US 12,073,353 B2
Article tracking system
Maria Veronica Vivas Suarez, Orlando, FL (US); Samuel Gene Bower Wilkinson, Richmond (NZ); Timothy Martin Craig, Nelson (NZ); Annette Joan Schleiss, Nelson (NZ); Ian Norton Craig, Nelson (NZ); David Clive Hutchinson, Richmond (NZ); Dylan Alister Winter, Nelson (NZ); Jose Alejandro Isea Alvarez, Orlando, FL (US); Craig David Shannon, Auckland (NZ); Jason Narayan, Auckland (NZ); and Daniel William Willdridge, Auckland (NZ)
Assigned to CORE TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES NZ LTD, Nelson (NZ)
Appl. No. 16/303,429
Filed by Core Transport Technologies NZ Limited, Nelson (NZ)
PCT Filed May 19, 2017, PCT No. PCT/NZ2017/050067
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 20, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/200398, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 23, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 2016901892 (AU), filed on May 20, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0362304 A1, Nov. 28, 2019
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/0833 (2023.01); G06K 7/00 (2006.01); G06K 19/07 (2006.01); G06K 19/073 (2006.01)
CPC G06Q 10/0833 (2013.01) [G06K 7/00 (2013.01); G06K 19/0723 (2013.01); G06K 19/073 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article tracking system including:
a) a plurality of tags, each tag being attachable to a respective article and including:
i) a power supply;
ii) a tag transceiver configured to transmit or receive messages; and
iii) a tag processing device;
b) tag reader including:
i) a reader transceiver that transmits or receives messages; and
ii) a reader processing device in communication with the reader transceiver; and,
c) a processing system in communication with the tag reader, and wherein in use the tag reader:
i) generates a message; and
ii) transmits the message to one or more tags within an operating range of the tag reader, wherein ones of the one or more tags in a passive operating mode are responsive to the message to:
(1) receive the message in the passive operating mode;
(2) enter an active operating mode from the passive operating mode; and
(3) while in the active operating mode, transmit a tag message at least partially indicative of an identity of the tag;
iii) receives any tag messages;
iv) generates location data at least partially indicative of a location of at least one tag using the identity of the at least one tag from any received tag messages; and,
v) provides the location data to the at least one processing system, the at least one processing system being responsive to the location data to track respective locations of articles, wherein a respective tag of the plurality of tags comprises:
(1) a base;
(2) a cover attached to the base to define an internal cavity containing tag components; and
(3) bolts secured to opposing ends of the base to allow the respective tag to be coupled to a rail.