Method and apparatus for tracking and locating a moveable article

• US 20010040513A1
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: McDonald, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 6,480,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.49
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00112 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Tracking of an article through geographic areas using electromagnetic signals, specifically radio frequency (RF) signals. The article contains a tag operating as a transmitter and receiver. Tag-readers in the defined geographic areas transmit RF signals and in response, the tag transmits RF signals received by the tag-reader. By knowing the areas in which the tag-readers are located, a system tracks the article by monitoring the tag-readers communicating with the tag.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method of operating a processor to determine a location of a moveable article, the method comprising the steps of:

repeatedly instructing the transmission of an interrogation signal, wherein the article receives the interrogation signal and transmits a response signal, the response signal providing a unique identification code, wherein at least one of a plurality of receivers receives the response signal, each receiver having a unique receiver code;

receiving from at least one of the plurality of receivers a plurality of information signals providing the identification code and a corresponding receiver code;

recording the plurality of information signals in real-time over a period of time;

tracking the location of the article in real-time;

comparing the tracked location of the article with a predetermined route; and

generating an error signal when the tracked location deviates from the predetermined route.

2. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the plurality of information signals are received from at least two of the plurality of receivers.

3. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the step of comparing includes determining a time period when the article should leave a particular location;

and wherein the step of generating generates an error signal when the article does not leave the particular location during the time period.

4. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the step of comparing includes determining a time period when the article should not be in a particular location;

and wherein the step of generating generates an error signal if the article is in the particular location during the time period.

5. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the step of comparing includes determining a time period when the article should not leave a particular location, and wherein the step of generating generates an error signal when the article leaves the particular location during the time period.

6. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the method further comprises instructing a camera to turn on in response to one of the plurality of information signals

7. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the method further comprises instructing a camera to move in response to the location of the article.

8. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the plurality receiving step includes receiving the plurality of information signals from at least three of the plurality of receivers.

9. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the predetermined route includes a predetermined location and a time period that the article is to be in the predetermined location;

and wherein the step of comparing includes comparing the tracked location to the predetermined location and the time period.

10. The computer-readable medium of

claim 9

, wherein the step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the article is not in the predetermined location during the time period.

11. The computer-readable medium of

claim 9

, wherein the step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the article is in the predetermined location outside the time period.

12. The computer-readable medium of

claim 1

, wherein the moveable article is a piece of equipment to be loaded onto a transport ship, and wherein the method ensures that the piece of equipment is placed on the transport ship in a correct order relative to one or more other pieces of equipment.