Inventorying method and system for monitoring items using tags

• US 6,058,374 A
• Filed: 06/20/1996
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Guthrie, Warren E., Gorham, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kalinowski, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/667,896
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/574, 340/539, 340/825.14, 340/825.49, 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 340/825.35, 340/572, 340/825.69, 235/375, 235/385, 235/382, 235/380, 342/42, 342/44, 705/24, 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• 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 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items based upon random times that occur as a function of a first specified time interval, and a random interval inventory system that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes a first step of transmitting information signals based upon random times from individual ones of a plurality of tags (5a1-5xx) to at least one of at least one master transceiver and at least one transceiver (4a-4n). The individual tags (5a1-5xx) are affixed to respective individual ones of a plurality of items. The information signals transmitted from each tag (5a1-5xx) correspond at least to the respective item to which the tag (5a1-5xx) is affixed. The random times occur as a function of a first specified time interval. For a case wherein the information signals are transmitted to the at least one remote transceiver, each at least one remote transceiver (4a-4n) receives information signals from at least one of the tags (4a-4n), and in response to receiving each information signal, relays the signal to the master transceiver (3). In response to the master transceiver (3) receiving an information signal, a next step includes supplying the signal to an associated confirmation device (2). Within the confirmation device (2), in response to receiving an information signal from the master transceiver (3), a next step includes confirming that the item corresponding to the information signal is accounted for.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between at least one transponder and a transceiving device, comprising the steps of:

providing the at least one transponder, said at least one transponder having a transmission operating mode and a reception operating mode, wherein while operating in the transmission operating mode said at least one transponder has a capability for transmitting signals, and while operating in said reception operating mode said at least one transponder has a capability for receiving signals;

while the at least one transponder operates in the transmission mode, transmitting a first signal from the at least one transponder to the transceiving device;

in response to the performance of the transmitting step, switching the operating mode of the transponder from the transmission operating mode to the reception operating mode and operating the at least one transponder in the reception operating mode for a predetermined time period;

receiving the first signal at the transceiving device;

sending a second signal from the transceiving device to the at least one transponder;

receiving the second signal at the at least one transponder within a duration of the predetermined time period; and

in response to an expiration of the predetermined time period, switching the operating mode of the at least one transponder from the reception operating mode to the transmission operating mode.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein in response to the transceiving device receiving the first signal, the transceiving device performs the steps of:

determining a frequency of the received first signal to obtain a measured frequency of the first signal; and

wherein the second signal has a frequency that is offset from the measured frequency by a predetermined amount.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein after receiving the second signal, the at least one transponder error checks the second signal, and, after the operating mode of the at least one transponder has been switched to the transmission operating mode, the at least one transponder transmits a third signal to the transceiving device indicating whether or not an error has been detected during the reception of second signal.

4. A method for communicating between at least one transmitter, at least one first transceiver, and a second, master transceiver, the at least one transmitter transmitting information signals to the at least one first transceiver, comprising the steps of:

within the at least one first transceiver, setting a timer to run in response to receiving a first one of the information signals from the at least one transmitter;

storing within the at least one first transceiver information which indicates an alarm status in response to one of;

(1) the timer reaching a first predetermined time value before a second one of the information signals is received by the at least one first transceiver from the at least one transmitter and (2) a second one of the information signals being received by the at least one first transceiver prior to the timer reaching a second predetermined time value;

communicating an interrogation command from the second, master transceiver to the at least one first transceiver; and

in response to the at least one first transceiver receiving the interrogation command, communicating the stored information from the at least one first transceiver to the second, master transceiver.

5. A method for reporting an occurrence of a condition affecting an individual one of a plurality of transmitter tags, the individual transmitter tags transmitting information signals in a predefined manner to at least one remote transceiver, the information signals transmitted from the individual transmitter tags corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of items with which the respective transmitter tags are associated, comprising the steps of:

recognizing the occurrence of a condition affecting an individual one of the transmitter tags by detecting that information signals received by the at least one remote transceiver from the individual transmitter tag have different strengths; and

notifying a master transceiver that the condition affecting the individual transmitter tag has occurred in response to the at least one remote transceiver receiving an interrogation command from the master transceiver.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein a further step is performed of notifying a user of the occurrence of the condition.

7. A receive/transmit (RX/TX) tag, comprising:

a controller;

a receiver portion; and

a transmitter portion, said controller being coupled to each of said receiver portion and said transmitter portion, wherein said controller controls an operating mode of said RX/TX tag, wherein in a first, transmission operating mode of said RX/TX tag, said transmitter portion is turned on and said receiver portion is turned off under the control of said controller, wherein in the first, transmission operating mode, said transmitter is controllable by said controller for transmitting a signal from the RX/TX tag, wherein after the signal is transmitted from said RX/TX tag said controller turns off said transmitter portion for a predetermined time period and turns on said receiver portion for the predetermined time period for causing the RX/TX tag to operate in a second, reception operating mode for the predetermined time period, wherein said controller is responsive to an expiration of said predetermined time period for again turning on said transmitter portion and turning off said receiver portion for causing the RX/TX tag to again operate in the first, transmission operating mode.

8. A communication system, comprising:

a receive/transmit (RX/TX) tag comprising means for transmitting signals, a receiver, and a controller, said controller being coupled to each of said signal transmitting means and said receiver, said controller for controlling an operating mode of said RX/TX tag, wherein in a first, transmission operating mode of said RX/TX tag, said signal transmitting means is turned on and said receiver is turned off under the control of said controller, wherein in the first, transmission operating mode, said signal transmitting means is controllable by the controller for transmitting a signal from the RX/TX tag, wherein after the signal is transmitted from said RX/TX tag said controller turns off said signal transmitting means for a predetermined time period and turns on said receiver for the predetermined time period for causing the RX/TX tag to operate in a second, reception operating mode for the predetermined time period, wherein said controller is responsive to an expiration of said predetermined time period for again turning on said signal transmitting means and turning off said receiver for causing the RX/TX tag to again operate in the first, transmission operating mode; and

at least one transceiver, said at least one transceiver for receiving said signal from said RX/TX tag, and for transmitting, in response thereto, a response signal to said RX/TX tag such that the response signal is received by said RX/TX tag within the predetermined time period.

9. A communication system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said at least one transceiver comprises an On-Off Key (OOK) transmitter, and wherein said receiver of said RX/TX tag is an OOK receiver.

10. A communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said OOK transmitter turns off after said response signal is transmitted from said at least one transceiver.

11. A communication system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said at least one transceiver comprises:

means for measuring a frequency of said signal received from said RX/TX tag to obtain a measured frequency, wherein said response signal has a frequency that is offset from the measured frequency by a predetermined amount.

12. A communication system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the response signal includes information specifying that the RX/TX tag cease transmitting further signals.

13. A communication system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the response signal includes information specifying that the RX/TX tag transmit signals at random times which occur within respective ones of a plurality of successive predetermined time intervals.

14. A communication system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said receiver is responsive to receiving said response signal for outputting the response signal to said controller, said controller being responsive to receiving the response signal for error checking the response signal to determine if the response signal includes error free data, wherein if the controller determines that the response signal includes error free data, the controller controls said signal transmitting means for sending an acknowledgement signal to said at least one transceiver, after said RX/TX tag is caused to again operate in said first, transmission operating mode.

15. A communication system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the controller is responsive to determining that the response signal does not include error free data for controlling said signal transmitting means for sending a request signal to said at least one transceiver after said RX/TX tag is caused to again operate in said first, transmission operating mode, said request signal requesting that the at least one transceiver retransmit said response signal.

16. A communication system as set forth in claim 15, and further comprising a master receiver station, wherein the at least one transceiver is responsive to receiving a predetermined number of said request signals for transmitting a failure signal to said master receiver station.

17. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of tags, individual ones of said plurality of tags for transmitting information signals in a predefined manner, said information signals transmitted from said individual ones of said plurality of tags corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of items;

at least one remote transceiver, said at least one remote transceiver for recognizing an occurrence of a condition affecting individual ones of the tags by detecting that information signals received by the at least one remote transceiver from individual ones of the tags have different strengths; and

at least one master transceiver for providing an interrogation command to said at least one remote transceiver, wherein said at least one remote transceiver responds to the interrogation command received from said at least one master receiver by notifying said at least one master transceiver of the occurrence of the condition affecting said individual ones of the tags.

18. A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information signals from individual ones of a plurality of transmitter tags to a receiving device, the transmissions of the information signals occurring at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive first predetermined time intervals, the individual ones of the plurality of transmitter tags being affixed to respective individual ones of the plurality of items, the information signals transmitted from the individual transmitter tags corresponding at least to the respective items to which the transmitter tags are affixed;

in response to an input signal applied to at least one of the transmitter tags, transmitting the information signals from the at least one transmitter tag to the receiving device at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive second predetermined time intervals;

wherein within the receiving device, in response to receiving individual ones of the information signals, confirming that the items corresponding to the information signals are accounted for, and, detecting a variation in a rate at which the information signals are received from the at least one transmitter tag; and

wherein a probability that an individual one of the plurality of transmitter tags will transmit an information signal at a time when none of the other ones of the plurality of transmitter tags are transmitting information signals is represented by Ptx, where;

##EQU5## and where;

ton represents a duration of an information signal transmission;

toff represents an average time interval between chronological information signal transmissions of interest; and

n represents the number of the other ones of the plurality of transmitter tags.

19. A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information signals from individual ones of a plurality of transmitter tags to a receiving device, the transmissions of the information signals occurring at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive first predetermined time intervals, the individual ones of the plurality of transmitter tags being affixed to respective individual ones of the plurality of items, the information signals transmitted from the individual transmitter tags corresponding at least to the respective items to which the transmitter tags are affixed;

in response to an input signal applied to at least one of the transmitter tags, transmitting the information signals from the at least one transmitter tag to the receiving device at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive second predetermined time intervals;

wherein within the receiving device, in response to receiving individual ones of the information signals, confirming that the items corresponding to the information signals are accounted for, and, detecting a variation in a rate at which the information signals are received from the at least one transmitter tag; and

wherein a probability that an individual one of the plurality of transmitter tags will transmit an information signal during a period of time when none of the other ones of the plurality of transmitter tags are transmitting information signals is represented by n, where;

##EQU6## and where;

m represents a number of transmissions attempted during the time period;

ton represents a duration of an information signal transmission;

toff represents an average time interval between chronological information signal transmissions of interest; and

n represents the number of the other ones of the plurality of transmitter tags.

20. A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information signals from individual ones of a plurality of transmitter tags to a receiving device, the transmissions of the information signals occurring at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive first predetermined time intervals, the individual ones of the plurality of transmitter tags being affixed to respective individual ones of the plurality of items, the information signals transmitted from the individual transmitter tags corresponding at least to the respective items to which the transmitter tags are affixed;

in response to an input signal applied to at least one of the transmitter tags, transmitting the information signals from the at least one transmitter tag to the receiving device at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive second predetermined time intervals;

wherein within the receiving device, in response to receiving individual ones of the information signals, confirming that the items corresponding to the information signals are accounted for, and, detecting a variation in a rate at which the information signals are received from the at least one transmitter tag; and

further comprising the step of;

within the receiving device, in response to receiving a pair of at least one of the first and second information signals originally transmitted from an individual one of the transmitter tags, measuring the strength of each of the pair of said at least one of the first and second information signals; and

based upon a relationship between the measured strengths of each of said pair of said at least one of said first and second information signals, determining at least one of a location of an item to which the transmitter tag is affixed and a displacement of the item from a reference location.