Monitoring and tracking of assets by utilizing wireless communications

• US 6,972,682 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Baggerman, Robert W., Welch, Gisele, Lareau, Neil William, Wagner, Ronald Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• APPLICATION: US 20030137968A1
• Time in patent office: 1082 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/3.1, 340/539.1, 340/5.92, 340/5.2, 340/5.8, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 705/28, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 370/346, 370/312, 370/315, 370/25, 370/237, 370/238, 342/357.07, 235/385, 235/384
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping; Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, and programs disclosed herein provide a solution for monitoring and tracking assets by utilizing wireless communications. A representative system for monitoring assets includes a remote monitoring station (RMS) and a network of identification (ID) tags. Each ID tag is coupled to an asset and is configured to wirelessly communicate with other ID tags in the network within a predetermined proximity. Each tag is also configured to relay communications from other ID tags so that a communication path is established between the RMS and any ID tag in the network, either directly or via other ID tags.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring assets, the system comprising:

identification (ID) tags each related to an asset to be monitored, wherein each ID tag is capable of wirelessly communicating with other ID tags such that a communication path exists between an RMS and any ID tag in the system, either directly or via other ID tags; and

an RMS that originates or is the end-destination, either directly or indirectly, of all communications transmitted by any ID tag in the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the RMS and the ID tags are configured to communicate with a radio frequency (RF) communication protocol.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the RMS and the ID tags are further configured to communicate via a variable length data frame.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the variable length data frame comprises:

a message destination field for storing a future communication path in which the data frame will travel between the RMS and a destination ID tag;

a source destination field for storing a past communication path in which the data frame has traveled; and

a payload field for storing information to be conveyed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each ID tag communicates with the RMS to convey the existence of the ID tag in the network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each ID tag of the network stores the location of the asset to which the ID tag is coupled.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein each ID tag communicates with the RMS to convey the location of the asset to which the ID tag is coupled.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each ID tag further comprises:

at least a first sensor each configured to sense an environmental condition of the asset to which the ID tag is coupled.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the environmental condition that is sensed by the at least first sensor is temperature, pressure, humidity, radiation, or vibrations.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein each ID tag communicates with the RMS to convey data sensed by the at least first sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first dummy ID tag not coupled to an asset, wherein the at least first dummy ID tag is configured to;

wirelessly communicate with the ID tags in the network within a predetermined proximity; and

relay communications from ID tags, such that a communication path is established between the RMS and any ID tag in the network, either directly or via other ID tags.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the RMS is housed in a storage facility.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a second RMS positioned in a cargo container and wherein the network of ID tags is configured to communicate with the second RMS when placed within the cargo container.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a third RMS positioned on a shipping vessel and wherein the network of ID tags is configured to communicate with the third RMS when placed on the shipping vessel.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second and third RMS are configured to communicate with a central monitoring station (CMS) via a satellite communication link.

16. A method of monitoring assets across a supply chain, whereby each asset has an RFID tag coupled thereto and whereby the RFID tags can communicate via other RFID tags, the method comprising:

forming a network of RFID tags by conducting a BFS for all tags within proximity, whereby existence in the network conveys the existence and location of the corresponding assets in the supply chain; and

polling the network of RFID tags to monitor the environmental conditions surrounding the corresponding assets.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

establishing a shortest communication path to each RFID tag in the network based upon the results of the BFS.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein polling the network comprises:

transmitting a communication message to each tag in the network of RFID tags, either directly or via intermediary RFID tags in the network; and

receiving a reply message from each RFID tag in the network, either directly or via intermediary RFID tags in the network, whereby each reply message conveys the environmental conditions experienced by the asset to which the RFID tag is coupled.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein forming the network and polling the network is performed periodically.

20. A computer readable medium having a program for monitoring assets across a supply chain, whereby each asset has an RFID tag coupled thereto, the program comprising:

logic configured to form a network of RFID tags by conducting a BFS for all tags within proximity, whereby existence in the network conveys the existence and location of the corresponding assets in the supply chain; and

logic configured to poll the network of RFID tags to monitor the environmental conditions surrounding the corresponding assets.

21. The program of claim 20, wherein the logic configured to form the network further comprises:

logic configured to map a network path to each RFID tag in the network.

22. The program of claim 20, wherein the logic configured to poll the network comprises:

logic configured to generate a communication message to be transmitted to each tag in the network of RFID tags, either directly or via intermediary RFID tags in the network; and

logic configured to process a received reply message from each RFID tag in the network, either directly or via intermediary RFID tags in the network, whereby each reply message conveys the environmental conditions experienced by the asset to which the RFID tag is coupled.

23. The program of claim 20, wherein the logic configured to form the network is further configured to periodically form the network and the logic configured to poll the network is further configured to periodically poll the network.

29. The program of claim 20, wherein the logic configured to form the network further comprises:

logic configured to map a shortest network path to each RFID tag in the network.

24. A system for monitoring assets, the system comprising:

a plurality of RFID tags, each related to an asset to be monitored, wherein each RFID tag comprises;

means for communicating with other RFID tags communications originating from or destined for an RMS; and

an RMS comprising;

means for conducting a breadth-first search (BFS) to identify the plurality of RFID tags and to establish a shortest communication path to each RFID tag.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each RFID tag further comprises:

means for sensing at least a first environmental condition of the corresponding asset.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the RMS further comprises:

means for periodically polling the plurality of RFID tags to monitor environmental conditions surrounding the corresponding assets.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the means for periodically polling comprises:

means for transmitting a communication message to each tag either directly or via intermediary RFID tags; and

means for receiving a reply message from each RFID tag, either directly or via intermediary RFID tags, whereby each reply message conveys the environmental conditions experienced by the corresponding asset.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the means for performing a BFS comprises:

means for broadcasting a communication message to be received by any RFID tag within immediate proximity of the RMS or within the proximity of any intermediary RFID tag; and

means for receiving a reply message from any RFID tag within immediate proximity or within the proximity of any intermediary RFID tag;

whereby multiple intermediary RFID tags may be utilized to relay either message.