# US 2018/0322376 A1 · Asset tag and methods and devices for restocking and asset tracking

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- Number: US 2018/0322376 A1
- Document ID: US20180322376A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/969,447
- Filed: 2018-05-02
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-02
- Assignees: Inventor-E Limited
- Applicants: Inventor-E Limited
- Inventors: Dean Charles HENRY; John VENTER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180322376A1

## CPC

- G06K 19/0716: {at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor}
- G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/08726: {for replenishment processing, procedures, or recommendations using forecasting or optimisation}
- G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting}
- G07F 9/001: {Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices}
- G07F 11/004: {Restocking arrangements therefor}
- G07F 17/12: comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
- G08C 17/02: using a radio link
- H04W 4/35: for the management of goods or merchandise
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

An asset tag adapted to be mounted to an asset. The asset tag comprises a first component encoded with a first ID unique to the asset tag, the first component having a first wireless interface and transmitting first broadcast signals via said first wireless interface over a first range, the first broadcast signals including the first ID. The asset tag further comprises a user-actuatable button. The asset tag further comprises processing circuitry, coupled to the button and to at least the first wireless interface. The processing circuitry is configured for (i) determining whether a predetermined gesture has been performed by a user using the button and (ii) if the predetermined gesture has been performed, transmitting via the first wireless interface to a wireless access point a restock message, the restock message including the first ID and indicating that restocking is required of assets corresponding to the first ID.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An asset tag adapted to be mounted to an asset, the asset tag comprising:
a first component encoded with a first ID unique to the asset tag, the first component having a first wireless interface and being adapted to transmit first broadcast signals via said first wireless interface over a first range, the first broadcast signals including the first ID;
a user-actuatable button; and
processing circuitry, coupled to the button and to at least the first wireless interface, the processing circuitry being configured for (i) determining whether a predetermined gesture has been performed by a user using the button and (ii) if the predetermined gesture has been performed, transmitting via the first wireless interface to a wireless access point a restock message, the restock message including the first ID and indicating that restocking is required of assets corresponding to the first ID.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The asset tag according to claim 1, wherein determining whether a predetermined gesture has been performed comprises determining whether the button has been actuated twice within a first predetermined period.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The asset tag according to claim 1, wherein determining whether a predetermined gesture has been performed comprises determining whether the button has been actuated and held for a second predetermined period.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The asset tag according to claim 2, wherein the first predetermined period or the second predetermined period has a duration of 0.5 to 4 seconds, more preferably 1 to 3 seconds, and more preferably 1 to 2 seconds.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The asset tag according to claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator element, the visual indicator element being illuminated, at a given time, in a colour indicative of current status.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The asset tag according to claim 5, wherein the visual indicator element is configured to be illuminated, at a given time, in a respective colour corresponding to the current status being one of normal, restock pending, restock acknowledged and restock complete.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The asset tag according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second component encoded with a second ID unique to the asset tag, the second component having a second wireless interface and being adapted to transmit second broadcast signals via said second wireless interface over a second range, the second broadcast signals including the second ID;
wherein the processing circuitry is coupled to the second wireless interface and configured for transmitting the restock message via the first wireless interface and/or second wireless interface, the restock message including the first ID and/or the second ID and indicating that restocking is required of assets corresponding to the first and/or second ID.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The asset tag according to claim 7, wherein the first range and the second range are different and/or the first ID and the second ID are identical.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The asset tag according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless interface is one or more of (i) a transmit-only wireless interface, (ii) adapted to transmit the first broadcast signals with a first periodicity T1, (iii) a battery-powered wireless interface and (iv) a Bluetooth interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The asset tag according to claim 7 wherein the second wireless interface is one or more of (i) a wireless transceiver, (ii) adapted to transmit the second broadcast signals with a second periodicity T2, (iii) a battery-powered wireless interface, (iv) a passive wireless interface, (v) adapted to transmit, upon interrogation by a corresponding reader device, a second broadcast signal and (vi) a NFC interface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The asset tag according to claim 7, further including a write switch coupled to the processing circuitry; wherein the processing circuitry is configured, upon actuation of the write switch, to (i) obtain the first ID from the first component and write or rewrite the first ID to a storage element of the second component and (ii) turn off the second component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The asset tag according to claim 11, further including a user-actuatable push button on a housing of the asset tag for actuating the write switch.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A hard hat, bicycle or motorcycle helmet incorporating an asset tag according to claim 1, the asset tag including an accelerometer coupled to the processing circuitry; wherein the processing circuitry is configured to store time and/or amplitude data for any impacts recorded by the accelerometer above a threshold impact level.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

A method of configuring an asset tag according to claim 7, the method comprising, during manufacture and/or assembly of the asset tag, (i) obtaining the first ID from the first component and writing or rewriting the first ID to a storage element of the second component and (ii) turning off the second component.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

An asset supply arrangement, the asset supply arrangement comprising:
one or more bins for holding assets, the or each bin having on a visible surface thereof an asset tag according to claim 1;
wherein the first ID and/or second ID of the asset tag is associated in a database of a central control computer with the assets in a respective bin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

An asset supply system, the asset supply system comprising:
an asset supply arrangement according to claim 15,
a wireless access point located within the first range or within the second range, the wireless access point being coupled for communication with a central control computer;
wherein an asset tag on the asset supply arrangement is configured to transmit the restock message to the central control computer via the wireless access point.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The asset supply system of claim 16, wherein the wireless access point (a) is configured to (i) receive the restock message transmitted by the first wireless interface and (ii) forward the restock message to the central control computer and/or (b) is located in a storeroom in which the asset supply arrangement is located.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A dual-bin arrangement, the dual-bin arrangement comprising:
a housing in which an upper space and a lower space are defined, both the upper space and the lower space being adapted for holding assets;
an asset tag according to claim 1 provided on the housing;
a divider configured to move between a first position, in which the divider forms a floor of the upper space, and a second position, in which the upper space and a lower space are contiguous, thereby enabling assets to fall from the upper space to the lower space; and
a switch located on the housing and configured to be activated as the divider moves out of the first position, thereby triggering the sending of a restock message to a wireless access point for forwarding to a central control computer for ordering a restock of the dual-bin arrangement.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The dual-bin arrangement according to claim 18, wherein (i) the restock message is transmitted by a long-range wireless interface of the switch to the wireless access point or (ii) a restock signal is transmitted to the tag, thereby triggering the sending of a restock message by the first wireless interface of the tag to a wireless access point.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The dual-bin arrangement according to claim 19, further comprising a flag member;
wherein the flag member is movable between a latched position and an indicating position, the flag member being urged under bias into the indicating position;
wherein the flag member is held in the latched position when the divider is in the first position; and
wherein the flag member is released and movable under the bias as the divider moves out of the first position.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The dual-bin arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the switch includes a reed switch and the flag member includes in or on a portion thereof a magnet;
wherein the magnet acts to maintain the reed switch closed when the flag member is held in the latched position; and
wherein the reed switch goes open as the flag member is released and moves out of the latched position.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The dual-bin arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the flag member is rotatable so as to be substantially horizontal in the latched position and substantially vertical in the indicating position.

### Claim 23 (depends on 3)

The asset tag according to claim 3, wherein the first predetermined period or the second predetermined period has a duration of 0.5 to 4 seconds, more preferably 1 to 3 seconds, and more preferably 1 to 2 seconds.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The dual-bin arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the flag member is rotatable so as to be substantially horizontal in the latched position and substantially vertical in the indicating position.