Item tracking system

• US 7,557,709 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RFID Mexico SA de CV
• Original Assignee: RFID Mexico SA de CV
• Inventors: Matus, Jose Adalberto Teran, Ramirez, Patricio Gerardo Trevino, Flores, Eduardo Ruiz Esparza, Elizondo, Rafael Guillermo Ramos
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/580,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.33, 340/10.42, 340/10.5, 340/10.1, 340/10.52, 3405721-5729
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An item tracking system using RFID technology for automatically monitoring the taking and returning operations of items from a storage location inside a working area provides an “on line” status of each tool as well as a usage history of each tool. Furthermore, the system knows which item has been taken or stored from which storage area by which worker and when.

Claims

1. An item tracking system for using in working areas including a plurality of storage areas for storing a plurality of items which are taken and returned by a plurality of workers, said item tracking system comprising:

one or more electronic worker identification tags, each assigned to a respective worker, each electronic worker identification tags having personalized identification information about the worker;

one or more electronic item identification tags, each electronic item identification tags permanently integrated to a respective item in such way removing the electronic item identification tag from the item destroys the electronic item identification tag, each electronic item identification tag having information about the item and about item'"'"'s assigned storage area;

one electronic worker identification tags reader for each storage area;

one or more of electronic item identification tags readers for each storage area;

a control system connected to each electronic worker identification tags reader and to each electronic item identification tags reader, the control system having;

memory means containing information related to;

transaction information about taking and returning item operations, the transaction information comprising;

information about items that have been taken from the items'"'"' respective storage area by a worker on a specific time and date;

information about further items that have been taken and returned to the further items'"'"' respective storage area by a worker on a specific time and date;

wherein the electronic worker identification tags reader reads the personalized identification information from the electronic worker identification tag of a first worker when the electronic worker identification tag of the first worker is in the reading range thereof and sends the read worker information to the control system;

wherein the electronic item identification tags reader senses when an item is being taken from the item'"'"'s respective storage area by a worker and reads the information recorded in the electronic item identification tags, sends the read item information to the control system to register the taking transaction in the memory means by the system recording in data storage which item has been taken from which storage area by which worker and when;

wherein one of the electronic item identification tags readers of the respective storage area senses when an item is been returned to the respective storage area and reads the information recorded in the tool'"'"'s electronic item identification tag, sends the information to the control system which register the storing transaction in the memory means by the system recording in data storage which item that has been previously taken by a worker has been returned to the respective storage area and when; and

wherein the electronic worker identification tags reader of the respective storage area reading the electronic worker identification tags and the electronic item identification tags readers of the respective storage area reading the electronic item identification tags as the worker removes each item from the respective storage area and as the same worker returns each item to the respective storage area, the memory means maintains the information of the same worker removing and subsequently returning each item to the respective storage area.

2. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each electronic identification tag comprises an RFID identification tag.

3. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

each storage area comprises one or more storage cells,

each storage cell comprises automatic locking and unlocking means controlled by an electronic system,

the control system is connected to the locking and unlocking means of each storage cell;

the memory means of the control system further includes privilege information for each worker, the privilege information for establishing which storage cell of a respective storage area a worker may have access and took an item from; and

the electronic worker identification tags reader reads the electronic worker identification tag when the electronic worker identification tag is in the reading range thereof, sends the information of the worker to the control system and the control system sends a signal to the locking and unlocking means of the respective storage cell for unlocking one or more storage cells based on the worker privilege information.

4. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memory means of the control system further including:

information about the description of each item;

information about each worker;

information about which items are assigned to each storage area; and

historic information about the use of each item by the workers.

5. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each storage area has one or more storage cells, each storage cell having one or more item identification tags readers, each storage cell further including automatic locking and unlocking means controlled by an electronic system;

wherein the central control system is connected to the locking and unlocking means of each storage cell;

wherein the control system is connected to the item identification tags readers of each cell of each storage area;

wherein the memory means of the control system further including privilege information for each worker, for establishing which storage cell of a respective storage area a worker may have access and took an item from;

wherein the electronic worker ID reading means, reads a worker ID when the ID is in the reading range thereof, sends the information of the worker to the control system and the control system sends a signal to the locking and unlocking means of the respective storage cell for unlocking one or more storage cells based on the worker privilege information;

wherein the electronic worker ID reading means, reads a worker ID when the ID is in the reading range thereof and sends the information of the worker to the control system;

wherein the electronic item ID reading means senses when an item is been taken from its respective storage cell of a respective working area by a worker and reads the information recorded in the item ID, sends the information to the control system which register the taking transaction in the memory means by the system recording in data storage which item has been taken from which storage cell of a respective storage area by which worker and when; and

wherein the electronic tool ID reading means senses when an item is been returned to its respective storage cell and reads the information recorded in the tool ID, sends the information to the control system which register the storing transaction in the memory means by the system recording in data storage which item that has been previously taken by a worker has been returned to its respective storage cell of a respective storage area and when.

6. An item tracking system method comprising the steps of:

providing one or more electronic worker identification tags, each assigned to a respective worker, each having personalized identification information about the worker;

one or more electronic item identification tags, each permanently integrated to a respective tool, each electronic item identification tag having information about the tool and about the tool'"'"'s assigned storage area;

one or more electronic worker identification tags readers for each storage area;

one or more electronic item identification tag readers for each storage area;

a central control system connected to each electronic worker identification tag readers and to each electronic item identification tag reader having;

memory means containing information related to;

transaction information about taking and returning tool operations, comprising;

information about tools that have been taken from the tool'"'"'s respective storage area by a worker on a specific time and date;

information about tools that have been taken and returned to the tool'"'"'s respective storage area by a worker on a specific time and date;

reading a worker ID by means of the electronic worker identification tag readers, and sending the information of the worker to the central control system for registering;

sensing when a tool is being taken from the tool'"'"'s respective storage area by a worker and reading the information recorded in the item identification tag by means of the item identification tag readers, sending the information to the control system which register the taking transaction in the memory means by the system recording in data storage which tool has been taken from which storage area by which worker and when; and

sensing when a tool is being returned to the tool'"'"'s respective storage area and reading the information recorded in the item identification tag by means of the item identification tag readers, sending the information to the control system which registers the storing transaction in the memory means by the system recording which tool that has been previously taken by a worker has been returned to the tool'"'"'s respective storage area and when.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, comprising the step of providing electronic identification tags comprising RFID identification tags.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein each storage area having one or more storage cells, the method further comprising:

providing each cell with automatic locking and unlocking means controlled by an electronic system and connecting each electronic means of each storage cell to the central control system and further providing the memory means of the central control system with privilege information for each worker, for establishing which storage cell of a respective storage area a worker may have access and authorization to take a tool from; and

reading a worker ID by means of the electronic worker identification tag readers, sending the information of the worker to the control system for unlocking one or more storage cells of a respective storage area based on the worker privilege information.

9. A method as claimed by claim 6 comprising further providing the memory means of the central control system with:

information about the description of each tool;

information about each worker;

information about which tools are assigned to each storage area; and

historic information about the use of each tool by the workers.

10. A method as claimed by claim 6 wherein each storage area having one or more storage cells, the method further comprising:

assigning each storage cell with one of the item identification tag readers;

providing each cell with automatic locking and unlocking means controlled by an electronic system and connecting each electronic means of each storage cell to the control system and further providing the memory means of the control system with privilege information for each worker, for establishing which storage cell of a respective storage area a worker may have access and authorization to take a tool from; and

reading a worker ID by means of the electronic worker identification tag readers, sending the information of the worker to the control system for unlocking one or more storage cells of a respective storage area based on the worker privilege information;

reading a worker ID by means of the electronic worker identification tag readers, and sending the information of the worker to the control system for registering;

sensing when a tool is being taken from the tool'"'"'s respective storage cell of a respective storage area by a worker and reading the information recorded in the electronic item identification tag by means of the item identification tag readers, sending the information to the control system which register the taking transaction in the memory means by the system recording in data storage which tool has been taken from which storage cell of a respective storage area by which worker and when; and

sensing when a tool is being returned to the tool'"'"'s respective storage area and reading the information recorded in the item identification tags by means of the item identification tag readers, sending the information to the control system which register the storing transaction in the memory means by the system recording in data storage which tool that has been previously taken by a worker has been returned to the tool'"'"'s respective storage cell of a respective storage area and when.

11. An tool tracking system,

comprising:

a toolbox (1);

a first compartment (2) within the toolbox;

a first tool (5) assigned to the first compartment;

a first locking and unlocking means (9) for the first compartment;

an electronic first worker identification tag (4) having personalized identification information of a first worker and an electronic second worker tag (4) having personalized identification information of a second worker;

a first electronic tool identification tag (5) permanently integrated to the first tool in such a way that removing the tool identification tag from the first tool destroys the removed tool identification tag, the electronic tool identification tag having information about the first tool and first tool'"'"'s assigned compartment and assigned toolbox;

an electronic worker identification tag reader (6) that reads the first and second worker identification tags for respectively providing the first and second workers access, as authorized, to the first compartment by, as authorized, the first locking and unlocking means (9) unlocking the first compartment;

a first tool identification tag reader (7) assigned to the first compartment for reading the first tool identification tag integrated to the first tool when the first tool is located within the first compartment, the first tool identification tag reader sensing when the first tool is being taken from the first compartment;

a control system (8) connected to i) the electronic worker identification tag reader, ii) the first tool identification tags reader, and iii) the first lock and unlocking means,

the control system comprising memory means containing transaction information about tool taking and returning operations,

the transaction information comprising i) first information of the electronic worker identification tag reader (6) reading the first worker identification tag and providing the first worker access to the first compartment, and ii) second information of, when the first worker has been provided access to the first compartment, the first tool identification tag reader (7) reading the first tool identification tag and sensing that the first tool has been taken from the first compartment, including time and date information of when the first tool was taken from the first compartment by the first worker.

12. The tool tracking system of claim 11, further comprising:

a second compartment (2) within the toolbox;

a first set of tools (5) assigned to the first compartment, the first set of tools comprising the first tool and a second tool;

a second set of tools (5) assigned to the second compartment, the second set of tools comprising a third tool and a fourth tool;

a second locking and unlocking means (9) for the second compartment;

second, third, and fourth electronic tool identification tags (5) permanently integrated respectively to the second, third, and fourth tools in such a way that removing any tool identification tag from the corresponding tool destroys the removed tool identification tag, each electronic tool identification tag having information about the corresponding tool and corresponding tool'"'"'s assigned compartment and assigned toolbox;

the electronic worker identification tag reader (6) reading the first and second worker identification tags for respectively providing the first and second workers access, as authorized, to the first and second compartments by, as authorized, the first locking and unlocking means (9) unlocking the first compartment and the second locking and unlocking means (9) unlocking the second compartment;

the first tool identification tag reader (7) assigned to the first compartment for reading the first and second tool identification tags integrated to respectively the first and second tools when the first and second tools are located within the first compartment, the first tool identification tag reader sensing when the first tool is being taken from the first compartment and sensing when the second tool is being taken from the first compartment;

a second tool identification tag reader (7) assigned to the second compartment for reading the third and fourth tool identification tags integrated to respectively the third and fourth tools when the third and fourth tools are located within the second compartment, the second tool identification tag reader sensing when the third tool is being taken from the second compartment and sensing when the fourth tool is being taken from the second compartment;

the control system (8) connected to i) the electronic worker identification tag reader, ii) the first and second tool identification tags readers, and iii) the first and second lock and unlocking means,

the transaction information comprising i) first information of the electronic worker identification tag reader (6) reading the first worker identification tag and providing the first worker access to the first compartment, and ii) second information of, when the first worker has been provided access to the first compartment, the first tool identification tag reader (7) reading the first and second tool identification tags and sensing that the first tool has been taken from the first compartment and sensing the second tool has been taken from the first compartment by the first worker, including time and date information of when the first and second tools were taken from the first compartment by the first worker,

the transaction information further comprising i) third information of the electronic worker identification tag reader (6) reading the second worker identification tag and providing the second worker access to the second compartment, and ii) fourth information of, when the second worker has been provided access to the second compartment, the second tool identification tag reader (7) reading the third and fourth tool identification tags and sensing that the third tool has been taken from the second compartment and sensing when the fourth tool has been taken from the second compartment by the second worker, including time and date information of when the third and fourth tools were taken from the second compartment by the second worker,

the transaction information still further comprising i) fifth information of, the second worker having been provided further access to the second compartment, the second tool identification tag reader (7) further reading the third and fourth tool identification tags and further sensing when, by time and date, the third tool has been returned to the second compartment and sensing when, by time and date, the fourth tool has been returned to the second compartment by the second worker.

13. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein each electronic tool identification tag (5) comprises an RFID identification tag.

14. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 13, wherein each electronic worker identification tag (4) comprises an RFID identification tag.

15. An tool tracking system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

another toolbox (1);

a first compartment (2) within the another toolbox;

a second compartment (2) within the another toolbox;

a third set of tools (5) assigned to the first compartment of the another toolbox and comprising fifth and sixth tools;

a fourth set of tools (5) assigned to the second compartment of the another toolbox and comprising seventh and eighth tools;

a third locking and unlocking means (9) for the first compartment of the another toolbox;

a fourth locking and unlocking means (9) for the second compartment of the another toolbox;

fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight electronic tool identification tags (5) permanently integrated respectively to the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight tools in such a way that removing any tool identification tag from the corresponding tool destroys the removed tool identification tag, each electronic tool identification tag having information about the corresponding tool and corresponding tool'"'"'s assigned compartment and the corresponding tool'"'"'s assigned toolbox.

16. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 12, the control system issues an alert of the first worker returning one of the tools to one of the compartments without the transaction information indicated the first worker having removed the one tool from the one compartment.

17. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 16, the control system issues the alert of the first worker returning one of the tools to one of the compartments without the transaction information indicated the first worker having removed the one tool from the one compartment, and the alert indicates that the returned one tool was taken from the one compartment by the second worker.

18. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 12, the control system issues an alert of the first worker returning any tool not registered with the system to one of the compartments.

19. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein,

plural of said first tool identification tag reader are assigned to the first compartment for reading any tool identification tags within the first compartment, and

plural of said second tool identification tag reader are assigned to the second compartment for reading any tool identification tags within the second compartment.

20. An item tracking system as claimed in claim 11, wherein upon the first tool being removed from the first compartment, the control system monitors an elapsed time of the first tool being out of the first compartment of the first toolbox, the monitored elapsed time being an input to trigger an alert concerning the first tool being removed from the first compartment for more than a pre-established time.