WO2016191772A1

WO2016191772A1 - Item information and tracking system

Info

Publication number: WO2016191772A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2016/050016
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Collins POWER; William Morrison MCGEE
Original assignee: Power David Collins
Priority date: 2015-05-26
Filing date: 2016-05-25
Publication date: 2016-12-01

Abstract

This invention relates to an item information and tracking system (1). There is provided an item information and tracking system (1) comprising a pre-produced label (2) including a unique identifier (3). The invention includes a computer program, providing access to an information input feature (12) for adding information relating to the label (2), and an information retrieval feature (13) for retrieving information previously added in relation to the label. The input and retrieval features being accessible remotely by a person with the label (2), wherein the input feature (12) is presented to the person on first access to add information relating to the label (2) and the retrieval feature (13) shows the added information on subsequent access. It is envisaged that the invention will provide an item information and tracking system (1) which is simple to use, may be packaged and store bought, and is cost effective compared to the prior art.

Description

ITEM INFORMATION AND TRACKING SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an item information and tracking system and more specifically, but not exclusively, to an item information and tracking system for people, animals, objects, assets, and personal items.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Item information and tracking systems are known in the art. Typically, items which are tracked are equipped with an identifying mechanism, such as an RFID tag or a barcode, which may be scanned and tracked through a central database and as the item is rescanned when it moves through various locations or tracking stages. A problem with existing tracking systems is that the systems are cumbersome, difficult to implement, and expensive especially for small businesses or domestic use.

In domestic use and on a much simpler level, labelling clothes or other personal items with information may be done by either writing the information by hand onto a textile label or custom labels may be professionally printed and applied to the items. Problems with this approach of attaching information to items include that it is cumbersome and error prone to organise and manually label the items and expensive to have custom labels made. Further, the information may change after it has been attached to the items. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an item information and tracking system which at least partially, alleviates some of the problems associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention there is provided an item information and tracking system comprising:

- a pre-printed label including a unique identifier;

- a computer program, executed on a computing device with a processor and associated memories, providing access to: o an information input feature for adding information relating to the label; and o an information retrieval feature for retrieving information previously added in relation to the label;

- the input and retrieval features being accessible remotely by a person with the label;

- wherein the input feature is presented to the person on first access to add information relating to the label and the retrieval feature shows the added information on subsequent access.

The unique identifier may be a valid number chosen from a range according to a mathematical function. The range may be sufficiently large to prevent guessing the valid number from the range without the mathematical function. The mathematical function may be a cryptographic function or a form of encryption.

The person first accessing the input feature is an owner. Upon first accessing the input feature, the owner may select a password for accessing the input feature on subsequent access. Without the password, subsequent access will not allow access to the input feature and added information cannot be changed.

The owner may be presented with the input feature which includes one or more of the following information elements relating to the label:

- names and surname;

- telephone numbers;

- address;

- instructions; - notification type;

- notification number or address;

- notification options

- tracking options;

- medical information; and/or - an image.

The input feature may include an option to associate a number of additional labels to be associated with the same information.

The unique identifier may be embodied as a barcode including a reference to the identifier and the barcode may be a QR code or a Datamatrix code.

The label may include text instructions on how to use the unique identifier. A number of pre-printed labels may be pre-packaged. The labels may be textile labels or stickers to suit the environmental application. The pre-packaged labels may be provided in the form of a roll of pre-printed labels.

The computer program may be web service running on a server and providing the input and retrieval features as web pages.

The barcode may include a web address or uniform resource identifier of which the unique identifier forms part. The uniform resource identifier may be a uniform resource locator.

The web service is remotely accessible through a network. The network may be a local network or the Internet.

The system may include notification means. The notification means may be in the form of a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia (MMS) message or in the form of an email message.

The notification options may include a feature to notify the owner when the web address that is unique to each label is visited.

The tracking options may include a feature to record a location of a scanner of the web address. The location may be determined by submitting global positioning system (GPS) coordinates to the web address or estimating the location based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the visitor. The notification options may include a feature to notify the owner of the location where the label was scanned.

The owner may specify the notification address such as an email address or phone number where notification should occur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an item information and tracking system; and Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a mobile computing device displaying a web page associated with the item and information tracking system of figure 1 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings in which like features are indicated by like numerals, an item information and tracking system is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 .

The system 1 includes at least one pre-produced label 2 including a unique identifier. The label 2 may include instructions 6 on how to use it and a number of pre-printed labels may be pre-packaged and sold as a package 7. The package may be in the form of a pre-printed roll of labels. The labels may be textile labels or appropriate stickers which may be attached to items 8. The items 8 may be personal items such as a briefcase 8a, clothing of a child or elderly person 8b, or a book 8c which an owner wishes to provide information on or track. An item may also be people, animals, objects, or assets. The unique identifier may be a valid number 3 chosen from a range according to a mathematical function and the range may be sufficiently large to inhibit a person attempting to abuse the system from guessing a valid number within the range without having reference to the mathematical function. The mathematical function may be a pseudorandom number generator ("PRNG"), wherein the seed of the PRNG is known only to the manufacturer or service provider. Alternatively, the mathematical function may be a cryptographic function or a form of encryption.

In the current example, the unique identifier is embodied as a barcode 4 which includes a reference the valid number 3. The barcode 4 contains a uniform resource locator ("URL") in the form of web address 5 and the unique number 3 forms part of the URL. The pre-produced label may be provided in physical or electronic form. In physical form the label is pre-printed or embroided, in electronic form the label may be provided as an image or document which may be printed by a user.

A computing device, in this example in the form of mobile phone or tablet 9 which is equipped with a built in camera (not shown) and barcode scanning software and connected to the Internet 10, may be used to scan the barcode 4 which points the computing device 9 to the web address 5. The web address points to a computer program, in the form of web service software, which is executed on a computing device with a processor and associated memories, in the form of a web server 1 1 .

The web server 1 1 provides either an information input feature, for adding information relating to the label 2 or an information retrieval feature for retrieving information previously added in relation to the label 2. The information input feature is served in the form of an input web page 12 and the retrieval feature is served in the form of information web page 13. The input web page 12 and information web page 13 is accessible remotely by any person scanning the label 2 with a computing device 9. The web service does not require any person accessing the service to register or add any details in order to use the service. Upon receiving a request to the web address 5, the web server 1 1 determines whether or not the address 5 has previously been accessed. If the address 5 is accessed for the first time, the input web page 12 is served. The input web page includes a field where a password 14 may be specified. The password may be added by an owner of the label and may be used later to change the information added to the label 2. On the input web page 12 the owner may add information which includes but is not limited to names 15 and surname, telephone numbers 16, an address 17, instructions, medical instructions, notification type 21 , notification number 22 or address, notification options 23, and/or tracking options 24. Further information elements may be added or selected from a drop down list 20. Further, the owner may add other electronic information such as an image or electronic audio recording. The input web page 12 may also include an option, in the form of button 18, to associate the entered information (15, 16, and 17) with a number of additional labels 2.

If the web server 1 1 determines that the web address 5 has been previously accessed and information has been added thereto, it serves the information web page 13 to a person scanning the bar code 4 of the label 2. The information web page 13 includes an option, in the form of a button 19, wherein the information may be changed. The person attempting to change the information will be requested to enter the password 14 and, if the password is entered correctly, the web server 1 1 will serve the input web page 12 to the owner.

The system may include notification means. The notification means may be in the form of a multimedia (MMS) or short message service (SMS) message or in the form of an email message or electronic chat message. The notification options 23 may include a feature to notify the owner when the web address is visited usually when the label is scanned. With this feature selected, the owner will be notified each time the web page 13 is served. The tracking options may include a feature to record a location of a visitor of the web address. The location may be determined by submitting global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the computing device 9 used to visit the web page 13 or estimating the location based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the visitor. The notification options may include a feature to notify the owner of the location from which the web page 13 was accessed.

In use, an owner will purchase a package 7 containing multiple pre-printed labels 2 off the shelf. The package may also be in the form of a print-at home-kit. The owner will affix a label 2 to clothing 8b of, for example, one of his children. The owner will scan the barcode 4 on the label 2 with tablet 9. The tablet 9 will be directed to web address 5 and the server 1 1 will determine that this is the first time that web address 5 has been visited. The server 1 1 serves web page 12 to the owner and the owner may choose a password 14. At this stage, the owner may add the name 14 of his child, a number 16 where the owner can be reached, an address 17, and instructions to anyone scanning the label. The owner may also at this stage choose to add additional labels associated with the information and affix the additional labels to the child's book 8c and briefcase 8a. Further, the owner may specify to be notified 21 by SMS 25 on phone number 22, to be notified each time the page 13 is accessed 23, to track the location from which the page 13 is accessed 24, and to notify the owner of this location 26.

After the information is entered and if, for example, the child wanders off in a shopping mall and the owner loses track of the child, a bystander may scan the barcode 4 on the clothing 8b of the child. This will provide the bystander with a number to reach the owner, and also notify the owner that the barcode 4 has been scanned and the GPS coordinates, if available, where the barcode has been scanned.

It is envisaged that the invention will provide an item information and tracking system which is simple to use, may be packaged and store bought, and is cost effective compared to the prior art. It is further envisaged that the invention will enable users to track lost or stolen items, help locate missing loved ones, and provide third parties easy access to the information of the owner when lost items are found. The invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein. For example, instead of using a tablet or mobile phone to scan the barcode, a desktop or laptop computer, equipped with an electronic camera, webcam, or barcode scanner and connected to the Internet may be used. Further, instead of affixing the labels to personal items, the labels may be affixed to business items such as files, computers, or- other company property.

Claims

An item information and tracking system comprising:

a pre-produced label including a unique identifier; a computer program, executed on a computing device with a processor and associated memories, providing access to: o an information input feature for adding information relating to the label; and o an information retrieval feature for retrieving information previously added in relation to the label; the input and retrieval features being accessible remotely by a person with the label; wherein the input feature is presented to the person on first access to add information relating to the label and the retrieval feature shows the added information on subsequent access.

The item information and tracking system of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is a valid number chosen from a range according to a mathematical function.

The item information and tracking system of claims 1 or 2 wherein the range is sufficiently large to prevent guessing the valid number from the range without the mathematical function.

The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 3 wherein the mathematical function may be a cryptographic function.

The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 4 wherein the person first accessing the input feature is an owner and upon first accessing the input feature, the owner may select a password for accessing the input feature on subsequent access.

6. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 5 wherein the owner is presented with the input feature which includes at least one information element relating to the label, chosen from a group including: names and surname, telephone number, address, instructions, notification type, notification number, notification address, notification options, tracking options, medical information, and an image.

7. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 6 wherein the input feature includes an option to associate a number of additional labels with the same information.

8. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 7 wherein the unique identifier is embodied as a barcode including a reference to the identifier.

9. The item information and tracking system of claim 8 wherein the barcode is a QR code.

10. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 9 wherein the label includes text instructions on how to use the unique identifier.

1 1 . The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 10 wherein a number of pre- produced labels are pre-packaged.

12. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 1 1 wherein the labels are textile labels.

13. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 1 1 wherein the labels are stickers.

14. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 13 wherein the computer program is a web service running on a server and providing the input and retrieval features as web pages.

15. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 14 wherein the barcode includes a uniform resource identifier of which the unique identifier forms part.

16. The item information and tracking system of claim 15 wherein the uniform resource identifier is a uniform resource locator.

17. The item information and tracking system of claim 16 wherein the uniform resource locator is a web address.

18. The item information and tracking system of claims 14 to 17 wherein the web service is remotely accessible through a network.

19. The item information and tracking system of claims 1 to 18 wherein the system includes notification means.

20. The item information and tracking system of claim 19 wherein the notification means is in the form of a short message service (SMS).

21 . The item information and tracking system of claim 19 wherein the notification means is in the form of a multimedia (MMS) message.

22. The item information and tracking system of claim 19 wherein the notification means is in the form of an email message.

23. The item information and tracking system of claims 19 to 22 wherein the notification options include a feature to notify the owner when the web address that is unique to each label is visited.

24. The item information and tracking system of claims 19 to 23 wherein the tracking options include a feature to record a location of a scanner of the web address.

25. The item information and tracking system of claim 24 wherein the location determined by submitting global positioning system (GPS) coordinates to the web address.

26. The item information and tracking system of claims 24 or 25 wherein the location is estimated based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the visitor.

27. The item information and tracking system of claims 24 to 26 wherein the notification options include a feature to notify the owner of the location where the label was scanned.

28. The item information and tracking system of claim 27 wherein the owner specifies the notification address where notification should occur.

29. An item information and tracking system substantially as herein described and illustrated.