IP Library Granted Patent US 12,682,191
Granted Patent B2
US 12,682,191 · App. 18/899,009 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Systems and methods for tracking a tool stored in an enclosure cross-reference to related applications

Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch (Novi, MI); Jake Schwartz (Dearborn, MI); Aaron Matthew DeLong (Toledo, OH)
G06K7/10405B60H1/00742G06K7/10128G06K7/10465
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,682,191
App. No.
18/899,009
Filed
Sep 27, 2024
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2686
USPC
340/10.1
Abstract

This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods related to tool tracking. In an example embodiment, a method may involve detecting, by a tool monitoring device, a failure of a wireless communication system included in a tool that is stored in an enclosure. The tool monitoring device may determine that the failure is attributable to a temperature in the enclosure being outside an operating temperature range of the wireless communication system. A notification of the failure and/or a description of a cause for the failure may be displayed on a display screen of the tool monitoring device and/or transmitted to a tool tracking device. In an example implementation, the tool tracking device is located outside a vehicle, the enclosure is a toolbox placed in the vehicle, and the tool monitoring device, which is configured to monitor an operational status of the wireless communication system, is located in the vehicle.

Claims (23)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, by a tool monitoring device, a temperature reading from a temperature sensor provided in an enclosure in which is stored a tool that includes a wireless communication system, wherein the enclosure is a toolbox placed in a cabin of a vehicle;

determining, by the tool monitoring device, that the temperature reading is outside an operating temperature range of the wireless communication system; and

displaying on a display screen of the tool monitoring device and/or transmitting to a tool tracking device, an advisory to perform a remedial action to prevent a failure of the wireless communication system in the tool;

detecting, by the tool monitoring device, a first failure of the wireless communication system in the tool that is stored in the enclosure;

determining, by the tool monitoring device, that the first failure is attributable to the temperature in the enclosure being outside the operating temperature range of the wireless communication system;

displaying on the display screen of the tool monitoring device and/or transmitting to the tool tracking device, a notification of the first failure and/or a description of a cause for the first failure;

determining, by the tool monitoring device, that all doors and all windows of the vehicle are in an unopened state over a period of time that extends from a first instant in time at which the wireless communication system is operational to a second instant in time at which the first failure of the wireless communication system is detected; and

at least one of displaying on the display screen of the tool monitoring device or transmitting to the tool tracking device, based on determining that all doors and all windows of the vehicle are in the unopened state over the period of time, the notification of the first failure of the wireless communication system and an indication that the tool has not been removed from the cabin of the vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool monitoring device is configured to monitor an operational status of the wireless communication system, and wherein the tool tracking device is configured to track the tool.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

executing, by the tool tracking device, an event recording procedure that includes storing in a tool event history database, the notification of the first failure of the wireless communication system and the indication that the tool has not been removed from the cabin of the vehicle.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining, by the tool monitoring device, that at least one door or one window was opened over a period of time that extends from a first instant in time at which the wireless communication system is operational to a second instant in time at which the first failure of the wireless communication system is detected; and

at least one of displaying on the display screen of the tool monitoring device or transmitting to the tool tracking device, based on determining that the at least one door or one window was opened over the period of time, a notification of the first failure of the wireless communication system and an indication that a location of the tool is indeterminate.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

executing, by the tool tracking device, an event recording procedure that includes storing in a tool event history database, the notification of the first failure of the wireless communication system and the indication that that the location of the tool is indeterminate.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

detecting, by the tool monitoring device, an ambient temperature of the cabin of the vehicle;

determining, by the tool monitoring device, that the ambient temperature of the cabin is exceeds a threshold temperature; and

providing, by the tool monitoring device, based on the ambient temperature of the cabin exceeding the threshold temperature, a recommendation to at least one of open a window of the vehicle, operate an air conditioning system of the vehicle, or move the vehicle to a new parking location.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

executing, by the tool monitoring device, a tool polling procedure to monitor an operational status of the wireless communication system, the tool polling procedure comprising a periodic query transmitted by the tool monitoring device to the wireless communication system in the tool and a response to the periodic query that is transmitted by the wireless communication system in the tool to the tool monitoring device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: VAN WIEMEERSCH, JOHN ROBERT; SCHWARTZ, JAKE; DELONG, AARON MATTHEW
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 068785/0185 →
Continuity (2)
Division 18148948 · Dec 30, 2022
Related Publication 20250021777A1 · Jan 16, 2025
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