Electronic luggage tag and system

Abstract

An electronic luggage tag includes an attachment mechanism for attaching the electronic luggage tag to luggage, a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a computer processor, a battery, and a housing. The wireless receiver is configured for wirelessly receiving a trigger signal when the electronic luggage tag is in proximity to luggage handling equipment. The wireless transmitter is configured for wirelessly transmitting an electronic notification message in response to receiving the trigger signal at the wireless receiver. The computer processor is in communication with the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter. The battery powers at least one of the wireless receiver, the wireless transmitter, and the computer processor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic luggage tag comprising:
 an attachment mechanism for attaching the electronic luggage tag to luggage;   a wireless receiver configured for wirelessly receiving a trigger signal when the electronic luggage tag is in proximity to luggage handling equipment;   a wireless transmitter configured for wirelessly transmitting an electronic notification message in response to receiving the trigger signal at the wireless receiver;   a computer processor in communication with the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter;   a battery for powering at least one of the wireless receiver, the wireless transmitter, and the computer processor; and   a housing containing the wireless receiver, the wireless transmitter, the computer processor, and the battery, wherein the attachment mechanism is affixed to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  wherein the luggage handing equipment comprises a baggage claim carousel and wherein the trigger signal is wirelessly received from a transmitter associated with the baggage claim carousel when the electronic luggage tag arrives at the baggage claim carousel. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  wherein the electronic notification message comprises a text message transmitted for delivery to a mobile communication device associated with an owner of the luggage indicating that the luggage has arrived at the luggage handling equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  wherein the electronic notification message comprises a wireless data communication transmitted for delivery to a software application running on a mobile communication device associated with a party responsible for the luggage, wherein the software application comprises non-transitory computer instructions executable by a computer processor of the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the electronic notification message using at least one of Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  wherein the electronic notification message is transmitted for delivery to a smartphone over a wireless communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  wherein the electronic notification message includes location information indicating a location of the electronic luggage tag. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 7  further comprising location determination circuitry for determining the location information of the electronic luggage tag. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 7  wherein the trigger signal received by the electronic luggage tag includes the location information. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  further comprising a visual notification device activated in response to the receiving of the trigger signal. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  further comprising an audible notification device activated in response to the receiving of the trigger signal. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 1  wherein the wireless receiver is further configured for wirelessly receiving an electronic command from a mobile communication device and conveying the electronic command to the computer processor. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 12  further comprising a locking mechanism affixed to the housing, the locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the luggage, wherein the locking mechanism is responsive to the electronic command received from the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 13  further comprising circuitry for recording when the locking mechanism is locked or unlocked. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 13  further comprising circuity for receiving a code and unlocking the locking mechanism in response to receiving the code. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 15  wherein the code is configured as a one-time use code. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 13  further including a sensor for capturing data associated with unlocking of the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic luggage tag of  claim 17  wherein the sensor includes at least one of a microphone and a camera. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic luggage tracking system comprising:
 a software application for providing information about luggage to a user of the software application, the software application comprising non-transitory instructions executable by a computer processor of a portable electronic device; and   an electronic luggage module including:
 an attachment mechanism for attaching the electronic luggage module to the luggage; 
 a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving a trigger signal from a trigger device when the electronic luggage module is in proximity to luggage handling equipment; 
 a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting an electronic notification message for delivery to the software application on the portable electronic device in response to receiving the trigger signal; and 
 a power source for powering at least one of the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter. 
   
     
     
         20 . An electronic luggage tag system comprising:
 a triggering device for transmitting a trigger signal, the triggering device associated with a luggage carousel; and   an electronic luggage tag including:
 an attachment mechanism for attaching the electronic luggage tag to luggage; 
 a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving the trigger signal from the triggering device when the electronic luggage tag is in proximity to the luggage carousel; and 
 a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting an electronic notification message for delivery to a smartphone of an owner of the luggage in response to the receiving of the trigger signal.