| It was not that many years ago that package | | | | packages. |
| tracking was almost totally guesswork. If you | | | | So the only thing left to make the system work |
| ordered something that needed to be shipped to | | | | is to electronically tag each package. In the state |
| you it might arrive in 3 days or 3 weeks and | | | | of the art system of the near future packages |
| where the package was in between the shipper | | | | will be identified by RFID. It will not be long before |
| and you was a complete mystery. All of that is | | | | a RFID electronic tag will be attached to almost all |
| changing not only because of GPS tracking but | | | | packages shipped everywhere. Unlike current bar |
| also because of radio frequency identification | | | | coding systems, RFID electronic tags do not |
| (RFID). | | | | require a visual scan and can carry significantly |
| GPS is a wonderful technology that is | | | | more information. Bar coding is almost |
| revolutionizing many areas of our lives; but it is | | | | everywhere these days, but it requires a close |
| simply too expensive to put a GPS receiver on | | | | and accurate visual scan by a bar code reader. It |
| every box, package or envelope that is shipped. | | | | is simply too slow and often inaccurate. RFID tags |
| But it really isn't necessary to GPS track every | | | | on the other hand require only that the package |
| package. Inevitably packages are in a building, or a | | | | be within radio frequency range of the RFID |
| truck, so all you need to know is which truck or | | | | receiver or RFID interrogator. The days of running |
| building has your package and where the building | | | | a package under a visual scanner by hand are |
| or truck is. Buildings obviously don't move so you | | | | almost over. |
| don't need to GPS track the packages in a building | | | | Even today most shipping companies have |
| you simply need to know constantly exactly what | | | | prototype shipping and delivery trucks with fully |
| packages are in the building. | | | | integrated RFID interrogators, RFID antennas, |
| Shipping and delivery trucks, of course, are a | | | | GPS tracking and a cellular computer network to |
| different matter. Trucks must be GPS tracked in | | | | tie it all together. Factories, shipping and mail |
| order to track the packages in them. Very soon | | | | centers are also starting to use RFID throughout |
| every new delivery truck that hits the roads will | | | | their facilities so they know exactly what |
| have a fully integrated GPS tracking system. | | | | packages are in their facilities. So the |
| Older trucks will end up being updated with GPS, | | | | package-tracking circle will soon be complete. The |
| sooner rather than later, or the trucks will be | | | | package sends, or is induced to send, out a radio |
| likely retired completely. GPS in shipping trucks is | | | | frequency signal, the RFID interrogator inside the |
| used primarily to let the shipper and shipping | | | | back of the truck or in the building picks up the |
| company know where the packages are. The | | | | signal, the computer network on the truck or in |
| GPS can also be used for navigation, but most | | | | the building sends out a cellular message letting |
| truckers already know their territory and don't | | | | the shippers computer know what is where and |
| need GPS navigation. The big push for | | | | finally the GPS system tells the shipper where the |
| GPS-equipped delivery trucks is for tracking | | | | truck is if the package is currently on a truck. |