US 7,095,325 B2Granted

Asset recovery device

AssigneeFastBack Solutions, Inc.

InventorsWesley McDonald, James Thomas Bowen

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A system is presented for a novel apparatus and method that shortens the time that an asset is lost and increases the probability of return should the asset go astray. The system is intended to allow the asset to proactively alert passers-by that it is lost and also alert the owner of the asset that the asset is lost. The invention contains identification and contact information to aid in the safe, prompt return of the asset. The system comprises an asset tag that is attached to the asset and a base station that is ‘synchronized’ with a the asset tag at specified intervals. Should the asset tag not synchronize with the base station within a predetermined interval, it will emit a personalized voice recording to let passers-by know that the asset is lost and in need of safe return to it's owner. In addition, the system can alert the owner that the asset has gone missing. In this case, the base station may emit a warning indicating that the asset tag has not synchronized with the base station within the predetermined interval.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for identifying a lost asset, the method comprising the steps of:

a) periodically transmitting a first predetermined identification signal from a base station, the first predetermined identification signal unique to the asset, each transmission of the first predetermined identification signal separated by a first predetermined period of time;
b) receiving the first predetermined identification signal at an asset tag attached to the asset, the asset tag having a predetermined identification code unique to the asset;
c) comparing the first predetermined identification signal with the predetermined identification code of the asset at the asset tag;
d) synchronizing the asset tag to the base station by transmitting a second predetermined identification signal from the asset tag if the first predetermined identification signal matches the predetermined identification code of the asset, the second predetermined identification signal containing the predetermined identification code of the asset;
e) generating a first alarm message at the asset tag indicating that the asset is lost if the first predetermined identification signal does not match the predetermined identification code of the asset or if the first predetermined identification signal is not received after a first predetermined period of time;
f) receiving the second predetermined identification signal at the base station;
g) comparing the second predetermined identification signal with the first predetermined identification signal at the base station;
and
h) generating a base alarm message at the base station indicating that the asset is lost if the predetermined identification code of the asset contained in the second predetermined identification signal does not match the first predetermined identification signal or if the second predetermined identification signal is not received after a second predetermined period of time.

6 more elements

A system for identifying a lost asset, comprising:

a) means for transmitting a predetermined identification signal from a base station, the first predetermined identification signal unique to the asset;
b) means for receiving the first predetermined identification signal at a asset tag attached to the asset, the asset tag having a predetermined identification code unique to the asset;
c) means for comparing the first predetermined identification signal with the predetermined identification code of the asset;
d) means for synchronizing the asset tag to the base station by transmitting a second predetermined identification signal from the asset tag if the first predetermined identification signal matches the predetermined identification code of the asset, the second predetermined identification signal containing the predetermined identification code of the asset;
e) means for generating a first alarm message at the asset tag indicating that the asset is lost if the first predetermined identification signal does not match the predetermined identification code of the asset or if the first predetermined identification signal is not received after a first predetermined period of time;
f) means for receiving the second predetermined identification signal at the base station;
g) means for comparing the second predetermined identification signal with the first predetermined identification signal at the base station;
and
h) means for generating a base alarm message at the base station indicating that the asset is lost if the predetermined identification code of the asset contained in the second predetermined identification signal does not match the first predetermined identification signal or if the second predetermined identification signal is not received after a second predetermined period of time.

6 more elements

A system for identifying a lost asset, comprising:

a) a base station having
i) means for assigning a predetermined identification code unique to the asset,
ii) a first wireless radio frequency signal transceiver operatively connected to a base station antenna,
iii) a first microprocessor operating a first software program operatively connected to the first wireless radio frequency signal transceiver and the means for assigning the predetermined identification code unique to the asset,
iv) a base alarm message playback mechanism operatively connected to the first microprocessor,
v) a power supply operatively connected to the first transceiver, the first microprocessor and the base alarm message playback mechanism, and
vi) a suitable enclosure for housing the elements of the base station listed above
whereby the base station is capable of transmitting a first predetermined identification signal unique to the asset, receiving a second predetermined identification signal containing a predetermined identification code of an asset, comparing the first predetermined identification signal with the predetermined identification code contained in the second predetermined identification signal and generating a base alarm message if said predetermined identification code does not match the first predetermined identification signal or if the second predetermined identification signal is not received within a first predetermined period of time;
and
b) an asset tag having
i) means for assigning a predetermined identification code unique to the asset tag,
ii) a second wireless radio frequency signal transceiver operatively connected to an asset tag antenna,
iii) a second microprocessor operating a second software program operatively connected to the second wireless radio frequency signal transceiver and the means for assigning the predetermined identification code of the asset tag,
iv) an asset tag alarm message recording and playback mechanism operatively connected to the second microprocessor, the alarm recording and playback mechanism adapted to record and playback a first alarm message,
v) a power supply operatively connected to the second transceiver, the second microprocessor and the alarm message recording and playback mechanism, and
vi) a suitable enclosure for housing the elements of the asset tag listed above and attaching to an asset
whereby the asset tag is capable of receiving the first predetermined identification signal, comparing the first predetermined identification signal with the predetermined identification code of the asset tag, synchronizing with the base station by transmitting the second predetermined identification signal containing the predetermined identification code of the asset tag if the first predetermined identification signal matches the predetermined identification code of the asset tag and generating the first alarm message if the first predetermined identification signal does not match the predetermined identification code of the asset tag or if the first predetermined identification signal is not received within a second predetermined period of time.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.