Patent ID: 6317044
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: G07C,G07F,G08B

Abstract:
An object tracking system comprising:a plurality of tags each associated with an object to be tracked and each having a depending tongue with opposed side faces;a touch memory device attached to the tongue of each of said tags, each touch memory device storing a code identifying its corresponding tag;each of said touch memory devices protruding from one side face of the tongue of its corresponding tag a distance greater than from the other side face thereof;a storage unit for receiving and storing said plurality of tags;said storage unit having a plurality of slots, each slot being asymmetrically profiled to allow the tongue and touch memory device of one of said tags to pass through said slot in one orientation of said tag but to prevent the tongue and touch memory device from passing through said slot in other orientations of said tag;a sensor associated with each of said slots for engaging the touch memory device on the tongue of a tag inserted through said slot for accessing the code stored in said touch memory device; anda controller coupled to said sensors for receiving codes and processing the received codes to determine the absence and presence of tags in the storage unit.