Method and apparatus for electronically tracking luggage

• US 20070222587A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elaine Crider, Valerie Francies
• Original Assignee: Elaine Crider, Valerie Francies
• Inventors: Francies, Valerie, Crider, Elaine
• Granted Patent: US 7,535,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

The invention includes an electronic luggage tag that uses GPS technology to both track luggage, and record the specific times and places that a specific piece of luggage is opened. The invention is designed to prevent luggage theft and additionally to provide users the ability to track the location of lost luggage. The tag device has two components: a luggage tag having an implanted GPS chip and, a separate receiving device for receiving a transmitted signal from the luggage tag.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a piece of luggage comprising:

periodically transmitting a first signal from a timing device to a circuit to record tracking information, said tracking information consisting of a date, time and location of the luggage;

transmitting a second signal from a detecting device to said circuit to record status information when the luggage is opened, said status information consisting of a date, time and location of the luggage; and

storing said tracking and status information in a storage device of said circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an alert signal to a receiver when said tracking information is received to notify a user the location of said luggage and to display said tracking information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said alert signal is transmitted in real-time to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking information comprises information from global positioning satellite technology.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an alert signal to a receiver when said status information is received to notify a user that said luggage has been opened and to display said status information.

6. A computer readable storage medium containing a computer readable code for operating a computer to perform a method for tracking luggage, said method comprising:

periodically transmitting a first signal from a timing device to a circuit to record tracking information, said tracking information consisting of a date, time and location of the luggage;

transmitting a second signal from a detecting device to said circuit to record status information when the luggage is opened, said status information consisting of a date, time and location of the luggage; and

storing said tracking and status information in a storage device of said circuit.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting an alert signal to a receiver when said tracking information is received to notify a user the location of said luggage and to display said tracking information.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said tracking information comprises information from global positioning satellite technology.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting an alert signal to a receiver when said status information is received to notify a user that said luggage has been opened and to display said status information.

10. A luggage tracking device comprising:

an electronic luggage tag comprising;

a circuit for storing tracking and status information in a storage device;

a timing device for transmitting a first signal to said circuit to record said tracking information, said tracking information consisting of a date, time and location of a piece of luggage; and

a detecting device for transmitting a second signal to said circuit to record said status information when the luggage is opened, said status information consisting of a date, time and location of the luggage.

11. The luggage tracking device of claim 10, wherein said circuit transmits an alert signal, when said tracking information is received to notify a user the location of said luggage.

12. The luggage tracking device of claim 11, further comprising a receiving device for receiving said alert signal and for displaying said tracking information.

13. The luggage tracking device of claim 10, wherein said status information comprises information from global positioning satellite technology.

14. The luggage tracking device of claim 10, wherein said circuit transmits an alert signal, when said status information is received to notify a user that said luggage has been opened.

15. The luggage tracking device of claim 14, further comprising a receiving device for receiving said alert signal and for displaying said tracking information.

16. A system for tracking luggage comprising:

a processor coupled to a luggage tracking device, said luggage tracking device comprising;

an electronic luggage tag comprising;

a circuit for storing tracking and status information in a storage device;

a timing device for transmitting a first signal to said circuit to record said tracking information, said tracking information consisting of a date, time and location of a piece of luggage; and

a detecting device for transmitting a second signal to said circuit to record said status information when the luggage is opened, said status information consisting of a date, time and location of the luggage.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said circuit transmits an alert signal when said tracking information is received to notify a user the location of said luggage.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a receiving device for receiving said alert signal and for displaying said tracking information.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said status information comprises information from using global positioning satellite technology.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said circuit transmits an alert signal when said status information is received to notify a user that said luggage has been opened.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a receiving device for receiving said alert signal and for displaying said tracking information.