CN1384956A - Facility and method for tracking physical assets - Google Patents
Facility and method for tracking physical assets Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CN1384956A CN1384956A CN 00813786 CN00813786A CN1384956A CN 1384956 A CN1384956 A CN 1384956A CN 00813786 CN00813786 CN 00813786 CN 00813786 A CN00813786 A CN 00813786A CN 1384956 A CN1384956 A CN 1384956A
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- CN
- China
- Prior art keywords
- communication
- module
- assets
- facility
- wireless
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
- G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
- G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
- G08B21/0205—Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system
- G08B21/0213—System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded
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- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
- G08B13/02—Mechanical actuation
- G08B13/14—Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
- G08B13/1427—Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
- G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
- G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
- G08B21/028—Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
- G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
- G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
- G08B21/028—Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
- G08B21/0283—Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
- Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
- Alarm Systems (AREA)
- Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
Abstract
A communication module for an asset to be monitored operates to periodically receive a signal from a monitoring facility via a first wireless communication system, and in response to the absence of the signal at an expected time, communicating with the module via a second wireless system. The first system may be a short range system operating inside a limited facility, and the second system may be a cellular phone system. The module may include a global positioning receiver, so that the module may report its location via the second system to the monitoring system when it is taken from the transmission range of the first system.
Description
Technical field
The present invention relates to radio communication, relate to assets location and tracker more specifically.
Background technology
Enterprise needs to follow the tracks of and the assets of making an inventory at any time.This high value assets for the portable communication testing apparatus of using such as telecommunications enterprise obviously is even more important.When valuable equipment was portable equipment, equipment was stolen easily, lost or misplaced.Because this equipment can use away from the outside in enterprise house, such as pinning equipment with prevent that the conventional safety practice that moves from being unpractical.
In addition, even safety is out of question, equipment may be misplaced and can not be found when needed, even also be that so this causes increasing cost of equipment to guarantee sufficient stock by safe storage in suitable storehouse.And some equipment may comprise can have different editions to different user, different update state and different specialized hardware and the softwares that use compatibility.Inventory system may be difficult to monitor the concrete feature of each article, makes can not locate optimal article or can not find effectively that defective article are to upgrade.
Propose the system of use GPS (GPS) signal trace assets, wherein used the position of cellular transceiver report assets.Use though may be applicable to some, can not be used for the zone that gps signal can not arrive, for example most interior of buildings, but wherein most probable finds the assets of many types.
Summary of the invention
The present invention has overcome the restriction of prior art by a communication module is provided for the assets that will monitor.Module is periodically passed through one first wireless communication system from a monitoring facility received signal, and communicates by one second wireless system and module when not finding signal in the expected time.First system can be a short distance system at limited facility internal work, and second system can be a cell phone system.Module can comprise a global location receiver, makes module can report its position to surveillance by second system when it leaves the transmission range of first system.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the high-rise module map that the environment that facility can works fine is shown.
Fig. 2 is the schematic block diagram that illustrates based on the instrument tracking module of an optimum embodiment of the present invention.
Embodiment
Fig. 1 shows an asset tracking system 10 in the 12 inside and outside work of user subject physical facility.Facility can be one or more buildings such as the warehouse, or the open area in the finite space, the privately owned or restricted property that they are normally controlled by the user.Facility comprises a short range wireless communication system, above-mentioned wireless communication system has one or more basic transceiver station 14, has been mounted the above-mentioned basic transceiver station of sufficient amount and is distributed on each position so that radio communication covers for whole facility inside provides completely in facility.
Each base station 14 comprises a transceiver and antenna 16 and a controller 20.Controller is connected to a central computer 22 in the facility, or is connected on the interior parts of facility.Computing machine 22 is connected to a communication network 24, internet for example, the communication network that internal network or public switched telephone network provide.It is inner or Anywhere outside that the some assets of equipments that will follow the tracks of 26 can be positioned at facility.As described below, each such assets all comprises a communication module, and 14, one of above-mentioned communication module and facility transceivers are connected to the cellular network 30 of communication network, communicates by letter with a stellar-based global-positioning system (GPS) 32.Central monitoring position 34 reception that are connected to network 26 and coordination are communicated by letter with the assets module.
The internal radio communication system of facility preferably one be designated as the radio system of working on can 2.4 GHz ISM (industry, science, the medicine) frequency range of free service band by FCC.This provides about 1000 feet broadcasting and range of receiving, makes that bigger facility may need a more than base station.An advantage of this pattern is the work that low-power spread-spectrum transceiver does not influence nearby device, and otherwise above-mentioned nearby device may be easy to be subjected in other pattern, for example the influence of the radio-frequency (RF) energy of honeycomb transmitter generation.According to the structure of facility, the wall that is prevented from signal transmission in the space is divided under the situation in room may need more base station.In optional embodiment, can use different frequency ranges.More greatly and visible application in open space usually, can use visible or infrared line-of-sight transmission for assets.Compare with the small portable electronic devices assets of optimum embodiment, this systematic comparison is suitable for following the tracks of the goods of making such as the main equipment or the big specification of heavy-duty machinery.
Fig. 2 shows and comprises a mancarried electronic aid asset of equipments 26 of following the tracks of communication module 36.Module comprises a short range transceiver 40 and relevant antenna 42, and above-mentioned short range transceiver 40 is communicated by letter with facility base station 14 when assets are positioned at facility with antenna 42.A cellular transceiver 44 is communicated by letter with cellular system 30 when assets are positioned at the facility outside with relevant cellular antenna 46.Gps receiver 50 and associated antenna 52 are from satellite 32 received signals, and wherein receiver is according to its position of above-mentioned calculated signals.
It is the special-purpose rechargeable battery 56 of module for power supply when assets and external power source disconnection that module comprises one.Charger 60 be connected to device power supply (DPS) in case when equipment is connected to power supply for carrying out normal running to battery charge.
In optimum embodiment, short range transceiver 40 comprises one 2.4 GHz modulator-demodular unit.Cellular transceiver 44 may comprise CDMA in fact, TDMA, and GSM or AMPS cell phone circuit wherein have the analog modem that a digital signal that will arrive and come self-controller converts the simulating signal that can transmit by cellular transmission to.The circuit of communication tracking module 36 is depicted as the separating component that has at each function.Yet various functions may be integrated on a spot of parts with reduced in size and expense.And modular unit can be integrated with other circuit of assets, and this at least can be partly as the safety practice that prevents to damage without permission or remove tracking circuit.
Operation
All assets in the facility central computer 22 periodic polling facilities exist to verify it.A request signal is sent to each assets, and each assets response with identifying information.Alternatively, system can send an independent calling to obtain the report of assets, and assets can in proper order or be returned report simultaneously.Reply and also can comprise positional information and the above-mentioned state of other information of permission in facility positioned internal assets.Can be according to the different different equipment of selected interval poll, poll can automatic or manually be finished, for example according to the needs of user to the assets of particular type.
Each assets can be used as optional " excitation " signal with the reception of polling signal, make assets not receive the work that is under an embargo under the situation of signal.Thereby the work that is under an embargo of the equipment of being taken out of facility, be returned up to it.For the equipment that need use in the facility external authorization, can import an authorization code to allow operation (this measure can be integrated together with the checking measure of discussing below that remote cellular communicates by letter that relates to).
, can wherein can respectively or be used in combination aforesaid way to its programming so that respond according to some different modes if thereby assets are left outside the communication range that facility is positioned at short-range wireless systems.As mentioned above, assets are not having " excitation " can forbid the work of self during signal.
When leaving facility, module preferably responds to the situation that lacks the expectation polling signal a seclected time by the cellular telephone transmissions that starts central monitoring position.Delayed call arbitrarily as required.For some assets, may need immediate to avoid theft.Taken out of facility and the common assets of in finite time, returning routinely for other, delay may be more suitable, and (for example a satisfactory municipal motorbus can not reported its position before the expected time section does not finish, make common use not trigger the honeycomb report, can trigger the honeycomb report immediately) but can't return.Central monitoring position can be one also can be positioned at the user there for many different isolated users provide the central agency of service, and directly is connected with control computer 22 or is integrated together.
With automated manner or when the MA monitoring agency request, module controller can activate the GPS circuit so that determine the current location of assets and this positional information is sent to central monitoring position.This allows can regain assets when theft takes place.In typical case, for example when assets have been left as conventional professional part, can the comparison check current location and the authorized location of expectation.This position can be stored in the database and authorize the passage that transports with reflection, and the remote location of licensing and storing is attempted to authorize the stroke of personnel's input in advance of transporting or reorientated plan.
Automatically start a candidate scheme of cellular communication as module when not having the facility signal, equipment can keep passive state, makes to take action by tracking computer.In fact, system calling is lost the cellular transceiver of assets to receive the report of relevant its current location.Its shortcoming is to need cell phone to power up and be in receiving mode, thereby can exhaust battery.Yet, limited power consumption such as the power-saving measures of only opening receiver according to system's regular circulation in known interval.
In this case, the following calculation chance is warned when the response of not receiving the short range radio signals in the facility.Therefore tracker can be taked the motion tracking assets.Can be under the situation of the outside stop of facility predetermined amount of time (such as approving to execute task outside the interim station) at estimated assets, computing machine can be held fire, unless equipment does not return as scheduled.This strategy is applicable to have a plurality of users that transmit the facility of assets betwixt, and wherein each facility has the radio tracking system of its particular types.In this case, before starting the cellular localization behavior, computing machine can have a time allowance section of returning facility by permission equipment.These technology also are applicable to above-mentioned active module scheme, and wherein module starts cellular communication when not having the facility signal.
Another operator scheme provides virtual " fence ", can arbitrarily place in the inner assets of fence, but not allow to move to the fence outside.This fence can be pre-programmed into the position the accepted numerical value will produce in the controller as the GPS unit.When the position numerical value of GPS generation departs from tolerance interval, start a honeycomb reporting call.
Module can be included in time that assets exceed the honeycomb scope and surpass the safety feature of forbidding assets work seclected time during section.For example, in order to prevent that the burglar from avoiding the owner to determine that by the GPS/ cellular link asset location hidden or hide and use assets away from the zone of cellular coverage, can make it become the state that bans use of to device programming.Authorized user can allow the time limit of a prolongation so that can use assets in long-range or concealed location temporarily.Use in order to carry out the overseas expansion of cellular footprint, a wire telephony line can be connected to module so that report position information and permission send any pumping signal from central monitoring position.
Other function can comprise uses the wireless equipment that is transmitted as that software upgrading is provided; For the equipment that can upgrade some device configuration information provides " data download ".With also can carry out other remote diagnosis during wireless network is connected.
Though discuss according to optimum and optional embodiment the front, the present invention is not limited.For example, except that two communication patterns (short range radio frequency and honeycomb frequency) as shown in the figure, can use other communication pattern.Except that other the local transmission mode such as above-mentioned optical mode, these patterns can comprise Email, pager, satellite mode.Module can comprise other security feature, and for example trend, video and the audio sensor of the additional information of the environment that has entered about assets transmitted in permission.This information can be used to prosecute criminal and stop following crime.Under the prerequisite that does not depart from principle of the present invention, can use the various combinations of above-mentioned different qualities.
Claims (20)
1. surveillance assets stock's method, above-mentioned assets all have a communication module, and said method comprises:
A facility is provided, this facility have one can with first wireless communication system of each module communication;
Between first system and each module, carry out first communication;
According to the stock who communicates by letter and in facility, set up assets;
According to the assets of stock's identification from the facility loss; With
Can carry out second communication in the second communication system of facility operate outside by one.
2. the method for claim 1, wherein first wireless communication system has a scope that is limited in the facility.
3. the method for claim 1 is wherein set up the stock and is comprised repeatedly and communicate by letter so that upgrade the stock with assets.
4. the method for claim 1 is wherein carried out second communication and is comprised by cellular device in the module and the module communication of losing assets.
5. method as claimed in claim 4, wherein module comprises a steady arm, and carries out second communication and comprise the transmitting apparatus positional information.
6. method as claimed in claim 5, wherein steady arm is a GPS equipment.
7. the method for claim 1 wherein comprises and the module of losing assets is determined and is reported its position.
8. monitor the method for the assets that comprise a communication module, said method comprises:
Periodically send a signal by one first wireless communication system to module; With
When the expected time does not receive signal, operational module is to start communication by one second wireless system automatically.
9. method as claimed in claim 8, the step that wherein periodically sends signal is included in the interior transmission of a facility wireless signal that the zone is limited, and module can be according to receiving that not input is moved to facility.
10. method as claimed in claim 8, the reception that wherein comprises according to signal comes operational module to send side information.
11. method as claimed in claim 10, wherein side information comprises at least one selected information in the ensemble of communication, and above-mentioned ensemble of communication comprises: Asset Allocation, identifier, assets option, software modification grade and hardware modifications grade.
12. method as claimed in claim 8, wherein second wireless system can on the zone of first wireless system with module communication.
13. method as claimed in claim 8, wherein second wireless system is a cellular network.
14. method as claimed in claim 8 wherein starts communication by second wireless system and comprises the position of reporting assets.
15. method as claimed in claim 14 wherein comprises receiving world locational system signal to determine the position of assets.
16. an asset locator module, comprising:
First transceiver that can communicate by letter with central inventory facilities by first wireless frequency;
Second transceiver that can communicate by letter with central inventory facilities by second wireless frequency; With
When the communication disruption of being undertaken, can start the control of communication circuit by second transceiver by first transceiver.
17. device as claimed in claim 16, wherein first transceiver is worked on a frequency with limited transmission range, makes can not communicate when leaving the facility of a transceiver of working on this frequency.
18. device as claimed in claim 16, wherein second transceiver is a cellular device.
19. device as claimed in claim 16 wherein comprises the steady arm circuit.
20. device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the steady arm circuit is a GPS equipment.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US16890199P | 1999-12-03 | 1999-12-03 | |
| US60/168,901 | 1999-12-03 | ||
| US09/677,486 US6614349B1 (en) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-10-02 | Facility and method for tracking physical assets |
| US09/677,486 | 2000-10-02 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN1384956A true CN1384956A (en) | 2002-12-11 |
| CN1175384C CN1175384C (en) | 2004-11-10 |
Family
ID=26864569
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNB008137862A Expired - Lifetime CN1175384C (en) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-12-01 | Facility and method for tracking physical assets |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1261950A4 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1175384C (en) |
| AU (1) | AU785146B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2386388A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MXPA02005365A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112788538A (en) * | 2019-11-07 | 2021-05-11 | 日本电气株式会社 | Wearable terminal, group management system and wearable terminal control method |
| CN115019460A (en) * | 2022-05-27 | 2022-09-06 | 广东逸动科技有限公司 | Ship external unit, anti-theft system, method and device thereof, ship and storage medium |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4675656A (en) * | 1984-03-16 | 1987-06-23 | Narcisse Bernadine O | Out-of-range personnel monitor and alarm |
| US5301353A (en) * | 1990-02-12 | 1994-04-05 | Motorola, Inc. | Communication system and apparatus |
| US5565858A (en) * | 1994-09-14 | 1996-10-15 | Northrop Grumman Corporation | Electronic inventory system for stacked containers |
| US5621386A (en) * | 1996-03-05 | 1997-04-15 | Huang; Chien-Teh | Elevated floor alarm system |
| US5886634A (en) * | 1997-05-05 | 1999-03-23 | Electronic Data Systems Corporation | Item removal system and method |
-
2000
- 2000-12-01 MX MXPA02005365A patent/MXPA02005365A/en active IP Right Grant
- 2000-12-01 EP EP00992371A patent/EP1261950A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2000-12-01 CA CA002386388A patent/CA2386388A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-12-01 CN CNB008137862A patent/CN1175384C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-12-01 AU AU43079/01A patent/AU785146B2/en not_active Ceased
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112788538A (en) * | 2019-11-07 | 2021-05-11 | 日本电气株式会社 | Wearable terminal, group management system and wearable terminal control method |
| CN115019460A (en) * | 2022-05-27 | 2022-09-06 | 广东逸动科技有限公司 | Ship external unit, anti-theft system, method and device thereof, ship and storage medium |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| MXPA02005365A (en) | 2002-10-17 |
| CN1175384C (en) | 2004-11-10 |
| AU785146B2 (en) | 2006-10-05 |
| EP1261950A1 (en) | 2002-12-04 |
| AU4307901A (en) | 2002-04-15 |
| CA2386388A1 (en) | 2002-04-11 |
| EP1261950A4 (en) | 2004-05-12 |
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| C14 | Grant of patent or utility model | ||
| GR01 | Patent grant | ||
| ASS | Succession or assignment of patent right |
Owner name: CALOSA SOFTWARE CO., LTD. Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ALBIQIT CO. Effective date: 20100802 |
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| C41 | Transfer of patent application or patent right or utility model | ||
| COR | Change of bibliographic data |
Free format text: CORRECT: ADDRESS; FROM: WASHINGTON STATE, USA TO: DELAWARE, USA |
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| TR01 | Transfer of patent right |
Effective date of registration: 20100802 Address after: American Delaware Patentee after: Rosa software limited liability company Address before: Washington State Patentee before: Albiqit Co. |
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| CX01 | Expiry of patent term |
Granted publication date: 20041110 |
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| CX01 | Expiry of patent term |