Systems and methods for object localization and path identification based on RFID sensing

• US 10,565,810 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucomm Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lucomm Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Cristache, Lucian
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US14/598,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20150130590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 340 565
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A networked radio frequency identification system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the RFID tag readers over a network, and a software module for storage on and operable by the computer that localizes RFID tags based on information received from the RFID tag readers using a network model having endpoints and oriented links. In an additional example, at least one of the RFID tag readers includes an adjustable configuration setting selected from RF signal strength, antenna gain, antenna polarization, and antenna orientation. In a further aspect, the system localizes RFID tags based on hierarchical threshold limit calculations. In an additional aspect, the system controls a locking device associated with an access point based on localization of an authorized RFID tag at the access point and reception of additional authorizing information from an input device.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for localizing one or more RFID tags which have direct tag to tag communication capabilities, the system comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers;

a computer system communicatively coupled with the plurality of RFID tag readers;

the computer system being configured to localize the one or more RFID tags based on data received from the RFID tag readers;

the computer system further being configured to identify a semantic group from among the one or more RFID tags by;

issuing a first semantic rule configuration to a first RFID tag and storing the first semantic rule configuration on the first RFID tag;

issuing a second semantic rule configuration to a second RFID tag and storing the second semantic rule configuration on the second RFID tag;

issuing a semantic identification command to the first RFID tag;

conveying the semantic identification command from the first RFID tag to the second RFID tag via direct tag to tag communication based on the first semantic rule configuration;

determining a semantic attribute based on the semantic identification command received by the second RFID tag and the second semantic rule configuration; and

identifying the semantic group, the semantic group including the first and the second RFID tags based on the semantic attribute;

wherein the computer system is configured to apply time management rules to the step of identifying a semantic group.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein further the first RFID tag comprises an internal memory, and further wherein a response to the semantic identification command from the second RFID tag is stored in the internal memory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein semantic rules are stored on at least one of the first and second RFID tags, and further wherein the step of identifying a semantic attribute is based on the stored semantic rules.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system causes the semantic attribute to expire after a predetermined interval.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the predetermined interval is defined as a semantic interval.

7. The system of claim 5, further wherein the semantic group is not identified when the semantic attribute is expired.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system causes the semantic group to expire after a predetermined interval.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined interval is defined as a semantic interval.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first semantic rule configuration and the second semantic rule configuration include a semantic interval.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first RFID tag and the second RFID tag are from different tag categories and the first and second semantic rule configurations are based on at least one of the tag categories.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the RFID tags is coupled to a sensor and at least one of the first and second semantic rule configurations is based on a parameter from the sensor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system adjusts one or more radio frequency communication protocol parameters based on the semantic attribute.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to apply time management rules for determining the semantic attribute.

4. A method of identifying a semantic group of RFID tags using a radio frequency identification (RFID) system for localizing at least a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag which have direct tag to tag communication capabilities, wherein the RFID system comprises a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer system configured to localize the first RFID tag and the second RFID tag based on data received from the RFID tag readers, and the computer system being communicably coupled with the plurality of RFID tag readers, the method comprising:

issuing a first semantic rule configuration to a first RFID tag;

issuing a second sematic rule configuration to a second RFID tag;

initiating a first semantic identification command at the first RFID tag;

conveying the first semantic identification command from the first RFID tag to the second RFID tag via tag to tag communication based on the first semantic rule configuration stored in a memory located on the first RFID tag;

determining a semantic attribute based on the semantic identification command received by the second RFID tag and the second semantic rule configuration stored in a memory located on the second RFID tag; and

identifying a semantic group, the semantic group including the first and the second RFID tags based on the semantic attribute;

wherein the computer system is configured to apply time management rules to the step of identifying a semantic group.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer system adjusts one or more radio frequency communication protocol parameters based on the semantic attribute.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer system is configured to apply time management rules for determining the semantic attribute.