Electronic system, components and method for tracking files

• US 7,301,470 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Branc, Joseph R., Feldpausch, Thomas G., Stanfield, Joel D., Miller, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/214,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20020190871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,938 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.49, 340/825.35, 340/825.36, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A file tracking system including a processor, which maintains and interfaces with a database, a plurality of file folder retainers, and a plurality of file folders. The file tracking system actively maintains and updates the database, which includes file information, file location, and unique file address for the plurality of files, by providing interactive communication between the processor, the folder retainers, and the file folders. Each file folder may include an indicator light, such as an LED, which a user may cause to blink when trying to locate the file folder at a location accessed from the database.

Claims

1. A file tracking system comprising:

a database for maintaining file folder information including file location, and a unique address of each file folder;

a processor for interfacing with said database and issuing control signals; and

a plurality of file folders, each file folder including an addressable device that transmits a reply signal to said processor when said addressable device receives a control signal from said processor, each addressable switch in communication with said processor through a communication link, wherein at least a portion of said communication link is wireless,

wherein said processor is adapted to periodically poll said file folders to obtain information from each file folder, detect differences between the obtained information and the file folder information stored in said database, and to update said database when said processor detects a difference between the file folder information stored in said database and the obtained information.

2. The file tracking system of claim 1, wherein said processor detects when file folders have been removed, added, moved, and returned within the system.

3. The file tracking system of claim 2, wherein said processor detects the location of the file folders and determines that a file folder has been moved when the file folder has a detected location that is different from the location previously stored in said database.

4. The file tracking system of claim 2, wherein said processor detects the presence of the file folders by determining the unique address stored in said addressable devices of each file folder and determines that a new file folder has been added to the system when the new file folder has a unique address that was not previously stored in said database.

5. The file tracking system of claim 4, wherein said processor automatically creates a database entry for the new file folder, inserts the detected unique address associated therewith into an address field, and inserts the location at which the new file folder was detected into a location field in said database.

6. The file tracking system of claim 2, wherein said processor detects the presence of the file folders by determining the unique address stored in the addressable devices of each file folder and determines that a file folder has been removed when the file folder had a particular location stored in said database and said processor determines that the file folder is no longer present at that location.

7. The file tracking system of claim 6, wherein said processor automatically updates said database to indicate that the removed file folder was removed, a time and date that the filed folder was removed, and an identity of an individual who removed the file folder.

8. The file tracking system of claim 7, wherein said processor determines the identity of the individual who removed the file folder by determining which individual last requested the location of the file folder.

9. The file tracking system of claim 7, wherein said processor determines the identity of the individual who removed the file folder by awaiting a subsequent detection of the file folder by said processor and determining which individual is associated with the location in which said processor detects the file folder.

10. The file tracking system of claim 1, wherein said processor further:

receives a reply signal from the polled file folder, which was transmitted in response to a control signal transmitted by said processor to the polled file folder, the reply signal including the unique address corresponding to the polled file folder;

verifies the file location in the database corresponding to the unique address of the polled file folder received in the reply signal; and

updates the database to indicate a new file location for the polled file folder when the location from which the reply signal was transmitted is different from the file location previously stored in the database.

11. The file tracking system of claim 1, wherein said processor issues control signals to said file folders through a wireless link.

12. The file tracking system of claim 11, wherein said wireless link is an RF link.

13. The file tracking system of claim 1, wherein all of said communication link between said file folders and said processor is wireless.