PUBLIC AREA LOCATOR SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A wireless locator system for determining the approximate location within a predetermined area of a person or article carrying a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, comprising:
- at least one low power RF transmitter incorporated in a device for attachment to a person or an article within said predetermined area;
a plurality of RF receivers spaced at predetermined locations within said predetermined area for receiving signals from said RF transmitter and for transmitting signals; and
a control center including a central processing unit for receiving said signals transmitted from said RF receivers and operable to identify at least one of a person authorized to carry said RF transmitter and the approximate location of said RF transmitter within said predetermined area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless personnel locator system includes a plurality of low power, compact, radio frequency (RF) transmitters adapted to continuously transmit narrow band modulated or spread spectrum modulated signals, including a transmitter identification code or serial number. Designated public areas such as retail merchant complexes, exhibit halls, and entertainment complexes have identified RF receivers at designated locations, such as entrance and exit portals, for receiving transmitter signals and transmitting related information to a control center processing unit which correlates the received signals with a subscriber or authorized person for each of the transmitters. The transmitters may be incorporated in easily carried devices such as key chain fobs, integrated into pager devices or cellular phones or encapsulated in an elastic band worn by the user. The processing unit may be in communication with a security department for providing information regarding the whereabouts of persons about to make unauthorized exits from or entrances into particular areas. A communication unit may be available to subscribers at particular locations in the designated areas for accessing information as to the whereabouts of a person carrying a transmitter.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A wireless locator system for determining the approximate location within a predetermined area of a person or article carrying a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, comprising:
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at least one low power RF transmitter incorporated in a device for attachment to a person or an article within said predetermined area;
a plurality of RF receivers spaced at predetermined locations within said predetermined area for receiving signals from said RF transmitter and for transmitting signals; and
a control center including a central processing unit for receiving said signals transmitted from said RF receivers and operable to identify at least one of a person authorized to carry said RF transmitter and the approximate location of said RF transmitter within said predetermined area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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25. In a wireless locator system for determining the approximate location of a person or article within a predetermined area, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) receivers spaced at predetermined locations within said predetermined area for receiving RF signals from one or more RF transmitters, a control center including a central processing unit operably connected to said RF receivers for receiving signals from said RF receivers to identify at least one of a person authorized to carry an RF transmitter and the approximate location of said RF transmitter, said one or more RF transmitters each comprising:
a radio frequency transmitter circuit, a digital control circuit operably connected to said transmitter circuit and a battery for providing electrical power to said transmitter circuit and said control circuit, respectively, for causing said transmitter circuit to transmit an RF signal at an effective radiated power of between about 0.1 milliwatts and 1.0 watts, said RF signal including a code associated with said RF transmitter identifying said RF transmitter to said control center processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for determining the whereabouts of persons within a designated area comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of low power, compact RF transmitter devices, said devices being capable of being worn or carried by persons without encumbering normal physical activity by said persons, said transmitter devices being operable to transmit RF signals in a predetermined frequency range;
providing said designated area with a plurality of spaced apart RF receivers operable to receive signals from said transmitter devices, respectively, said receivers being operably connected to a control center processing unit for transmitting information related to at least one of transmitter device identification number, signal strength, transmitter device bearing with respect to a reference at said receiver and signal time of arrival to said processing unit;
providing persons with respective ones of said transmitter devices for use in said designated area, said transmitter devices being operable to transmit RF signals to receivers in proximity for receiving said RF signals and for transmitting said information to said control center processing unit; and
determining the location of a person carrying a particular one of said transmitter devices based on said information. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification