WO2016034955A1

WO2016034955A1 - Device for the localization and tracking of luggage

Info

Publication number: WO2016034955A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/055222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimo Galli
Original assignee: Easyfly Sagl
Priority date: 2014-09-02
Filing date: 2015-07-10
Publication date: 2016-03-10

Abstract

The device (1) for the localization and tracking of luggage, which can be installed on a piece of luggage and comprises: - a radiofrequency communication unit (2) able to communicate with a remote processing station (3); a localization unit (4) able to detect the geographical position on the territory of the luggage; detection means (5) for detecting accelerations and/or movements of the luggage; selection means between a complete operating mode, wherein the communication unit (2) and the localization unit (4) are active, and a limited operating mode, wherein the communication unit (2) and the localization unit (4) are disabled; the devise also comprises: a short-range radio receiver (6) operatively connected to the selection means and able to communicate with a short-range radio transmitter (7), when the device (1) is in the limited operating mode, for receiving information about the localization of the luggage; - at least a memory unit (8) operatively connected to the radio receiver (6) and able to store said localization information.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE LOCALIZATION AND TRACKING OF LUGGAGE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for the localization and tracking of luggage, usable in particular in the field of air transport.

Background Art

Luggage management has always been one of the most delicate aspects for airlines.

It is estimated, in fact, that the management of a lost suitcase has a very high cost, with a number of suitcases lost each year that is greater than 90 million items.

For this reason, having a more precise tracking of the luggage to be transported would lead to an increase in the quality of service and to a considerable reduction in management costs.

In this regard luggage localization and tracking systems are known, usable in particular in the case of air travel to find lost luggage.

In particular, the patent application US2013214909 (Al) relates to a method for tracking and handling broadcast devices associated with luggage.

In this document it is illustrated a luggage identification device which may activate or deactivate an operational mode for use in an aircraft, in response to an enabling/disabling signal coming from transmitters placed nearby.

This function is set in order to meet the regulations in force that prohibit the use of certain equipment on board the aircraft.

Other known devices include the use of localization systems of the GPS type, together with microelectronic sensors capable of detecting movements and accelerations.

Also in this case, to meet the standards in force, a deactivation of the devices is required when they are on board the aircraft.

All these known techniques have a disadvantage linked to the deactivation of the devices.

This deactivation operation, in fact, usually occurs in the proximity of the check-in and on board the aircraft. Consequently, on the way from check-in to the cargo area, luggage is not located. All this estimating that about 90% of lost luggage is lost right along this route.

Another drawback of the previous prior arts is the fact that it is not always possible to have sufficient information available to track the luggage in a quick and cheap manner.

A further drawback is that, to overcome this lack of information, it is necessary to implement complex and therefore more expensive algorithms.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a device for the localization and tracking of luggage that allows to monitor the same along the whole route. Another object of the present invention is to take advantage of complete and reliable information (route, coordinates, etc.) of the aircraft on which the luggage travels.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a plurality of information coming from different systems and implementable in easier and more effective algorithms.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art within the ambit of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and affordable solution.

The objects stated above are achieved by the present device for the localization and tracking of luggage having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a device, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting, example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a general block diagram of the device according to the invention. Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such illustrations, reference number 1 globally indicates a device for the localization and tracking of luggage.

The device 1 can be installed on a piece of luggage and comprises:

- at least a radiofrequency communication unit 2 able to communicate with at least a remote processing station 3; - at least a localization unit 4, able to detect the geographical position on the territory of the luggage;

- detection means 5 for detecting accelerations and/or movements of the luggage;

- selection means between a complete operating mode and a limited operating mode.

When the device 1 operates in the complete operating mode, then the communication unit 2 and the localization unit 4 are active whereas, in the limited operating mode, the communication unit 2 and the localization unit 4 are deactivated.

The limited operating mode allows for the use of the device 1 also in the check- in areas and on board the aircraft without interfering in any way with the onboard instruments.

The device 1 is characterized by the fact that it comprises:

- at least a short-range radio receiver 6, operatively connected to the selection means;

- at least a memory unit 8 operatively connected to the radio receiver 6.

The radio receiver 6 is able to communicate with at least a short-range radio transmitter 7 when the device 1 is in the limited operating mode, for receiving localization information of the luggage.

The memory unit 8 is able to store the localization information received.

According to the invention the device 1 comprises at least a management and control unit 9 having selection means and operatively connected to the communication unit 2, the localization unit 4, the detection means 5, the radio receiver 6 and the memory unit 8.

In the present embodiment, the management and control unit 9 is made up of a generic microprocessor which coordinates all the other units in a centralized manner.

The selection means may be implemented, e.g., by means of a suitable software program managed by the management and control unit 9.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device 1, the selection means are operatively connected to the detection means 5 for the automatic selection between the complete operating mode and the limited operating mode.

Furthermore, the selection means can be operatively connected to the radio receiver for the automatic selection of the two above-mentioned modes, according to a signal received from the radio transmitter 7.

In particular, according to the information and signals received by the detection means 5 and by the radio transmitter 7, the selection means allow to switch from one mode to another.

The localization information of the luggage comprises at least one piece of information selected from the following: identification code of the area and/or the aircraft within which the luggage is placed, position and/or altitude and/or speed of the aircraft within which the luggage is placed.

Advantageously, the radio receiver 6 is the type of a low frequency radio receiver.

In particular, working at low frequency, the radio receiver 6 does not disturb the electronic devices of the aircraft and can therefore remain switched on without contravening the regulations in force.

In the event the radio transmitter 7 being a transponder installed on the aircraft, the radio receiver 6 may send to the management and control unit 9 more secure and reliable information concerning the aircraft, such as the aircraft type (plate), speed, altitude, GPS data, etc.

In the present embodiment, such information is first sent in the form of a radio signal to a data decoder 11, decoded and then sent to the management and control unit 9.

The localization unit 4 can be made up, e.g., of a satellite receiver, a WPS receiver, or a GSM/UMTS receiver.

In particular, satellite receivers are able to communicate with the satellite constellations 12 such as NAVSTAR-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, etc., so as to form a detection system able to acquire useful information for determining the geographical position of the luggage.

Alternative embodiments of the device 1 cannot however be ruled out, wherein the localization unit 4 is made up of a different device.

In the present embodiment, the detection means 5 are made up of electro- mechanical micro-sensors and comprise at least one of an accelerometer 5a, a gyroscope 5b, a compass 5c and a magnetometer 5d.

In particular, several accelerometers 5 a can be installed such as strain gauge, piezoresistive, LVD, capacitive and piezoelectric accelerometers, so as to form a detection system of the accelerations both for static and dynamic measurements, able to operate on the three spatial axes in both positive (accelerations) and negative (decelerations).

Alternative embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein there are further micro- sensors, other than those previously listed.

The device 1 allows to realize a system for the localization and tracking of luggage.

In particular, the system comprises at least one device 1 installable on at least a piece of luggage and able to collect information on the position of the luggage itself.

The system also comprises at least one remote processing station 3 able to communicate with the device 1, and at least one short-range radio transmitter 7. Such a radio transmitter 7 is arranged within at least a transit area of the luggage and/or on board at least an aircraft for the transport of the luggage.

Inside the aircraft, the radio transmitter 7 is just the transponder of the aircraft. The remote processing station 3 comprises means for storing the information collected by the device 1.

In particular, the information coming from the various units and the various systems is sent from the management and control unit 9 to the memory unit 8 where it is archived and stored.

According to the invention, the system comprises at least a remote device 10 for displaying the information collected and stored on said remote station 3.

In particular, the remote device 10 can be composed of a generic I/O system, a smart phone with a special application, a PC, etc.

In a second embodiment the device 1 comprises an anti-break-in system with an automatically activated camera.

In this case also the camera, besides being in communication with the previously described units, is connected to an electronic unit and/or a sensor able to detect any possible breaking or cracking of the suitcase. Should this occur, the camera receives a specific signal and turns on to record images which may be useful both to track the luggage and to identify the perpetrators of the breaking.

The operation of the present invention is as follows.

The device 1 is applied to the generic luggage.

When the luggage is on the ground, the device 1 is in the complete operating mode and the communication unit 2, the localization unit 4, the detection means

5 and, if necessary, the radio receiver 6 send the relative information to the management and control unit 9.

The latter, in turn, sends the information to the remote processing station 3 where it is stored and archived.

When the luggage is on takeoff, within a check-in area or on board the aircraft, the management and control unit 9, through the selection means and according to the information received, sets the device 1 in the limited operating mode, deactivating the localization unit 4 and the communication unit 2.

The information coming from the detection means 5 and from the radio receiver

6 continues to be stored in the memory unit 8.

The management and control unit 9 maintains the limited operating mode until the plane lands. Once on the ground, the complete operating mode is reset and the information archived during the flight is sent to the remote processing station 3 so as to be read by other devices such as smart phones or PCs.

It has in practice been found how the described invention achieves the proposed objects and in particular the fact is underlined that the present device allows to monitor the luggage along the whole route, complete and reliable information

(route, coordinates, etc.) being also available of the aircraft on which the luggage travels.

Claims

1) Device (1) for the localization and tracking of luggage, which can be installed on a piece of luggage and comprising:

at least a radiofrequency communication unit (2) able to communicate with at least a remote processing station (3);

at least a localization unit (4) able to detect the geographical position on the territory of said luggage;

detection means (5) for detecting accelerations and/or movements of said luggage;

- selection means between a complete operating mode, wherein said communication unit (2) and said localization unit (4) are active, and a limited operating mode, wherein said communication unit (2) and said localization unit (4) are disabled;

characterized by the fact that it comprises:

- at least a short-range radio receiver (6) operatively connected to said selection means and able to communicate with at least a short-range radio transmitter (7), when said device (1) is in the limited operating mode, for receiving information about the localization of said luggage;

at least a memory unit (8) operatively connected to said radio receiver (6) and able to store said localization information.

2) Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least a management and control unit (9) having said selection means and operatively connected to said communication unit (2), to said localization unit (4), to said detection means (5), to said radio receiver (6) and to said memory unit (8).

3) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said selection means are operatively connected to said detection means (5) for the automatic selection between said complete operating mode and said limited operating mode.

4) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said selection means are operatively connected to said radio receiver (6) for the automatic selection between said complete operating mode and said limited operating mode, according to a signal received from said radio transmitter (7).

5) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said localization information of the luggage comprise at least a piece of information selected from the following: identification code of the area and/or the aircraft within which the luggage is placed, position and/or altitude and/or speed of the aircraft within which the luggage is placed.

6) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said radio receiver (6) is the type of a low frequency radio receiver.

7) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said localization unit (4) comprises at least one of: a satellite receiver, a WPS receiver, a GSM/UMTS receiver.

8) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said detection means (5) comprise at least one of: an accelerometer (5a), a gyroscope (5b), a compass (5c), a magnetometer (5d).

9) System for the localization and tracking of luggage, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least a device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims which can be installed on at least a piece of luggage and able to collect information on the position of said piece of luggage, at least a remote processing station (3) able to communicate with said device (1), and at least a short-range radio transmitter (7) arranged within at least a transit area of said luggage and/or on board at least an aircraft for the transport of said luggage.

10) System according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that said remote processing station (3) comprises means for storing said information collected by said device (1).

11) System according to one or more of claims 9 and 10, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least a remote device (10) for displaying said information collected and stored on said remote station (3).