US 8,477,013 B2Granted

Method and system for performing mobile RFID asset detection and tracking

OwnerSanjay Sarma, Brian Subiramainventors

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Abstract

Systems and methods of using RFID tags and a mobile RFID reader device for determining a geographic position of assets within a prescribed region is provided. A method of inferring the geometric location of assets within a prescribed region comprises the steps of moving a mobile RFID reader through said prescribed region; wirelessly detecting, by the mobile RFID reader, a first RFID location transponder while moving through said prescribed region; wirelessly detecting, by the mobile RFID reader, at least one RFID asset tracking transponder while moving through said prescribed region; wirelessly detecting, by the mobile RFID reader, a second RFID location transponder while moving through said prescribed region; and determining the geographic location of assets associated with said at least one detected RFID asset tracking transponder based upon said detected first and second RFID location transponders and a known position and identification code of said first and second RFID location transponders.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for inferring relative locations of assets within a prescribed region, the method comprising:

(a) providing a prescribed region having a plurality of assets disposed within said prescribed region and whose relative locations within said prescribed region are unknown;
(b) disposing a first wireless communication beacon device within said prescribed region at a first location and disposing a second wireless communication beacon at a second location within said prescribed region, different from said first location, said disposing of said first and second wireless communication beacon devices defining a sub-region of said prescribed region that is located between said first and second wireless communication beacon devices;
(c) associating respective wireless communication devices with each one of said plurality of assets to form a plurality of wireless communication asset tracking devices;
(d) traversing said prescribed region to wirelessly detect said wireless communication beacon devices and at least one of said wireless communication asset tracking devices, said traversing comprising wirelessly detecting said first wireless communication beacon device, followed by detecting one or more wireless communication asset tracking devices, followed by detecting said second wireless communication beacon device;
and
(e) inferring that the relative locations of said one or more wireless communication asset tracking devices are within said sub-region.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/849,260Filed 31 Aug 2007 · us provisional application
Priority: 31 Aug 2006
Published: US 2008/0198001 A121 Aug 2008
Granted: 2 Jul 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
G01S 1/68
Using radio waves: marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
G06Q 10/0877
Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders: by inventory control or reporting using inventory…
G06Q 10/08724
Using inventory planning: by shelf level inventory management, e.g. planograms