System and method for providing asset management and tracking capabilities
First Claim
1. A system for enabling enhanced asset management and tracking capabilities, comprising:
- a plurality of electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing devices, wherein each of the plurality of electronic asset identification devices and intelligent sensing devices are affixed to an asset whose location and information are to be managed, wherein each of the plurality of asset identification and intelligent sensing devices includes at least unique identification information relating to the asset to which it is affixed and at least one sensing element for monitoring environmental or operating conditions;
an asset management server computer system for maintaining at least one database containing information regarding the asset identification and intelligent sensing devices and the assets to which they are affixed;
a remote client computer system operatively connected to the asset management server computer system for exchanging information over a computer network;
at least one interrogation device operatively connected to the remote client computer system, wherein the at least one interrogation device receives information from the plurality of asset identification and intelligent sensing devices and exchanges said information with the remote client computer system;
wherein each of the electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing device further comprises a processing unit for processing the environmental or operating conditions and a transceiver unit to enable device-to-device communication between the plurality of electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing devices.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A comprehensive method and system is provided for managing bulk and non-bulk material and assets using radio frequency and other asset identification devices, distributed mobile computing systems, centralized data storage environments, and client-server based computing. In particular, a process has been designed and to manage shipment items from businesses and third parties to customer designated locations. Components of this system include electronic asset identification devices, a central data repository, a mobile computing environment and associated software applications supporting a client-server system or n-tiered computer system. The mobile computing environment includes software which enables users to physically locate assets, view asset information, and modify such information to reflect current asset status. This information may then be exchanged and synchronized across the n-tiered computer system. Additionally, various personnel associated with the shipping arrangement may have access to the available information over a computer network such as the Internet. In this manner, such personnel can easily determine the status of various shipments and also promptly act on information collected during any status updates, thereby expediting the resolution of any potential exceptions which may arise. The electronic asset identification devices may be further configured to include various types of sensors. The devices may then operate to process and store sensor output information for subsequent relay to users via the mobile computing environment or other means.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A system for enabling enhanced asset management and tracking capabilities, comprising:
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a plurality of electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing devices, wherein each of the plurality of electronic asset identification devices and intelligent sensing devices are affixed to an asset whose location and information are to be managed, wherein each of the plurality of asset identification and intelligent sensing devices includes at least unique identification information relating to the asset to which it is affixed and at least one sensing element for monitoring environmental or operating conditions; an asset management server computer system for maintaining at least one database containing information regarding the asset identification and intelligent sensing devices and the assets to which they are affixed; a remote client computer system operatively connected to the asset management server computer system for exchanging information over a computer network; at least one interrogation device operatively connected to the remote client computer system, wherein the at least one interrogation device receives information from the plurality of asset identification and intelligent sensing devices and exchanges said information with the remote client computer system; wherein each of the electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing device further comprises a processing unit for processing the environmental or operating conditions and a transceiver unit to enable device-to-device communication between the plurality of electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 41, 42)
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21. A method for enabling enhanced asset management and tracking capabilities, comprising:
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affixing a plurality of electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing devices to an asset whose location and information are to be managed, wherein each of the plurality of electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing devices includes at least one sensor element for monitoring environmental or operating conditions, a processing unit operatively connected to the sensor element for processing the environmental or operating conditions, a power supply operatively connected to the processing unit, a memory operatively connected to the processing unit and the power supply, a radio frequency transceiver operatively connected to the processing unit and the power supply and configured to enable device-to-device communication between the plurality of electronic asset identification and intelligent sensing devices, and an antenna operatively connected to the radio frequency transceiver and the power supply; programming each of the plurality of asset identification and intelligent sensing devices to include at least unique identification information relating to the asset to which it is affixed; programming each of the plurality of asset identification and intelligent sensing devices to monitor and store selected environmental or operating conditions; maintaining at least one database containing information regarding the asset identification and intelligent sensing devices and the assets to which they are affixed on an asset management server computer system; operatively connecting a remote client computer system to the asset management server computer system for exchanging information over a computer network; and operatively connecting at least one interrogation device to the remote client computer system, wherein the at least one interrogation device receives information from the plurality of asset identification and intelligent sensing devices and exchanges said information with the remote client computer system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification