METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING FORESTRY PRODUCTS

• US 20090024493A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Wu, Jenn-Sheng, Chang, Ming-Hsiung, Huang, Yi-Ping
• Application Number:
  US11/949,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring forestry products are provided in the present invention, wherein at least one active communicating device is disposed on a forestry product, and reading and transmitting devices are also disposed in specific locations for building a monitoring and management mechanism to protect the forestry products from stealing. By means the method and system of the present invention, it is capable of providing real-time monitoring information and collecting evidence of illegal actions immediately so that the management staff can control the situation and status of the forestry products, which is useful for improving the efficiency of forestry management. Meanwhile, the present invention may also help to find those lawless persons who steal and fell illegally the forestry resources so as to ensure the safety of working environment for forest managing staff and sustainable management of forest and natural resources.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring forest products, comprising the steps of:

arranging at least an active communication device at a forest product;

making an evaluation to determine the status of the forest product basing on signals emitted from the active communication device; and

performing a management process while the status of the forest product is evaluated to be abnormal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the active communication device is an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the active communication device further comprises:

at least a sensor, for detecting status of the forest product and thus generating a sensing signal accordingly, and

an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to the at least one sensor for enabling the same to receive the sensing signal so as to issue a signal corresponding thereto.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the management process comprises the steps of:

issuing a RF signal to a management staff;

directing the management staff to verify and confirm the position where an abnormality is originated basing on the received RF signal; and

directing the management staff to perform an intercept process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the management process comprises the steps of:

issuing a RF signal to a control center;

directing the control center to verify and confirm the position where an abnormality is originated basing on the received RF signal so as to monitor the position of the forest product; and

directing the control center to inform management staffs to perform an intercept process.

6. A method for monitoring forest products, comprising the steps of:

arranging at least an active communication device at a forest product;

enabling data registered in the at least one active communication device to be accessible while the at least one active communication device located proximate to at least a specific location; and

performing a data recording process while signal emitted from the at least one active communication device is accessed at the at least one specific location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the active communication device is an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the active communication device further comprises:

at least a sensor, for detecting status of the forest product and thus generating a sensing signal accordingly, and

an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to the at least one sensor for enabling the same to receive the sensing signal so as to issue a signal corresponding thereto.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the data recording process further comprises the steps of:

capturing an image; and

transmitting the captured image along with data accessed from the active communication device to a control center where they are stored.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data recording process further comprises the steps of:

directing the control center to verify and confirm the position of the forest product basing on the signal received by the control center; and

directing the control center to inform management staffs to perform an intercept process.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the data recording process further comprises the steps of:

capturing an image;

performing an identification process upon the captured image to obtain an identification data; and

transmitting the captured image and the identification data along with data accessed from the active communication device to a control center where they are stored.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data recording process further comprises the steps of:

directing the control center to verify and confirm the position of the forest product basing on the signal received by the control center; and

directing the control center to inform management staffs to perform an intercept process.

13. A system for monitoring forest products, comprising:

at least an active communication device, being arranged at a forest product for detecting and registering data relating to the status of the forest product and thus emitting a signal in associate with the detected status of the forest product; and

at least an access device, each being disposed at a specific location;

wherein each of the at least one access device is able to access the signal emitted from the at least one active communication device while the at least one active communication device is within a detection range of the referring access device and thus is enabled to issue a data signal accordingly.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the active communication device is an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the active communication device further comprises:

at least a sensor, for detecting status of the forest product and thus generating a sensing signal accordingly, and

an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to the at least one sensor for enabling the same to receive the sensing signal so as to issue a signal corresponding thereto.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a portable communication apparatus, for receiving the data signal.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an electronic calculation unit, for receiving the data signal while connecting to a storage database.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the access device further comprises:

a control unit, for receiving a control signal emitted from the access device; and

an imaging unit, coupled to the control unit for receiving signals from the control unit so as to captured at least an image accordingly.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the control unit further comprises:

an image analyzing unit, for receiving the at least one captured image so as to perform an analysis/identification process thereon; and

a telecommunication unit, capable of communicating with a portable communication apparatus.

20. A system for monitoring forest products, comprising:

at least an active communication device, being arranged at a forest product, further comprising;

at least a sensor, for detecting status of the forest product and thus generating a sensing signal accordingly; and

an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, coupled to the at least one sensor for enabling the same to register data relating to the status of the forest product and to receive the sensing signal so as to issue a signal corresponding thereto;

at least an access device, each being disposed at a specific location for accessing the signal emitted from the at least one active communication device while the at least one active communication device is within a detection range of the referring access device and thus being enabled to issue a data signal accordingly; and

at least a portable communication apparatus, for receiving the data signal.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

an electronic calculation unit, for receiving the data signal while connecting to a storage database.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the access device further comprises:

a control unit, for receiving a control signal emitted from the access device; and

an imaging unit, coupled to the control unit for receiving signals from the control unit so as to captured at least an image accordingly.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the control unit further comprises:

an image analyzing unit, for receiving the at least one captured image so as to perform an analysis/identification process thereon; and

a telecommunication unit, capable of communicating with a portable communication apparatus.