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Method and apparatus for tracing sewer connections with RFID PIT tags

  • US 10,641,676 B1
  • Filed: 10/30/2016
  • Issued: 05/05/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of determining whether a building plumbing system is connected to a sewer system, the method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) installing a first radio frequency antenna in a first fluid pipe in the sewer system;

    (a1) prior to step (b), installing a second radio frequency antenna in a second fluid pipe;

    (b) providing a first reader configured to receive an electronic signal from the first radio frequency antenna;

    (b1) prior to step (c), providing a second reader configured to receive an electronic signal from the second radio frequency antenna;

    (c) introducing a radio frequency identification (“

    RFID”

    ) device into the building plumbing system at an insertion location;

    (d) ensuring sufficient fluid flow into the building plumbing system to flow the RFID device downstream from the insertion location;

    (e) the first radio frequency antenna receiving an RFID electronic signal from the RFID device when the RFID device flows past the first radio frequency antenna; and

    (e1) after step (d), the second radio frequency antenna receiving the RFID electronic signal from the RFID device when the RFID device flows past the second radio frequency antenna;

    (f) the first radio frequency antenna transmitting a first radio frequency antenna electronic signal containing identification code data to the first reader when the RFID device flows past the first radio frequency antenna and determining that the building plumbing system is connected to the first fluid pipe; and

    (f1) after step (e1), the second radio frequency antenna transmitting a second radio frequency antenna electronic signal to the second reader and determining that the building plumbing system is connected to the second fluid pipe.

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