Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-22
2001-06-12
Bost, Dwayne (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S426100, C455S457000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246882
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for tracking items over a wide area, and in particular, for tracking items during transport within a cellular packet data network.
2. Description of Related Art
Wide area item tracking systems are currently used for partial location tracking of pallets, loads, containers, trucks, and the like. Such systems are useful, for instance, in the parcel shipping industry and for supply delivery in just-in-time manufacturing operations (i.e., where supplies reach the manufacturing plant at approximately the time they are needed). In existing systems, the identity of each particular item is entered into the tracking system at each control stage (e.g., when the item is loaded onto a truck) or when the item reaches a manufacturing plant. Typically, manual entry of the item's identity is performed using a bar code reader to scan in an item identifier or using a keypad to key in an item identifier. Between each control stage, however, there is no way to determine the current location of the item. Instead, these systems can generally only tell the customer what is the last control point that his or her item has reached. As a result, the customer cannot tell if the delivery is progressing or if, for example, the item is simply sitting in a truck at a loading dock. Such systems are too inaccurate and are insufficient for locating important items in a parcel delivery service or in a just-in-time manufacturing supply operation.
As one alternative, handling zone item tracking systems are also available for use in the manufacturing industry. Such systems, however, offer only limited indoor coverage and cannot provide tracking for wide area delivery applications. Another alternative is to use a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system for tracking trucks and other mobile shipping containers. The position of the truck or container, as determined by the GPS system, can then be transmitted to a monitoring center. GPS systems, however, are too expensive for most applications.
There is a need, therefore, for a system and method for providing more accurate and efficient item tracking across a wide area at a relatively low cost. Such a system would provide information about the current geographical location of a particular item and would be useful, for example, for customers, suppliers, and delivery service providers in the parcel delivery and just-in-time manufacturing industries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a wide area item tracking system and method. Each item to be tracked in the system has associated therewith an item identifier. Preferably, the item identifier is encoded in a radio frequency identification device (RFID) that is attached to the item, although other methods of associating the item and the item identifier can be used. The wide area of the system includes a plurality of handling zones, such as a truck or a manufacturing plant, where items are manipulated or transported during the delivery or shipping process. When the item is moved past a handling zone interrogator into a new handling zone, an item identification reader detects the item identifier. A mobile station connected to the item identification reader transmits a signal containing the item identifier and an identification of the handling zone over an air interface of a cellular network. Preferably, the cellular network comprises a wireless packet data service. After the signal is received by the cellular network, data associating the item identifier with the handling zone identifier and a corresponding location is stored in a database.
In one embodiment, the mobile station periodically transmits a registration signal that contains an identification of the handling zone. The current cell within which the handling zone is located can then be determined based on which base station in the cellular network receives the registration signal. Data associating the handling zone with an identification of the current cell is then stored in a location node. Subsequently, a request for the current location of the tracked item is received by the tracking system. In response, the tracking system retrieves the handling zone identification that is associated with the tracked item from the database. Using the handling zone identification, the identification of the current cell is retrieved from the location node. The current cell identification can then be converted into an approximate geographical location for responding to the location request.
In an alternative embodiment, the current cell identification is not stored in a location node. Instead, when a location request is received by the tracking system, the handling zone identifier with which the tracked item is associated is retrieved, and then the tracking system initiates a page signal in the cellular network directed toward the mobile station of the identified handling zone. The mobile station responds to the page with a page return signal, which is received at a currently serving base station of the current cell. Based on which base station in the cellular network receives the page return signal, the cellular network is able to identify the current cell. The current cell identification can then be converted into an approximate geographical location for responding to the location request.
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Bost Dwayne
Jenkens & Gilchrist
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
Trinh Sonny
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