Apparatus and method for tracking and gathering information associated with assets

• US 9,996,809 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NewVistas LLC
• Original Assignee: NewVistas LLC
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Hyer, Davido L., Brinkworth, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, James
• Application Number:
  US14/740,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20150364017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A method for automatically tracking assets and gathering information associated therewith is disclosed. Such a method includes attaching a tracking beacon to an asset and wirelessly monitoring, with an asset tracking system, a location of the asset using the attached tracking beacon. The method further enables a user to manually input information associated with the asset using an input element (e.g., button, directional switching device, touchscreen, etc.) incorporated into the tracking beacon. The method wirelessly transmits the information from the tracking beacon to the asset tracking system. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method of automatically tracking assets and gathering

information associated therewith, the method comprising:

providing a tracking beacon proximate to a shared asset, wherein the shared asset is contemporaneously used by two or more separate business entities;

the tracking beacon comprising a tilt plate comprising a front side and a back side, the front side comprising an outer touch surface and the back side comprising electronic components mounted thereon and the back side further comprising a raised center pivot and a plurality of spring loaded switches mounted thereon disposed around the periphery of the back side of the tilt plate such that by tilting the plate by pressing proximate the periphery of the outer touch surface two or more of the spring loaded switches mounted on the back side of the tilt plate are activated;

the spring-loaded switches alone or in combination controlling one or more assets;

wirelessly monitoring, with an asset tracking system, a location of the shared asset using the tracking beacon;

manually inputting information associated with the shared asset through an input element incorporated into the tracking beacon comprising a touch screen; and

updating an accounting system based on the information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input element comprises at least one button.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising gathering, using at least one sensor incorporated into the tracking beacon, environmental information associated with the shared asset.

4. A system for automatically tracking shared assets and gathering information associated therewith, the system comprising:

a least one processor;

at least one memory device operably coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions for execution on the at least one processor, the instructions causing the at least one processor to;

associate a tracking beacon with a shared asset, wherein the tracking beacon is disposed proximate to the shared asset, and where the shared asset is contemporaneously used by two or more separate business entities;

the tracking beacon comprising a tilt plate comprising a front side and a back side, the front side comprising an outer touch surface and the back side comprising electronic components mounted thereon and the back side further comprising a raised center pivot and a plurality of spring loaded switches mounted thereon disposed around the periphery of the back side of the tilt plate such that by tilting the plate by pressing proximate the periphery of the outer touch surface two or more of the spring loaded switches mounted on the back side of the tilt plate are activated;

the spring-loaded switches alone or in combination controlling one or more assets;

wirelessly monitor a location of the shared asset through an input element comprising a touch screen incorporated into the tracking beacon;

wirelessly transmit the information from the tracking beacon to the shared asset tracking system; and

update an accounting system based on the transmitted information.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the input element comprises at least one button.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to gather, using at least one sensor incorporated into the tracking beacon, environmental information associated with the shared asset.

7. A computer program product to automatically track shared assets and gather information associated therewith, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied therein, the computer-usable program code comprising;

computer-usable program code that associates a tracking beacon with a shared asset, wherein the tracking beacon is disposed proximate to the shared asset, and wherein the shared asset is contemporaneously used by two or more separate business entities;

the tracking beacon comprising a tilt plate comprising a front side and a back side, the front side comprising an outer touch surface and the back side comprising electronic components mounted thereon and the back side further comprising a raised center pivot and a plurality of spring loaded switches disposed around the periphery of the back side of the tilt plate such that by tilting the plate by pressing proximate the periphery of the outer touch surface two or more of the spring loaded switches mounted on the back side of the tilt plate are activated;

the spring-loaded switches alone or in combination controlling one or more assets;

computer-usable program code that wirelessly monitors a location of the shared asset using the tracking beacon and record the location of a shared asset tracking system;

computer-usable program code that wirelessly transmits the information from the tracking beacon to the shared asset tracking system, and

computer-usable program code that updates an accounting system based on the transmitted information.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the input element comprises a least one button.