US 2011/0254731 A1Published application

High-Reliability Product/Activity Tracking System

AssigneeTelespazio S.P.A.

InventorMario Musmeci

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Abstract

Disclosed herein is a tracking system configured to track a product and/or an activity. The tracking system comprises a tracing device and a verification server. The tracing device is coupled with the verification server by means of communication means configured to allow exchange of data between the tracing device and the verification server. The tracing device is coupled with a first satellite localization receiver which is configured to receive signals from a satellite localization system, process the received signals to obtain satellite localization observables, and compute locations based on the satellite localization observables. The tracing device is configured to acquire from the first satellite localization receiver positioning data. The positioning data comprise a location computed by the first satellite localization receiver, and a location time which represents time and data at which the location is computed by the first satellite localization receiver. The positioning data are related to a product and/or an activity to be tracked. The tracing device is further configured to select a satellite localization observable based on which location is computed by the first satellite localization receiver, and to acquire from the satellite localization receiver the selected satellite localization observable. The tracing device is further configured to provide the verification server with the positioning data and the satellite localization observable acquired from the satellite localization receiver. Moreover, the verification server, in turn, is configured to perform a location consistency check based on the location comprised in the positioning data provided by the tracing device, and on the satellite localization observable provided by the tracing device. The verification server is further configured to generate a validation code on the basis of an outcome of the location consistency check, and on the basis of the positioning data provided by the tracing device. The verification server is further configured to provide the tracing device with the generated validation code. Furthermore, the tracing device is configured to store the positioning data and the validation code provided by the verification server on tracking means associated with the product and/or the activity to be tracked.

Claims25

Dependent claims

Tracking system (10;

10′) configured to track a product and/or an activity, the tracking system (10;
10′) comprising a tracing device (11), and a verification server (12), the tracing device (11) being coupled with the verification server (12) by means of communication means (13) configured to allow exchange of data between the tracing device (11) and the verification server (12);
the tracing device (11) being coupled with a first satellite localization receiver to acquire data therefrom;
the first satellite localization receiver being configured to:
receive signals from a satellite localization system;
process the received signals to obtain satellite localization observables;
and
compute locations based on the satellite localization observables;
the tracing device (11) being configured to:
acquire positioning data (21;
31) from the first satellite localization receiver, the positioning data (21;
31) comprising a location computed by the first satellite localization receiver, and a location time which represents time and data at which the location is computed by the first satellite localization receiver, the positioning data (21;
31) being related to a product and/or an activity to be tracked;
the tracking system (10;
10′) being characterized in that the tracing device (11) is configured to:
select a satellite localization observable based on which the location is computed by the first satellite localization receiver;
acquire from the first satellite localization receiver the selected satellite localization observable;
and
provide the verification server (12) with the positioning data (21;
31) and the satellite localization observable acquired from the first satellite localization receiver;
the verification server (12) being configured to:
perform a location consistency check based on the location comprised in the positioning data (21;
31) provided by the tracing device (11), and on the satellite localization observable provided by the tracing device (11);
generate a validation code (23;
33) on the basis of an outcome of the location consistency check, and on the basis of the positioning data (21;
31) provided by the tracing device (11);
and
provide the tracing device (11) with the generated validation code (23;
33);
the tracing device (11) being further configured to:
store the positioning data (21;
31), and the validation code (23;
33) provided by the verification server (12) on tracking means (50) associated with the product and/or the activity to be tracked.

30 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/141,491Filed 23 Dec 2008
Published: 20 Oct 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G01S 19/05
Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers: providing…
G01S 5/0027
Transmission from mobile station to base station: of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
G01S 19/14
Receivers: specially adapted for specific applications
G01S 5/0036
Transmission from mobile station to base station: of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station