Method and apparatus for tracking and monitoring containers

• US 8,319,646 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Evans, Allan M., Cargonja, Nikola, Nardelli, Albert, Brand, Timothy K., Mim, Reiner G., Zmrzli, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US12/236,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A tag has a circuit portion that functions as a reader capable of wireless communication with other tags. According to a different aspect, a tag has a circuit portion with first and second modes, the circuitry consuming less power in the second mode than the first mode, and exiting the second mode only in response to an act by a human. According to yet another aspect, a tag can receive wireless communications conforming to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol. The tag responds to receipt of a predetermined wireless signal conforming to the one protocol by carrying out one of first action that includes causing the tag to enter an electronically secure state, or a second action that includes causing the tag to exit the electronically secure state.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a tag having circuitry comprising:

a reader portion integral to said tag, said reader portion functioning as a reader capable of wireless communication with other tags; and

a communications portion configured to perform wireless communications, wherein;

the tag includes an approximately C-shaped clip having two spaced legs and a bight extending between said legs; and

the reader and communication portions each include an antenna, one of the antennas being supported on one of the legs of the clip, and the other of the antennas being supported on the other of the legs of the clip.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communications portion is configured to perform said wireless communication with other tags using wireless signals that are ultra high frequency (UHF) wireless signals conforming to a radio frequency identification communication protocol.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communications comprise one of a radio frequency identification communication protocol, a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol.

4. A system comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising circuitry, the circuitry operating in a first operational mode and a second operational mode, wherein the circuitry consumes less power in the second operational mode than in the first operational mode; and

a handheld unit configured to be coupled to the RFID tag, the handheld unit configured to provide instructions to the circuitry to exit the second operational mode, wherein

the circuitry only exits the second operational mode in response to a human using the handheld unit.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the handheld unit includes a manually operable interface, and is releasably electrically coupled by a cable to said circuitry in said tag.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the handheld unit includes a manually operable interface, and that is capable of wireless communication with said circuitry in said tag, said act by a human including manual operation of said manually operable interface.

7. A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that includes circuitry having first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode, said method comprising:

entering, at a handheld unit configured to be coupled to the RFID tag, manual instructions entered by a human at a manually operable interface of the handheld unit to exit the second operational mode;

receiving, at the RFID tag, the manual instructions causing said circuitry to exit said second operational mode; and

exiting, by the circuitry of the RFID tag, the second operational mode, wherein the RFID tag only exits the second operational mode in response to receiving the manual instruction entered by a human at the handheld unit.

8. The method according to claim 7,

wherein the handheld unit is releasably electrically coupled by a cable to said circuitry in said tag.

9. The method according to claim 7,

wherein the handheld unit is capable of wireless communication with said circuitry in said tag.

10. An apparatus comprising a tag having circuitry that includes a communications portion configured to receive wireless communications conforming to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol, said circuitry responding to receipt of a predetermined wireless signal that conforms to said one of said protocols by the communications portion by carrying out one of:

a first action that includes causing the tag to enter an electronically locked state; and

a second action that includes causing the tag to exit said electronically locked state, wherein;

the predetermined wireless signal includes a container identification; and

the first action includes extracting the container identification from the received wireless signal, and saving the container identification.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein said circuitry has first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode;

and

wherein said first action includes causing said circuitry to exit said second operational mode.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein said circuitry has first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode;

and

wherein said second action includes causing said circuitry to enter said second operational mode.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said wireless communications conform to said cellular telephone network communication protocol, said cellular telephone network communication protocol being the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) protocol.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said wireless communications conform to said satellite communication protocol, said satellite communication protocol being a Satcom communication protocol.

15. A method of operating a tag having circuitry that includes a communications portion configured to receive wireless communications conforming to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol, said method comprising:

receiving in said communications portion of said circuitry a predetermined wireless signal conforming to said one of said protocols;

configuring the predetermined wireless signal to include a container identification; and

responding to receipt of said predetermined wireless signal by carrying out one of;

a first action that includes causing the tag to enter an electronically locked state, wherein said first action includes extracting the container identification from the received wireless signal, and saving the container identification; and

a second action that includes causing the tag to exit said electronically locked state.

16. A method according to claim 15,

wherein said circuitry has first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode;

and

wherein said first action includes switching said circuitry from said second operational mode to said first operational mode.

17. A method according to claim 15,

wherein said circuitry has first and second operational modes, said circuitry consuming substantially less power in said second operational mode than in said first operational mode;

and

wherein said second action includes switching said circuitry from said first operational mode to said second operational mode.

18. A method according to claim 15, including configuring said wireless communications to conform to said cellular telephone network communication protocol, said cellular telephone network communication protocol being the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) protocol.

19. A method according to claim 15, including configuring said wireless communications to conform to said satellite communication protocol, said satellite communication protocol being a Satcom communication protocol.