IP Library Granted Patent US 12,254,376
Granted Patent B2
US 12,254,376 · App. 18/324,627 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Computer-implemented system and method for entity tracking and identification

Inventors: Felicia Linn (San Jose, CA); Ramkumar Abhishek (Menlo Park, CA); Ashish V. Pattekar (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
G06K7/10366
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,254,376
App. No.
18/324,627
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for entity tracking and identification is provided. A tracker associated with an entity is tracked. Communication is continuously attempted between the tracker and a tracking device associated with an individual in custody of the entity. During one of the attempted communications, an absence of the tracker is determined by identifying a time of the attempted communication and applying a time threshold to the time for the attempted communication. The absence of the tracker is identified when no communication has been established with the tracking device within the time threshold. The entity is classified as missing when the absence of the tracker is determined.

Claims (46)

1. A computer-implemented system for entity tracking and identification, comprising:

a tracker associated with an entity;

a tracking device associated with an individual responsible for the entity and configured to attempt communication continuously with the tracker; and

a server comprising a central processing unit, memory, an input port to receive data from one or more of the tracker and tracking device, and an output port, wherein the central processing unit is configured to:

during at least one of the attempted communications, determine the entity is in the presence of the individual based on successful communication of the tracker with the tracking device;

identify an interaction between the individual and a further individual based on an interface between the tracking device and a further tracking device associated with a further individual;

authenticate the further individual, comprising:

receive on the tracking device, data regarding the further individual from the further tracking device;

transmit the data from the tracking device to a data server; and

confirm the user data; and

determine a transfer of the entity from the individual to the further individual based on the identified interaction and the confirmed data of the further individual.

2. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , wherein the entity comprises one of a package, parcel, envelope, object, and individual.

3. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tracking device and the further tracking device receive information from the tracker comprising at least one of location data, time, vital sign measurements, parties to the transfer, voice messages, video clips, and metadata of the at least one individual and entity.

4. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit determines during a different one of the attempted communications, an absence of the tracker and classifies the entity as missing when the absence of the tracker is determined.

5. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit tracks an outcome of the attempted communications in a record for that entity.

6. A computer-implemented system according to claim 5 , wherein the central processing unit determines a location of the tracker during each of the successful attempted communications and stores the tracker locations in the record.

7. A computer-implemented system according to claim 6 , wherein the central processing unit compares at least one of the locations of the entity with a predetermined route of the entity and determines whether the entity is following the predetermined route.

8. A computer-implemented system according to claim 6 , wherein the central processing unit provides the location of the entity to a requestor.

9. A computer-implemented system according to claim 6 , wherein the central processing unit generates a chain of custody for the entity using the tracker locations of the successful attempted communications.

10. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , wherein the tracker comprises at least one of a wearable wireless device, a handheld device, a device with re-writeable memory, and an RFID chip.

11. A method for entity tracking and identification, comprising:

associating a tracker with an entity;

associating a tracking device with an individual responsible for the entity and configured to attempt communication continuously with the tracker;

during at least one of the attempted communications, determining the entity is in the presence of the individual based on successful communication of the tracker with the tracking device;

identifying an interaction between the individual and a further individual based on an interface between the tracking device and a further tracking device associated with a further individual;

authenticating the further individual, comprising:

receiving on the tracking device, data regarding the further individual from the further tracking device;

transmitting the data from the tracking device to a data server; and

confirming the user data; and

determining a transfer of the entity from the individual to the further individual based on the identified interaction and the confirmed data of the further individual.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the entity comprises one of a package, parcel, envelope, object, and individual.

13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the tracking device and the further tracking device receive information from the tracker comprising at least one of location data, time, vital sign measurements, parties to the transfer, voice messages, video clips, and metadata of the at least one individual and entity.

14. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

determining during a different one of the attempted communications, an absence of the tracker and classifies the entity as missing when the absence of the tracker is determined.

15. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

tracking an outcome of the attempted communications in a record for that entity.

16. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising:

determining a location of the tracker during each of the successful attempted communications; and

storing the tracker locations in the record.

17. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

comparing at least one of the locations of the entity with a predetermined route of the entity and determines whether the entity is following the predetermined route.

18. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

providing the location of the entity to a requestor.

19. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

generating a chain of custody for the entity using the tracker locations of the successful attempted communications.

20. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the tracker comprises at least one of a wearable wireless device, a handheld device, a device with re-writeable memory, and an RFID chip.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 073562/0677 →
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17361058 · Jun 28, 2021
Continuation 14984600 · Dec 30, 2015
Related Publication 20230419058A1 · Dec 28, 2023
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