Methods, Systems, and Products for Tracking Objects

• US 20090111484A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett, Koch, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,896,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for tracking an object. An identification signal is received that identifies an identification tag associated with the object to be tracked. The identification signal is stored in memory of a cellular phone. When an incoming call is received at the cellular phone, then the information associated with the identification signal is uploaded to a network database. When an outgoing call is placed from the cellular phone, then the information associated with the identification signal may also be uploaded to the network database.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an object, comprising:

receiving an identification signal associated with the object;

storing the identification signal in memory of a mobile device; and

when the mobile device accesses a network, then uploading information associated with the identification signal to a network database.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein storing the identification signal comprises storing the identification signal in the memory of a cellular phone.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein storing the identification signal comprises storing the identification signal in the memory of an Internet Protocol phone.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein storing the identification signal comprises storing the identification signal in the memory of a wireless device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein storing the identification signal comprises storing the identification signal in the memory of a personal digital assistant.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein storing the identification signal comprises storing the identification signal in the memory of a wireless computer.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein storing the identification signal comprises storing the identification signal in the memory of a camera.

8. A system for tracking an object, comprising:

means for receiving an identification signal associated with the object;

means for storing the identification signal in memory of a cellular device; and

when the cellular device accesses a network, then means for uploading information associated with the identification signal to a network database.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for contacting a peer device in a peer-to-peer network.

10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for sending information describing where the identification signal was received.

11. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for sending information describing when the identification signal was received.

12. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for querying the network database for the information associated with the identification signal.

13. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving a parameter that determines when the object is lost.

14. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving profile information associated with the object.

15. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving a description of the object.

16. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving information describing an owner associated with the object.

17. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving information describing a merchant associated with the object.

18. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for receiving a search query for a particular object.

19. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for receiving a query for receipt of the identification signal.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium storing processor executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an identification signal associated with the object;

storing the identification signal in memory of a cellular device; and

when the cellular device accesses a network, then uploading information associated with the identification signal to a network database.