3D-iD is a complete end to end system solution combining both hardware and software that leverages existing corporate computer networks to continuously locate, track and secure high-value assets and people across an indefinitely large facility. The product advances asset management to a new level by allowing organizations to reduce costs through more effective use of assets, reduced loss, and more effective management of inventory.

The 3D-iD LPS consists of high frequency "tags" that wirelessly communicate with the 3D-iD antennas and cell controllers. The cell controllers calculate and present location data for individual assets to the end-user over the corporate intranet through a familiar browser-based application.

"As organizational accountability and security become more crucial, there is a rapidly growing need for Local Positioning Systems, of which 3D-iD is the first," said Armando Viteri, president at PinPoint. "The problem has been to create a radio frequency tag device with long range, long battery life and low cost (L3RF). Today, PinPoint has solved that problem. Our 3D-iD system enables organizations to instantly locate, track, secure and inventory all their assets. We can help them move far beyond traditional asset tracking to full control and management of valuable assets."

The PinPoint solution uses (L3RF) technology and a network of cell controllers to provide real-time location data from any tagged object within range of the 3D-iD antenna network. It can be used for both stationary assets, including product inventories, and mobile assets, such as people and portable equipment. The product, targeted for the healthcare, manufacturing and distribution markets, helps organizations:

• Instantly locate any asset or person with an attached PinPoint tag;
• Maintain a complete log of movements for auditing, security and usage analysis;
• Generate an immediate inventory of all tagged assets;
• Trigger alerts if an asset or person leaves or enters designated areas;
• Monitor and control access to and movement of assets; and
• Integrate tracking and finding applications in a single, inexpensive network infrastructure.

"Everyday, our hospital faces the need to find valuable healthcare equipment in a time-sensitive manner," said John Schlingheyde, VP for Hospital Operations at the Tisch Hospital of the Mount Sinai / NYU Medical Center Health System, a 600 bed hospital that is a pilot installation site for 3D-iD. "When an urgent request develops, that piece of equipment can potentially be anywhere among the hundreds of rooms on dozens of floors in the hospital. Early trials of 3D-iD at Tisch indicate that we will be able to significantly reduce the time it takes us to find critical equipment thus improving hospital efficiency and our level of patient satisfaction and care."

Leverages Breakthrough Department of Defense Research

3D-iD was developed around technology based on pseudo-noise research by the U.S. Department of Defense, which was an essential component in reducing the cost of indoor tracking. The product is based on the operating concepts of GPS. GPS takes signals from orbiting satellites to track large outdoor assets, such as automobiles, trucks and railway cars. However, its signal is too weak to penetrate walls and other obstacles and its commercial resolution is too imprecise to provide meaningful location data for indoor applications. With its new 3D-iD system, PinPoint introduces "Local GPS" or LPS--providing organizations proven GPS-like monitoring capabilities within a defined physical space.

The PinPoint solution is completely scaleable, beginning with lower resolution options for tracking at entry/exit points and moving up to a high resolution choice that broadens coverage to detect objects within 10 feet of their actual location. PinPoint's L3RF technology can be embedded in or attached to objects or people to locate and track the closest wheelchair in a hospital, provide instantaneous inventory updates on the manufacturing shop floor and keep tabs on equipment in large, unsecured warehouses. The result is cost-effective, optimized asset utilization, increased security, and invaluable asset location data.

The PinPoint solution is designed to function as an extension or node on a corporate computer network. The product's open API enables application developers to extract data from the system via the publish/subscribe architecture, popularized by Wall Street's real-time trading systems. PinPoint Corp. has also developed a suite of 3D-iD ViewPoint(TM) applications from which vertical market developers can easily create customized software applications for the needs of specific industries.

Dan Tarpy, VP of Sales with DataScan, said, "We are in the business of providing a comprehensive line of automated data collection hardware, software, and supplies. DataScan has always marshaled the finest technologies to help organizations increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve productivity. The PinPoint solution dovetails well with our service philosophy and product line, and uniquely augments existing capabilities with an advanced, automatic approach to locating, tracking and securing any tagged item or person within a fast-paced business or industrial environment."

Highest Level of Asset Management

For asset management, companies have traditionally deployed technologies, such as bar code, radio frequency identification (RFID) and infrared, that do not offer the real-time locating and tracking capabilities of PinPoint 3D-iD. Unlike bar coding, RFID and infrared, PinPoint 3D-iD was designed from the start to provide the most affordable and functional way to automatically locate and track any asset or person anywhere within a facility.

With both bar coding and RFID, tagged assets are only visible to the system when they are in close proximity to a particular reader. For instance, a bar code or RFID reader only scans items as they move through fixed steps in a process. This approach doesn't reveal where an item is currently located--it only shows where the item last was identified. And, compared to bar code and high-cost infrared tracking systems which need to "see" their tags, 3D-iD provides long range tag detection (maximum range up to 250 feet), through obstacles such as walls, closets, desks and doors--line of sight isn't required.

"PinPoint's solution for electronic asset tracking could alter the way many industries manage assets," said Rajiv Kumar, research manager, Industrial Research Group, with Frost & Sullivan. "The company has taken the operating concepts behind wireless LANs, global positioning systems, and radio frequency tagging and identification, and formed them into a new, patent-pending solution. With the PinPoint system, corporations can leverage their existing IT infrastructure and empower it to precisely and affordably locate, track and secure valuable, or hazardous objects and personnel."

Availability and Pricing

PinPoint is actively developing a reseller channel. The company is currently building a VAR and integrator network to sell the product.

The PinPoint 3D-iD system will be available for early user installations during the third and fourth quarter of this year and will be commercially available in the first quarter of 1999. Suggested retail price for an eight antenna system, covering up to 80,000 square feet, will be $9,995.

About PinPoint Corporation

PinPoint Corporation is a technology leader that develops real-time electronic asset tracking solutions for the healthcare, distribution and manufacturing markets. PinPoint's 3D-iD system takes the operating concepts behind wireless LANs, global positioning systems, and radio frequency tagging and identification, and forms them into a new, patent-pending solution. With PinPoint technology, corporations can leverage their existing IT infrastructure and empower it to precisely and affordably locate, track and secure valuable objects and personnel.