US 5,842,555 A · Automated baggage tracking system and method for use in a baggage conveyor system

Abstract

The present invention is an automated baggage tracking and sorting system having a conveyor system controlled by a system controller, and a distributed baggage identification system. The distributed baggage identification system comprises a plurality of zone content identifiers coupled to one or more of a plurality of conveyors at predetermined locations to create a plurality of zones. Each of the zones is associated with one of the plurality of zone content identifiers, and each of the zone content identifiers is configured to store information pertaining to the object located in the associated zone. The distributed baggage identification system further comprises a plurality of information retrievers positioned adjacent to the conveyors at predetermined transition regions. The information retrievers are configured to retrieve information from the zone content identifiers as the associated zone is at the transition region. The distributed baggage identification system also comprises a plurality of information providers positioned adjacent to the conveyors at predetermined transition regions. The information providers are configured to transfer information to the zone content identifiers when the associated zone is at the transition region.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An automated tracking and sorting system, comprising:

a plurality of conveyors coupled to each other at transition regions;
a system controller for controlling said conveyors to effect the conveyance of objects through the system;
and
a distributed baggage identification system, including,
a plurality of zone content identifiers coupled to one or more of said plurality of conveyors at predetermined locations to create a plurality of zones, each said zone being associated with one of said plurality of zone content identifiers, each said zone content identifier configured to store information pertaining to the object located in said associated zone,
a plurality of information retrievers positioned adjacent to said conveyors at predetermined transition regions, said information retrievers configured to retrieve said information from said zone content identifiers as said associated zone is at a transition region, and
a plurality of information providers positioned adjacent to said conveyors at predetermined transition regions, said information providers configured to transfer said information to zone content identifiers when said associated zone is at said transition region.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated baggage tracking system and method for use in a baggage conveyor system

Life of this patent

Automated baggage tracking system and method for use in a baggage conveyor system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14