Description:The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular painting device as described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

In addition, the terms “having”, “comprising”, “including”, and variations thereof signify the presence of a component.

The present invention envisages a document tracking system that enables a user to track and locate any paper documents secured in a huge repository of documents. The paper documents may be secured in an entrapment module, such as commonly file folders, paper clips, paper pins, and the like, which have been modified to serve the purpose of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the entrapment modules may be those recited in the patent number 332007, teachings whereof have been incorporated herein by reference. The present invention envisages a solution to locate such entrapment modules as will be apparent from the ensuing description. the envisaged document tracking system is convenient to use and easy to configure, and very beneficial especially in a situation which involves a huge repository of documents.

To elaborate, reference is made to Fig. 1 that illustrates a system level block diagram of the document tracking system 100 configured to serve the advantageous benefits as enlisted above. Fig. 2 illustrates a physical configuration of the document tracking system 100, and the present invention would be explained with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 in conjunction. As shown, the document tracking system (DTS 100) includes at least one entrapment module 105 that is capable of securing one or more paper documents. For the purpose of explanation of the present invention, the entrapment module 105 is a file folder, however the present invention should not be considered as limited to the described embodiment only and the teachings of the present invention could be equally applied to other types of entrapment modules, like a paper clip, envelope and the like, that is capable of securing paper documents for the purpose of storage. As shown in Fig. 2, the entrapment module 105 is envisaged to be secured in a storage rack (205) along with several other similarly configured entrapment modules (1051, 1052,…..105n). The present invention is being explained with reference to only one entrapment module 105 for the sake of brevity, however the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to other entrapment modules in a similar manner. Further, the entrapment module 105 includes an LED 110 configured on a surface that would be exposed once the entrapment module 105 is secured in a storage rack (not shown) so as to provide a visual indication to a user, as will be explained in the ensuing description. In addition, the entrapment module 105 includes a first tag 115 that is configured to enable a user to determine the location of the entrapment module 105 as will be evident from the following description. In embodiment of the present invention, the first tag 115 may be an RFID based location tag, LoRA (Long Range) tag, Ultra Wide Band (UWB) tag, a Wi-fi based tag or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tag or a combination of any of these types. Each entrapment module 105 may include the necessary power circuitry for powering the tag 115 as well as the LED or could be wirelessly powered with an external wireless signal. As shown in Fig. 2, the entrapment module 105 may be secured in a specific row R1 of the storage rack 205. Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 2, the entrapment module 105 may have a partial visual pattern configured on an external surface thereof. The partial visual pattern is complementary to partial visual patterns on other entrapment module (1051, 1052,…..105n) that are adapted to be placed adjacent to the entrapment module 105 so that the visual patterns on the entrapment modules kept side by side form a complete visual pattern P. This helps as an aid to a user to keep the entrapment modules at their respective position since any misplacement would not form the complete visual pattern P, thereby giving an indication to the user that the entrapment modules have not been kept in the right order.

The present invention envisages that at least one second tag 120 is spatially positioned in the vicinity of the entrapment module. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second tag 120 may be positioned on the storage rack 205. The tag 120 is adapted to indicate a presence of the entrapment module 105. In particular, the tag 120 is adapted to enable a user to broadly ascertain the position of the entrapment module 105 so as to narrow down the search area for the user. In the example of document repository, the tag 120 may enable the user to ascertain which row of the storage rack 205 has the entrapment module 105. As shown in Fig. 2, each row R1, R2 and R3 have respective second tags 120, 125 and 130, each being configured to monitor and indicate the presence of entrapment modules secured in each row. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second tag 120 may be an RFID based location tag, LoRA (Long Range) tag, Ultra Wide Band (UWB) tag, a Wifi based tag or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tag or a combination of any of these types. In another embodiment of the present invention, the second tag 120 includes at least one of an audio and visual indicator to indicate the presence of the entrapment module 105.

It may be noted that each of the first and the second tags are activated by specific radio frequencies, which are generated by at least one reader 135 that is capable of communicating with the tags. In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one reader 135 may include a module configured as a presence-detector tag reader to communicate with the second tag and indicate the presence of the entrapment module in a specific space, and another module configured as a locator tag reader adapted to communicate with the first tag for providing an indication of location of the entrapment module. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one tag reader 135 may be capable of communicating with RFID tags. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one tag reader 135 may be capable of communicating with BLE tags. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one tag reader 135 may be capable of communicating with LoRA tags. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one tag reader 135 may be capable of communicating with UWB tags. The type of tag reader 135 to be used would depend on the type of first and the second tags being used. In another embodiment of the present invention, the tag reader 135 may be formed of two independent tag readers – one being the presence-detector tag reader to communicate with the second tag and the other being the locator tag reader adapted to communicate with the first tag. The tag reader could be a mobile phone, a tablet, a notebook or any computing device having a screen and a keypad and fitted with a wireless transceiver capable of communicating with tags, in an embodiment of the present invention. The tag reader may have an operative range of at least 10 feet for enabling activation of the tags. The activated first and second tags indicate the location and presence, respectively, of the entrapment module 105. Particularly, the activated first tag 115 lights up the LED 110 to provide a visual indication of the location of the entrapment module 105. Furthermore, the activated second tag 120 activates the at least one of the audio and visual indicator to indicate the presence of the entrapment module 105 in the storage rack 205.

The DTS 100 also includes a tracking server 140 that is communicably coupled to the at least one tag reader 135. The tracking server 140 includes a tracking database of all entrapment modules (105, 1051, 1052,…..105n) and details of location thereof, viz. the identification number of the storage rack and the row of the storage rack where the where the said entrapment modules are secured. The database may also have identification details of the contents, such as paper documents, of the entrapment modules. Also, the tracking database has location details of the second tags, i.e., the identification details of the specific storage racks on which particular second tags are placed. Moreover, the database has details of the radio frequencies at which each of the first tags and the second tags would be activated and tag addresses of the first and the second tags, which serve to identify the different tags.

In use, the user wanting to search for paper documents secured in the entrapment module 105 would activate the tag reader 135 and input the identification details of the paper documents. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tag reader 135 may have the option for the user to search for the identification details of the paper documents from the tracking database by keying in certain keywords, such as name of the paper document, type etc. Based on the identification details of the paper documents, the tag reader 135 ascertains the specific second tag 120, which is placed in vicinity of the entrapment module 105. From the tracking database, the tag reader 135 identifies the radio frequency and tag address required to activate the second tag 120 and transmits a unique wireless signal that is required to activate the second tag 120. It is to be noted that the second tag 120 has a relatively greater detection range than first tag 115 for enabling the second tag 120 to be activated by the tag reader 135 from a greater distance. As the second tag 120 gets activated by the unique wireless signals, it in turn activates at least one of the audio and the visual indicator, thereby giving one or more of an audio output and visual output for the user to determine the storage rack 205 where the second tag 120 and the entrapment module 105 is secured. This may enable the user to move closer to the specific storage rack 205 to eventually identify the presence of the entrapment module 105. Consequently, the user gets an indication that the entrapment module 105 is present somewhere in the storage rack 205. It may be noted that at this point, the user still does not have the idea of where the entrapment module 105 may be located within the storage rack 205. Thus, once the tag reader 135 has identified the presence of the second tag 120, the tracking server identifies from the tracking database that the first tag 115 is placed on the entrapment module 105 and consequently, transmits details of the unique locator wireless signal. that would activate the first tag 115, to the tag reader 135. The tag reader 135 transmits the locator wireless signal to activate the first tag 115, which in turn lights up the LED 110 for enabling the user to identify the presence of the entrapment module in row R1 of the storage rack 205. In this manner, a user can easily identify and locate the entrapment module 105 in which the desired paper documents are secured.

The present invention envisages to also solve the problem of locating misplaced entrapment modules. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second tags continuously track and identify the entrapment modules in the row of the storage rack being monitored by it by communicating with the first tags thereof. This is depicted by the data connection ‘D’ in Fig. 1. Each second tag, therefore, identifies any new entrapment module that may have been misplaced in the row that is being monitored by it, and transmits details of any such misplaced entrapment module to the tag reader 135. The tag reader 135, in turn, transmits this information to the tracking server 140. The tracking server 140 amends the entries in the tracking database with the updated location, viz storage rack and row number of the misplaced entrapment module so as to enable tracking thereof in future. In another embodiment of the present invention, different locator tag readers may be positioned on the storage racks. Each location tag reader is positioned on each row of the storage rack to continuously track and identify the first tags positioned in the row. Any new first tag, owing to a misplaced entrapment module, identified by any of the tag readers is notified to the tracking server 140, which amends the entries in the tracking database with the updated location, viz storage rack and row number of the misplaced entrapment module so as to enable location thereof to be identified in future.

As already mentioned, the entrapment module 105 could be any of a paper-clip, a file folder or an envelope, as will be explained later in conjunction with various embodiments. Basically, the entrapment module 105 is any device which may hold or secure paper documents. In an embodiment of the present invention, shown in Fig. 3, a paper clip 305 is formed by using a binder clip 310, having pivoted limbs 315 and 320, as the entrapment module. The pivoted limbs 315 and 320 are resiliently biased by way of edge portion 325 and are adapted to secure paper documents therebetween by relative pivotal movement enabled by a handle 330. The pivoted limbs 315 and 320 may be resiliently biased with the help of a spring element (not shown) as well in an embodiment. The paper clip 305 has an LED 335 and a first tag 340 disposed on the limbs 315 and/or 320.

Further, in another embodiment, an entrapment module 400 may include a looped paper-clip 405, as shown in Fig. 4. The looped paper-clip 405 includes pivoted limbs 410 and 415 pivotal about the edge portion 420. An LED module 425 and a first tag 430 may be configured on a printed circuit board or attachment 435. The printed circuit board or attachment 435 may be magnetically attached or stuck to the body of the looped pin 405.

In yet another embodiment, shown in Fig. 5, a entrapment module 500 includes a file folder 505 having pivoted flaps 510 and 515 pivotally connected by way of edge portion 520. In the described embodiments, the pivoted flaps 510 and 515 are adapted to abut each other to form an enclosed space ‘S’ therebetween. The paper documents are secured in the enclosed space ‘S’. The file folder 505 has an LED 525 positioned externally on the edge portion 520 and first tag 530 positioned on any of the flaps 510 and 515.

Thus, in this manner, the present invention envisages to modify known entrapment modules in a manner that the paper-documents secured therewithin may be tracked in terms of location. This helps in providing a user with updated and useful information about the location of his/her paper documents. This is a cost-effective solution, which is easy to configure and use.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
, Claims:1. A document tracking system for securing and tracking paper documents, the document tracking system comprising:
at least one entrapment module (105) for securing one or more paper documents, the entrapment module comprising an LED and a first tag to identify a location of the one or more paper documents secured in the entrapment module;

at least one second tag spatially positioned in the vicinity of the entrapment module to indicate the presence of the one or more paper documents secured in the entrapment module, each of the second tag comprising at least one of an audio and visual indicator to indicate the presence; and

at least one tag reader adapted to communicate with the first and the second tags to provide indication regarding the location and the presence of the entrapment module; and

a tracking server communicably coupled to the at least one tag reader.

2. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one tag reader is configured to transmit a unique wireless signal identifiable by the second tag, which provides the indication of the presence of the at least one entrapment module in a specific space using the at least one of the audio and visual indicator.

3. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one tag reader transmits a locator wireless signal identifiable by the first tag to determine the location of the entrapment module in the specific space after determination of the presence of the at least one entrapment module.

4. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one tag reader comprises a presence-detector tag reader to communicate with the at least one second tag and a locator tag reader adapted to communicate with the first tag by lightening the LED of the first tag.

5. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one second tag continuously communicates with the first tag on the at least one entrapment module for identification thereof and transmits the identification result to to the at least one tag reader, which then communicates the identification result to the tracking server.

6. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one tag reader continuously communicates with the first tag for identification thereof and transmits the identification result to the tracking server.

7. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one entrapment module (105) is a paper clip having a pair of pivoted limbs adapted for securing one or more paper documents therebetween while enclosing an angle.

8. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one entrapment module (105) is a paper envelope having an enclosed space for securing paper documents therewithin.

9. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one entrapment module (105) is a file folder having two pivoted flaps hinged together to have a relative pivotal movement and adapted to abut each other to form an enclosed space therebetween for securing paper documents therewithin.

10. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 2 and 3, wherein the tracking server comprises a tracking database comprising details of the unique wireless signal and the locator wireless signal for each second tag and first tag.

11. The document tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one entrapment module comprises a partial visual pattern configured on an external surface thereof, the partial visual pattern adapted to be complementary to partial visual patterns on adjacently positioned entrapment modules.