Object tracking and management system and method using radio-frequency identification tags
First Claim
1. A system for tracking an object positionable at a plurality of locations, the system comprising:
- (a) a transport vehicle to move the object between locations;
(b) an object marker associated with the object which stores information indicative of the identity of the object;
(c) a plurality of location markers, each of which is positioned at one of a plurality of locations and stores information indicative of the location of the marker;
(d) an interrogator mounted on the vehicle to receive from the object marker the information indicative of the identity of the object and from the location markers the information indicative of the location of the markers, the interrogator comprising a radio-frequency transmitter and a radio-frequency receiver; and
(e) a processor operatively connected to the interrogator, wherein the processor determines the identity of the object from the information indicative of the identity of the object, the location of at least one of the location markers from the information indicative of the location of the marker, and the spatial relationship between the object and the location.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object tracking and management system and method using radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) tags is disclosed. Objects to be moved between locations are outfitted with RFID tags having information relating to the identities of the objects. The locations are also marked by RFID tags containing information on the locations. A transport vehicle for moving the objects is equipped with an RFID interrogator capable of detecting signals from the RFID tags. An onboard processor provides the operator of the vehicle with instructions on the movement of objects. The processor also determines the identities of the objects and locations from the detected signals and provides the operator with feedback as to the identity of an object being moved, the location of the vehicle and any error in carrying out the instructions. Numerous variations of the basic system and method using RFID tags are also described.
310 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for tracking an object positionable at a plurality of locations, the system comprising:
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(a) a transport vehicle to move the object between locations;
(b) an object marker associated with the object which stores information indicative of the identity of the object;
(c) a plurality of location markers, each of which is positioned at one of a plurality of locations and stores information indicative of the location of the marker;
(d) an interrogator mounted on the vehicle to receive from the object marker the information indicative of the identity of the object and from the location markers the information indicative of the location of the markers, the interrogator comprising a radio-frequency transmitter and a radio-frequency receiver; and
(e) a processor operatively connected to the interrogator, wherein the processor determines the identity of the object from the information indicative of the identity of the object, the location of at least one of the location markers from the information indicative of the location of the marker, and the spatial relationship between the object and the location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A radio-frequency identification system comprising:
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(a) an interrogator to transmit an interrogation signal;
(b) a radio-frequency identification tag assembly to receive the interrogation signal and thereupon transmit a response signal, the tag assembly being associated with a plane defining a first side and a second side; and
(c) a processor operatively attached to the interrogator, wherein the interrogator receives the response signal, and wherein the processor determines based on the response signal whether the interrogator is on the first side or the second side of the plane. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 27)
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26. A radio-frequency identification system comprising:
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(a) an interrogator comprising;
(1) a transmitter for broadcasting an interrogation signal, and (2) a receiver; and
(b) a plurality of radio-frequency identification tags, each of the tags being capable of transmitting a signal encoded with information indicative of the identity of the tag in response to the interrogation signal, wherein the transmitter of the interrogator varies the interrogation signal so as to receive the encoded signal only from the tag that is closest to the interrogator.
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28. A system for tracking an object positionable at a plurality of locations on a traffic-bearing surface, the system comprising:
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(a) a transport vehicle to move the object between locations;
(b) an object marker associated with the object which stores information indicative of the identity of the object;
(c) a strip of magnetic tape associated with the traffic-bearing surface, wherein the magnetic tape includes a plurality of segments, wherein each of the segments is encoded with information indicative of the location of the segment and each of the segments produces a magnetic signal encoded with the information indicative of the location of the segment;
(d) an interrogator mounted on the vehicle to receive from the object marker the information indicative of the identity of the object;
(e) a magnetic signal reader mounted on the vehicle for sensing the signals generated by the magnetic tape; and
(f) a processor operatively connected to the interrogator and the magnetic signal reader to determine the identity of the object from the information indicative of the identity of the object, the location of at least one of the segments of the magnetic tape and the spatial relationship between the object and the location.
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29. A transport vehicle for moving an object having a radio-frequency identification tag attached thereon between locations, the vehicle comprising:
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(a) a radio-frequency identification interrogator to receive a signal from the tag;
(b) a lift capable of positioning the object at a plurality of heights;
(c) a height sensor to generate a signal indicative of the height at which the object is positioned;
(d) means for generating a signal indicative of the horizontal location of the vehicle; and
(e) a processor operatively connected to the interrogator, height sensor and signal generating means, wherein the processor determines the identity of the object from the signal received from the tag, determines the height of the object from the signal received from the height sensor, and determines the horizontal location of the vehicle from the signal generating means.
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30. A radio-frequency identification assembly for determining the direction of a source of radio-frequency interrogation signal, comprising:
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(a) a first radio-frequency identification tag having a first identity, wherein the first tag transmits a signal indicative of the first identity in response to the radio-frequency interrogation signal;
(b) a second radio-frequency identification tag having a second identity, wherein the second tag transmits a signal indicative of the second identity in response to the radio-frequency interrogation signal; and
(c) a radio-frequency signal shield between the first and second radio-frequency identification tags, wherein the shield defines a plane separating the first and second tags, and wherein the shield allows only the first tag to respond the interrogation signal when the source of the interrogation signal is on the same side of the plane as the first tag, and allows only the second tag to respond the interrogation signal when the source of the interrogation signal is on the same side of the plane as the second tag. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method of managing an object to be moved between locations in an environment wherein a first radio-frequency identification tag is affixed to the object and has stored therein and capable of transmitting signals encoded with information indicative of the identity of the object, a second radio-frequency identification tag is affixed at a location and has stored therein and capable of transmitting signals encoded with information indicative of the location of the second tag, and a transport vehicle is equipped with a radio-frequency identification tag interrogator, capable of receiving the signals from the tags and determining the information stored in the tags, the method comprising:
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(a) using the interrogator to receive the information indicative of the identity of the object;
(b) determining a proposed location to which the object is to be moved;
(c) using the vehicle to move the object to a location;
(d) using the interrogator to receive the information indicative of the location; and
(e) depositing the object at the location when the location indicated by the information received in step (d) matches the proposed location. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40)
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37. A method of using a radio-frequency identification interrogator that transmits a radio-frequency interrogation signal with an adjustable power output level to find a target radio-frequency tag among a plurality of radio-frequency identification tags, each of tags being capable of transmitting an identification signal in response to an interrogation signal from the interrogator, the method sequentially comprising:
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(a) transmitting interrogation signals at a starting power output level;
(b) determining whether the target tag has been detected by the interrogator;
(c) reducing the power output level if the target tag is detected;
(d) repeating steps (a)-(c), each time using the reduced power output level reached at step (c) of the previous repetition as the starting power output level in step (a), until the target tag is no longer detected; and
(e) transmitting an interrogation signal at the reduced power output level reached at the end of repetition immediately previous to the last repetition in (d).
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Specification