Working asset management system and method

Claim 1

A method of operating an identification tag including a processor and a memory coupled to said processor, to control an inventory of monitored working assets, said method comprising steps of: coupling a monitoring system for one of said working assets to said tag; obtaining use information from said monitoring system, said use information describing a quantity of use experienced by said one working asset; receiving an interrogation signal; storing, by said processor, data in said memory in response to instructions contained in said interrogation signal; and transmitting, in response to said interrogation signal, said use information.

Claim 2

A method of operating an identification tag including a processor and a memory coupled to said processor, to control an inventory of monitored working assets, said method comprising steps of: coupling a monitoring system for one of said working assets to said tag; obtaining use information from said monitoring system, said use information describing a quantity of use experienced by said one working asset; receiving an interrogation signal; storing, by said processor, data in said memory in response to instructions contained in said interrogation signal; and transmitting, in response to said interrogation signal, said use information.

Claim 14

A method of controlling an inventory of working assets, said method comprising steps of: physically associating each of a plurality of identification tags with each working asset in said inventory of working assets such that each of said plurality of identification tags corresponds to, and provides identification for, a particular working asset; locating at least a portion of said inventory in a staging area having a normally closed portal; assigning a selected one of said working assets to a user; interrogating one of said plurality of identification tags, said one of said plurality of identification tags associated with a working asset positioned at said portal, to identify said working asset; updating a database in a computer to describe a new location for said selected one of said working assets, said database describing locations of said working assets; and temporarily opening said portal when said working asset at said portal is said selected one of said working assets.

Claim 15

A method of controlling an inventory of working assets, said method comprising steps of: physically associating each of a plurality of identification tags with each working asset in said inventory of working assets such that each of said plurality of identification tags corresponds to, and provides identification for, a particular working asset; locating at least a portion of said inventory in a staging area having a normally closed portal; assigning a selected one of said working assets to a user; interrogating one of said plurality of identification tags, said one of said plurality of identification tags associated with a working asset positioned at said portal, to identify said working asset; updating a database in a computer to describe a new location for said selected one of said working assets, said database describing locations of said working assets; and temporarily opening said portal when said working asset at said portal is said selected one of said working assets.

Claim 34

A system for controlling an inventory of working assets, said system comprising: a plurality of identification tags wherein each tag is physically and uniquely associated with a working asset from said inventory of working assets; a normally closed portal configured to selectively control passage into or out from a staging area, said staging area holding at least a portion of said inventory of working assets; a processor for assigning a selected one of said working assets to a user; an interrogator, positioned proximate said portal, for interrogating one of said tags associated with a working asset positioned at said portal to identify said working asset positioned at said portal; memory means coupled to said processor, said memory means for storing data in response to interrogation signals from said interrogator; and means, coupled to said interrogator and said processor, for temporarily opening said portal when said working asset at said portal is said selected one of said working assets.

Claim 35

A system for controlling an inventory of working assets, said system comprising: a plurality of identification tags wherein each tag is physically and uniquely associated with a working asset from said inventory of working assets; a normally closed portal configured to selectively control passage into or out from a staging area, said staging area holding at least a portion of said inventory of working assets; a processor for assigning a selected one of said working assets to a user; an interrogator, positioned proximate said portal, for interrogating one of said tags associated with a working asset positioned at said portal to identify said working asset positioned at said portal; memory means coupled to said processor, said memory means for storing data in response to interrogation signals from said interrogator; and means, coupled to said interrogator and said processor, for temporarily opening said portal when said working asset at said portal is said selected one of said working assets.

Claim 47

A method of controlling an inventory of working assets, said method comprising steps of: physically associating each of a plurality of identification tags with each working asset in said inventory of working assets such that each of said plurality of identification tags corresponds to, and provides identification for, a particular working asset; locating at least a portion of said inventory in a staging area having a normally closed portal; assigning a selected one of said working assets to a user; detecting the presence of said working asset positioned at said portal; interrogating one of said plurality of identification tags, said one of said plurality of identification tags associated with a working asset positioned at said portal, to identify said working asset; updating a database in a computer to describe a new location for said selected one of said working assets, said database describing locations of said working assets; refraining from opening said portal when said interrogating step does not obtain a response from said tag; temporarily opening said portal when said working asset at said portal is said selected one of said working assets; maintaining a list of unique identifying codes associated with said working assets of said inventory; obtaining an interrogation response code in response to said interrogating step; refraining from opening said portal when said interrogation response code does not correspond to one of said unique identifying codes from said list; locating a first detector to detect the presence of working assets positioned to exit said staging area, said first detector providing a signal to which said interrogating step responds; locating a second detector to detect the presence of working assets positioned to enter said staging area; obtaining an interrogation response code in response to a signal provided by said second detector; and preventing entry into said staging area when said interrogation response code does not correspond to one of said unique identifying codes from said list, wherein said method also includes steps of: associating a caretaker tag with a caretaker; authorizing said caretaker to transport one or more of authorized ones of said working assets through said portal; interrogating said caretaker tag; temporarily opening said portal when said working asset at said portal is an authorized one of said working assets; preventing, in response to said assigning step, said selected one of said working assets from being one of said authorized assets; and refraining from opening said portal when said caretaker tag interrogating step does not obtain a response from said interrogated caretaker tag or when said working asset at said portal is not an authorized one of said working assets, wherein at least a chosen one of said working assets has a monitoring system, and said method additionally comprises steps of: electrically coupling said monitoring system to a chosen one of said tags, said chosen tag being associated with said chosen one of said working assets, said chosen one of said working assets comprising a motor vehicle; obtaining use information at said chosen tag from said monitoring system, said use information describing a quantity of use experienced by said chosen one of said working assets, said use information including identification of a distance traveled by said vehicle; communicating said use information from said chosen tag in response to said interrogation step; obtaining operational status information at said chosen tag from said monitoring system, said operational status information indicating whether said chosen one of said working assets is in need of maintenance; and communicating said operational status information from said chosen tag in response to said interrogation step, wherein: said interrogating step is configured to interrogate one of said tags associated with a working asset positioned to exit said staging area at said portal; and said method additionally comprises a step of refraining from opening said portal when said operational status information communicated in said communicating step indicates that said chosen working asset is in need of maintenance, and wherein said method additionally comprises steps of: locating a second portion of said inventory in a second staging area; detecting the presence of a working asset positioned to enter or exit said second staging area; interrogating one of said tags, said one tag being associated with said working asset positioned to enter or exit said second staging area; selectively controlling passage into or out of said second staging area by said working asset positioned to enter or exit said second staging area in response to said interrogating step; adjusting location information included in a database when said passage is permitted; and annunciating instructions when said passage is denied.

Claim 48

A method of controlling an inventory of working assets, said method comprising steps of: physically associating each of a plurality of identification tags with each working asset in said inventory of working assets such that each of said plurality of identification tags corresponds to, and provides identification for, a particular working asset; locating at least a portion of said inventory in a staging area having a normally closed portal; assigning a selected one of said working assets to a user; detecting the presence of said working asset positioned at said portal; interrogating one of said plurality of identification tags, said one of said plurality of identification tags associated with a working asset positioned at said portal, to identify said working asset; updating a database in a computer to describe a new location for said selected one of said working assets, said database describing locations of said working assets; refraining from opening said portal when said interrogating step does not obtain a response from said tag; temporarily opening said portal when said working asset at said portal is said selected one of said working assets; maintaining a list of unique identifying codes associated with said working assets of said inventory; obtaining an interrogation response code in response to said interrogating step; refraining from opening said portal when said interrogation response code does not correspond to one of said unique identifying codes from said list; locating a first detector to detect the presence of working assets positioned to exit said staging area, said first detector providing a signal to which said interrogating step responds; locating a second detector to detect the presence of working assets positioned to enter said staging area; obtaining an interrogation response code in response to a signal provided by said second detector; and preventing entry into said staging area when said interrogation response code does not correspond to one of said unique identifying codes from said list, wherein said method also includes steps of: associating a caretaker tag with a caretaker; authorizing said caretaker to transport one or more of authorized ones of said working assets through said portal; interrogating said caretaker tag; temporarily opening said portal when said working asset at said portal is an authorized one of said working assets; preventing, in response to said assigning step, said selected one of said working assets from being one of said authorized assets; and refraining from opening said portal when said caretaker tag interrogating step does not obtain a response from said interrogated caretaker tag or when said working asset at said portal is not an authorized one of said working assets, wherein at least a chosen one of said working assets has a monitoring system, and said method additionally comprises steps of: electrically coupling said monitoring system to a chosen one of said tags, said chosen tag being associated with said chosen one of said working assets, said chosen one of said working assets comprising a motor vehicle; obtaining use information at said chosen tag from said monitoring system, said use information describing a quantity of use experienced by said chosen one of said working assets, said use information including identification of a distance traveled by said vehicle; communicating said use information from said chosen tag in response to said interrogation step; obtaining operational status information at said chosen tag from said monitoring system, said operational status information indicating whether said chosen one of said working assets is in need of maintenance; and communicating said operational status information from said chosen tag in response to said interrogation step, wherein: said interrogating step is configured to interrogate one of said tags associated with a working asset positioned to exit said staging area at said portal; and said method additionally comprises a step of refraining from opening said portal when said operational status information communicated in said communicating step indicates that said chosen working asset is in need of maintenance, and wherein said method additionally comprises steps of: locating a second portion of said inventory in a second staging area; detecting the presence of a working asset positioned to enter or exit said second staging area; interrogating one of said tags, said one tag being associated with said working asset positioned to enter or exit said second staging area; selectively controlling passage into or out of said second staging area by said working asset positioned to enter or exit said second staging area in response to said interrogating step; adjusting location information included in a database when said passage is permitted; and annunciating instructions when said passage is denied.