US5774876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Managing assets with active electronic tags
Assignee: PAR Government Systems Corp
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Filing: 1996-06-26
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Granted: 1998-06-30
•
Expires: 2016-06-26
Abstract
Abstract An object in a storage area or moving vehicle is monitored by attaching an electronic tag to the object. An electronic device detects the presence of the object by communicating with the tag while the object is in storage or is being moved by the vehicle. The tags may also determine the location of an attached object and may reroute the object if it deviates from a given shipping schedule. A group of objects is monitored by two electronic tags, each attached to an object in the group. Each tag has circuitry for communicating information relating to an object in the group to a second tag. Each tag also includes a memory connected to the circuitry that is capable of storing the information, and a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis A. Woolley
- 👤 Charles F. Ferrara
- 👤 Ian Greasley
- 👤 James H. Weimar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/87; G01S13/878; G01S13/74; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/0284; G01S5/0289; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0022; G06K17/0029; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/083; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0877; G01S13/76; G01S13/767; G01S13/78; G01S13/82; G01S13/825; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/03; G01S19/10; G01S19/11; G01S7/00; G01S7/003; G01S7/02; G01S7/40; G01S7/4052; G01S7/4082; G01S7/4091
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for use in monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising: a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising: circuitry for communicating with a second tag, the circuitry communicating at least information pertaining to an object in the group, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, and a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising circuitry for communicating the information with the first tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second tag and capable of storing the information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for use in monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising: a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising: circuitry for communicating with a second tag, the circuitry communicating at least information pertaining to an object in the group, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, and a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising circuitry for communicating the information with the first tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second tag and capable of storing the information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises an identity of a tag in the set capable of long range communication.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the memory in each tag stores a unique identification for the tag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes a change in an identity of a tag in the set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 4 further comprising a user-operated device for communicating with the circuitry in the first tag, the first tag further comprising a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry, a program in the memory of the first tag configuring the controller to enable the circuitry in the first tag to notify the device of the change.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the first tag further comprises an internal time clock.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The system of claim 6 further comprising a time sensor communicating a time to the circuitry in the second tag, the first tag comprising a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry, the memory in the first tag comprising a program causing the controller in the first tag to execute a function when the controller reads the memory, the function causing the controller to enable the circuitry to communicate with the second tag to obtain the time, and set the clock using the time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
The system of claim 6 further comprising a sensor communicating location information to the first tag, the first tag further comprising a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry, wherein the memory in the first tag comprises a program configuring the controller in the first tag to perform a function when the controller reads the memory, the function causing the controller to employ the circuitry in the first tag to query the second tag regarding a transportation route for the object attached to the first tag and employ the circuitry in the first tag to query the sensor regarding the location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the program configures the controller to operate in a specific and predetermined manner to perform the functions of: querying the clock regarding a present time, determining an expected position of the object at the present time based on the route, determining an actual position of the object based on the location, and determining whether the actual position deviates from the expected position by an amount greater than a selected threshold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 9 further comprising a user-operated device for communicating with the first tag, wherein the program configures the controller to operate in a specific and predetermined manner to perform the function of notifying the device of a deviation by causing the circuitry to communicate with the device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the device comprises a processor, device communication circuitry connected to the processor, and a device memory coupled to the processor and comprising a program configuring the processor to perform a function when the processor reads the device memory, the function causing the processor to determine a new route for the object attached to the first tag based on the deviation, and causes the processor to employ the device communication circuitry to communicate the new route to the first tag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the device memory causes the processor to operate in a specific and predetermined manner to perform the function of employing the device communication circuitry to receive communications indicating a change in the route from at least one of the following: a second device, a tag and a system operator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the first electronic tag further comprises a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry in the first tag, the second electronic tag further comprising a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry in the second tag.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the first tag further comprises a power source coupled to the controller in the first tag and supplying power to the circuitry in the first tag, the memory in the first tag comprising a program causing the controller to perform a function when the controller reads the memory, the function causing the controller to adjust the power supplied to the controller to a minimal level which allows communication between the circuitry in the first tag and the circuitry in the second tag.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the information comprises a distance of the first tag from the second tag at a number of different times, and absolute locations of the second tag at each of the times, the program in the memory of the first tag causing the controller in the first tag to determine the absolute position of the first tag from the information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the first tag further comprises a power source connected to the controller, and a timer connected to the power source and the controller, the memory in the first tag comprising a program configuring the controller in the first tag to execute a function when the controller reads the memory, the function causing the controller to load a time period in the timer, the timer causing power from the power source to be removed from the controller and restored after the time period elapses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the memory in the first tag includes a program configuring the controller in th e first tag to execute a function when the controller reads the memory, the function causing the controller to code the information with an encryption code before enabling the circuitry to communicate the information to the second tag.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the first tag further comprises a detector connected to the controller in the first tag, the detector notifying the controller when the first tag is detached from the object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 18 further comprising a user-operated device in communication with the first tag, the memory in the first tag comprising a program configuring the controller in the first tag to perform a function when the controller reads the memory, the function causing the controller to enable the circuitry in the first tag to notify the device in response to notification from the detector that the first tag is detached from the object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 13, further comprising a set of tags neighboring the first tag and including the second tag, wherein the memory in the first tag comprises a program configuring the controller to perform a function when the controller reads the memory in the first tag, the function causing the controller to identify the set of tags by enabling the circuitry in the first tag to establish communications with each tag in the set.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the information comprises an identification of a tag belonging to a different set, the program in the memory of the first tag causing the controller in the first tag to merge the first-mentioned set with the different set when a number of tags in the first-mentioned set falls below a threshold.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the memory in the first tag causes the controller in the first tag to perform the function of dividing the set of tags into subsets when a number of tags in the set increases above a threshold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the memory in the first tag stores an identification code for the first tag, the program causing the controller in the first tag to perform the functions of truncating the code, and employing the circuitry in the first tag to communicate the truncated code to a second tag within a subset.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 22, wherein the information communicated between tags comprises a distance between a pair of tags in the set, the program memory in the first tag causing the controller in the first tag to enable the circuitry in the first tag to communicate with the tags in the set to obtain the distance between each pair of tags in the set, and determine relative locations of each tag in the set based on the distances.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 24 wherein program further comprises a function causing the controller in the first tag to select a particular tag in the set for communicating outside the set based on the locations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 25 wherein the function further causes the controller in the first tag to select a tag located on a periphery of the set of tags as the particular tag.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 22, wherein the program in the memory of the first tag causes the controller in the first tag to select a tag in the set as a relay tag, the circuitry in the relay tag being designated to route messages between a pair of tags in the set.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 27 wherein the program in the memory of the first tag causes the first tag to designate a plurality of relay tags in the set, the controller in the first tag designating a minimal number of relay tags that enables communications between each pair of tags in the set.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 27 wherein program in the memory of the first tag causes the controller in the first tag to perform a Delaunay triangulation to determine a topology of the tags in the set and to select the relay tag based on the topology.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the information includes a distance of the first tag from three different tags in the set and the absolute locations of the three different tags, the program in the memory of the first tag causing the controller in the first tag to determine the absolute position of the first tag from the information.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
108 words
The system of claim 30 wherein the program in the memory of the first tag causes the controller to perform the functions of: causing the circuitry to communicate information with each tag in the set, analyzing the information from the circuitry to determine the presence of a new tag in the set, causing the circuitry to communicate with the new tag to obtain a distance between the first tag and the new tag and a location of the new tag, and refining the absolute position of the first tag based on the location of the new tag and the distance between the first tag and the new tag.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 30 wherein a program in the memory of the first tag causes the controller in the first tag to minimize an error in the absolute position of the first tag.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 30 further comprising a location sensor disposed near one of the three different tags, the sensor communicating a location of the sensor to the circuitry in the one tag.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic tag, comprising a mechanism for attaching the tag to an asset, circuitry for communicating with a second tag, the circuitry communicating at least information pertaining to said asset, and a memory connected to the circuitry and storing the information.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic tag, comprising a mechanism for attaching the tag to an asset, circuitry for communicating with a second tag, the circuitry communicating at least information pertaining to said asset, and a memory connected to the circuitry and storing the information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electronic tag of claim 34, further comprising a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tag of claim 35 further comprising a detector connected to the controller, the detector providing a detection signal indicating whether the tag is detached from the asset.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
The tag of claim 35 further comprising a power source providing power to the controller, and a detector connected to the controller and the power source, the detector providing a detection signal indicating whether the power source has deteriorated beyond a threshold level to the controller.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
47 words
The tag of claim 35 wherein the tag further comprises a timer coupled to the controller and a power source supplying power to the controller, the power source increasing the power processor provided to the controller after the timer supplies an activating signal to the power source.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tag of claim 35 further comprising detector connected to the controller, the detector providing a detection signal to the controller indicating whether the tag has been tampered with.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
61 words
The tag of claim 39 wherein the detector comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and an optical fiber connecting an output of the transmitter to an input of the receiver, the transmitter forwarding a signal over the optical fiber to the input of the receiver, the receiver notifying the controller when the signal does not arrive at the input of the receiver.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for monitoring an object in a moving vehicle, comprising the steps of attaching an electronic tag to the object, the electronic tag being configured to communicate with an electronic device associated with the moving vehicle, using the electronic device as a relay point to communicate with the electronic tag while the object is being moved by the moving vehicle, and detecting the presence of the object during said communicating step.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for monitoring an object in a moving vehicle, comprising the steps of attaching an electronic tag to the object, the electronic tag being configured to communicate with an electronic device associated with the moving vehicle, using the electronic device as a relay point to communicate with the electronic tag while the object is being moved by the moving vehicle, and detecting the presence of the object during said communicating step.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of determining a location of the object by establishing communications between the tag and a sensor storing location information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of storing a unique identification for the object on the tag.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of storing a description of the object on the tag.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of storing the object's shipper and destination on the tag.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 45, further comprising the steps of forwarding the signatures of the tag to the device when the object to which the tag is attached reaches the end of its monitoring period, and deleting the signatures from the tag memory.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of storing a signature of each possessor of the object on the tag.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 47 further comprising the steps of forwarding the signatures of the tag to the device when the tag reaches the limit of its memory capacity, and deleting the signatures from the tag memory.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the steps of disposing the object in a container attached to an electronic tag, and establishing communication between the tag on the object and the tag on the container.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 49 further comprising the step of communicating with the device from the tag on the object through the tag on the container.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 49 further comprising the steps of disposing the container in a second container attached to an electronic tag, and establishing communication between the tag on the first container and the tag on the second container.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of reporting the absence of the object to a user when the device cannot communicate with the tag.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 52 further comprising the steps of reporting the absence of communication to a computer accessible to the user.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 52 further comprising the step of reporting the absence of any object to the user periodically.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 52 further comprising the step of reporting the absence of the object to at least one of the following: an owner of the object and a possessor of the object.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the steps of comparing the location of the object to a planned route, and reporting a discrepancy between the location and the planned route to the user.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 56 wherein said reporting step further comprises the step of reporting the discrepancy to the user using a computer.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 56 further comprising the step of determining a new route for the object.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 56 further comprising the steps of determining a new route for the object by the user, and notifying the device of the new route.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 50 further comprising the step of determining a new route for the object using a computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |