Method and apparatus for tracking objects and people
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising:
- active or passive transponders each affixable to an object or person and transmitting raw transponder RFID data via radio frequency (RF) signals;
a reader for receiving the raw transponder RFID data via the (RF) signals from the transponders;
a plurality of antennas, each having a coverage area for transmitting and receiving said RF signals to and from said reader and said transponders, wherein said antennas are strategically positioned;
a processor configured to receive the raw transponder RFID data via said antennas via the RF signals and generate new detection information based on the received transponder data, the detection information comprising first sighting and last sighting of a first one of the transponders in a first one of the coverage areas; and
to use the last sighting data of the first transponder to determine that the first transponder is dwelling in the first coverage area, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the first transponder has been detected previously by the system in any of the plurality of coverage areas; and
a storage device, associated with the processor, that holds the detection information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An object locating, identifying, tracking, and surveillance system, denoted the Assets Locating, Tracking, and Surveillance System (ALTSS), is provided for managing physical objects and evidence in environments such as police departments, law offices, and the Courts. ALTSS employs radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, computer programming and database applications, networking technologies, and hardware elements. ALTSS may locate and track physical evidence, merchandise, information carriers like files, folders or individual pieces of paper, and people, under certain conditions, in near-real time. It may be configured as part of a local area network, a wide area network, or the Internet. ALTSS may employ exemplary components such as RFID transponders, scanners, strategically located antennas and computers to facilitate tracking of objects and people as needed. Any number of users having access privileges and connected to the network may access ALTSS directly or remotely via the Internet to locate and track evidence or objects.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising:
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active or passive transponders each affixable to an object or person and transmitting raw transponder RFID data via radio frequency (RF) signals; a reader for receiving the raw transponder RFID data via the (RF) signals from the transponders; a plurality of antennas, each having a coverage area for transmitting and receiving said RF signals to and from said reader and said transponders, wherein said antennas are strategically positioned; a processor configured to receive the raw transponder RFID data via said antennas via the RF signals and generate new detection information based on the received transponder data, the detection information comprising first sighting and last sighting of a first one of the transponders in a first one of the coverage areas; and
to use the last sighting data of the first transponder to determine that the first transponder is dwelling in the first coverage area, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the first transponder has been detected previously by the system in any of the plurality of coverage areas; anda storage device, associated with the processor, that holds the detection information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An RFID system comprising:
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a storage device configured to store a known transponder ID and detection information associated with the stored known transponder ID, wherein the detection information indicates whether the stored known transponder ID has been previously detected by the system and whether the stored known transponder ID has not been previously detected by the system; and a processor configured to compare the known transponder ID stored in said storage device with a detected transponder ID, and determine based on the comparison whether the detected transponder ID is a detected known transponder ID and whether the detected transponder ID is not a detected known transponder ID. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for performing surveillance of an object using a transponder attached to the object, the system comprising:
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a plurality of antennas each associated with a respective antenna coverage area and configured to receive signals having transponder data from the transponder in the respective antenna coverage area; a reader coupled with said plurality of antennas, said reader configured to receive the transponder data from said plurality of antennas; and a processor configured to continuously receive the transponder data from the reader, determine based on the transponder data if the transponder has entered a coverage area and/or is dwelling in the coverage area and/or has exited the coverage area, wherein said processor is further configured to generate an alarm signal if it determines that the transponder has entered the coverage area and/or is dwelling in the coverage area and/or has exited one of the coverage areas, to thereby detect and track the object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification