Method and apparatus for tracking mobile devices using tags
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a tag having circuitry which includes a receiver section and a transmitter section, said receiver section being operable to receive wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code, and said transmitter section being operable to transmit wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
a signpost which is physically separate from said tag and which transmits said signpost signals to said tag;
a reader which is physically separate from said signpost and said tag, and which receives said beacon signals;
a mobile device;
an item removably supported on said mobile device, said item having said tag disposed thereon, and said signpost being stationarily supported near a path of travel of said mobile device so that said tag passes through a transmission range of said signpost signals from said signpost as said mobile device travels past said signpost with said item thereon; and
a sensor supported near said path of travel of said mobile device for detecting proximity to said sensor of one of said item and said mobile device, said signpost being operatively coupled to said sensor and being responsive to detection by said sensor of the proximity of said one of said item and mobile device for effecting a change in said signpost code of said signpost.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A signpost (11, 241-256, 322, 612, 623, 626-628, 652, 661, 682, 686, 703) transmits low frequency signals to a beacon tag (12, 271-275, 301-316, 395-397, 616-618, 641-643, 653, 656-657, 662-664, 679, 708, 711), which in turns transmits high frequency signals containing a signpost code from a received signpost signal to a reader (13, 261, 319, 521-530). The signpost can be mounted on one mobile device and the beacon tag on another mobile device, in order to determine when those mobile devices are in close proximity. Further, a sensor (32) can be provided to detect the presence of a mobile device, and to cause the signpost to change the signpost code in its transmitted signals.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a tag having circuitry which includes a receiver section and a transmitter section, said receiver section being operable to receive wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code, and said transmitter section being operable to transmit wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
a signpost which is physically separate from said tag and which transmits said signpost signals to said tag;
a reader which is physically separate from said signpost and said tag, and which receives said beacon signals;
a mobile device;
an item removably supported on said mobile device, said item having said tag disposed thereon, and said signpost being stationarily supported near a path of travel of said mobile device so that said tag passes through a transmission range of said signpost signals from said signpost as said mobile device travels past said signpost with said item thereon; and
a sensor supported near said path of travel of said mobile device for detecting proximity to said sensor of one of said item and said mobile device, said signpost being operatively coupled to said sensor and being responsive to detection by said sensor of the proximity of said one of said item and mobile device for effecting a change in said signpost code of said signpost.
-
-
2. A method, comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting signpost signals from a signpost, each said signpost signal having a signpost code;
receiving said signpost signals in a receiver section of circuitry of a tag which is physically separate from said signpost;
transmitting from a transmitter section of said circuitry of said tag wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitting step including the step of causing said transmitter section to be responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
receiving said beacon signals in a reader which is physically separate from said signpost and said tag;
removably supporting on a mobile device an item having said tag disposed thereon;
stationarily supporting said signpost near a path of travel of said mobile device in a manner so that said tag passes through a transmission range of said signpost signals from said signpost as said mobile device travels past said signpost with said item thereon;
supporting near said path of travel of said mobile device a sensor which is operatively coupled to said signpost;
detecting proximity to said sensor of one of said item and said mobile device; and
responding to detection by said sensor of the proximity of said one of said item and said mobile device for effecting a change in said signpost code of said signpost.
-
-
3. An apparatus comprising:
-
a tag having circuitry which includes a receiver section and a transmitter section, said receiver section being operable to receive wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code, and said transmitter section being operable to transmit wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
a signpost which is physically separate from said tag and which transmits said signpost signals to said tag; and
a reader which is physically separate from said signpost and said tag, and which receives said beacon signals;
a mobile device having said signpost thereon; and
an item which is removably supported on said mobile device, said item having said tag disposed thereon at a location so that said tag is within a transmission range of said signpost signals from said signpost while said item is removably supported on said mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
-
-
6. A method, comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting signpost signals from a signpost, each said signpost signal including a signpost code;
receiving said signpost signals in a receiver section of circuitry of a tag which is physically separate from said signpost;
transmitting from a transmitter section of said circuitry of said tag wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitting step including the step of causing said transmitter section to be responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
receiving said beacon signals in a reader which is physically separate from said signpost and said tag;
supporting said signpost on a mobile device; and
removably supporting on said mobile device an item having said tag disposed thereon at a location so that said tag is within a transmission range of said signpost signals from said signpost while said item is removably supported on said mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. An apparatus comprising:
-
a tag having circuitry which includes a receiver section and a transmitter section, said receiver section being operable to receive wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code, and said transmitter section being operable to transmit wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
a signpost which is physically separate from said tag and which transmits said signpost signals to said tag; and
a reader which is physically separate from said signpost and said tag, and which receives said beacon signals; and
first and second mobile devices which are releasably coupled to each other, said signpost being provided on one of said mobile devices and said tag being provided on the other of said mobile devices, said signpost and said tag being positioned on said mobile devices so that said tag is within a transmission range of said signpost signals from said signpost. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
23. A method, comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting signpost signals from a signpost, said signpost signals each including a signpost code;
receiving said signpost signals in a receiver section of circuitry of a tag which is physically separate from said signpost;
transmitting from a transmitter section of said circuitry of said tag wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitting step including the step of causing said transmitter section to be responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
receiving said beacon signals in a reader which is physically separate from said signpost and said tag;
releasably coupling first and second mobile devices to each other; and
supporting said signpost on one of said mobile devices and said tag on the other thereof, in a manner so that said tag is within a transmission range of said signpost signals from said signpost while said mobile devices are releasably coupled.
-
Specification