Abstract:
A system and methodology for tracking objects including affixing at least one imagable identifier onto each of a multiplicity of objects to be tracked, imaging at least a portion of at least one of the multiplicity of objects at a known location to provide an at least partial image of the at least one of the multiplicity of objects, containing the at least one imagable identifier and employing the at least partial image of the object containing the at least one imagable identifier to provide an output indication of the location of the at least one of the multiplicity of objects.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to logistics systems and methodologies generally.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The following patents and patent applications are believed to represent the current state of the art relevant to the present invention:  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,044,227; 4,268,179; 4,794,238; 4,844,509; 5,468,949; 5,600,121, 5,621,864, 5,825,012; 5,828,048; 5,828,049; 5,988,508; 5,996,895; 6,070,801, 6,127,928, 6,206,286; 6,252,508; 6,259,408; 6,265,977; 6,283,375; 6,285,342, 6,286,763, 6,317,044.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention seeks to provide an improved logistics system and methodology  
           [0005]    There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a methodology for tracking objects including:  
           [0006]    affixing at least one imagable identifier onto each of a multiplicity of objects to be tracked;  
           [0007]    imaging at least a portion of at least one of the multiplicity of objects at a known location to provide an at least partial image of the at least one of the multiplicity of objects, containing the at least one imagable identifier; and  
           [0008]    employing the at least partial image of the object containing the at least one imagable identifier to provide an output indication of the location of the at least one of the multiplicity of objects.  
           [0009]    There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an object tracking system including:  
           [0010]    at least one imagable identifier affixed onto each of a multiplicity of objects to be tracked;  
           [0011]    an imager, imaging at least a portion of at least one of the multiplicity of objects at a known location to provide an at least partial image of the at least one of the multiplicity of objects, containing the at least one imagable identifier; and  
           [0012]    a processor employing the at least partial image of the object containing the at least one imagable identifier to provide an output indication of the location of the at least one of the multiplicity of objects.  
           [0013]    Preferably, the methodology also includes communicating at least one of the at least partial image and the output indication to a remote location.  
           [0014]    Affixing preferably includes adhesively attaching the at least one imagable identifier onto a surface of each of the multiplicity of objects. Alternatively or additionally, affixing includes molding the at least one imagable identifier onto a surface of each of the multiplicity of objects. Alternatively or additionally, affixing includes printing the at least one imagable identifier onto a surface of each of the multiplicity of objects.  
           [0015]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one imagable identifier includes a multi-color identifier. Preferably, the at least one imagable identifier includes a multi-segment, multi-color identifier.  
           [0016]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multi-segment, multi-color identifier is capable of identifying and distinguishing a plurality of objects at least equal to approximately: 
           Plurality of objects=( n ×( n −1) (p−2) ×( n −2))/ p   
           [0017]    where 
           [0018]    n is the number of different colors and  
           [0019]    p is the number of segments.  
           [0020]    More preferably, the multi-segment, multi-color identifier is capable of identifying and distinguishing a plurality of objects at least equal to approximately: 
           Plurality of objects= n ×( n −1) (p−-2) ×( n −2) 
           [0021]    where  
           [0022]    n is the number of different colors and  
           [0023]    p is the number of segments.  
           [0024]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multi-segment, multi-color identifier has an inherent orientation.  
           [0025]    Preferably, imaging includes photographing and may include imaging a plurality of the objects together within a single image. Additionally or alternatively, imaging may include sequentially imaging a plurality of the objects passing a given imaging location  
           [0026]    Preferably, the at least one imagable identifier includes a plurality of imagable identifiers arranged in at least predetermined propinquity to each other.  
           [0027]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, employing the at least partial image of the object containing the at least one imagable identifier includes extracting an identification code from the at least partial image.  
           [0028]    Preferably, the object tracking system also includes a communicator, communicating at least one of the at least partial image and the output indication to a remote location  
           [0029]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the processor is operative to extract an identification code from the at least partial image.  
           [0030]    Preferably, output from the imager of the object tracking system, as well as output from the imaging of the methodology, can be stored for future retrieval.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a multiple location object tracing and tracking system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of a multiple location object tracing and tracking system constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 is a simplified illustration of a multiple location object tracing and tracking system constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 is an illustration of a methodology for correct affixation of an imagable identifier to an object  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]    Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified illustration of a multiple location object tracing and tracking system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0037]    As seen in FIG. 1, there is preferably provided a tracing and tracking system which covers multiple geographically disparate locations at which it is sought to trace and track objects. At typical such locations, such as warehouses, a plurality of objects, such as stacked, collapsed containers  10 , each bear an imagable identifier  12 . The imagable identifier preferably comprises a multi-segment, multi-color identifier preferably in the form of a multi-segment color-coded disc wherein various segments have various colors. A preferred imagable identifier is commercially available from ImageID Inc. of One Penn Plaza, Suite 2210, New York, N.Y., U.S.A. under the trade name Imagecode The identifier is described in the following references, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference:  
         [0038]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/508,300  
         [0039]    Published PCT Patent Application WO 00/04711.  
         [0040]    It is a particular feature of the present invention that the imagable identifiers on a plurality of objects may be imaged together, as in a single photograph, by a conventional imager  14 , such as a digital camera. This is principally due to the fact that the various colors appear in the imagable identifier in two dimensional areas which are relatively easily differentiated from each other both spatially and in color space.  
         [0041]    The image output of the imager is preferably provided to a computer  16 , which may process the image output locally and provide an output indication  18  representing a plurality of numerical or alphanumerical identifiers corresponding to all of the imagable identifiers imaged in a given image or series of images. Alternatively or additionally, computer  16  may communicate via any suitable computer network, such as the Internet, with a remote tracking center  20 , which may receive either image outputs for processing or alternatively may receive the plurality of numerical or alphanumerical identifiers corresponding to all of the imagable identifiers imaged in a given image or series of images. The image outputs may also be stored for future retrieval, either locally in computer  16  or in remote tracking center  20 .  
         [0042]    The remote tracking center  20  preferably compiles records of tracked numerical or alphanumerical identifiers from a multiplicity of geographically disparate locations so as to enable ready counting, tracking and locating of objects identified thereby. Remote tracking center  20  preferably maintains a database which is updated based on communications received from various geographically disparate locations.  
         [0043]    Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified illustration of a multiple location object tracing and tracking system constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 2, there is preferably provided a tracing and tracking system which covers multiple geographically disparate locations at which it is sought to trace and track objects. At typical such locations, such as warehouses, a plurality of objects, such as multiple stacks of containers  110  or objects stored on shelves, each bear an imagable identifier  112 . The imagable identifier preferably comprises a multi-segment, multi-color identifier preferably in the form of a multi-segment color-coded disc wherein various segments have various colors A preferred imagable identifier is commercially available from ImageID Inc. of One Penn Plaza, Suite 2210, New York, N.Y., U.S.A. under the trade name Imagecode The identifier is described in the following references, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference:  
         [0044]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/508,300  
         [0045]    Published PCT Patent Application WO 00/04711.  
         [0046]    It is a particular feature of the present invention that the imagable identifiers on a plurality of objects may be automatically imaged together, as in a single photograph or a series of photographs, by a conventional imager  114 , such as a panoramic digital camera. This is principally due to the fact that the various colors appear in the imagable identifier in two dimensional areas which are relatively easily differentiated from each other both spatially and in color space.  
         [0047]    The arrangement of FIG. 2 is particularly useful for continuously updating inventory records of a large number of objects automatically, without the necessity of approaching each object or stack of objects or moving the objects past a tracking station  
         [0048]    The image output of the imager is preferably provided to a computer  116  which may process the image output locally and provide an output indication  118  representing a plurality of numerical or alphanumerical identifiers corresponding to all of the imagable identifiers imaged in a given image or series of images. Alternatively or additionally, computer  116  may communicate via any suitable computer network, such as the Internet, with a remote tracking center  120 , which may receive either image outputs for processing or alternatively may receive the plurality of numerical or alphanumerical identifiers corresponding to all of the imagable identifiers imaged in a given image or series of images. The image outputs may also be stored for fixture retrieval, either locally in computer  116  or in remote tracking center  120 .  
         [0049]    The remote tracking center  120  preferably compiles records of tracked numerical or alphanumerical identifiers from a multiplicity of geographically disparate locations so as to enable ready counting, tracking and locating of objects identified thereby. Remote tracking center  120  preferably maintains a database which is updated based on communications received from various geographically disparate locations.  
         [0050]    Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a simplified illustration of a multiple location object tracing and tracking system constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 3, there is preferably provided a tracing and tracking system which covers multiple geographically disparate locations at which it is sought to trace and track objects. At typical such locations, such as warehouses, a plurality of objects, such as multiple containers  210 , each bear a plurality of imagable identifiers  212 . Each imagable identifier preferably comprises a multi-segment, multi-color identifier preferably in the form of a multi-segment color-coded disc wherein various segments have various colors. A preferred imagable identifier is commercially available from ImageID Inc. of One Penn Plaza, Suite 2210, New York, N.Y., U.S.A. under the trade name Imagecode. The identifier is described in the following references, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference:  
         [0051]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/508,300  
         [0052]    Published PCT Patent Application WO 00/04711.  
         [0053]    It is a particular feature of the present invention that multiple imagable identifiers on one or more objects may be automatically imaged together, as in a single photograph or a series of photographs, by a conventional imager  214 , such as a digital camera. This is principally due to the fact that the various colors appear in the imagable identifier in two dimensional areas which are relatively easily differentiated from each other both spatially and in color space.  
         [0054]    The arrangement of FIG. 3 is particularly useful for providing a relatively large number of available numerical or alphanumerical identifiers. For example, use of a single Imagecode™ imagable identifier typically provides approximately 60,000 combinations. The use of two Imagecode™ imagable identifiers in a predetermined relative spatial orientation may provide approximately 60,000×60,000 combinations.  
         [0055]    The image output of the imager is preferably provided to a computer  216 , which may process the image output locally and provide an output indication  218  representing a plurality of numerical or alphanumerical identifiers corresponding to all of the pluralities of imagable identifiers imaged in a given image or series of images. Alternatively or additionally, computer  216  may communicate via any suitable computer network, such as the Internet, with a remote tracking center  220 , which may receive either image outputs for processing or alternatively may receive the plurality of numerical or alphanumerical identifiers corresponding to all of the imagable identifiers imaged in a given image or series of images. The image outputs may also be stored for future retrieval, either locally in computer  216  or in remote tracking center  220 .  
         [0056]    The remote tracking center  220  preferably compiles records of tracked numerical or alphanumerical identifiers from a multiplicity of geographically disparate locations so as to enable ready counting, tracking and locating of objects identified thereby Remote tracking center  220  preferably maintains a database which is updated based on communications received from various geographically disparate locations.  
         [0057]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multi-segment, multi-color identifier  12 ,  112  and  212  is capable of identifying and distinguishing a plurality of objects at least equal to approximately: 
         Plurality of objects=( n ×( n −1) (p−2) ×( n −2))/ p   
         [0058]    where  
         [0059]    n is the number of different colors and  
         [0060]    p is the number of segments.  
         [0061]    The foregoing calculation does not assume any predetermined orientation of the imagable identifier.  
         [0062]    More preferably, the multi-segment, multi-color identifier is capable of identifying and distinguishing a plurality of objects at least equal to approximately: 
         Plurality of objects= n ×( n −1) (p−2) ×( n   −2)   
         [0063]    where  
         [0064]    n is the number of different colors and  
         [0065]    p is the number of segments.  
         [0066]    This calculation assumes a known or constant orientation of the imagable identifier.  
         [0067]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-segment, multi-color identifier has an inherent orientation. It is appreciated that this need not necessarily be the case When the multi-segment, multi-color identifier does not have an inherent orientation, the methodology exemplified in FIG. 4 is particularly useful  
         [0068]    Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is an illustration of a methodology for correct affixation of an imagable identifier to an object. It is appreciated that due to the circular symmetry of the Imagecode™ imagable identifier, consistency of affixation orientation is important in order to maximize the number of available combinations of numerical or alphanumerical identifiers while avoiding misidentification of objects.  
         [0069]    One technique for ensuring correct affixation orientation is to mold or otherwise form onto a container  300 , a three-dimensionally defined affixation location  302  and to provide an imagable identifier carrier  304 , such as an adhesive backed sticker, which has a configuration, such as a notched configuration, which allows it to be placed in the three-dimensionally defined affixation location  302  only in one unique orientation relative to the container. Clearly, the structure and methodology shown in FIG. 4 is applicable to imagable identifier carriers  304  which bear multiple as well as single imagable identifiers  306 . It is appreciated that other suitable techniques of unique orientation affixation may be employed, such as printing or molding of an imagable identifier directly onto an object.  
         [0070]    It is noted that for the sake of clarity, the features of FIGS. 1, 2,  3  and  4  have been described separately. It is to be appreciated that the features of any one or all of FIGS. 1, 2,  3  and  4  may be advantageously combined in a given system or methodology  
         [0071]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the specification and which are not in the prior art.