Method and apparatus for tracking and locating a moveable article

• US 6,211,781 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: McDonald, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/317,406
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/539, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00112 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Tracking of an article through geographic areas using electromagnetic signals, specifically radio frequency (RF) signals. The article contains a tag operating as a transmitter and receiver. Tag-readers in the defined geographic areas transmit RF signals and in response, the tag transmits RF signals received by the tag-reader. By knowing the areas in which the tag-readers are located, a system tracks the article by monitoring the tag-readers communicating with the tag.

Claims

1. A method for determining a location of a moveable article, comprising:

transmitting an interrogation signal;

receiving the interrogation signal in the article;

transmitting a response signal from the article, the response signal providing a unique identification code;

receiving the response signal using at least one of a plurality of receivers, each receiver having a unique receiver code;

generating an information signal providing the identification code and the corresponding receiver code;

repeating the steps of transmitting and receiving the interrogation signal, transmitting and receiving the response signal, and generating the information signal to generate a plurality of information signals;

recording the plurality of information signals in real-time over a period of time;

tracking the location of the article in real-time;

comparing the tracked location of the article with a predetermined route; and

generating an error signal when the tracked location deviates from the predetermined route.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising

providing a separate receiver within each of a plurality of sectors;

providing a separate transmitter within each of the plurality of sectors;

transmitting a separate interrogation signal from each of the provided transmitters; and

receiving the response signal using one or more of the provided receivers.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising transmitting the information signal through a network.

4. The method of claim 2 comprising

receiving the response signal using a plurality of receivers;

and

locating the article based upon the signals received by each of the plurality of receivers.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising

determining a time period when the article should leave a particular location;

and

generating an error signal when the article does not leave the particular location during the time period.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising

determining a time period when the article should not be in a particular location;

and

generating an error signal if the article is in the particular location during the time period.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising

determining a time period when the article should not leave a particular location, and

generating an error signal when the article leaves the particular location during the time period.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising turning on a camera in response to the received signal.

9. The method of claim 2 comprising moving a camera in response to the tracked location of the article.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined route includes a predetermined location and a time period that the article is to be in the predetermined location;

and wherein the step of comparing includes comparing the tracked location to the predetermined location and the time period.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the article is not in the predetermined location during the time period.

12. The method claim of claim 10, wherein step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the article is in the predetermined location outside the time period.

78. The method of claim 2 comprising

receiving the response signal using three or more receivers;

and

locating the article based upon the signals received by each of the three or more receivers.

13. A method of determining a location of a mail piece, comprising:

transmitting an interrogation signal from at least one of a plurality of tag-readers;

receiving the interrogation signal in a tag affixed to the mail piece;

transmitting a response signal from the tag, the response signal providing a unique tag code;

receiving the response signal in at least one of the plurality of tag-readers, each tag-reader having a unique tag-reader code;

generating an information signal providing the tag code and the corresponding tag-reader code;

repeating the steps of transmitting and receiving the interrogation signal, transmitting and receiving the response signal, and generating the information signal to generate a plurality of information signals;

recording the plurality of information signals in real-time over a period of time;

tracking the location of the mail piece in real-time;

comparing tracked location of the mail piece with a predetermined route; and

generating an error signal when the tracked location deviates from the predetermined route.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising

providing a separate tag-reader including a transmitter and a receiver within each of a plurality of sectors;

transmitting a separate interrogation signal from each of the tag-readers; and

receiving the response signal using one or more of the tag-readers.

15. The method of claim 13 comprising transmitting the information signal through a network.

16. The method of claim 13 comprising

receiving the response signal using a plurality of receivers;

and

locating the mail piece based upon the signals received by each of the plurality of receivers.

17. The method of claim 13 comprising

determining a time period when the mail piece should leave a particular location, and

generating an error signal when the mail piece does not leave the particular location during the time period.

18. The method of claim 13 comprising

determining a time period when the mail piece should not be in a particular location;

and

generating an error signal if the mail piece is in the particular location during the time period.

19. The method of claim 13 comprising

determining a time period when the mail piece should not leave a particular location;

and

generating an error signal when the mail piece leaves the particular location during the time period.

20. The method of claim 13 comprising turning on a camera in response to the received response signal.

21. The method of claim 13 comprising moving a camera in response to the tracked location of the article.

22. The method of claim 13 comprising

receiving the response signal using three or more receivers;

and

locating the mail piece based upon the signals received by each of the three or more receivers.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined route includes a predetermined location and a time period the mail piece is to be in the predetermined location;

and wherein the step of comparing includes comparing the tracked location of the mail piece to the predetermined location and the time period.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the mail piece is not in the predetermined location during the time period.

25. The method claim of claim 23, wherein step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the mail piece is in the predetermined location outside the time period.

26. An apparatus for determining a location of a moveable article, comprising:

a plurality of tag-reader receivers within each of a plurality of sectors, each tag-reader receiver having a unique tag-reader code;

a plurality of tag-reader transmitters within each of the plurality of sectors, wherein at least one of the plurality of tag-reader transmitters transmits an interrogation signal;

a tag receiver attached to the article for receiving the interrogation signal;

a tag transmitter attached to the article for transmitting a response signal, the response signal providing a unique tag code, wherein at least one of the plurality of tag-reader receivers receives the response signal;

a tag-reader processor for generating an information signal providing the tag code and the corresponding tag-reader code;

means for repeating transmitting and receiving the interrogation signal, transmitting and receiving the response signal, and generating an information signal to generate a plurality of information signals;

means for recording the plurality of information signals in real-time over a period of time;

means for tracking the location of the article in real-time;

means for comparing the tracked location of the article with a predetermined route; and

means for generating an error signal when the tracked location deviates from the predetermined route.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, comprising:

means for transmitting a separate interrogation signal from each of the plurality of tag-reader transmitters; and

means for receiving the response signal using at least one of the plurality of tag-reader receivers.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 comprising a network for carrying the information signal.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 comprising

means for receiving the response signal using a plurality of receivers;

and

means for locating the article based upon the signals received by each of the plurality of receivers.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 comprising

means for receiving the response signal using three or more receivers;

and

means for locating the article based upon the signals received by each of the three or more receivers.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 comprising

means for determining a time period when the article should leave a particular location;

and

means for generating an error signal when the article does not leave the particular location during the time period.

32. The apparatus of claim 26 comprising

means for determining a time period when the article should not be in a particular location;

and

means for generating an error signal if the article is in the particular location during the time period.

33. The apparatus of claim 26 comprising

means for determining a time period when the article should not leave a particular location, and

means for generating an error signal when the article leaves the particular location during the time period.

34. The apparatus of claim 26 comprising a camera, wherein the camera turns on in response to the received response signal.

35. The apparatus of claim 26 comprising a camera, wherein the camera moves in response to the tracked location of the article.

36. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the predetermined route includes a predetermined location and a time period that the article is to be in the predetermined location;

and wherein the means for comparing includes means for comparing the tracked location to the predetermined location and the time period.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means for generating an error signal includes means for generating an error signal when the article is not in the predetermined location during the time period.

38. The apparatus claim of claim 36, wherein the means for generating an error signal includes means for generating an error signal when the article is in the predetermined location outside the time period.

39. An apparatus for determining a location of a mail piece, comprising:

a plurality of tag-reader receivers within each of a plurality of sectors, each tag-reader receiver having a unique tag-reader code;

a plurality of tag-reader transmitters within each of the plurality of sectors, wherein at least one of the plurality of tag reader transmitters transmits an interrogation signal;

a tag receiver attached to the mail piece for receiving the interrogation signal;

a tag transmitter attached to the mail piece for transmitting a response signal, the response signal providing a unique tag code, wherein at least one of the plurality of tag-reader receivers receives the response signal;

a tag-reader processor for generating an information signal providing the identification code and the corresponding receiver code;

means for repeating transmitting and receiving the interrogation signal, transmitting and receiving the response signal and generating an information signal to generate a plurality of information signals;

means for recording the plurality of information signals in real-time over a period of time;

means for tracking the location of the mail piece in real-time;

means for comparing the tracked location of the mail piece with a predetermined route; and

means for generating an error signal when the tracked location deviates from the predetermined route.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, comprising:

means for transmitting a separate interrogation signal from each of the plurality of tag-reader transmitters; and

means for receiving the response signal using at least one of the plurality of tag-reader receivers.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 comprising

means for receiving the response signal using a plurality of receivers;

and

means for locating the mail piece based upon the signals received by each of the plurality of receivers.

42. The apparatus of claim 40 comprising

means for receiving the response signal using three or more receivers;

and

means for locating the mail piece based upon the signals received by each of the three or more receivers.

43. The apparatus of claim 39 comprising a network for carrying the information signal.

44. The apparatus of claim 39 comprising

means for determining a time period when the mail piece should leave a particular location;

and

means for generating an error signal when the mail piece does not leave the particular location during the time period.

45. The apparatus of claim 39 comprising

means for determining a time period when the mail piece should not be in a particular location;

and

means for generating an error signal if the mail piece is in the particular location during the time period.

46. The apparatus of claim 39 comprising

means for determining a time period when the mail piece should not leave a particular location, and

means for generating an error signal when the mail piece leaves the particular location during the time period.

47. The apparatus of claim 39 comprising a camera, wherein the camera turns on in response to the received response signal.

48. The apparatus of claim 39 comprising a camera, wherein the camera moves in response to the tracked location of the mail piece.

49. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the predetermined route includes a predetermined location and a time period the mail piece is to be in the predetermined location;

and wherein the means for comparing includes means for comparing the tracked location to the predetermined location and the time period.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for generating an error signal includes means for generating an error signal when the mail piece is not in the predetermined location during the time period.

51. The method claim of claim 49, wherein step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the mail piece is in the predetermined location outside the time period.

52. A method for determining a location of a moveable article, comprising:

transmitting an interrogation signal to be received in the article;

receiving a response signal transmitted from the article using at least one of a plurality of receivers, each receiver having a unique receiver code, wherein the response signal provides a unique identification code;

generating an information signal providing the identification code and the corresponding receiver code;

repeating the steps of transmitting the interrogation signal, receiving the response signal, and generating the information signal to generate a plurality of information signals;

recording the plurality of information signals in real-time over a period of time;

tracking the location of the article in real-time;

comparing the tracked location of the article with a predetermined route; and

generating an error signal when the tracked location deviates from the predetermined route.

53. The method of claim 52 comprising:

providing a separate receiver within each of a plurality of sectors;

providing a separate transmitter within each of the plurality of sectors;

transmitting a separate interrogation signal from each of the provided transmitters; and

receiving the response signal using at least one of the provided receivers.

54. The method of claim 53 comprising transmitting the information signal through a network.

55. The method of claim 54 comprising:

receiving the response signal using a plurality of receivers; and

locating the article based upon the signals received by each of the plurality of receivers.

56. The method of claim 53 comprising:

determining a time period when the article should leave a particular location; and

generating an error signal when the article does not leave the particular location during the time period.

57. The method of claim 53 comprising:

determining a time period when the article should not be in a particular location; and

generating an error signal if the article is in the particular location during the time period.

58. The method of claim 53 comprising:

determining a time period when the article should not leave a particular location, and

generating an error signal when the article leaves the particular location during the time period.

59. The method of claim 53 comprising turning on a camera in response to the received signal.

60. The method of claim 53 comprising moving a camera in response to the tracked location of the article.

61. The method of claim 52 comprising:

receiving the response signal using three or more receivers; and

locating the article based upon the signals received by each of the three or more receivers.

62. The method of claim 52, wherein the predetermined route includes a predetermined location and a time period that the article is to be in the predetermined location;

and wherein the step of comparing includes comparing the tracked location to the predetermined location and the time period.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the article is not in the predetermined location during the time period.

64. The method claim of claim 62, wherein step of generating an error signal includes generating an error signal when the article is in the predetermined location outside the time period.

65. An apparatus for determining a location of a moveable article, comprising:

a plurality of tag-reader transmitters within each of the plurality of sectors;

a plurality of tag-reader receivers within each of a plurality of sectors, each tag-reader receiver having a unique tag-reader code;

a tag-reader transmitter for transmitting an interrogation signal from at least one of the plurality of tag-reader transmitters to be received in a tag receiver attached to the article;

a tag-reader receiver for receiving a response signal transmitted by a tag transmitter attached to the article in the at least one of the plurality of tag-reader receivers, wherein the response signal provides a unique tag code;

a tag-reader processor for generating an information signal providing the tag code and the corresponding tag-reader code

means for repeating the interrogation signal, receiving the response signal, and generating the information signal to generate a plurality of information signals;

means for recording the plurality of information signals in real-time over a period of time;

means for tracking the location of the article in real-time;

means for comparing the tracked location of the article with a predetermined route; and

means for generating an error signal when the tracked location deviates from the predetermined route.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the tag-reader transmitter transmits a separate interrogation signal from each of the plurality of tag-reader transmitters;

and wherein the tag-reader receiver receives the response signal using at least one of the plurality of plurality of tag-reader receivers.

67. The apparatus of claim 65 comprising a network for carrying the information signal.

68. The apparatus of claim 65 comprising:

means for receiving the response signal using a plurality of receivers; and

means for locating the article based upon the signals received by each of the plurality of receivers.

69. The apparatus of claim 65 comprising:

means for determining a time period when the article should leave a particular location; and

means for generating an error signal when the article does not leave the particular location during the time period.

70. The apparatus of claim 65 comprising:

means for determining a time period when the article should not be in a particular location; and

means for generating an error signal if the article is in the particular location during the time period.

71. The apparatus of claim 65 comprising:

means for determining a time period when the article should not leave a particular location, and

means for generating an error signal when the article leaves the particular location during the time period.

72. The apparatus of claim 65 comprising a camera, wherein the camera turns on in response to the received response signal.

73. The apparatus of claim 65 comprising a camera, wherein the camera moves in response to the tracked location of the article.

74. The apparatus of claim 65 comprising:

means for receiving the response signal using three or more receivers; and

means for locating the article based upon the signals received by each of the three or more of receivers.

75. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the predetermined route includes a predetermined location and a time period that the article is to be in the predetermined location;

and wherein the means for comparing includes means for comparing the tracked location to the predetermined location and the time period.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the means for generating an error signal includes means for generating an error signal when the article is not in the predetermined location during the time period.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the means for generating an error signal includes means for generating an error signal when the article is in the predetermined location outside the time period.