Location tracking with integrated identification of cargo carrier contents and related system and method

• US 9,916,555 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geoforce Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Geoforce Incorporated
• Inventors: Wible, Jason A., Taylor, Brandon C., MacLean, III, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US13/443,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913, 3405731, 340 81
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• 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: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Various methods and devices are provided for integrating location tracking and cargo identification. For example, an identification of a cargo carrier can be provided, such as by an identification or tracking device associated with the cargo carrier. Also, an identification of a carried asset can be provided, such as by a tag or optical code associated with the carried asset. Further, a determination can be made whether the carried asset is being added to or removed from the cargo carrier. This could be done automatically or based on user input. This information can be collected and stored in association with each other so that location information about the carried asset can be provided to users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a portable device associated with a user, an identification of a cargo carrier from an identification device associated with the cargo carrier;

identifying, at the portable device, an asset being added to or removed from the cargo carrier;

generating, at the portable device, one or more messages identifying the cargo carrier, and the asset and indicating whether the asset is being added to or removed from the cargo carrier;

transmitting, from the portable device, the one or more messages; and

displaying, on a first display interface, the one or more messages and, on a second display interface, a compliance task associated with at least one of the cargo carrier and the asset,

wherein the displaying on the second display interface further comprises displaying links to documentation describing the compliance task.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, at the portable device, a location of the portable device;

wherein the one or more messages further include the location of the portable device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the identification device associated with the cargo carrier comprises a tracking device; and

the method further comprises transmitting, from the tracking device, a message identifying a location of the cargo carrier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the asset comprises one of:

receiving information identifying the asset from a tracking tag associated with the asset; and

scanning an optical code on the asset using the portable device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user an indication whether the asset is being added to or removed from the cargo carrier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistance, and a laptop computer.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, at a location tracking device, an association of the location tracking device with a cargo carrier;

identifying, at the location tracking device associated with the cargo carrier, a location of the location tracking device;

transmitting polling messages, by the location tracking device, into the cargo carrier to determine whether the cargo carrier includes one or more assets;

receiving, at the location tracking device, information identifying one or more carried assets in or on the cargo carrier;

generating, at the location tracking device, one or more messages identifying the location of the location tracking device and the one or more carried assets in or on the cargo carrier;

transmitting, from the location tracking device, the one or more messages; and

displaying, on a first display interface, the one or more messages and, on a second display interface, a compliance task and a link to documentation describing the compliance task, the compliance task associated with at least one of the cargo carrier and the one or more assets.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

identifying the location of the location tracking device comprises using global positioning system (GPS) signals; and

receiving the information identifying the one or more carried assets comprises receiving signals from one or more tracking tags associated with the one or more carried assets.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting removal of at least one of the one or more carried assets from the cargo carrier; and

generating a message identifying the removal of the at least one carried asset.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the message identifying the removal of the at least one carried asset comprises one of:

a message identifying any remaining carried assets in or on the cargo carrier; and

a message identifying the at least one removed carried asset.

11. A method comprising:

receiving information associating a tracking device with a cargo carrier;

receiving information identifying a location associated with the cargo carrier;

receiving information identifying one or more carried assets in or on the cargo carrier;

storing the information identifying the location of the cargo carrier in association with the information identifying the one or more carried assets in or on the cargo carrier;

updating the location of the cargo carrier to track the location of the one or more carried assets;

displaying a compliance task associated with at least one of the cargo carrier and the one or more carried assets;

generating a first graphical user interface identifying multiple assets including the cargo carrier;

displaying an icon in association with the cargo carrier in the first graphical user interface, the icon indicating that the cargo carrier contains the one or more carried assets;

receiving one or more asset search criteria from a user;

identifying assets that satisfy the one or more asset search criteria; and

if the cargo carrier satisfies the one or more asset search criteria because of the one or more carried assets, modifying the icon associated with the cargo carrier.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a list of the one or more carried assets in response to a user'"'"'s selection of the icon.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a second graphical user interface in response to a user'"'"'s selection of the cargo carrier in the first graphical user interface, the second graphical user interface comprising a list of the one or more carried assets.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second graphical user interface further comprises a description and a last-known location of the cargo carrier.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the compliance task is displayed by the second graphical user interface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second graphical user interface further comprises links to documentation describing the compliance task.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an indication that at least one of the one or more carried assets has been removed from the cargo carrier; and

removing the at least one carried asset from its association with the cargo carrier.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the information identifying the location of the cargo carrier and receiving the information identifying the one or more carried assets comprises receiving the information from at least one of:

a location tracking device mounted to the cargo carrier and a portable device used by a user in proximity to the cargo carrier.

19. A method comprising:

removably coupling a location tracking device on a cargo carrier by removably affixing the location tracking device to the cargo carrier by one or more mounting mechanisms;

associating the location tracking device with the cargo carrier;

receiving, at a portable device associated with a user, an identification of the cargo carrier from the location tracking device associated with the cargo carrier;

determining, by the location tracking device, whether one or more assets have been added to or removed from the cargo carrier;

generating one or more messages identifying the cargo carrier and the one or more assets and indicating whether the one or more assets is being added to or removed from the cargo carrier;

transmitting, the one or more messages to a remote server;

receiving, at the remote server or the portable device, one or more asset search criteria from a user;

identifying, by the remote server or portable device, assets that satisfy the one or more asset search criteria; and

if the cargo carrier satisfies the one or more asset search criteria because of the one or more carried assets, modifying an icon associated with the cargo carrier, wherein the icon is displayed on a display of the remote server or a display of the portable device.

20. The method of claim 19, generating one or more messages comprises indicating a time that the one or more assets was added or removed.