Facility and method for tracking physical assets

Patent 6614349 Issued on September 2, 2003. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 2, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Application

No. 09/677486 filed on 10/02/2000

US Classes:

340/572.1, Detectable device on protected article (e.g., "tag")340/5.92, Item inventorying340/539.11, Including personal portable device340/825.49Location indication

Examiners

Primary: Mullen, Thomas

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Stoel Rives LLP

International Class

G08B 13/14 (20060101)

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.

Other References

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