Intelligent container
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a container comprising a plurality of 3-D cells for storing a plurality of assets, each asset having an Asset/ID tag, each said 3-D cell being assigned to store at least one asset; and
an electronic lock coupled to said container;
said electronic lock comprising;
a reader gate configured to read an Asset/ID tag of a first asset of the plurality of assets being checked out from said container by a first technician, said reader gate further configured to read a tech/ID tag of said first technician;
an asset report system;
a database; and
a processor coupled to said reader gate, said asset report system, and said database, wherein said processor is configured to;
communicate to said asset report system a checked-out status of said first asset having said Asset/ID tag read by said reader gate, said checked-out status including an association between said Asset/ID tag and said first technician having said tech/ID tag read by said reader gate; and
store in said database a plurality of markers, each said marker including a set of data compiled for one said asset having said Asset/ID tag, said set of data including said Asset/ID tag, a checked-in or checked-out status associated with said asset having said Asset/ID tag, a tech/ID tag of a technician who checked in or checked out said asset having said Asset/ID tag, and 3-D position coordinates of a 3-D cell inside said container assigned to store said asset having said Asset/ID tag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent container apparatus is provided. The intelligent container apparatus comprises a container further comprising a plurality of 3-D cells and an external electronic lock. Each 3-D cell is assigned to store at least one asset including an Asset/ID tag, and at least one asset position sensor. The external electronic lock further comprises: a reader gate; a timing device; a tech/ID authentication system; and a processor. The reader gate is configured to read an Asset/ID tag, configured to read a technician tech/ID tag, configured to assign a checked_in/checked_out status to at least one asset having an Asset/ID tag, and configured to associate the tech/ID of the latest technician who checked_in/checked_out the asset having the Asset/ID tag.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a container comprising a plurality of 3-D cells for storing a plurality of assets, each asset having an Asset/ID tag, each said 3-D cell being assigned to store at least one asset; and an electronic lock coupled to said container;
said electronic lock comprising;a reader gate configured to read an Asset/ID tag of a first asset of the plurality of assets being checked out from said container by a first technician, said reader gate further configured to read a tech/ID tag of said first technician; an asset report system; a database; and a processor coupled to said reader gate, said asset report system, and said database, wherein said processor is configured to; communicate to said asset report system a checked-out status of said first asset having said Asset/ID tag read by said reader gate, said checked-out status including an association between said Asset/ID tag and said first technician having said tech/ID tag read by said reader gate; and store in said database a plurality of markers, each said marker including a set of data compiled for one said asset having said Asset/ID tag, said set of data including said Asset/ID tag, a checked-in or checked-out status associated with said asset having said Asset/ID tag, a tech/ID tag of a technician who checked in or checked out said asset having said Asset/ID tag, and 3-D position coordinates of a 3-D cell inside said container assigned to store said asset having said Asset/ID tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for managing a plurality of assets stored in a container, said container being coupled to an electronic lock that includes a reader gate and an asset report system, each of the plurality of assets having an electronic Asset/ID tag, said method comprising:
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reading via said reader gate an Asset/ID tag of a first asset of the plurality of assets being checked out from said container by a first technician; reading via said reader gate a tech/ID tag of said first technician; assigning a checked-out status to said first asset having said Asset/ID tag read by said reader gate, and associating said first technician having said Tech/ID tag read by said reader gate with said checked-out status of said first asset; and transmitting to said asset report system a marker, said marker including a set of data associated with said first asset having said Asset/ID tag, wherein said set of data associated with said first asset having said Asset/ID tag includes said checked-out status of said first asset having said Asset/ID tag, said tech/ID tag of said first technician who checked out said first asset having said Asset/ID tag, and 3-D position coordinates of a 3-D cell inside the container assigned to store said first asset having said Asset/ID tag. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification