Trackable storage unit system and method

A trackable storage unit system comprising:

• a plurality of stackable storage units, each storage unit having a computer chip containing data concerning the storage unit;
• a carrier for carrying a plurality of stacked storage units, the carrier having a first transceiver;
• electrical connections between the carrier and at least a first storage unit in the stack of storage units carried by the carrier and between adjacent storage units in the stack of storage units carried by the carrier, the electrical connections enabling the first transceiver on the carrier to transmit and receive data to and from the computer chips of the storage units in the stack of storage units;
• and
• a second remote transceiver for receiving and transmitting data to and from the first transceiver
• wherein the second remote transceiver transmits and receives data to and from the computer chips of the plurality of storage units via the first transceiver and the electrical connections to track the plurality of storage units.

In a storage unit system having a plurality of stackable storage units, with each storage unit having a computer chip containing data concerning the storage unit, a storage unit carrier having a first transceiver with electrical connections between the carrier and at least a first storage unit in the stack of storage units carried by the carrier and between adjacent storage units in the stack of storage units carried by the carrier, and a second remote transceiver for receiving and transmitting data to and from the first transceiver, a method for tracking the plurality of storage units comprising:

• transmitting data between the computer chips in the stack of storage units and the first transceiver on the carrier via the electrical connections between adjacent storage units in the stack of storage units;
• transmitting the data between the first transceiver and the second transceiver;
• and
• monitoring the data received by the second transceiver.

A trackable storage unit system comprising:

• a plurality of storage units, each storage unit having a computer chip containing data concerning the storage unit;
• a carrier for carrying a plurality of storage units, the carrier having a first transceiver;
• a central power source connected to the carrier for supplying power to the computer chips of the plurality of storage units;
• electrical connections between the carrier and each of the plurality of storage units carried on the carrier, the electrical connections enabling the central power source to supply power to the computer chips of the storage units in contact with the carrier and enabling the first transceiver on the carrier to transmit and receive data to and from the computer chips of the plurality of storage units in contact with the carrier;
• and
• a second remote transceiver for receiving and transmitting data to and from the first transceiver
• wherein the second remote transceiver transmits and receives data to and from the computer chips of the plurality of storage units via the first transceiver and the electrical connections to track the plurality of storage units.

In a storage unit system having a plurality of storage units, with each storage unit having a computer chip containing data concerning the storage unit, a storage unit carrier having a first transceiver with electrical connections between the carrier and each of the plurality of storage units carried on the carrier, a central power source connected to the carrier for supplying power to the computer chips of the plurality of storage units via the electrical connections, and a second remote transceiver for receiving and transmitting data to and from the first transceiver, a method for tracking the plurality of storage units comprising:

• supplying power to the computer chips of the plurality of storage units in contact with the carrier via the electrical connections;
• transmitting data between the computer chips of the plurality of storage units in contact with the carrier and the first transceiver on the carrier via the electrical connections;
• transmitting the data between the first transceiver and the second transceiver;
• and
• monitoring the data received by the second transceiver.