Method and apparatus for locating and/or otherwise monitoring an ID tagged asset's condition

• US 7,652,576 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: OnAsset Intelligence Incorporated
• Inventors: Crossno, John M., Crossno, Adam, Lutz, Bruce C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/467,046
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5728, 340/568.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/531, 340/988, 342/450, 342/463, 342/465
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for electronically and wirelessly monitoring a plurality of ID tags of assets as a service for a plurality of tagged asset users and notifying the tagged asset user and/or other authorized entities when conditions sensed by tag circuitry exceeds predetermined boundaries. Typically, the tag will include wireless GPS and/or other sensing circuitry along with telephone type circuitry for communicating sensed data, such as location, to the monitoring service. The notification may further include advertising or other information specifically helpful to the owner of the tagged asset.

Claims

1. An RTLS (Real Time Location Service) for an entity to maintain cognizance of smart tag initiated data related to the location of an object, the method comprising:

establishing a tag specific entity in a computer-based database as being authorized to access said database to receive location data of a given smart ID tag associated with said object, said given smart ID tag including GPS (global positioning system) functionality, location boundary outer limit determining functionality and wireless communications circuitry coupled to said GPS functionality for ascertaining the location of said given smart ID tag and communicating location data to said database when it is determined by said given smart ID tag that the location boundary outer limits have been exceeded said database including location boundary data defining the outer limits of a specified area within which said object is to remain at specified times;

receiving smart tag location data transmitted from at least one smart ID tag, the location information being periodically determined by circuitry of said smart tag and the transmission thereof being initiated by said smart tag as a function of internal logic of said smart tag;

storing in a database said location data received from said at least one smart ID tag;

receiving a request that location data received from said given smart ID tag of said object be communicated to said tag specific entity; and

transmitting said location data to said tag specific entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said computer-based database is a third party computer-based database;

and the method further comprises transmitting said location data of said given smart ID tag of said object to said tag specific entity whenever it is determined that said location boundary is exceeded.

3. A computer system comprising:

data storage means operable to store static data, variable database information pertaining to said static data, and sensed data of a plurality of smart ID tags utilized by a plurality of respective tag user entities;

means for storing in said computer system a list of authorized entities permitted to access data received from each of a plurality of smart ID tags;

wireless reception means operable to receive location data from said smart ID tags, wherein said smart ID tags include GPS functionality effective for generating location data, location boundary outer limit determining functionality and wireless data communication circuitry effective for initiating the communication of said location to said wireless reception means when said smart ID tag determines that the location boundary outer limits have been exceeded;

and

network access means operable to communicate with entities, including at least one of tag users and entities authorized by specified tag users, sensed data received from said smart ID tags, said computer system being operable to provide a notification to predetermined entities when received smart ID tag data values exceed predetermined boundaries.

4. An object monitoring service as claimed in claim 3 and additionally comprising:

at least one object to be monitored;

data storage apparatus for receiving data related to remote objects being monitored; and

a smart ID tag, attached to said at least one object to be monitored, said smart ID tag being programmed to initiate transmission of data to said data storage apparatus upon a determination by said smart tag that a given monitored parameter exceeds predetermined limits.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising in addition:

notification transmission means associated with said data storage means and operable to notify clients when monitored parameters exceed predetermined limits, said notification including at least one third party advertisement for at least one of service and product relating to at least one of the remote objects being monitored and the monitored parameters of said object whose predetermined limits have been exceeded.

6. A method of reducing the misappropriation of property, the method comprising:

receiving from a smart ID tag associated with an asset asset-related data sensed by said smart ID tag and transmitted as a function of smart tag internal logic for detected data exceeding programmed defined limits, the transmission of said data being initiated by said smart ID tag upon a determination by said tag that defined limits have been exceeded;

receiving, from a smart ID tag associated with an asset asset-related data sensed by said smart ID tag, said asset-related data including at least global location data generated within said smart ID tag, said smart ID tag incorporating a GPS (global positioning system) for generating said global location data, location boundary outer limit determining functionality and wireless communication capability for initiating the communication of said global location data from said smart tag when it is determined by said smart ID tag that the location boundary outer limits have been exceeded; and

generating a notification and notifying at least one of one or more tag-authorized entities and law enforcement authorities when location boundary outer limits have been exceeded.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said notification includes an advertisement relating to at least one of said asset and any sensed data.

8. A method of generating a notification upon the likelihood that insured property may be lost, misappropriated, or damaged for risk mitigation comprising:

attaching a smart ID tag to insured property, said smart ID tag incorporating GPS (global positioning system) and further including at least one sensor for sensing at least one value of said insured property and for generating sensed data indicative of said at least one value and communication circuitry for initiating the communication of said sensed data to a remote computer system when said smart ID tag logically determines that internally stored limits for values of said sensed data have been exceeded;

programming said smart ID tag with asset-specific data and trigger conditions for initiating the communication of sensed data said remote computer system;

saving received data within said computer system operable to communicate with said smart ID tag, said data including said trigger conditions and entities authorized to be notified when said sensed data is determined to be outside predetermined boundaries;

maintaining a historical record of sensed data communicated from said smart ID tag to said computer system; and

generating a notification to at least one of tag specific authorized entities and law enforcement authorities with information indicative of the values of at least the most recently communicated sensed data determined to be outside predetermined boundaries.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said entities authorized to be notified includes at least an asset insuring entity.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said smart ID tag is attached to said asset in a substantially tamperproof manner.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said notification includes a map indicating where said smart ID tag is located based upon the most recently communicated location data.

12. A smart wireless ID tag comprising:

location determining circuitry operable to provide output signals indicative of location with respect to earth;

storage means operable to retain data defining geo-fence boundary limits and smart tag specific entities to be notified upon detection by said tag that said geo-fence boundary limits have been exceeded;

logic means, interconnected to said storage means and said location determining circuitry, said logic means being operable to determine when the location of said ID tag is beyond the geo-fence boundary limits defined in said storage means; and

signal transmission circuitry operable to initiate transmission of data to a notify said entities upon a determination by said ID tag that the location of the tag is beyond the predefined geo-fence boundary limits.

13. A computer system comprising:

wireless reception means operable to receive data from smart ID tags

data storage means operable to store static data, variable database information pertaining to said static data, and sensed data of a plurality of smart ID tags utilized by a plurality of respective tag user entities;

means for storing in said computer system a list of tag specific authorized entities permitted to access data received from each of a plurality of smart ID tags;

smart ID tags having GPS functionality effective for generating location data, location boundary outer limit determining functionality and wireless data communication circuitry effective for communicating said location to said wireless reception means when it is determined by said smart ID tag that the location boundary outer limits have been exceeded; and

network access means operable to communicate with entities, including at least one of tag users and entities authorized by specified tag users, sensed data received from said smart ID tags.