Wireless tracking of power tools and related devices

• US 10,531,304 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2019
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zeiler, Jeffrey M., Reading, Leslie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Timothy X
• Application Number:
  US16/257,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20190159034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 4554261
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/05 Anti-theft or abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and system for wirelessly tracking power tools and related devices to aid with inventory management and to help minimize, prevent, and recover misplaced or stolen tools throughout the job site. The tools and/or batteries include wireless transmitting capabilities (e.g., an ISM unit) to transmit data to a fob, puck repeater, and/or gateway over an ISM network. The gateway is operable to translate and output the ISM communications over a cellular network to a remote monitoring unit, such as a personal computer or smart phone. Additionally, the gateway is further operable to translate and output cellular communications from the remote monitoring unit to ISM communications over the ISM network. A wireless tethering system and method is also disclosed whereby an ISM battery places a power tool in a lock-out or limp mode after the ISM battery remains outside of ISM communications for a prolonged period of time.

Claims

1. An electronic monitoring device for power tool geo-fence tracking, the electronic monitoring device comprising:

a display including a graphical user interface;

an electronic processor coupled to the display; and

a wireless communication device coupled to the electronic processor and configured to communicate with power tool devices;

wherein the electronic processor is configured to

receive, via the graphical user interface, a selection of a geo-fence feature,

display a map on the graphical user interface in response to receiving the selection of the geo-fence feature,

receive, via the graphical user interface, a first user input defining a geo-fence boundary,

in response to one or more second user inputs on the graphical user interface, assign a plurality of power tool devices to the geo-fence boundary, and

display a screen associated with the geo-fence boundary on the graphical user interface, wherein the screen includes

an indication of how many power tool devices of the plurality of power tool devices are located outside the geo-fence boundary, and

a selectable locate feature, wherein in response to receiving a selection of the selectable locate feature via the graphical user interface, the electronic processor is configured to request position data of the plurality of power tool devices via the wireless communication device and provide an updated indication of how many power tool devices of the plurality of power tool devices are located outside the geo-fence boundary.

2. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the screen includes a selectable map feature, wherein in response to receiving a selection of the selectable map feature via the graphical user interface, the electronic processor is configured to display a second screen including the map on the graphical user interface, the map including the geo-fence boundary and locations of the plurality of power tool devices.

3. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to request the position data of the plurality of power tool devices via the wireless communication device by requesting respective position data from each power tool device of the plurality of power tool devices.

4. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to determine whether each of the plurality of power tool devices is located outside the geo-fence boundary.

5. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

determine that a first power tool device of the plurality of power tool devices is located outside the geo-fence boundary; and

in response to determining that the first power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary, at least one selected from the group of (i) transmit a lock command to the first power tool device via the wireless communication device, the lock command instructing the first power tool device to prevent operation of the first power tool device, (ii) provide a first alert on the display indicating that the first power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary, and (iii) transmit a second alert to a second electronic monitoring device indicating that the first power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary.

6. An electronic monitoring device for power tool geo-fence tracking, the electronic monitoring device comprising:

a display including a graphical user interface;

an electronic processor coupled to the display; and

a wireless communication device coupled to the electronic processor and configured to communicate with power tool devices;

wherein the electronic processor is configured to

receive, via the graphical user interface, a selection of a geo-fence feature,

display a map on the graphical user interface in response to receiving the selection of the geo-fence feature,

receive, via the graphical user interface, a first user input defining a geo-fence boundary,

receive, via the graphical user interface, a selection of a power tool device to be associated with the geo-fence boundary,

in response to receiving the selection of the power tool device, assign the power tool device to the geo-fence boundary, and

display information on the graphical user interface that indicates whether the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary.

7. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the first user input is at least one of:

a dragging of a pointer on the map using a graphical user interface drawing instrument; and

a placement and re-sizing of a geometrical shape on the map.

8. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the electronic processor is configured to determine whether the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary.

9. The electronic monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

determine that the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary; and

in response to determining that the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary, at least one selected from the group of (i) transmit a lock command to the power tool device via the wireless communication device, the lock command instructing the power tool device to prevent operation of the power tool device, (ii) provide a first alert on the display indicating that the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary, and (iii) transmit a second alert to a second electronic monitoring device indicating that the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary.

10. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

receive a selection of a lock feature via the graphical user interface; and

transmit a lock command, via the wireless communication device, to the power tool device in response to receiving the selection of the lock feature, wherein the lock command instructs the power tool device to prevent operation of the power tool device.

11. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

receive a selection of an unlock feature via the graphical user interface; and

transmit an unlock command, via the wireless communication device, to the power tool device in response to receiving the selection of the unlock feature, wherein the unlock command instructs the power tool device to enable operation of the power tool device.

12. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

receive a selection of a chirp feature via the graphical user interface; and

transmit a chirp message, via the wireless communication device, to the power tool device in response to receiving the selection of the chirp feature, wherein the chirp message instructs the power tool device to output an audible sound to assist with locating the power tool device.

13. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

receive a selection to obtain tool data via the graphical user interface;

transmit a polling message, via the wireless communication device, to the power tool device in response to receiving the selection to obtain tool data; and

receive tool usage data from the power tool device via the wireless communication device in response to the power tool device receiving the polling message.

14. A method for power tool geo-fence tracking, the method comprising:

receiving, via a graphical user interface of a display of an electronic monitoring device, a selection of a geo-fence feature;

displaying a map on the graphical user interface in response to receiving the selection of the geo-fence feature;

receiving, via the graphical user interface, a first user input defining a geo-fence boundary;

receiving, via the graphical user interface, a selection of a power tool device to be associated with the geo-fence boundary;

in response to receiving the selection of the power tool device, assigning, with an electronic processor of the electronic monitoring device, the power tool device to the geo-fence boundary; and

displaying information on the graphical user interface that indicates whether the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the first user input includes at least one of:

receiving a dragging of a pointer on the map using a graphical user interface drawing instrument; and

receiving a placement and re-sizing of a geometrical shape on the map.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, with a wireless communication device of the electronic monitoring device that is coupled to the electronic processor, location information of the power tool device;

determining, with the electronic processor, whether the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary; and

in response to determining that the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary, at least one selected from the group of (i) transmitting a lock command to the power tool device via the wireless communication device, the lock command instructing the power tool device to prevent operation of the power tool device, (ii) providing a first alert on the display indicating that the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary, and (iii) transmitting a second alert to a second electronic monitoring device indicating that the power tool device is located outside the geo-fence boundary.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a lock feature via the graphical user interface; and

transmitting a lock command, via a wireless communication device of the electronic monitoring device that is coupled to the electronic processor, to the power tool device in response to receiving the selection of the lock feature, wherein the lock command instructs the power tool device to prevent operation of the power tool device.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an unlock feature via the graphical user interface; and

transmitting an unlock command, via a wireless communication device of the electronic monitoring device that is coupled to the electronic processor, to the power tool device in response to receiving the selection of the unlock feature, wherein the unlock command instructs the power tool device to enable operation of the power tool device.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a chirp feature via the graphical user interface; and

transmitting a chirp message, via a wireless communication device of the electronic monitoring device that is coupled to the electronic processor, to the power tool device in response to receiving the selection of the chirp feature, wherein the chirp message instructs the power tool device to output an audible sound to assist with locating the power tool device.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a selection to obtain tool data via the graphical user interface;

transmitting a polling message, via a wireless communication device of the electronic monitoring device that is coupled to the electronic processor, to the power tool device in response to receiving the selection to obtain tool data; and

receiving tool usage data from the power tool device via the wireless communication device in response to the power tool device receiving the polling message.