Hybrid Bluetooth/RFID based real time location tracking
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for locating items, comprising:
- providing a plurality of distributed fixed devices;
operating each said fixed device as a master units using first wireless data communications protocol, each said master unit controlling slave units within at least one area corresponding to the location of each said fixed device, said operating including identifying said slave units thereby to locate items corresponding to said slave units within said area; and
operating each said fixed device as an RFID reader to identify items having RFID tags within said area.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices having either wireless data communication capability or RFID tags can be located using dual function fixed devices which are distributed throughout a facility. The devices will identify those units with which they are communicating using a wireless radio data communications protocol and also identify items within the local area using RFID tags on the units.
110 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method for locating items, comprising:
-
providing a plurality of distributed fixed devices;
operating each said fixed device as a master units using first wireless data communications protocol, each said master unit controlling slave units within at least one area corresponding to the location of each said fixed device, said operating including identifying said slave units thereby to locate items corresponding to said slave units within said area; and
operating each said fixed device as an RFID reader to identify items having RFID tags within said area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
- 9. A system for locating items comprising a plurality of fixed devices distributed over an area and subdividing said area into a plurality of cells, each fixed device corresponding to one or more of said cells, said fixed devices each comprising a transmitter, a receiver and a signal processor, each said fixed devices being arranged to operate as a master unit using a first wireless data communications protocol to communicate with slave units in said one or more cells corresponding to said fixed device to thereby locate items having said slave devices in said one or more cells, and said fixed devices being arranged to operate as RFID tag readers to identify and locate RFID tags on items in said one or more cells.
-
11. A device comprising:
-
at least one transmitter;
at least one receiver;
and a processor coupled to provide signals for transmission by said transmitter and coupled to process signals received by said receiver;
said processor including a first program for sending and receiving digital data signals using a first wireless data communication protocol and thereby identifying remote units within range for communication therewith and a second program for sending and receiving RFID reading signals to thereby identify RFID tags within range for identification. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification