Tracking of products

• US 6,409,082 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Perseu Administration Limited
• Original Assignee: Perseu Administration Limited
• Inventors: Rabe, Frederick Jacobus, Davis, Roelof Daniel Jacobus
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/463,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20020040927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/385, 235/381
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A method of detecting designated products from a number of sources includes the step of applying (12) a unique code to each one of a plurality of products at a first location (14). The method also includes determining which of the plurality of products become designated. The method further includes the steps of recording the codes of the designated products, reading (26) the codes of products distributed at a second location (16) and comparing (28) the read codes with the recorded codes to determine if any of the distributed products are designated products. The invention also includes a system for detecting designated products.

Claims

1. A method of detecting designated products from a number of sources, the method including the steps of:

applying a unique code to each one of a plurality of products at a first location;

designating certain of the products;

compiling a list of codes of said designated products;

transmitting said list of codes of said designated products to a central loss control station at a second location;

recording said designated codes at the central loss control station;

reading the codes of a multiplicity of products at a third location;

transmitting said codes of said products at said third location to said central loss control station;

comparing said codes received from said third location with said codes recorded at the central loss control station; and

triggering an alarm at the central loss control station if any of the codes of the products at said third location match the codes of the designated products.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which products that are designated are from the group consisting of products that are samples, are not intended for resale, are intended for use by Government, and are intended for export.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which a first list of codes of some of the products that are to be transported to a fourth location is complied at the first location, and designating those products that do not arrive at the fourth location.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which said step of designating those products that do not arrive at the fourth location comprises compiling a second list of codes of those products that arrive at said fourth location and comparing the second list with said first list so that products on the first list but not on the second list are designated.

5. A method of detecting designated goods from a number of sources, which includes:

receiving at a central loss control station located at a second location a list of unique codes of designated products, the codes having been applied to the products at a first location;

recording said designated codes at the central loss control station;

receiving at the central loss control station codes of a multiplicity of products read at a third location;

comparing, at said central loss control station, said codes received from said third location with said recorded codes; and

triggering an alarm at the central loss control station if any of the codes of the products at said third location match the codes of any of the designated products.

6. A method of detecting designated products from a number of sources, the method including the steps of

applying a unique code to each one of a plurality of products at a first location and compiling a first list of codes;

reading the code of at least one of said plurality of products at a second location and compiling a second list of codes;

comparing said second list of codes to said first list of codes, said products having codes on said first list and not on said second list comprising said designated products;

transmitting said codes of said designated products to a central loss control station;

reading the codes of all products distributed at a third location and transmitting said codes to said central loss control station;

comparing said codes of all products at said third location to said codes of the designated products; and

triggering an alarm at said central loss control station if any of the codes of the products at said third location match the codes of the designated products.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, in which those products which become designated are determined by identifying those products which comprise products selected from the group consisting of products which are stolen, lost, not intended for resale, samples, intended for use by Government, and intended for export.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, which includes transmitting data on the identity of the third location to the central loss control station.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, which includes transmitting data to the central loss control station on the time at which the codes of the products at said third location are compared to the codes of the designated products.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, which includes retaining a record of the data and the codes at the central loss control station of designated products that have been detected.

11. A system for detecting designated products from a number of sources, the system including:

an encoding means for applying a unique code to each one of a plurality of products at a first location;

a reading means for reading the code of at least one of said plurality of products at a second location;

a comparator for comparing the code of said at least one of said plurality of products at said second location to the codes of said plurality of products at said first location, said products having codes not found in both said first location and said second location comprising said designated products;

transmitting means for transmitting said codes of said designated products to a central loss control station;

a second reading means for reading the codes of all products at a third location;

transmitting means for transmitting said codes of all products at said third location to said central loss control station;

a second comparator for comparing the codes of the products at said third location to the codes of said designated products; and

alarm means for providing an alarm when said codes of said products at said third location match the codes of the designated products.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the designated products are selected from the group of products comprising products which are stolen, lost, not intended for resale, samples, intended for use by Government, and intended for export.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the codes of the designated products are retained in a database at the central loss control station.

14. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the transmitting means transmits data on the third location to the central loss control station.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the first location is a manufacturing plant, with the codes being applied to manufactured products on an assembly line.

16. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the first location is a warehouse for imported products.

17. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the first location is a warehouse for export products.

18. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the third location is a retail outlet, with the reading means forming part of a bar code scanning system.

19. The system as claimed in claim 11, in which the third location is a retail outlet, with the reading means being in the form of a free-standing scanner.