TRACKING OF PRODUCTS

• US 20020040927A1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perseu Administration Limited
• Original Assignee: Perseu Administration Limited
• Inventors: DAVIS, ROELOF DANIEL JACOBUS, RABE, FREDERICK JACOBUS
• Granted Patent: US 6,409,082 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A method of detecting designated products from a number of sources includes the step of applying (12) a unique code to each one of a plurality of products at a first location (14). The method also includes determining which of the plurality of products become designated. The method further includes the steps of recording the codes of the designated products, reading (26) the codes of products distributed at a second location (16) and comparing (28) the read codes with the recorded codes to determine if any of the distributed products are designated products. The invention also includes a system for detecting designated products.

Claims

1. A method of detecting designated articles from a number of sources, the method including the steps of

applying a respective unique code to each one of a plurality of articles at at least one of a number of sources;

designating at least one article among said plurality of articles coded at sources;

recording the respective unique codes of said designated articles;

reading the codes of articles distributed from said sources; and

comparing the read codes of articles distributed from said sources with the recorded codes of designated articles to determine if any of the distributed articles are designated articles.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the codes of the designated articles are determined by retaining a first list of the unique codes which are applied to the articles at a first location, and comparing the first list to a second list of codes of articles which are decoded at a second location, with the codes which appear on the first list and not the second list comprising the codes of the designated articles.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the codes of the designated articles are recorded at a central loss control station.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, which includes transmitting the read codes to the central loss control station, for comparing the read codes with the recorded codes.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, which includes transmitting data on the identity of the second location to the central loss control station.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, which includes transmitting data on the time at which the read codes are transmitted to the central loss control station.

7. The method as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, which includes triggering an alarm at the central loss control station if designated articles are detected to alert a person on duty.

8. The method as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, which includes retaining a record of the data and the read codes at the central loss control station if the articles are designated articles.

9. A system for detecting designated articles from a number of sources, the system including

an encoding means for applying a respective unique code to each one of a plurality of manufactured articles at at least one of a number of sources;

a means for designating at least one article among said plurality of encoded articles;

a recording means for recording the respective unique codes of designated articles among said articles coded at said sources;

a reading means for reading the codes of articles distributed from said sources; and

a comparator for comparing the read codes of articles distributed from said sources with the recorded codes of designated articles to determine if any of the distributed articles are designated articles.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, in which the encoding means is at a first location, the reading means is at a second location.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, in which the comparator is located at a central loss control station.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the codes of designated articles are retained in a database of the comparator at the central loss control station.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11, which includes a transmitting means for transmitting the read codes to the comparator at the central loss control station.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, in which the transmitting means transmits data on the second location to a central loss control station.

15. The system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the first location is a manufacturing plant, with the codes being applied to manufactured articles on an assembly line.

16. The system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the first location is a warehouse for imported products.

17. The system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the first location is a warehouse for export articles.

18. The system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the second location is a retail outlet, with the reading means forming part of a bar code scanning system.

19. The system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the second location is a retail outlet, with the reading means being in the form of a free-standing scanner.

20. A method of recovering designated articles, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing.

21. A system for recovering designated articles, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing.