Electronic vehicle product and personnel monitoring

• US RE43,178 E1
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Loran Technologies, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Loran Technologies, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ghazarian, Ohanes
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/150,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/568.1, 340/568.7, 340/572.1, 340/522, 340/988, 340/989, 340/10.1, 340/5.31, 340/5.61, 340/5.92, 340/505, 700213-217, 700/226, 700/228, 700/229, 700/225, 700/22, 700/28, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00103 with central registration and control, e.g. for swimming pools or hotel-rooms, generally in combination with a pass-dispensing system
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00111 the pass performing a presence indicating function, e.g. identification tag or transponder identification by using radar means G01S13/02, G01S13/74; detecting presence by using magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects in general G01V3/08, G01V3/165; means for indicating the location of accidentally buried persons A63B29/02
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

A system providing vehicle, pallet, and personnel tracking within buildings, vehicles such as trucks/trailers, buses, trains and aircraft at a site or in a global network system. RFID transponder Gate readers are used in building doorways, in vehicles such as tracks/trailers gates or bus doors to read pallets, packages and personnel equipped with RFID transponder and tamper proof RFID RF transceiver tags. The RFID-RF transceivers may contain a GPS/GSM modem for locating of pallets or personnel with RF or GPS location system. Site Buildings and vehicles are equipped with compute interface unit, to communicate at time intervals with RFID-RF tag transceiver units installed on pallets or personnel wristwatch, to indicate the presence of pallets or personnel at a site or in a vehicle. Tamperproof RF, GPS/GSM or satellite modems installed on vehicle are used to communicate with site station or to a monitoring station computer network (Server) with the collected data from said vehicle gate reader, for tracking and finding the location of a particular vehicle, and its cargo content or personnel information related to particular vehicle, at a remote or open site.

Claims

1. A system for securing and tracking cargo contents delivered by a plurality of vehicles to and from a plurality of site stations, comprising:

a) a plurality of RFID tags each being attached to one of the objects and pre-storing configured to pre-store an identification information thereof;

b) a plurality of site stations each comprising;

b1) a site computer pre-storing configured to pre-store identification information of the RFID tags and content information of the objects to be removed from or loaded in the site station; and

b2) a site RFID tag reader operative configured to read the identification information pre-stored in the RFID tags upon when exiting or entering the site station, and to send the identification and content information to the site computer; and

c) a plurality of vehicles each comprising;

c1) a vehicle RFID tag reader operative configured to read the identification information pre-stored in the RFID tags upon when an object carrying a tag is exiting or entering the vehicle; and

c2) a vehiclean RFID tag reader transceiver CPU pre-storingunit configured to pre-store identification information of the vehicle, the vehicle RFID tag reader transceiver CPU being operative unit is further configured to receive the identification information read by the vehicle RFID tag reader and transmit a signal carrying the identification information read by the vehicle RFID tag reader and the identification information of the vehicle to the site computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the RFID tags further comprises:

a processor encoded with the identification information and pre-storing configured to the content information of the object that the RFID tag is attached thereto;

a built-in antenna interrogating configured to interrogate with the site RFID tag reader and the vehicle RFID tag reader upon when entering or exiting the site station and the vehicle, respectively, so as to received receive a magnetic field therefrom;

a capacitor configured to be charged by the magnetic field; and

a low-power RF transceiver operative configured to transmit a signal carrying the identification information and content information pre-stored in the RFID tag while being activated by discharge of the capacitor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the site computer is operative further configured to compare the identification and content information carried by the signal with the identification and content information pre-stored therein.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the site computer is operative further configured to communicate with the RFID tag at a predetermined time interval when the identification and content information carried by the signal matches the identification and content information pre-stored therein.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the site computer is operative further configured to generate an alarm signal when the identification and content information carried by the signal mismatches the identification and content information pre-stored therein.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the RFID tags further comprises a high-power transmitter connected to the low-power RF transceiver.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the high-power transmitted transmitter is activated when the low-power RF transceiver receives a signal from the site computer indicating an unauthorized removal of the object and the RFID tag attached thereto.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the RFID tags further comprises a built-in GPS receiver and a wireless modem powered on with the high-power transmitter for receiving configured to receive location information from orbiting satellite and transmit the location information to the site computer or the vehicle RF transceiver CPU RFID tag reader transceiver unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the RFID tags further comprises a pressure sensing tamper switch.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the pressure sensing tamper switch is protected by a metal O-ring.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the RFID tags includes comprises a tamperproof strap or shrinking wrap for mounting the RFID tag to the object.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the tamperproof strap or shrinking wrap are made of comprise conductive material.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising an optical emitter and an optical collector attached to two opposing ends of the tamperproof strap or shrinking wrap.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the RFID tag is operative further configured to transmit a tamper signal when communication between the optical collector and the optical emitter is interrupted.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein each site station further comprises a RFID gate reader antenna configured to energize the RFID tags passing therethrough.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein each site station further comprises an RF site antenna in communication configured to communicate with the site computer and the vehicle RF transceiver CPU RFID tag reader transceiver unit of at least one of the vehicles.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein each site station further comprises a site antenna for in communication configured to communicate with the site computer.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein each site station includes comprises a plurality of partitions, and each partition includes comprises an RFID tag reader configured to interrogate the RFID tags attached to the objects entering or exiting the partition.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein each vehicle further comprises a vehicle gate reader antenna configured to energize the RFID tag entering or exiting the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein each vehicle further comprises a vehicle GPS CPU unit configured to compare pre-store destination information with current location information of the vehicle.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein each vehicle further comprises a gate-locking mechanism configured to automatically locking lock a gate of the vehicle when the pre-stored destination information mismatches the current location information.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein each vehicle further comprises a gate-locking mechanism configured to automatically unlocking unlock a gate of the vehicle when the pre-stored destination information matches the current location information.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the objects include comprise a plurality of cargo units.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the objects includes comprise at least one personnel.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the RFID tag is further pre-stores configured to pre-store content information and destination information of the objects to which the RFID tag is attached.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to read vehicle cargo, vehicle driver or passenger RFID tags;

and

wherein the plurality of vehicles each further comprises;

a GPS modem or pager unit configured to transmit and receive signals to and from at least one of site station computers or to a monitoring station network, the signals comprise of at least one of vehicle location information, vehicle driver authentication, vehicle cargo content, and vehicle tampering status.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the RFID tag reader transceiver unit and GPS modem or pager unit are configured to detect tampering therewith, and are further configured to send a signal to do at least one of (i) slowly cut off vehicle engine fuel supply to safely stop the vehicle or immobilize a vehicle engine, and (ii) lock the vehicle, in response to detection of tampering.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the GPS modem or pager unit and the RFID tag reader transceiver unit further comprises a pressure sensing tamper switch,

wherein the pressure sensing tamper switch is mounted on at least one side of the RFID tag reader transceiver unit, GPS modem or the pager unit, or the RFID tag reader transceiver unit and GPS modem or the page unit;

and

wherein a GPS modem or pager unit tamper detection switch is configured to detect tampering of the RFID tag reader transceiver unit and, in response to the tampering, the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to transmit a signal comprising information regarding the tampering and location information of the vehicle.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the RFID tag reader transceiver unit and GPS modem or pager unit are further configured to send a signal indicative of tampering to at least one of the site station computers or the monitoring station network in response to the detected tampering.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the GPS modem or pager unit and the RFID tag reader transceiver unit are further configured to send data to a vehicle immobilizer unit to allow continued operation of the vehicle, and

wherein the vehicle immobilizer unit is configured to immobilize the vehicle upon halting of flow of data thereto.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to determine a location of the vehicle and compare the vehicle location to a database storing at least one object RFID tag identification information comprising tag destination information, and is further configured to send an alarm signal to one or more of (i) to the driver of the vehicle, (ii) at least one of the site station computers and (iii) the monitoring station network when the vehicle location route does not match a specified destination location for an object RFID tag stored in the database.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to receive a signal related to destination information for objects or persons in the vehicle, and wherein the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to transmit a signal to allow the vehicle to be unlocked for loading or unloading when a vehicle GPS location matches the objects or persons destination information.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to receive a signal from at least one of the site station computers and monitoring station computer networks to prompt delivery or pick-up of the objects, a driver or a passenger at a specified location, or to confirm the boarding of an object, driver or passenger at the specified location.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the GPS modem or pager unit further configured to communicate with the RFID tag reader transceiver unit, and

wherein at least one of the RFID tag reader transceiver unit and the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to transmit signals to at least one of the site station computers and monitoring station computer network in relation to loading or unloading of the objects having the RFID tags as read by the vehicle RFID tag reader.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to transmit signals to at least one of the site station computers and monitoring station computer network to provide information on at least one of the real time content of objects carried in the vehicle, the location of the vehicle, and/or the estimated time or arrival of the vehicle at a specified location.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein at least one of the GPS modem or pager unit and the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to initiate an alarm signal, during loading and unloading, when actual vehicle position information does not match an object RFID tag given destination address.

38. The system of claim 27, wherein the vehicle comprises a driver or passenger RFID tag reader is further configured to read identification information pre-stored in a driver or passenger RFID tag attached to a driver or passenger of the vehicle, and

wherein the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to communicate with the driver or passenger RFID tag reader and is further configured to transmit a signal carrying the driver or passenger identification information and GPS location information to at least one of the site station computers or the monitoring station.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to initiate an alarm signal upon detection of driver or passenger identification information that is indicative that the wrong passenger or driver has boarded the vehicle.

40. The system of claim 27, wherein the GPS modem or pager unit is further configured to transmit a security violation signal when receiving a security violation code signal from at least one of the site station computers and the monitoring station computer network that is indicative of theft of the objects or vehicle, and

wherein the security violation signal comprises vehicle location information.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to detect tampering therewith, and is further configured to send a signal to perform at least one of (i) slowly cut off vehicle engine fuel supply to safely stop the vehicle or immobilize a vehicle engine, and (ii) lock the vehicle, in response to detection of tampering.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit comprises with a pressure sensing tamper switch.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to send a signal indicative of tampering to at least one of site station computers in response to the detected tampering.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to send data to a vehicle immobilizer unit to allow continued operation of the vehicle, and

wherein the vehicle immobilizer unit is configured to immobilize the vehicle when halting of flow of data thereto.

45. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is configured to transmit a signal to allow the vehicle to be unlocked for loading or unloading when a verification signal is received from the site computer.

46. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to receive a signal from the site computer to prompt delivery or pick-up of the objects, a driver or a passenger, or confirm the boarding of an object, driver or passenger.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to transmit signals to the site computer in relation to loading or unloading of the objects having the RFID tags as read by the vehicle RFID tag reader.

48. The system of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to transmit signals to the site computer at preselected intervals that carry information on content of the vehicle.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to initiate an alarm signal, during loading and unloading, when actual vehicle position information does not match an object RFID tag given destination address.

50. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a driver or passenger RFID tag reader configured to read identification information pre-stored in a driver or passenger RFID tag attached to a driver or passenger of the vehicle, and

wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to communicate with the driver or passenger RFID antenna and to transmit a signal carrying the driver or passenger identification information to the site station computer.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to initiate an alarm signal upon detection of driver or passenger identification information that is indicative that a wrong passenger or driver has boarded the vehicle.

52. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag reader transceiver unit is further configured to transmit a security violation signal when receiving a security violation code signal indicative of theft of the objects from the vehicle or theft of the vehicle from the site station.

53. The system of claim 11 wherein the RFID tags comprise a tamperproof strap comprising at least one of an optical nylon string, a conductive strap, or the optical nylon string and the conductive strap used to wrap the RFID tag on an object, and

wherein the RFID tags are further configured to transmit a tamper signal when the tamperproof strap is tampered with or broken.

54. The system of claim 8, wherein the RFID tags comprising the GPS receiver and wireless modem comprise a tamperproof strap,

wherein the tamperproof strap comprising at least one of an optical nylon string, a conductive strap, or the optical nylon string and the conductive strap, and

wherein the RFID tags are further configured to transmit a tamper signal comprising the RFID tag GPS location via the wireless modem when the tamperproof strap is tampered with or cut.

55. The system of claim 8, wherein the GPS receiver and wireless modem on the RFID tag are further configured to be powered up when receiving a signal via interrogation with the vehicle tag RFID reader, that unauthorized removal of an object from a vehicle has occurred, and are further configured to transmit a signal in relation to a GPS location of the object to at least one of the site stations and monitoring station network to allow location of the object.

56. The system of claim 2, wherein the RFID tags are configured to be powered up when receiving a signal, via interrogation with the vehicle tag RFID reader, that unauthorized removal of an object from a vehicle has occurred, and are further configured to transmit a security violation signal.

57. The system of claim 27, wherein the GPS modem or pager unit are configured to utilize RF communication.

26. A system for securing and tracking objects transported by a vehicle between a plurality of site stations, comprising:

a) a plurality of RFID tags each being attached to one of the objects and pre-storing configured to pre-store an identification information thereof;

b) a plurality of site stations, at least one of the site stations comprising;

b1) a site computer pre-storing configured to pre-store identification information of the RFID tags and content information of the objects to be removed from or loaded in the site station; and

b2) a site RFID tag reader operative configured to read the identification information pre-stored in the RFID tags upon when exiting or entering the site station, and to send the identification and content information to the site computer; and

c) the vehicle comprising;

c1) a vehicle RFID tag reader operative configured to read the identification information pre-stored in the RFID tags upon when an object carrying a tag is exiting or entering the vehicle; and

c2) a vehiclean RFID tag reader transceiver CPU pre-storingunit configured to pre-store identification information of the vehicle, the vehicle RFID tag reader transceiver CPU being operative is further configured to receive the identification information read by the vehicle RFID tag reader and transmit a signal carrying the identification information read by the vehicle RFID tag reader and the identification information of the vehicle to the site computer.