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US 10,777,056 B2Granted
Mobile storage, tracking and security system and method thereof
AssigneeJs2 Logistic Solutions, LLC
InventorKevin Mark Hall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable asset dispensing device includes a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations, an interior and an end. A door is positioned at the end of the container and includes a locking mechanism. A security access device is disposed at the end and configured to accept access information, and a controller controls access into the container and tracks a plurality of items within the interior of the container. The device includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers disposed within the interior of the container, the plurality of RFID readers being configured to detect RFID tags located on the plurality of items within the interior of the container and communicate the items to the controller.
Claims20
A portable asset dispensing device comprising:
- a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations, the container including an interior and an end;
- a door positioned at the end of the container, the door having a locking mechanism, and the door separating the interior of the container from an exterior of the container;
- a security access device disposed at the end and configured to accept only access information to identify an authorized user;
- a controller for controlling access into the container and tracking a plurality of items within the interior of the container;
- and
- a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers disposed within the interior of the container, the plurality of RFID readers configured to detect RFID tags located on the plurality of items within the interior of the container to identify which items are removed or added to the interior of the container after the user exits the interior of the container and communicate the identified items to the controller;
- wherein, the controller identifies an authorized user based on information entered on the security access device and sends a command to the locking mechanism to unlock the door and permit access into the interior of the container to the authorized user;
- further wherein, the controller associates one or more items from the plurality of items that the authorized user removed from or returned to the container with the authorized user based on the plurality of items detected by the RFID readers in the interior of the container after the authorized user exits the interior of the container;
- further wherein, the controller identifies the one or more items removed from or returned to the interior of the container by the authorized user by comparing:
- (a) the plurality of items detected by the RFID readers in the interior of the container before the authorized user entered information on the security access device to, (b) the plurality of items detected by the RFID readers in the interior of the container after the authorized user exits the interior of the container.
7 more elements
A method of tracking inventory in a mobile container comprising:
- providing the mobile container having an interior, an end, a door separating the interior of the container from an exterior of the container, an access point disposed in the end, a controller, a plurality of RFID readers disposed within the interior of the container, a security access device, and a plurality of items disposed within the interior each having a RFID tag;
- performing a first RFID scan of the plurality of items disposed within the interior of the container;
- receiving only access information at the security access device from an authorized user;
- allowing access to the interior of the container via the access point to the authorized user;
- detecting when the authorized user exits the interior of the container through the access point;
- performing a second RFID scan of the plurality of items disposed within the interior of the container after the authorized user exits the interior of the container to identify which items are removed or added to the interior of the container after the user exits the interior of the container;
- comparing the first RFID scan to the second RFID scan;
- determining which of the plurality of items the authorized user returned to or retrieved from the container based on the comparing step;
- and
- associating one or more of the plurality of items returned to or retrieved from the container to the authorized user.
7 more elements
A system of monitoring inventory comprising:
- a mobile container having at least one door with a locking mechanism, the door separating the an interior of the mobile container from an exterior of the mobile container;
- a controller;
- a security access device disposed adjacent to the at least one door and configured to accept only access information;
- a plurality of items, each item of the plurality of items having its own RFID tag disposed within the container;
- and
- a plurality of RFID readers disposed within the container to identify which items are removed or added to the interior of the container after the user exits the interior of the container;
- wherein, the controller sends commands to unlock the door when an authorized user provides proper access information at the security access device;
- further wherein, the controller commands the plurality of RFID readers to perform a first RFID read before the authorized user enters the container to create a first list of items from the plurality of items and after the authorized user leaves the container to create a second list of items;
- further wherein, the controller compares the first list of items to the second list of items to determine which of the plurality of items the authorized user returned or retrieved;
- further wherein, the controller associates the items returned and retrieved with the authorized user.
7 more elements
A method of tracking inventory comprising:
- providing a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations, the container including an interior and a door having a locking mechanism, and the door separating the interior of the container from an exterior of the container;
- detecting RFID tags located on the plurality of items within the interior of the container with a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers disposed within the interior of the container to identify which items are removed or added to the interior of the container after the user exits the interior of the container;
- identifying only an authorized user based on information entered on a security access device disposed at the end of the container;
- sending a command to the locking mechanism to unlock the door and permit access into the interior of the container to the authorized user;
- comparing:
- (a) the plurality of items detected by the RFID readers in the interior of the container before the authorized user entered information on the security access device to, (b) the plurality of items detected by the RFID readers in the interior of the container after the authorized user exits the interior of the container.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.