Patent ID: 6717517
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: G06K,G06Q,G07F,G07G,G08B

Abstract:
A system for monitoring and tracking a container in an environment, comprising:a transmitter assigned a unique identification number and being coupled to the container, the transmitter being adapted to transmit the unique identification number; at least one receiver adapted to receive the unique identification number from the transmitter, to responsively determine a direction of travel of the transmitter, and to responsively generate a direction of travel code; at least one node computer coupled to the at least one receiver and being adapted to control the receiver, to receive the unique identification number and the direction of travel code from the at least one receiver, and to responsively determine a location of the container as a function of the direction of travel code; a controller computer coupled to the node computer and being adapted to receive the unique identification number and the location of the container from the node computer and to store the unique identification number and the location of the container; and a central computer facility coupled to the controller computer and being adapted to collect and store the unique identification number and the location of the container for exportation from the system.