Nested visibility for a container hierarchy

US7173530B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Savi Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Stephen J. Lambright · San Francisco, US
• Blair B. Lacorte · Dublin, US
• Ravindra U. Rajapakse · San Francisco, US
• David L. Shannon · State College, US
• Leo S. Chang · Portland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 6, 2004
• Grant date: Feb 6, 2007
• Expiry date: May 6, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08B25/10
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A nested container establishes a relative hierarchy of associated containers as logistical units. The relative hierarchy comprises lower-layer containers and upper-layer containers relative to the nested container. To do so, the nested container sends interrogation signals to neighboring containers in order to retrieve identification information and layer information. Also, the nested container sends its own information identification information and layer information responsive to received interrogation signals. The nested container outputs the relative hierarchy to, for example, a site server or agent using a hand-held device. The identification module comprises, for example, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) device.