Automated asset tracking system and method

• US 9,462,357 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Westick
• Original Assignee: Michael Westick
• Inventors: Westick, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JEROLD B
• Application Number:
  US14/024,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 235435-495, 600/561, 455 411- 45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system and method is provided for automatically tracking the presence or absence of multiple assets within a stationary or mobile location and differentiating among groups of assets or individual assets belonging to one or more parties within a single stationary or mobile location using multiple data correction and filtering techniques to provide accurate information to a plurality of users and/or service providers.

Claims

1. An automated system for tracking at least one asset within a physical space and reporting data about the asset location to a user, the system comprises:

(a) an asset tag affixed to each of the plurality of assets, each asset tag comprising a unique identification beacon for the asset with which the asset tag is associated, the asset tag configured to communicate though one or more transponder antennas to a transponder base having a central processor programmed for filtering data from said plurality of tags to accurately determine the presence or absence of a tag within a predetermined space;

(b) the central processor further programmed to identify tags by asset owner;

(c) a data base for storing asset information for a plurality of assets, said database comprising a list of preselected suggested asset types for a plurality of predetermined task types the database being in communication with the central processor, wherein the asset information comprises at least information relating to location, ownership, maintenance and repair of the plurality of assets;

(d) tracking software associated with the central processor, the tracking software configured to track a location of each of the plurality of assets, said software further configured to compare said list of predetermined suggested asset types with the assets within said predetermined space and communicate any differences between said list and said asset to at least one human readable device;

(e) the central processor in wireless communication with said at least one human readable device and configured to electronically report information to said device, said information selected from the group consisting of asset usage, asset location, asset movement, asset ownership, and asset presence within a job site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking software is configured to track movement of any of the plurality of assets into or out of any of the plurality of distributed sites based on information collected by the at least one transponder base from the asset tag of any asset being moved.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking software is configured to update the asset information of any one of the plurality of assets based on movement of the asset into or out of any of the plurality of distributed sites.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising notification software associated with the central processor, the notification software configured to transmit a notification message to a user based on movement of an asset.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification software is configured to prompt the user to confirm that the movement of the asset is authorized.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification on message comprises information regarding transport of the asset to the user, wherein the notification software is further configured to prompt the user to confirm receipt of the asset.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a client processor in communication with the central processor through the computer network, wherein the client processor is configured to allow the user to input, query, and download asset information from the central processor.