279 results about "Asset tracking" patented technology

The present disclosure controls the network and manages resources for managing network assets through in a network-based supply chain framework. Network assets are available to network users. One user may submit information reguarding potential for growth, the capacity, or the technological level of one of the network assets. Another user may submit similar information about another network asset. Based on the information from the users, the system may determine the optimal set of network assets. When network events about the assets are recieved, the events can be filtered, correlated and isolated. These events can then be translated into a standard object form for facilitating the determination of the problem causing the network event.

The invention comprises management of programs and mega-programs with emphasis on project level and above in a hierarchy that enables aggregation of information navigating up, and breakdown of details navigating down the hierarchy. It provides the flexibility of combining real-time management of budget with multiple editions, on call, asset tracking and capacity management of people and non-people resources within the same structure, vendor management, and real-time cross-program interlinking of dependencies and business considerations. The invention enables invocation of each function at every node in the hierarchy and localizes the related information at the invoking source. The functions encompass management of action items, status reports, approvals, meetings/decision making, issues, risks, change management and attachments with built in workflows that enable interactive collaboration and action triggering within the system and across external systems through condition and threshold setting. The universal structure enables management of organization layers and project initiatives.

A system and method provides efficient and highly reliable customer and asset tracking. A Personal Digital Key (PDK) is associated with and carried by a user or fixed to an asset. The PDK wirelessly communicates with a receiver/decoder circuit (RDC) that can be coupled to a variety of electronic devices. The RDC authenticates the PDK based on received data and stores information to track customers and provide improved service. The RDC can be coupled to or integrated with a variety of electronic devices. The operation of the electronic device is determined based on an identification code of the detected PDK and an identification code of the RDC. The electronic device, the PDK or both can be configured with a personalized user interface and execute specific functions based on stored state information associated with the PDK and RDC identification codes.

A cabinet frame enclosure is provided having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first opening and a second opening each in combination defining an interior space for accommodating a plurality of equipment, the equipment being removable through the first opening. A plurality of functional modules are provided such as: an asset tracking module for detecting the presence or absence of the equipment from the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure, the asset tracking module disposed in the first side wall adjacent the first opening; an access control module for providing electronic locking and access control to the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure; an environmental management module for monitoring and controlling environmental conditions within the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure; a power management module for monitoring and controlling power distribution to equipment located in the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure, the power management module disposed in one of the first side wall or second side wall and adjacent the second opening; and a cabinet control module (CCM) for providing consolidated connectivity to the plurality of functional modules, wherein the CCM presents a single network connection for managing the equipment located in the cabinet frame enclosure.

A method, system and mobile sensor node monitor a supply chain monitoring. A communication network is established which includes a plurality of mobile sensor nodes. Status information for each mobile sensor node is periodically transmitted. Each mobile sensor node receives status information for at least one other mobile sensor node in the communication network. A log file which includes the received status information is compiled and stored in the mobile sensor node that received the corresponding status information.

An apparatus and method for tracking the location of one or more assets, comprising an integrated system that identifies an asset, determines the time the asset is acquired by a conveying vehicle, determines the position, elevation and orientation of the asset at the moment it is acquired, determines the time the asset is deposited by the conveying vehicle, and determines the position, elevation and orientation of the asset at the time the asset is deposited, each position, elevation and orientation being relative to a reference plane. Mobile subsystems, each on a conveying vehicle, identify the location and orientation of that conveying vehicle using an optical position sensor unit viewing an array of optical position markers, determine the identity of the asset from a label, confirm acquisition of the asset, determine the elevation of the asset relative to the reference plane and communicate the tracking information to a fixed-base subsystem.

Method and apparatus for indirect asset tracking in materials handling environments with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). In one embodiment, receptacles in a materials handling facility may be equipped with RFID tags. Agents within the materials handling facility may be equipped with RFID readers, which may be integrated in or attached to gloves, wristbands, or other devices. The location of each receptacle to which an RFID tag is attached may be associated with the unique identifier of the RFID tag. When an agent's hand approaches or enters a receptacle equipped with an RFID tag, the RFID reader may detect the presence of the RFID tag. This information, in combination with known information such as the location of the receptacles, may be used, for example, for information gathering and/or for quality checking in picking, stowing, rebinning, and/or other materials handling processes.

Described are a system and a method for optical tracking of assets. The system includes a sensor having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel is adapted to produce an electrical signal responsive to an incident optical data signal emitted by an optical tag attached to an asset. The system also includes a sensor processor in communication with the sensor and configured to generate an electrical data signal based on optical data signals incident on the pixels. The sensor processor also generates asset data in response to the electrical data signals from the pixels. The sensor and sensor processor can be implemented as an optical communications imager in which each pixel generates a communication data signal based on incident light. Alternatively, the sensor can include a digital video camera or an analog video camera for lower bandwidth communications.

A plurality of wireless transceivers are associated with assets and each transceiver is assigned a class designation representative of an attribute, characteristic, relation, or behavior of its respective asset. Class based network formation routines are utilized to establish hierarchical networks based on asset classes, and the asset class is used by each transceiver to screen communications intended for receipt by transceivers of the same class. The overall wireless data communication network results in reduced power consumption and signal interference in asset-tracking applications. The transceivers may include a query handling routine for forming a dynamically distributed hierarchical database system. Furthermore, a recipient transceiver selectively receives communications from other local transceivers by transmitting at incrementally stronger power levels to successive groups of transceivers, and receiving reply transmissions only from a limited number of the transceivers that excludes those transceivers from which communications already are received.

A system and method employing a combination of long-range and short-range asset location systems, preferable a GPS-based system combined with an RFID-based system. The short-range system regularly activates itself, or is remotely polled, to determine if the asset is within range of the short-range transceivers, and the long-range system is activated to determine the location of the asset when it is outside the range of the short-range transceivers. In at least some embodiments, the asset is an automobile equipped with both RFID and GPS-based transceivers.

One or more reading devices are disposed within a hollow case sized and shaped to be held in a user's hand. A supplemental switch is also disposed in the case and is manually activatable by a user, such as by the user's thumb. Logic disposed in the case is connected to a reading device and the supplemental switch for taking a first action when the switch is activated and taking a second action when it is not. The first and second actions may comprise first and second modes of operation of the reading device. When two or more reading devices are provided, the first and second actions may include reading operations of the first and second devices, respectively. Types of reading devices that may be incorporated into embodiments of the invention include bar code scanners, RF ID interrogators, and smart card scanners.

A system and method for impromptu asset tracking. According to one embodiment, information from a first reporting source about a first asset is received. Asset identification information about a second asset is received from the first reporting source. The first reporting source is coupled with the first asset. The asset identification information comprises identification data gathered by the first reporting source on an impromptu basis when the first reporting source is within a transmission range of a proximity communication device coupled with the second asset. A database is populated with the asset identification information such that the asset identification information can be collected from the database.

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing location determination in a configured environment in which Global Navigation Satellite System Signals are not available. In this regard, local beacon systems generate spread spectrum CDMA signals that are received by spectral compression units that derive physically meaningful observations without a requirement for correlation of the intercepted energy by means of the known spreading codes. The invention can coexist with communication assets already in place, and the design allows for self calibration, which simplifies installation and usage. The invention has utility in applications in which GNSS signals are unavailable or limited, for example, in warehouse inventory management, in search and rescue operations and in asset tracking in indoor environments.

Applications and uses for geographic coded of network access points includes a method for generating a geographic code and an associated graphical user-interface; a method for rejecting or filtering out geographic codes of inaccurately labeled access points; a method for using geographic codes as part of network service discovery; a method for using geographic codes as part of resource discovery and display; a method for using geographic codes for asset tracking; a method for using geographic codes for file transfer and an associated user interface; a method for using geographic codes for location tracking; a method for using geographic codes as part of a domain name registry; and a method for sending geographic codes automatically.

A mobile asset tracking system receives telemetry information from any number of mobile assets (e.g., railcars, truck trailers, intermodal cargo containers, etc.) transporting hazardous or non-hazardous materials. Location data is obtained through GPS satellite locks and is transmitted via a cellular module to a central database for processing. Business rules in the software of the system trigger proactive alert communications to subscribers through common communication protocols such as email, SMS text, and pagers. Personal Computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), cell phones or other common communication devices widely available to consumers may be utilized for receipt of alerts. Subscribers may be defined as manufacturers of materials, consignees who receive materials, transporters of materials (e.g. railroads, trucking companies, etc.) and communities such as county, state and/or federal emergency management personnel. GIS mapping software is utilized for geographical display of assets to authorized subscribers.

An apparatus and method for low frequency asset tracking includes a low frequency transmitter tag associated with a cargo container or other high value commodity, a plurality of receivers that detect low frequency signals, and a microprocessor that uses algorithms and/or data pertaining to the propagation characteristics of the signal to locate the position of the container or high value commodity. The tag may include sensors to monitor container properties or conditions, such as temperature, motion, intrusion, RF fields, or other properties of interest. Sensor data may be modulated on the low frequency transmitter signal.

A unique data label is affixed to each tracked asset and a unique data label for each location in the enterprise, both real and virtual locations. Location history data of the asset is related to other asset data in a relational data base. Assets typically include system components down to the least repairable/replaceable unit (LRU). The data label, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is a code label using a code that ensures each label is unique to the asset or location to which it is attached. Here the word location is an inclusive term. It includes the geographical location and the identity of the building in which the asset is housed. Location also includes the identity of the system of which a component is a part and, if relevant, location within the system. It includes also any real or virtual location of interest for subsequent analysis and is ultimately defined by the nature of the system being tracked.People assigned to install, upgrade, maintain, and do other work on the system are identified and this identifying data is entered into the data base along with each activity performed on the system and its components. Preferably, in response to a scanned asset label, a menu of allowable activities is presented so that the person assigned to do a task associated with the asset can easily make entries into the data base of the code assigned to the task performed. With asset data, asset location, and task record (including the person performing the task), entered into the relational data base, it is relatively easy to track the components of complex systems in a large enterprise over time and build complex relational records.

A wireless device for facilitating for GPS-based asset tracking via a wireless communications network and a centralized management system. The wireless device includes dynamically configurable event profiles which allow the wireless device to be dynamically reconfigured and to perform certain actions based on a dynamically configurable combination of received events.

A command and control system is provided including a core unit, with a processor and a map display engine. The core unit is configured to exchange information with a multi-domain heterogeneous unmanned vehicle command and control module, a multi-sensor command and control module, and an asset tracking module. The asset tracking module estimates a location of an indeterminate object. A control unit exchanges information with an input device. A detecting unit detects modules that are associated with the core unit. A subscription unit logs parameters associated with the detected modules and determines types of data to send to the detected units based on the parameters. A script unit receives and implements command and control scripts for the detected modules. A display output provides display information of a combined representation of information from the detected modules and map information, including locations of the vehicles and sensors under control and the estimated location of the indeterminate object.

An asset tracking system includes a tracking device for mounting on an asset. The tracking device has a GPS receiving device for receiving GPS signals from GPS satellite transmitters. A tracking device communication device and a microcontroller are connected with both the GPS receiving device and the tracking device communication device for controlling the tracking device. Further, a tracking device management system is provided comprising a tracking system server, a management system communication device and a management system communication interface for interfacing with the management system communication device and the tracking system server. A tracking device communication link between the tracking device communication device and the management system communication device enables the tracking device management system to communicate with the tracking device. A customer communication link between a customer and the management system communication interface enables the customer to communicate with the tracking device management system.