Patent ID: 7277889

Claim:
An asset management and status system comprising: a) a remote computing system configured with a wireless communication capability enabling, at minimum, an exchanging of information with any of a plurality of wireless data communication terminals, each data communication terminal available for use by an individual for identifying assets, by receiving directly from a proximate asset of interest, a unique identifying code in order to aid in asset management and status determining activities; b) a database established and maintained on the remote computing system, and available for storing and retrieving information associated with any of a plurality of the assets being managed by the asset management and status system; and c) the plurality of wireless data communication terminals, with each data communication terminal structured having an equivalent of at least three communication modules supporting: i) establishing a local, short distance, wireless communication link with a proximate wireless electronic device fixed to a proximate asset of interest, such that the communication link enables a receiving by the data communication terminal of information transmitted directly from the electronic device of the asset, with the information including the unique identifying code assigned to the asset; ii) receiving and processing position related information for determining a current location at which the data communication terminal, and thereby the proximate asset, are located; iii) exchanging information with the remote computing system, including transmitting to the remote computing system the received identifying code and the current location of the data communication terminal and the asset, for use in accessing and updating the database established on the remote computing system.