Patent ID: 8579186

Claim:
A system for tracking transport of at least one item, the system comprising: a tray comprising: a storage portion configured to receive an item; and a first wireless tag that identifies the tray, wherein the first wireless tag is configured to transmit a first signal in response to a received interrogation signal; a tray carrier comprising: a holding portion configured to hold the tray; and a second wireless tag that identifies the tray carrier, wherein the second wireless tag is configured to transmit a second signal in response to a received interrogation signal; a reader configured to receive identification information from the tray and the tray carrier, wherein the reader is configured to transmit an interrogation signal and to receive the first signal from the first wireless tag and the second signal from the second wireless tags and a processing station configured to associate data relating to the tray with the first received signal and to associate data relating to the tray carrier with the second received signal.