Method for monitoring and tracking objects

• US 20040085207A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett, Jarboe, Andre, Hodges, Donna, Peterson, Jonathan, Simmons, Monique
• Granted Patent: US 6,900,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of tracking and monitoring objects in accordance with pre-selected and stored policies that are generated by the owner of the object. These policies define the parameters for determining when an object is lost, for reporting a lost object, and for searching for a lost object. When combined with a network tracking system, the policies can also set parameters for permissible areas in which the objects can be disposed and for tracking of the objects across the network.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an object, the method comprising:

selecting at least one object to be tracked;

placing an identification tag on the object, the identification tag capable of generating an identification signal and of transmitting that signal within a transmission volume;

tracking the object using a plurality of monitors that are capable of receiving the identification signal while disposed within the transmission volume, each monitor in communication with a network; and

communication tracking information about the object across the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a wireless, peer-to-peer network

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of communicating tracking information comprises passing the information among two or more monitors in communication with the network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information about the identification signal in a database that is accessible across the network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information comprises an association between the identification signal for the identification tag and the object to which the identification tag is attached, a description of the object, a purchase price for the object, a purchase date for the object, a value for the object, a date of manufacture, an expiration date, a profile of a registered owner for the object, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing policies regarding the tracking of the identification tag in the database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the policies comprise instructions for routine tracking of the object, conditions under which the object is lost, instructions for reporting the object as lost, protocols to search for the lost object, categorizations of the object, definitions of permissible areas for the object, instructions regarding the inventory and stocking of the object, or combinations thereof.

8. The method claim 1, further comprising continuously uploading the tracking information to the network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of communicating the tracking information comprises broadcasting the uploaded tracking information across the network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the tracking information with additional networks comprising additional monitors.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of tracking further comprises routinely sweeping in one or more monitors for tracking information related to the object.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting at least one monitor directly regarding the tracking of the object by that monitor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of monitors comprises a plurality of stationary monitors and a plurality of mobile monitors, each monitor comprising a monitor identification tag comprising electronic circuitry capable of generating and transmitting a unique and distinctive identification signal.

14. A method for tracking an object, the method comprising:

selecting at least one object to be tracked;

placing an identification tag on the objection, the identification tag capable of generating an identification signal and of transmitting that signal within a transmission volume;

storing policies regarding the tracking of the object in a database the is accessible across a network; and

tracking the object in accordance with the stored policies using a plurality of monitors that are capable of receiving the identification signal while disposed within the transmission volume, each monitor in communication with the network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the network is a wireless, peer-to-peer network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the policies comprise instructions for routine tracking of the object, conditions under which the object is lost, instructions for reporting the object as lost, protocols to search for the lost object, definitions of permissible areas for the object, instructions regarding the inventory and stocking of the object, or combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating tracking information about the object among at least two monitors across the network.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising continuously uploading tracking information about the object to the network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising broadcasting the uploaded tracking information across the network.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

selecting a plurality of objects to be tracked; and

placing a unique, distinction identification tag on each selected object.