System and method for tracking objects

• US 9,488,466 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Nigel Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): LY, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US13/447,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20120199648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.08
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

A system, device and methods are provided for tracking objects, such as shipping containers and other movable items. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an object based on detection of an object identification tag and detecting a marker during transport of the object, wherein detection of the marker includes determining location data of the marker. The method may further include storing position data for the object based on the location data of the marker, and outputting the position data for the object.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an object, the method comprising:

with a carrier device configured to transport the object, sensing identification information for the object stored in an object identification tag associated with the object;

while transporting the object with the carrier device, sensing, with the carrier device, a marker which identifies a location of the marker;

with the carrier device, determining a time of sensing the marker;

with the carrier device, storing, in a data record for the object, position data for the object based on the location identified by the marker and storing the time of sensing the marker in the data record for the object; and

outputting, by the carrier device, the position data for the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a shipping container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is one or more of a container, rail car, tractor trailer, car hauler, transport container, and vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the object identification tag is a barcode target including at least one of a two-dimensional barcode, a matrix code and an encoded pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the object identification tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag of the object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting a barcode target, wherein location data of the marker is encoded in the barcode target.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, wherein location data of the marker is encoded in the RFID tag.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting one or more of a ground marker, pathway marker, and structure including a marker.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining to detect additional markers based on at least one of time, object movement and object position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining location data of the marker includes decoding location data encoded in the marker.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein storing position data includes storing the location data associated with the marker in an electronic record for the object.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the position data for the object includes one or more of transmitting the position data to a server and displaying the position data by the carrier device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a display of a controller of the carrier device based on the position data for the object, wherein the display is updated for one or more of tracking scheduling, mapping and routing the object.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the marker stores position data including at least one of location coordinates, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) position data, surveying data and global position data.

15. A carrier device configured for object tracking comprising:

a display;

a detector configured to detect a marker during transport of an object by the carrier device; and

a processor coupled to the display and the detector, the processor configured to;

receive data identifying an object based on information for the object stored in an object identification tag associated with the object,

receive information identifying a location of the detected marker;

control storage of position data for the object based on the location of the detected marker and the time of detection of the detected marker in a data record for the object; and

control output of position data for the object.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the object is a shipping container.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the object is one or more of a container, rail car, tractor trailer, car hauler, transport container, and vehicle.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the object identification tag is a barcode target including at least one of a two-dimensional barcode, a matrix code and an encoded pattern.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the object identification tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag of the object.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting a barcode target, wherein location data of the marker is encoded in the barcode target.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, wherein location data of the marker is encoded in the RFID tag.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein detecting a marker includes detecting one or more of a ground marker, pathway marker, and structure including a marker.

23. The device of claim 15, further comprising determining to detect additional markers based on at least one of time, object movement and object position.

24. The device of claim 15, wherein determining location data of the marker includes decoding location data encoded in the marker.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein storing position data includes storing the location data associated with the marker in an electronic record for the object.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein outputting the position data for the object includes transmitting the position data to a server.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein outputting the position data for the object includes displaying the position data by the device.

28. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to update the display based on the position data for the object, wherein the display is updated for one or more of tracking scheduling, mapping and routing the object.

29. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to output the location data including transmitting the location data to a transport device.

30. The device of claim 15, wherein the marker stores position data including at least one of location coordinates, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) position data, surveying data and global position data.

31. A method for tracking an object, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting an object, by a carrier device, based on detection of an object identification tag;

sensing a marker during transport of the object, wherein detection of the marker includes determining location data of the marker, and determining a time of detection for the marker, by the device, wherein determining location data of the marker includes decoding location data encoded in the marker;

storing, by the device, position data for the object based on the location data of the marker and the time of detection for the marker in a data record for the object; and

outputting, by the device, the position data for the object.

32. A method for tracking an object, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting an object, by a carrier device, based on detection of an object identification tag;

acquiring a global position, by the carrier device, wherein the global position is acquired by a positioning sensor on the carrier device;

storing, by the carrier device, position data for the object based on the global position in a data record for the object;

detecting a marker during transport of the object, wherein the marker is associated with a fixed position, and wherein detection of the marker includes determining location data of the marker and determining a time of detection for the marker, by the carrier device;

updating, by the carrier device, position data for the object based on the location data of the marker and the time of detection for the marker in the data record for the object; and

outputting, by the carrier device, the updated position data for the object.