Underground asset management system

摘要

A system for managing underground assets with RFID tags provides for expanded virtual storage by wirelessly linking the field RFID tag reader to a centralized database through a unique series code in the RFID tag. Real-time updating of information about underground assets coordination between multiple users may be accomplished through use of the central database as an information broker.

主权项

1. A system for management of underground assets comprising:
(a) a field tag identification unit providing:
an RFID reader,a user interface for receiving data from a user and displaying data to a user;a wireless transceiver; anda first electronic computing device communicating with the RFID reader, user interface, and wireless transceiver; (b)a central database server remote from the field tag identification unit and providing:
a database memory storing records indexed to RFID tag stored data;a communication interface communicating with the field tag identification unit along a communication channel including the wireless transceiver;a second electronic computing device communicating with the database memory and the communication interface; wherein the first and second electronic computing device execute programs stored in non-transient media to:
(1) read an RFID tag proximate to an underground asset to obtain RFID tag stored data including a tag unique data string;(2) match the tag unique data string to a corresponding record of the database memory; and(3) exchange data between the field tag identification unit and the central database server associated with the corresponding record;wherein spatial location data is automatically captured during reading of an RFID tag proximate to an underground asset;wherein the exchanged data includes data entered by a user of the field tag identification unit through the user interface and wherein the exchanged data is entered into the corresponding record;wherein the programs further execute to operate so that data may be entered by a user of the field tag identification unit into the corresponding, record only for at least one condition of: (1) data that has been entered within a predetermined spatial location of the RFID tag of the corresponding record and (2) an RFID tag that has been read within a predetermined time range before the data was entered.