Bi-directional data flow in a real time tracking system

• US 7,151,453 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Ebert, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/137,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20030144985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/568.1, 340/10.568, 340/10.1, 342/42, 235/385, 219/620, 219/626
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for updating information on a writable tag bound to an article. In one aspect, a method includes: receiving in a system first attribute information for a first article derived from data read automatically from a first tag bound to the article; similarly receiving second attribute information for a second article; receiving sensor information derived from a sensor coupled to the second article; receiving relationship information specifying a relationship between the articles; maintaining first and second virtual articles representing the first article and the second article and sensor information, respectively, and maintaining a context object representing the relationship; recognizing an alert condition relating to the first article; generating updated attribute information; detecting the presence of the first tag at a tag writer station after the alert condition; and causing the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag.

Claims

1. A method for updating information on a writable tag bound to an article, comprising:

receiving in a system first attribute information for a first article, where the first attribute information was derived from data read automatically from a first tag bound to the first article, the first attribute information including a first identifier identifying the first article;

receiving in the system second attribute information for a second article, where the second attribute information was derived from data read automatically from a second tag bound to the second article, the second attribute information including a second identifier identifying the second article;

receiving in the system sensor information derived from data sensed by a sensor coupled to the second article such that the sensor information represents at least one condition existing at the second article;

receiving in the system relationship information specifying a relationship of physical proximity between the first article and the second article;

maintaining in the system a first physical object representing the first article, the first physical object maintaining information representing the first attribute information;

maintaining in the system a second physical object representing the second article, the second physical object maintaining information representing the second attribute information;

maintaining in the system a context object representing the relationship of physical proximity between the first article and the second article;

associating the sensor information, derived from the data sensed by the sensor coupled to the second article, with the first physical object based on the relationship of physical proximity between the first article and the second article represented in the context object such that the sensor information is determined to describe at least one condition existing at the first article;

comparing the sensor information with the first attribute information;

determining that an alert condition exists at the first article based on a result of comparing the sensor information and the first attribute information;

generating updated attribute information to be written to the first article in response to the determined alert condition;

detecting in the system the presence of the first tag at a tag writer station after the alert condition was determined to exist; and

causing the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag at the tag writer station upon detecting the presence of the first tag at the tag writer station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the alert condition is determined to exist in an application external to the system, the application receiving from the system information from objects maintained by the system;

the updated attribute information is generated by the application and provided to the system by the application with a request that the updated attribute information be written to the first tag; and

the system, in response to the request, causes the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the first and second physical objects represent their corresponding articles in a virtual world maintained by the system; and

the application monitors the virtual world.

4. The method claim 1, wherein:

the alert condition is recognized by a component of the system operating in accordance with one or more alert rules provided to the system;

the updated information is generated by a component of the system operating in accordance with one or more update rules provided to the system;

the tag writer station is caused to write the updated information to the first tag in accordance with one or more write-data rules provided to the system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is bound to the second tag.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

the alert condition is generated because a temperature measured by the sensor exceeded a threshold;

and

the updated information is a reduce product expiration date for the first article.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tag is a radio frequency transponder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second identifiers are globally unique identifiers.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the updated attribute information is generated by an application external to the system and provided to the system by the application with a request that the updated attribute information be written to the first tag; and

the system in response to the request causes the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising

storing in the first physical object the updated attribute information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first physical object represents its corresponding article in a virtual world maintained by the system; and

the application monitors the virtual world.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the updated attribute information is generated by a component of the system operating in accordance with one or more update rules provided to the system; and

the tag writer station is caused to write the updated attribute information to the first tag in accordance with one or more write-data rules provided to the system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated attribute information is updated price information.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated attribute information is updated expiration information.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated attribute information is updated regulatory information.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tag is a radio frequency transponder and the first identifier is a globally unique identifier.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first article is a box;

the second article is a pallet; and

the alert condition indicates that a temperature threshold for the box has been exceeded.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving in the system additional attribute information for a plurality of additional articles, where the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles was derived from data read automatically from a plurality of additional tags, each of the plurality of additional tags bound to one of the plurality of additional articles, the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles including an identifier identifying each of the plurality of additional articles;

maintaining in the system a plurality of additional physical objects, each of the plurality of additional physical objects corresponding to one of the plurality of additional articles and maintaining information representing the additional attribute information for the corresponding physical object;

receiving in the system additional relationship information for each of the plurality of additional articles, the additional relationship information indicating physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article;

maintaining in the system a plurality of additional context objects each of the plurality of additional context objects representing the relationship of physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article;

associating the sensor information derived from the data sensed by the sensor coupled to the second article with each of the plurality of additional physical objects based on the relationship of physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article indicated by the plurality of additional context objects such that the sensor information is (i) determined to describe at least one condition existing at each of the plurality of additional articles, as well as (ii) treated as existing at the second article;

comparing the sensor information with the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles;

determining, based on a result of the comparing of the sensor information with the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles, that an alert condition of one or more of the plurality of additional articles has occurred; and

updating the additional attribute information for each of the one or more additional articles for which an alert condition has occurred to reflect that the alert condition has occurred.

20. A computer program product, tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, for updating information on a writable tag bound to an article, the product comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

receive in a system first attribute information for a first article, where the first attribute information was derived from data read automatically from a first tag bound to the first article, the first attribute information including a first identifier identifying the first article;

receive in the system second attribute information for a second article, where the second attribute information was derived from data read automatically from a second tag bound to the second article, the second attribute information including a second identifier identifying the second article;

receive in the system sensor information derived from data sensed by a sensor coupled to the second article such that the sensor information represents at least one condition existing at the second article;

receive in the system relationship information specifying a relationship of physical proximity between the first article and the second article;

maintain in the system a first physical object representing the first article, the first physical object maintaining information representing the first attribute information;

maintain in the system a second physical object representing the second article, the second physical object maintaining information representing the second attribute information;

maintain in the system a context object representing the relationship between the first article and the second article;

associate the sensor information, derived from the data sensed by the sensor coupled to the second article, with the first physical object based on the relationship of physical proximity between the first article and the second article represented in the context object such that the sensor information is determined to describe at least one condition existing at the first article;

compare the sensor information with the first attribute information;

determine that an alert condition exists at the first article based on a result of comparing the sensor information and the first attribute information;

generate updated attribute information to be written to the first article in response to the determined alert condition;

detect in the system the presence of the first tag at a tag writer station after the alert condition was determined to exist; and

cause the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag at the tag writer station upon a detection of the presence of the first tag at the tag writer station.

21. The product of claim 20, further comprising instructions to:

provide from the system to an application external to the system information from objects maintained by the system;

receive from the external application updated attribute information generated by the application in response to an alert condition recognized by the application, and receive from the application a request that the updated information be written to the first tag; and

cause the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag in response to the request.

22. The product of claim 21, wherein the first and second physical objects represent their corresponding articles in a virtual world maintained by the system, the product further comprising instructions to permit the application to monitor the virtual world.

23. The product claim 20, further comprising instructions to:

recognize the alert condition in accordance with one or more alert rules provided to the system;

generate the updated information in accordance with one or more update rules provided to the system; and

cause the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag in accordance with one or more write-data rules provided to the system.

24. The product of claim 20, wherein the sensor is bound to the second tag.

25. The product of claim 20, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

26. The product of claim 25, wherein

the alert condition is generated because a temperature measured by the sensor exceeded a threshold;

and

the updated information is a reduce product expiration date for the first article.

27. The product of claim 20, wherein the first tag is a radio frequency transponder.

28. The product of claim 20, wherein the first and second identifiers are globally unique identifiers.

29. The product of claim 20, further comprising instructions to:

receive from an application external to the system updated attribute information and a request that the updated attribute information be written to the first tag; and

cause the tag writer station to write the updated attribute information to the first tag in response to the request.

30. The product of claim 29 further comprising instructions to

store in the first physical object the updated attribute information.

31. The product of claim 30, wherein:

the first physical object represents its corresponding article in a virtual world maintained by the system; and

the application monitors the virtual world.

32. The product of claim 20, wherein:

the updated attribute information is generated by a component of the system operating in accordance with one or more update rules provided to the system; and

the tag writer station is caused to write the updated attribute information to the first tag in accordance with one or more write-data rules provided to the system.

33. The product of claim 20, wherein the updated attribute information is updated price information.

34. The product of claim 20, wherein the updated attribute information is updated expiration information.

35. The product of claim 20, wherein the updated attribute information is updated regulatory information.

36. The product of claim 20, wherein the first tag is a radio frequency transponder and the first identifier is a globally unique identifier.

37. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein:

the first article is a box;

the second article is a pallet; and

the alert condition indicates that a temperature threshold for the box has been exceeded;

the product further comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to;

receive in the system additional attribute information for a plurality of additional articles, where the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles was derived from data read automatically from a plurality of additional tags, each of the plurality of additional tags bound to one of the plurality of additional articles, the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles including an identifier identifying each of the plurality of additional articles;

maintain in the system a plurality of additional physical objects, each of the plurality of additional physical objects corresponding to one of the plurality of additional articles and maintaining information representing the additional attribute information for the corresponding physical object;

receive in the system additional relationship information for each of the plurality of additional articles, the additional relationship information indicating physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article;

maintain in the system a plurality of additional context objects each of the plurality of additional context objects representing the relationship of physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article;

associate the sensor information derived from the data sensed by the sensor coupled to the second article with each of the plurality of additional physical objects based on the relationship of physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article indicated by the plurality of additional context objects such that the sensor information is (i) determined to describe at least one condition existing at each of the plurality of additional articles, as well as (ii) treated as existing at the second article;

compare the sensor information with the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles;

determine, based on a result of the comparing of the sensor information with the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles, that an alert condition of one or more of the plurality of additional articles has occurred; and

update the additional attribute information for each of the one or more additional articles for which an alert condition has occurred to reflect that the alert condition has occurred.

38. A system for updating information on a writable tag bound to an article, comprising:

means for receiving in a system first attribute information for a first article, where the first attribute information was derived from data read automatically from a first tag bound to the first article, the first attribute information including a first identifier identifying the first article;

means for receiving in the system second attribute information for a second article, where the second attribute information was derived from data read automatically from a second tag bound to the second article, the second attribute information including a second identifier identifying the second article;

means for receiving in the system sensor information derived from data sensed by a sensor coupled to the second article such that the sensor information represents at least one condition existing at the second article;

means for receiving in the system relationship information specifying a relationship of physical proximity between the first article and the second article;

means for maintaining in the system a first physical object representing the first article, the first physical object maintaining information representing the first attribute information;

means for maintaining in the system a second physical object representing the second article, the second physical object maintaining information representing the second attribute information;

means for maintaining in the system a context object representing the relationship between the first article and the second article;

means for associating the sensor information, derived from the data sensed by the sensor coupled to the second article, with the first physical object based on the relationship of physical proximity between the first article and the second article represented in the context object such that the sensor information is determined to describe at least one condition existing at the first article;

means for comparing the sensor information with the first attribute information;

means for determining that an alert condition exists at the first article based on a result of comparing the sensor information and the first attribute information;

means for generating updated attribute information to be written to the first article in response to the determined alert condition;

means for detecting in the system the presence of the first tag at a tag writer station after the alert condition was determined to exist; and

means for causing the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag at the tag writer station upon detecting the presence of the first tag at the tag writer station.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the alert condition is determined to exist in an application external to the system, the application receiving from the system information from objects maintained by the system;

the updated attribute information is generated by the application and provided to the system by the application with a request that the updated attribute information be written to the first tag; and

the system, in response to the request, causes the tag writer station to write the updated information to the first tag.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein:

the first and second physical objects represent their corresponding articles in a virtual world maintained by the system; and

the application monitors the virtual world.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the alert condition is recognized by a component of the system operating in accordance with one or more alert rules provided to the system;

the updated information is generated by a component of the system operating in accordance with one or more update rules provided to the system;

the tag writer station is caused to write the updated information to the first tag in accordance with one or more write-data rules provided to the system.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the sensor is bound to the second tag.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein

the alert condition is generated because a temperature measured by the sensor exceeded a threshold;

and

the updated information is a reduce product expiration date for the first article.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the first tag is a radio frequency transponder.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the first and second identifiers are globally unique identifiers.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the updated attribute information is generated by an application external to the system and provided to the system by the application with a request that the updated attribute information be written to the first tag; and

the system in response to the request causes the tag writer station to write the updated attribute information to the first tag.

48. The system of claim 47 further comprising

means for storing in the first physical object the updated attribute information.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein:

the first physical object represents its corresponding article in a virtual world maintained by the system; and

the application monitors the virtual world.

50. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the updated attribute information is generated by a component of the system operating in accordance with one or more update rules provided to the system; and

the tag writer station is caused to write the updated attribute information to the first tag in accordance with one or more write-data rules provided to the system.

51. The system of claim 38, wherein the updated attribute information is updated price information.

52. The system of claim 38, wherein the updated attribute information is updated expiration information.

53. The system of claim 38, wherein the updated attribute information is updated regulatory information.

54. The system of claim 38, wherein the first tag is a radio frequency transponder and the first identifier is a globally unique identifier.

55. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the first article is a box;

the second article is a pallet; and

the alert condition indicates that a temperature threshold for the box has been exceeded;

the system further comprising;

means for receiving in the system additional attribute information for a plurality of additional articles, where the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles was derived from data read automatically from a plurality of additional tags, each of the plurality of additional tags bound to one of the plurality of additional articles, the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles including an identifier identifying each of the plurality of additional articles;

means for maintaining in the system a plurality of additional physical objects, each of the plurality of additional physical objects corresponding to one of the plurality of additional articles and maintaining information representing the additional attribute information for the corresponding physical object;

means for receiving in the system additional relationship information for each of the plurality of additional articles, the additional relationship information indicating physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article;

means for maintaining in the system a plurality of additional context objects each of the plurality of additional context objects representing the relationship of physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article;

means for associating the sensor information derived from the data sensed by the sensor coupled to the second article with each of the plurality of additional physical objects based on the relationship of physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article indicated by the plurality of additional context objects such that the sensor information is (i) determined to describe at least one condition existing at each of the plurality of additional articles, as well as (ii) treated as existing at the second article;

means for comparing the sensor information with the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles;

means for determining, based on a result of the comparing of the sensor information with the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles, that an alert condition of one or more of the plurality of additional articles has occurred; and

means for updating the additional attribute information for each of the one or more additional articles for which an alert condition has occurred to reflect that the alert condition has occurred.

56. A method comprising:

maintaining in a system first attribute information for a first article;

maintaining in the system second attribute information for a second article;

receiving in the system relationship information indicating physical proximity between the first article and the second article;

receiving in the system sensor information describing a condition treated as existing at the second article;

associating the sensor information with the first article based on the physical proximity between the first article and the second article, indicated by the relationship information, such that the condition is (i) determined to exist at the first article, as well as (ii) treated as existing at the second article;

comparing the sensor information with the first attribute information;

determining, based on a result of the comparing of the sensor information with the first attribute information, that an alert condition of the first article has occurred; and

updating the first attribute information to reflect that the alert condition has occurred.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein:

the first article is a box;

the second article is a pallet; and

the alert condition indicates that a temperature threshold for the box has been exceeded.

58. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

maintaining in the system additional attribute information for a plurality of additional articles;

receiving in the system additional relationship information for each of the plurality of additional articles, the additional relationship information indicating physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article;

associating the sensor information with each of the plurality of additional articles based on the physical proximity between each of the plurality of additional articles and the second article indicated by the additional relationship information for each of the plurality of additional articles such that the condition is (i) determined to exist at each of the plurality of additional articles, as well as (ii) treated as existing at the second article;

comparing the sensor information with the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles;

determining, based on a result of the comparing of the sensor information with the additional attribute information for each of the plurality of additional articles, that an alert condition of one or more of the plurality of additional articles has occurred; and

updating the additional attribute information for each of the one or more additional articles for which an alert condition has occurred to reflect that the alert condition has occurred.