Asset management and status system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An asset management and status system comprising:
- a) a remote computing system configured with a wireless communication capability enabling, at minimum, an exchanging of information with any of a plurality of wireless data communication terminals, each data communication terminal available for use by an individual for identifying assets, by receiving directly from a proximate asset of interest, a unique identifying code in order to aid in asset management and status determining activities;
b) a database established and maintained on the remote computing system, and available for storing and retrieving information associated with any of a plurality of the assets being managed by the asset management and status system; and
c) the plurality of wireless data communication terminals, with each data communication terminal structured having an equivalent of at least three communication modules supporting;
i) establishing a local, short distance, wireless communication link with a proximate wireless electronic device fixed to a proximate asset of interest, such that the communication link enables a receiving by the data communication terminal of information transmitted directly from the electronic device of the asset, with the information including the unique identifying code assigned to the asset;
ii) receiving and processing position related information for determining a current location at which the data communication terminal, and thereby the proximate asset, are located;
iii) exchanging information with the remote computing system, including transmitting to the remote computing system the received identifying code and the current location of the data communication terminal and the asset, for use in accessing and updating the database established on the remote computing system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An asset management and status system includes a number of data communication terminals and one or more interconnected remote computing systems, which may be utilized for managing and tracking a large number of varied and distributed assets. Each data communication terminal is arranged to interrogate a proximate electronic device of an asset to determine an identifying code, and further activate an included position determining module to determine a current location. Subsequently, the identifying code and current location information are transmitted to the remote computing system for use in updating a database established and maintained on the remote computing system.
41 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An asset management and status system comprising:
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a) a remote computing system configured with a wireless communication capability enabling, at minimum, an exchanging of information with any of a plurality of wireless data communication terminals, each data communication terminal available for use by an individual for identifying assets, by receiving directly from a proximate asset of interest, a unique identifying code in order to aid in asset management and status determining activities; b) a database established and maintained on the remote computing system, and available for storing and retrieving information associated with any of a plurality of the assets being managed by the asset management and status system; and c) the plurality of wireless data communication terminals, with each data communication terminal structured having an equivalent of at least three communication modules supporting; i) establishing a local, short distance, wireless communication link with a proximate wireless electronic device fixed to a proximate asset of interest, such that the communication link enables a receiving by the data communication terminal of information transmitted directly from the electronic device of the asset, with the information including the unique identifying code assigned to the asset; ii) receiving and processing position related information for determining a current location at which the data communication terminal, and thereby the proximate asset, are located; iii) exchanging information with the remote computing system, including transmitting to the remote computing system the received identifying code and the current location of the data communication terminal and the asset, for use in accessing and updating the database established on the remote computing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A distributed asset management and status system enabling a plurality of distributed assets to be inventoried, managed, and tracked such that a database, containing at least one record for each asset, can be established, maintained and updated, with records being available for remote accessing each time an asset is identified, the asset management and status system comprising:
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a) a plurality of data communication terminals structured with a user interface and a multi-function communications capability, the data communication terminal configured for; i) directly establishing a communication link with at least one proximate electronic device of an asset for exchanging information directly therewith, including a receiving by the data communication terminal of information including a unique identifying code transmitted by a respective proximate electronic device of the asset; ii) receiving and processing position information enabling a determining of a current location at which the data communication terminal, and thereby the proximate asset, are located; and iii) transmitting information, including at least the identifying code and the associated current location information to a remote computing system; b) the remote computing system, providing access to the database housing the asset related information in the form of at least one record for each asset, with the database established, maintained and updated, for accessing by a user utilizing one of the wireless data communication terminals for gaining access to information related to one or more assets of interest; c) a plurality of the electronic devices, with each electronic device associated with an asset by being fixed thereto by way of a selected means, each electronic device configured having a unique and readable identifying code; and d) means for enabling the exchanging of information between the data communication terminal and each of; i) the electronic device; ii) a position determining system; and iii) the remote computing system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of monitoring a plurality of distributed assets and maintaining a database of information associated with the assets, with each asset equipped with an electronic identification device having a unique identifying code contained therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) radiating an RF signal from a wireless data communication terminal, for detection by a proximate wireless electronic identification device of an asset in order to determine a unique identifying code of the asset; b) receiving information by way of the wireless data communication terminal directly from the electronic identification device of the asset that was radiated by the RF signal originating from the data communication terminal, with the information including at minimum the unique identifying code of the asset; c) receiving position related information by way of the data communication terminal from an external source; d) processing the received position related information for determining a current location; and e) transmitting information from the data communication terminal, with the information including the unique identifying code of the asset and the determined current location at which the data communication terminal, and thereby the proximate asset of interest are each located, with the information transmitted to a remote computing system for use in accessing and updating at least one record of the database containing information, including asset related information. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification