Tracking system

• US 8,115,633 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: Puskala, Aapo, Korhonen, Pekka, Rusanen, Niko, Hatakka, Rauno, Hietala, Ari-Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/421,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/568.5, 340/5.28, 340/5.31, 340/40.1, 235/382, 235/384, 235/385, 235/492
• 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: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for tracking objects includes providing each of at least two different objects with a transmitter having individualized identifier data; logically connecting the objects to each other by connecting the identifier data of the transmitters to each other; recording the identifier data of the transmitters of the objects in a memory; connecting contact information of the object in question to the identifier data; detecting the transmitter of the object with a receiver of an identification point when the object comes close to the identification point; determining based on the identifier data contained in the memory whether at least two objects logically connected to each other have traveled past the identification point inside a pre-defined time window; and performing one or more pre-defined feedback actions when at least two of the objects logically connected to each other have not traveled past the identification point inside the pre-defined time window.

Claims

1. A method for tracking objects of people in a tracking system, the method comprising:

providing each of at least two different objects with a transmitter, each of the transmitters having individualized identifier data;

logically connecting the objects to each other by connecting the identifier data of the transmitters to each other;

recording the identifier data of the transmitters of the objects that are logically connected to each other in a memory;

connecting contact information of the object in question to the identifier data of the transmitter of the object;

detecting the transmitter of the object with a receiver of an identification point when the object comes close to the identification point;

determining based on the identifier data contained in the memory whether at least two objects that are logically connected to each other have traveled past the identification point inside a pre-defined time window; and

performing one or more pre-defined feedback actions when at least two of the objects that are logically connected to each other have not traveled past the identification point inside the pre-defined time window.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining one of the objects as the host object.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining a super-user in the tracking system;

permitting an object to travel past an identification point with the super-user without performance of one or more of the pre-defined feedback actions.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

recording the contact information in the memory.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact information is a phone number or other contact address.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-defined feedback action comprises one or more of the following:

conveying information about the identification point to a tracking center;

presenting visual and/or auditive feedback;

sending a message to the contact information connected to the identifier data of the transmitter of the object;

forming a phone call to the contact information connected to the identifier data of the transmitter of the object;

recording the information in the identification point;

preventing starting of an elevator car, and

locking an exit passage.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the determining step,

determination is performed based on the identifier data recorded in advance in the memory of the identification point.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the determining step,

information about the identifier data that are logically connected to each other is received from the memory of the transmitter;

and

determination is performed based on the identifier data received from the transmitter of the object.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the determining step,

the identifier data that are logically connected to each other are retrieved from a centralized memory based on one or more identifier data;

and

determination is performed based on the data received from the centralized memory.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is a person, an animal, an electronic device, an item of clothing, a bag, a travel document, an article or a toy.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency remote identifier and/or a wireless short-range radio transmitter.

12. A system for tracking objects in a tracking system, the system comprising:

at least two transmitters, each of which has individualized identifier data,

a memory, which is arranged to record the identifier data of the transmitters of the objects that are logically connected to each other;

management means, which is arranged to logically connect objects to each other by connecting the identifier data of the transmitters of the objects to each other in the memory;

management means, which is arranged to connect contact information of the object in question to the identifier data of the transmitter of the object;

at least one identification point, which comprises a receiver for receiving the identifier data of the transmitter of an object, when the aforementioed object comes close to the identification point;

determination means, which is arranged to determine based on the identifier data contained in the memory whether at least two objects that are logically connected to each other have traveled past the identification point inside a pre-defined time window; and

feedback means, which is arranged to perform one or more pre-defined feedback actions, when two of the objects that are logically connected to each other have not traveled past the identification point inside the pre-defined time window.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the management means is arranged to set one of the objects as the host object.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the management means is arranged to set a super-user in the tracking system and to permit an object to travel past an identification point with the super-user without performance of one or more of the pre-defined feedback actions.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the memory is arranged to record the contact information.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the contact information is a phone number or other contact address.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the pre-defined feedback action comprises one or more of the following:

convening information about the identification point to a tracking center;

presenting visual and/or auditive feedback;

sending a message the contact information connected to the identifier data of the transmitter of the object;

forming a phone call to the contact information connected to the identifier data of the transmitter of the object;

recording the information is recorded in the identification point;

preventing stating of an elevator car, and

locking an exit passage.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the determination means is arranged in the identification point to perform determination based on the identifier data recorded in the memory of the identification point.

19. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the memory is arranged in the transmitter of the object; and

the determination means is arranged in the identification point to perform determination based on the identifier data received from the transmitter of the object.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the identification point is arranged to retrieve from a centralized memory the identifier data that are logically connected to each other on the basis of one or more identification data; and

the determination means is arranged in the identification point.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the identification point is arranged to convey the identifier data of a transmitter of an object to a tracking center; and

the determination means is arranged in the tracking center and they are arranged to perform determination based on the identifier data recorded in a centralized memory.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the identification point is arranged to convey one or more identifier data of a transmitter of an object and the identifier data that are logically connected to each other received from a transmitter to a tracking center; and

the determination means is arranged in the tracking center and they are arranged to determine based on the data received from an identification point whether at least two objects that are logically connected to each other have traveled past the identification point inside the pre-defined time window.

23. The system according to claim 12, wherein the object is a person, an animal, an electronic device, an item of clothing, a bag, a travel document or a toy.

24. The system according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency remote identifier and/or a wireless short-range radio transmitter.