Method and system for monitoring forestry products

• US 8,504,431 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Huang, Yi-Ping, Wu, Jenn-Sheng, Chang, Ming-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): OBAID, FATEH M
• Application Number:
  US12/364,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring forestry products are provided in the present invention, wherein at least one active communicating device is disposed on a forestry product, and reading and transmitting devices are also disposed in specific locations for building a monitoring and management mechanism to protect the forestry products from stealing. By means the method and system of the present invention, it is capable of providing real-time monitoring information and collecting evidence of illegal actions immediately so that the management staff can control the situation and status of the forestry products, which is useful for improving the efficiency of forestry management. Meanwhile, the present invention may also help to find those lawless persons who steal and fell illegally the forestry resources so as to ensure the safety of working environment for forest managing staff and sustainable management of forest and natural resources.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring forest products, comprising:

at least an active communication device, being arranged at a forest product for detecting and registering data relating to the status of the forest product and thus emitting a signal in associate with the detected status of the forest product, wherein the active communication device further comprises at least a sensor, for detecting status of the forest product and thus generating a sensing signal accordingly, and an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag integrated with the at least one sensor as a module within the active communication device for enabling the same to receive the sensing signal so as to issue a signal corresponding thereto;

at least an access device, each being disposed at a specific location, comprising;

a control unit, for receiving a control signal emitted from the access device; and

an imaging unit, coupled to the control unit for receiving signals from the control unit so as to capture at least an image accordingly when said access device detects a signal emitted from any said active communication device; and

a portable communication apparatus, for receiving information from the control unit;

wherein the control unit further comprises;

an image analyzing unit, for receiving the at least one captured image so as to perform an image analysis comprising image recognition and an identification process to generate an identification result; and

a telecommunication unit, capable of communicating with a portable communication apparatus;

wherein each of the at least one access device is able to access the signal emitted from the at least one active communication device while the at least one active communication device is within a detection range of the referring access device and thus is enabled to issue a data signal accordingly;

wherein said control unit generates said identification result comprising carrier license plate information, carrier color, carrier trajectory, or features/identification of carrier passengers;

wherein the access device accesses information from a database based upon the identification result;

wherein the information received by the portable communication apparatus from the control unit comprises the time which the image was taken and the identification result.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the active communication device is an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic calculation unit, for receiving the data signal while connecting to a storage database.

4. A system for monitoring forest products, comprising:

at least an active communication device, being arranged at a forest product, comprising;

at least a sensor, for detecting status of the forest product and thus generating a sensing signal accordingly; and

an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, integrated with the at least one sensor as a module within the active communication device for enabling the same to register data relating to the status of the forest product and to receive the sensing signal so as to issue a signal corresponding thereto;

at least an access device, each being disposed at a specific location for accessing the signal emitted from the at least one active communication device while the at least one active communication device is within a detection range of the referring access device and thus being enabled to issue a data signal accordingly, comprising;

a control unit, for receiving a control signal emitted from the access device; and

an imaging unit, coupled to the control unit for receiving signals from the control unit so as to capture at least an image accordingly when said access device detects a signal emitted from any said active communication device;

wherein the control unit further comprises;

an image analyzing unit, for receiving the at least one captured image so as to perform an analysis/identification process thereon; and

a telecommunication unit, capable of communicating with a portable communication apparatus; and

wherein said control unit generates said identification result comprising carrier license plate information, carrier color, carrier trajectory, or features/identification of carrier passengers;

wherein the access device accesses information from a database based upon the identification result;

at least a portable communication apparatus, for receiving from the control unit the data signal comprising the time which the image was taken and the identification result.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

an electronic calculation unit, for receiving the data signal while connecting to a storage database.