Identification system

• US 20060192652A1
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inteligistics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inteligistics, Inc.
• Inventors: McCredie, Alexander, Mandava, Panduranga Rao
• Granted Patent: US 7,978,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10069 the collision being resolved in the frequency domain, e.g. by hopping from one frequency to the other frequency hopping or spread spectrum techniques H04B7/00

Abstract

An identification system for recognizing at least one item signal emitting device operating at a first frequency and in operable communication with at least one item. The system includes at least one support member having a support surface for supporting the items thereon and a support member signal emitting device operating a second, different frequency in communication with the support member. The system includes a local signal recognition system with a signal receiving device in communication with the support member for receiving signals therefrom and a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals. A transferable local signal recognition system, as well as a networked identification system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An identification system for recognizing at least one item signal emitting device operating at a first frequency and in operational communication with at least one item, the system comprising:

at least one support member, including;

(i) at least one support surface configured to support the at least one item thereon; and

(ii) at least one support member signal emitting device operating at a second, different frequency and in operational communication with the at least one support member; and

a local signal recognition system, including;

(i) a signal receiving device in communication with the at least one support member and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device, the at least one support member signal emitting device or any combination thereof; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the local signal recognition system further comprises a configurable tuning mechanism in communication with the signal receiving device and configured to be modified to receive a plurality of signals having different and discrete frequencies.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are radio frequencies, and wherein the first frequency is about 13.56 MHz and the second frequency is about 915 MHz.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member further comprises a signal receiving device in communication with and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device in the first frequency, and a support member control device configured to receive, process and transmit signals, wherein the support member control device is configured for communication with the local signal recognition system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the support member control device is programmed with software for enabling the system to recognize a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data or any combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the software is configured to communicate data to a specified destination in a satellite network, in or over a cellular phone network, in a computer network, over the Internet, in a web-based application, in a wireless format, in a hardwired format, over a local area network, over a wide area network, over a wireless local area network (Wi-Fi), or any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network system, including:

(i) a signal receiving device in communication with the local signal recognition system and configured to receive signals emitted from the local signal recognition system; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is programmed with software for enabling the system to recognize a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data or any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the software is configured to output a detailed manifest including data, a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data or any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the software is configured to communicate data to a specified destination in a satellite network, in or over a cellular phone network, in a computer network, over the Internet, in a web-based application, in a wireless format, in a hardwired format, over a local area network, over a wide area network, over a wireless local area network (Wi-Fi), or any combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the specified destination is a website, a computing device, a computer, a personal computer, a laptop, a palmtop, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, an electronic device, a network terminal or any combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiving device is configured to receive and read the at least one signal emitting device operating at the first frequency and the at least one signal emitting device operating at the second frequency simultaneously.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiving device is an event-activated device configured to activate a scan based upon a specified event or occurrence.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the event or occurrence is a prompt from a network, a prompt from an outside control device, a prompt from the system, an activation event, an access condition, an entry condition, a identity condition, an authorization condition, a non-event condition or any combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the support member is a pallet, a container, a cabinet, a drawer, a shelf, a box, a shipping container, a platform, a disassemblable container, a disposable container, a bulk liquid container or any combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a portable signal recognition system including:

(i) a signal receiving device in communication with the at least one support member and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device, the at least one support member signal emitting device or any combination thereof; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a network system, including:

(i) a signal receiving device in communication with the local signal recognition system, the portable signal recognition device or any combination thereof, and configured to receive signals emitted therefrom ; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the item, the item signal emitting device, the support member, the support member signal emitting device, a shipping container, the local signal recognition device, a portable signal recognition device or any combination thereof is associated with a condition tracking device configured to emit a signal.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the signal is a location signal, an identification signal, a condition signal, an system signal, an environmental signal, a sensed condition, a sensed characteristic, a physical state, a physical condition, a chemical state, a chemical condition, a status signal, a warning signal or any combination thereof.

20. An identification system for recognizing at least one signal emitting device in operational communication with at least one item, the system comprising:

at least one shipping container having an interior area configured to contain the at least one item therein; and

a signal recognition system, including;

(i) a signal receiving device in communication with the interior area of the shipping container and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one signal emitting device;

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals; and

(iii) a housing configured to at least partially contain the signal receiving device and the control device;

wherein the housing is portable and configured for attachment to a surface of the shipping container, and further configured for removal and transfer from the shipping container.

21. The identification system of claim 20, further comprising an alert system in communication with the at least one shipping container and configured to alert or notify a user regarding the installation of the signal recognition system, the removal of the signal recognition system, movement of the signal recognition system or any combination thereof.

22. An identification system for recognizing at least one signal emitting device in operational communication with at least one item, the system comprising:

at least one shipping container having an interior area configured to contain the at least one item therein; and

a signal recognition system, including;

(i) a local signal receiving device in communication with the interior area of the at least one shipping container and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one signal emitting device; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals; and

a network system, including;

(i) a signal receiving device in communication with the signal recognition system of the at least one shipping container and configured to receive signals emitted from the signal recognition system; and

(ii) a control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals.

23. The identification system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of shipping containers, each having an interior area and a signal recognition system.

24. The identification system of claim 22, further comprising at least one support member positioned within the interior area of the shipping container, the support member including:

(i) at least one support surface configured to support the at least one item thereon; and

(ii) at least one support member signal emitting device in operational communication with the at least one support member.

25. The identification system of claim 22, wherein the signal recognition system control device, the network system control device, a support member control device or any combination thereof is programmed with software for receiving, processing and transmitting data, the software enabling the system to recognize a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data or any combination thereof.

26. The identification system of claim 22, wherein the signal recognition system control device, the network system control device, a support member control device or any combination thereof is programmed with software for receiving, processing and transmitting data, the software configured to output a detailed manifest including data, a shipping container identity, an item identity, a support member identity, a signal emitting device identity, data associated with a container, data associated with an item, data associated with a support member, data associated with a signal emitting device, a default inventory, an updated inventory, an item inventory, a support member inventory, user data, access data, user/item association data, user/support member association data, user/shipping container data, a default data set, an updated data set, shipping data, location data, point-of-origin data, destination data, product data, expiry data, recall data, product demand data, condition data, system data, environmental data, sensed condition data, sensed characteristic data, physical state data, physical condition data, chemical state data, chemical condition data, status data, warning data or any combination thereof.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the signal recognition system is in communication with the network system over a satellite network, in or over a cellular phone network, in a computer network, over the Internet, in a web-based application, in a wireless format, in a hardwired format, over a local area network, over a wide area network, over a wireless local area network (Wi-Fi), or any combination thereof.

28. The system of claim 22, further comprising at least one support member positioned within the interior area of the shipping container, the support member including:

(i) at least one support surface configured to support the at least one item thereon;

(ii) a signal receiving device in communication with and configured to receive signals emitted from the at least one item signal emitting device; and

(iii) a support member control device configured to receive, process and transmit signals, wherein the support member control device is configured for communication with the local recognition system, the network system or any combination thereof.