverage zone, wherein the tag is configured to transmit a signal containing the tag ID;

updating an asset data including a past location of the tagged asset with a current location for the tagged asset;

receiving an equipment request for the tagged asset to be at a specific location;

determining whether to fill the equipment request with the tagged asset or with a substitute for the tagged asset; and

based upon the determination, filling the equipment request with either the tagged asset of the substitute for the tagged asset.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a signal to a client device based upon the current location and the past location of the tagged asset.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a report parameter that corresponds to a newly acquired tagged asset; and

transmitting the report data including at least one of an activation date and a type of asset for display on a client device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the equipment request, a target quantity of the tagged asset required in a specific zone, and

generating a partially filled equipment report if a number of the tagged asset in the specific zone falls below the target quantity after expiration of the equipment request.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

calculating a direction of movement of the tagged asset in the coverage zone from the tag reader based on a comparison of a strength of a signal from the tag ID relative to a strength of a subsequent signal from the tag; and

communicating the direction of the tagged asset in a report for display to a user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

locating the tag reader at a receptacle to receive the tagged asset requiring cleaning.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the tag ID for the tagged asset has been read by the tag reader or by another tag reader over a threshold period of time; and

placing the tagged asset on a missing asset report if the tag ID for the tagged asset has not been read by the tag reader or by another tag reader over the threshold period of time.

8. A system to manage tracking of tagged asset having a tag ID, the system comprising:

a tag reader having a tag reader ID and a coverage zone, the tag reader operable to receive a signal containing the tag ID from the tag;

a computer readable medium in communication with a processor, the computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of;

updating an asset data including a past location of the tagged asset with a current location for the tagged asset;

receiving an equipment request for the tagged asset to be at a specific location;

determining whether to fill the equipment request with the tagged asset or with a substitute for the tagged asset; and

based upon the determination, filling the equipment request with either the tagged asset of the substitute for the tagged asset.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

transmitting a signal to a client device based upon the current location and the past location of the tagged asset.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving a report parameter that corresponds to a newly acquired tagged asset; and

transmitting the report data including at least one of an activation date and a type of asset for display on a client device.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving, in the equipment request, a target quantity of the tagged asset required in a specific zone, and

generating a partially filled equipment report if a number of the tagged asset in the specific zone falls below the target quantity after expiration of the equipment request.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating a direction of movement of the tagged asset in the coverage zone from the tag reader based on a comparison of a strength of a signal from the tag ID relative to a strength of a subsequent signal from the tag; and

communicating the direction of the tagged asset in a report for display to a user.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

locating the tag reader at a receptacle to receive the tagged asset requiring cleaning.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

determining whether the tag ID for the tagged asset has been read by the tag reader or by another tag reader over a threshold period of time; and

placing the tagged asset on a missing asset report if the tag ID for the tagged asset has not been read by the tag reader or by another tag reader over the threshold period of time.

15. A computer program product to track an identification (ID) tag, the computer program product including a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for execution by processor to perform the steps of:

receiving a tag ID and a tag reader ID from an ID tag reader having a coverage zone, wherein the ID tag is configured to transmit a signal containing the ID tag ID;

updating an asset data including a past location of the ID tagged asset with a current location for the ID tagged asset;

receiving an equipment request for the ID tagged asset to be at a specific location;

determining whether to fill the equipment request with the ID tagged asset or with a substitute for the ID tagged asset;

based upon the determination, filling the equipment request with either the ID tagged asset of the substitute for the ID tagged asset.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

transmitting a signal representative of a status of the ID tagged asset to a client device based upon the current location and the past location of the ID tagged asset.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving, in the equipment request, a target quantity of the ID tagged asset required in a specific zone, and

generating a partially filled equipment report if a number of the ID tagged asset in the specific zone falls below the target quantity after expiration of the equipment request.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating a direction of movement of the ID tagged asset in the coverage zone from the ID tag reader based on a comparison of a strength of a signal from the ID tag ID relative to a strength of a subsequent signal from the ID tag; and

communicating the direction of the ID tagged asset in a report for display to a user.

19. A method of tracking an object having a first unique identifier, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a second unique identifier of a signaling device having a coverage zone, wherein the signaling device is configured to transmit a signal containing the first and second unique identifiers;

updating an asset data including a past location of the object with a current location for the object;

receiving a request for the object to be at a specific location;

updating the asset data corresponding to the object to indicate that the object has been requested at the specific location; and

determining whether to fill the request with the object or with a substitute for the object.

20. A system to manage tracking of an object having a first unique identifier, the system comprising:

a signaling device having a second unique identifier and a coverage zone, the signaling device operable to receive a signal containing the first unique identifier from the object;

a computer readable medium in communication with a processor, the computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for execution by the processor to perform the steps of;

updating an asset data including a past location of the object with a current location for the object;

receiving a request for the object to be at a specific location;

updating the asset data corresponding to the object to indicate that the object has been requested at the specific location; and

determining whether to fill the request with the object or with a substitute for the object.