Kinematic asset management

• US 9,558,471 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Inventors: Reynolds, James C., Dennis, Gary, Iyer, Prakash
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US14/811,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20150332214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/381, 235/383, 235/375, 235/492, 235/486, 235/487
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A system for managing kinematic assets is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an electronic identification device associated with an asset. The system further comprises a container comprising a reader disposed within the container for receiving a unique identification of the identification device. The container further comprises a reader node for maintaining an inventory record comprising the asset and for generating a report when the asset is not detected by said reader. The report further comprises a location of the container when said report is generated. The system further comprises a kinematic asset management platform comprising an asset registry for storing data conveyed by the report and a reports engine for generating a second report conveying the location of said container when the report is generated.

Claims

1. A system for managing kinematic assets in a container scheduled for multiple stops in a service run, the system comprising:

a plurality of electronic identification devices, each configured to be coupled with one of a plurality of assets within the container;

a reader configured to be disposed within the container, and configured to receive an identification from each of the electronic identification devices;

a reader node configured to maintain an inventory record comprising the identifications and to generate a report in response to at least one of the identifications not being detected by the reader, wherein the report comprises a location, and wherein the location is the location of the container when the report is generated; and

a kinematic asset management platform comprising;

an inventory component configured to generate an alert prior to beginning the service run if the inventory record indicates that an inventory of one or more of the assets in the container is less than a threshold,

an asset registry configured to store data conveyed by the report, and

a reports engine configured to generate a second report conveying the location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a vehicle and wherein the system further comprises a wireless antenna for wirelessly conveying the report to the asset registry.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver coupled with the reader node for determining the location of the vehicle when the report is generated.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the reader node is configured to determine that the vehicle has exceeded either of a pre-determined distance and a pre-determined time interval without detecting one of the assets within the vehicle and generates the report in response to the exceeded pre-determined distance or pre-determined time interval.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the reader node further generates an alert to a display disposed within the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the reader node generates the report in response to a second asset being detected by the reader within the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the reader node determines whether one of the assets is present in the vehicle in response to an indication of the speed of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a plurality of readers and the reader node is configured to determine a direction of travel of the assets within the container.

9. A method for managing kinematic assets in a container scheduled for multiple stops in a service run, said method comprising:

associating each of a plurality of electronic identification devices with each of a plurality of assets;

receiving a plurality of identifications from the electronic identification devices at a reader disposed within the container;

maintaining an inventory record comprising the identifications at a reader node disposed within the container;

generating a report with the reader node in response to a particular identification not being detected by the reader, wherein the report comprises a location of the container;

prior to beginning the service run, determining that the inventory record indicates that an inventory of one or more of the assets in the container is less than a threshold, and in response to determining that the inventory record indicates that the inventory of one or more of the assets is less than the threshold, generating an alert;

storing data conveyed by the report in an asset registry; and

generating a second report conveying the location.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the container comprises a vehicle, the method further comprising:

generating a wireless message conveying the report to the asset registry.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining the location of the vehicle with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver coupled with the reader node.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising;

determining by the reader node that the vehicle has exceeded either of a pre-determined distance and a pre-determined time interval without detecting one of the assets within the vehicle; and

generating the report in response to the exceeded pre-determined distance or pre-determined time interval.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

generating an alert by the reader node to a display disposed within the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

generating the report in response to a second asset being detected by the reader.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining by the reader node whether an asset associated with the particular identification is present in the vehicle in response to an indication of the speed of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the container comprises a plurality of readers, the method further comprising:

determining by the reader node a direction of travel of the assets within the container.