Patent ID: 7391326

Claim:
A power tool monitoring and security system, comprising: at least power tool assigned a unique identifier stored in an embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and operable to transmit an identification signal embodying the identifier over a wireless radio frequency (RF) communications link; at least one user identification device assigned a unique identifier and operable to transmit an identification signal embodying the identifier over the wireless communication link; a data store for maintaining a list of the power tools and privileges associated with the power tools for authorized users of the power tools; and a control unit adapted to receive identification signals from the power tools and the user identification device and determine positions of the power tools and the user identification devices within a job site location based on the identification signals, wherein the control unit associates a given power tool with a given user identification device when a distance between the given power tool and the given user identification device is less than a threshold and updates the data store with the associate between the given power tool and the given user identification device, wherein the control unit is further operable to initiate an alarm event when privileges associated with a given power tool for authorized users of the power tool are exceeded.