Method and apparatus for tracking via a radio frequency identification device

• US 10,068,115 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2018
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Ken, Bogdan, Pamela A. M., Gerszberg, Irwin, Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blouin, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/874,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20180165484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• Field of Search: 340 81
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10504 Data fields affixed to objects or articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device, including a radio frequency interface configured to receive, from a radio frequency identification device, a first wireless signal of a first carrier frequency that indicates a personal identifier. A transceiver can be configured to generate a transmission signal of second carrier frequency that indicates the personal identifier and location information associated with the device and to transmit electromagnetic waves in response to the transmission signal at a first physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path. The electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium and are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium, and the transmission signal can be extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system including signal processing circuitry, a first wireless signal of a first carrier frequency from a radio frequency identification device, wherein the first wireless signal includes first information;

generating, by the system, a transmission signal of second carrier frequency, wherein the transmission signal includes the first information; and

generating, by the system, at a first physical interface of a transmission medium, electromagnetic waves that convey the transmission signal, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided and propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising decoding, by the system, the first information from the first wireless signal that is received, and wherein the transmission signal is generated by converting, by the system, an intermediary signal to the second carrier frequency, wherein the intermediary signal includes the first information decoded from the first wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information includes a personal identifier associated with the radio frequency identification device, wherein the transmission signal further includes location information associated with the system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a distance associated with the radio frequency identification device is determined by the receiving device according to the location information.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein a direction of movement associated with the radio frequency identification device is determined by the receiving device according to the location information.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein a speed of movement associated with the radio frequency identification device is determined by the receiving device based on the location information.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein an estimated time of arrival associated with the radio frequency identification device is determined by the receiving device according to the location information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the system, a second wireless signal to an area proximate to the system, wherein the first wireless signal is received responsive to transmission of the second wireless signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first wireless signal is generated by the radio frequency identification device via energy induced in the radio frequency identification device from the second wireless signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification device is included in a wearable item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information is included in a header of transmission signal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission signal is extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device.

13. A device, comprising:

a radio frequency identification device; and

a radio frequency interface configured to transmit, via the radio frequency identification device, a first wireless signal of a first carrier frequency that indicates a personal identifier of the radio frequency identification device, wherein a system receives the first wireless signal, wherein, responsive to receiving the first wireless signal, the system generates a transmission signal of a second carrier frequency that includes the personal identifier, wherein the system transmits, at a first physical interface of a transmission medium, electromagnetic waves associated with the transmission signal that propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the radio frequency identification device receives a second wireless signal, and wherein the first wireless signal is generated by the radio frequency identification device via energy induced in the radio frequency identification device by the second wireless signal.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the system decodes the personal identifier from the first wireless signal, and wherein the transmission signal is generated by the system by converting an intermediary signal to the second carrier frequency, wherein the intermediary signal includes the personal identifier that is decoded from the first wireless signal.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is included in a wearable item.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the transmission signal is extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device.

18. A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

receiving electromagnetic waves at a first physical interface of a transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves are transmitted by a source device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium and propagate to the second physical interface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;

extracting a transmission signal from the electromagnetic waves, wherein the transmission signal includes location information associated with the source device and a personal identifier associated with a radio frequency identification device; and

determining a location of the radio frequency identification device according to the location information.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise determining a distance associated with the radio frequency identification device according to the location information.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise determining direction of movement, speed of movement, estimated time of arrival, or any combination thereof, associated with the radio frequency identification device according to the location information.