Method and apparatus for tracking objects and people

• US 20040008114A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automated Tracking Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Fred Sawyer
• Inventors: Sawyer, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 6,933,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child

Abstract

An object locating, identifying, tracking, and surveillance system, denoted the Assets Locating, Tracking, and Surveillance System (ALTSS), is provided for managing physical objects and evidence in environments such as police departments, law offices, and the Courts. ALTSS employs radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, computer programming and database applications, networking technologies, and hardware elements. ALTSS may locate and track physical evidence, merchandise, information carriers like files, folders or individual pieces of paper, and people, under certain conditions, in near-real time. It may be configured as part of a local area network, a wide area network, or the Internet. ALTSS may employ exemplary components such as RFID transponders, scanners, strategically located antennas and computers to facilitate tracking of objects and people as needed. Any number of users having access privileges and connected to the network may access ALTSS directly or remotely via the Internet to locate and track evidence or objects.

Claims

1. A system for locating, identifying, tracking, and providing surveillance of at least one object or person, said system comprising:

an active or passive transponder affixable to the object or person;

a scanner for transmitting and receiving a time-varying electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) signal; and

an antenna for respectively transmitting and receiving RF signals to and from said scanner and said transponder,

wherein said antenna being strategically affixable within a facility to locate, identify, track and provide surveillance of the object or person having said transponder affixed to the object or person.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of transponders, scanners and antennas.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one application server for processing data and being logically connectable to said scanner, at least one user terminal and workstation for inputting said data into said system, and at least one database server for managing and storing said data in an enterprise database.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one server for processing, managing and storing data and being logically connectable to said scanner.

5. A system according to claim 3, further comprising:

at least one network operatively connecting said scanner, workstation, application server and user terminal for thereby transmitting data and providing access to the Internet.

6. A system according to claim 5, said network being an enterprise network.

7. A system according to claim 1, said antenna being affixed at least one of at:

an entrance of the facility;

an exit of the facility;

a wall of the facility;

a ceiling of the facility; and

furniture within the facility.

8. A system according to claim 2, further comprising a computer program for:

disconnecting each of said scanners; and

polling each of said scanners to determine whether each of said scanners is at least one of;

a surveillance scanner;

an entrance/exit scanner;

a scanner affixed on a ceiling or wall of the facility, thereby designated a wall scanner; and

a scanner for locating and tracking objects within a storage unit within the facility, thereby designated a unit scanner.

9. A system according to claim 8, if said scanner is a surveillance scanner for surveillance of a surveillance transponder, said computer program including code for:

determining whether said surveillance transponder is in a field of view of an antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner;

if said surveillance transponder is not in said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner, at least one of generating an alarm and indicating said surveillance transponder as being missing; and

if said surveillance transponder is in said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner, recording a location of the object corresponding to said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner.

10. A system according to claim 8, if said scanner is an entrance/exit scanner and detects a transponder ID, said computer program including code for:

comparing known transponder IDs with said detected transponder ID;

if one of said known transponder IDs does not correspond to said detected transponder ID, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as being unknown; and

if one of said known transponder IDs corresponds to one of said detected transponder IDs, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as entering or exiting the facility.

11. A system according to claim 8, if said scanner is a wall scanner and detects a transponder ID, said computer program including code for:

comparing known transponder IDs with said detected transponder ID;

if one of said known transponder IDs does not correspond to said detected transponder ID, then at least one of recording movement of said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as being unknown; and

if one of said known transponder IDs corresponds to one of said detected transponder IDs, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and recording movement of said detected transponder ID.

12. A system according to claim 8, for each unit scanner, said computer program including code for:

determining a number of active antennas operationally connected to said unit scanner;

cycling through said active antennas and listing all corresponding transponder IDs for transponders in a field of view of said active antennas;

reporting said transponder IDs found by each active antenna; and

after all unit scanners have been evaluated, comparing a number of said reported transponder IDs with a number of all transponder IDs for transponders known to be in the storage unit.

13. A system according to claim 12, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is greater than said number of reported transponder IDs, said computer program including code for:

comparing each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit with each of said reported transponder IDs;

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit does not correspond to each of said reported transponder IDs, then at least one of designating said one known transponder ID as a missing transponder ID, and indicating the object having the missing transponder ID as being removed from said system; and

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit corresponds to one of said reported transponder IDs, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

14. A system according to claim 12, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is equal to said number of reported transponder IDs, said computer program including code for:

comparing each said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit with each of said reported transponder IDs;

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit does not correspond to each of said reported transponder IDs, then at least one of designating said one known transponder ID as an unknown transponder ID, and indicating the object having the unknown transponder ID as being unknown to said system; and

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit corresponds to one of said reported transponder IDs, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

15. A system according to claim 12, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is less than said number of reported transponder IDs, said computer program including code for:

comparing each of said reported transponder IDs with each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit;

if one of said reported transponder IDs does not correspond to each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit, then at least one of designating said one reported transponder ID as an unknown transponder ID, and indicating the object having the unknown transponder ID as being at least one of unknown and new to said system; and

if one of said reported transponder IDs corresponds to one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

16. A system according to claim 2, further comprising means for:

disconnecting each of said scanners; and

polling each of said scanners to determine whether each of said scanners is at least one of;

a surveillance scanner;

an entrance/exit scanner;

a scanner affixed on a ceiling or wall of the facility, thereby designated a wall scanner; and

a scanner for locating and tracking objects within a storage unit within the facility, thereby designated a unit scanner.

17. A system according to claim 16, if said scanner is a surveillance scanner for surveillance of a surveillance transponder, said system further comprising means for:

determining whether said surveillance transponder is in a field of view of an antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner;

if said surveillance transponder is not in said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner, at least one of generating an alarm and indicating said surveillance transponder as being missing; and

if said surveillance transponder is in said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner, recording a location of the object corresponding to said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner.

18. A system according to claim 16, if said scanner is an entrance/exit scanner and detects a transponder ID, said system further comprising means for:

comparing known transponder IDs with said detected transponder ID;

if one of said known transponder IDs does not correspond to said detected transponder ID, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as being unknown; and

if one of said known transponder IDs corresponds to one of said detected transponder IDs, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as entering or exiting the facility.

19. A system according to claim 16, if said scanner is a wall scanner and detects a transponder ID, said system further comprising means for:

comparing known transponder IDs with said detected transponder ID;

if one of said known transponder IDs does not correspond to said detected transponder ID, then at least one of recording movement of said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as being unknown; and

if one of said known transponder IDs corresponds to one of said detected transponder IDs, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and recording movement of said detected transponder ID.

20. A system according to claim 16, for each unit scanner, said system further comprising means for:

determining a number of active antennas operationally connected to said unit scanner;

cycling through said active antennas and listing all corresponding transponder IDs for transponders in a field of view of said active antennas;

reporting said transponder IDs found by each active antenna; and

after all unit scanners have been evaluated, comparing a number of said reported transponder IDs with a number of all transponder IDs for transponders known to be in the storage unit.

21. A system according to claim 20, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is greater than said number of reported transponder IDs, said system further comprising means for:

comparing each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit with each of said reported transponder IDs;

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit does not correspond to each of said reported transponder IDs, then at least one of designating said one known transponder ID as a missing transponder ID, and indicating the object having the missing transponder ID as being removed from said system; and

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit corresponds to one of said reported transponder IDs, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

22. A system according to claim 20, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is equal to said number of reported transponder IDs, said system further comprising means for:

comparing each said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit with each of said reported transponder IDs;

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit does not correspond to each of said reported transponder IDs, then at least one of designating said one known transponder ID as an unknown transponder ID, and indicating the object having the unknown transponder ID as being unknown to said system; and

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit corresponds to one of said reported transponder IDs, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

23. A system according to claim 20, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is less than said number of reported transponder IDs, said system further comprising means for:

comparing each of said reported transponder IDs with each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit;

if one of said reported transponder IDs does not correspond to each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit, then at least one of designating said one reported transponder ID as an unknown transponder ID, and indicating the object having the unknown transponder ID as being at least one of unknown and new to said system; and

if one of said reported transponder IDs corresponds to one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

24. A system according to claim 1, said system being operable via the Internet.

25. A system for locating, identifying, tracking, and providing surveillance of at least one object or person, said system comprising:

an active or passive transponder affixable to the object or person;

a scanner for transmitting and receiving at least one of a laser and an infrared signal; and

an antenna for respectively transmitting and receiving at least one of laser and infrared signals to and from said scanner and said transponder,

wherein said antenna being strategically affixable within a facility to locate, identify, track and provide surveillance of the object or person having said transponder affixed to the object or person.

26. A method of locating, identifying, tracking, and providing surveillance of at least one object or person by means of a system, said method comprising:

affixing an active or passive transponder to the object or person;

providing a scanner;

providing an antenna;

if said transponder is passive, transmitting a time-varying electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) signal by means of said scanner, energizing said transponder by said RF signal, and transmitting information stored in said transponder back to said scanner; and

if said transponder is active, automatically transmitting said information stored in said transponder back to said scanner,

whereby said transmitted information enabling locating, identifying, tracking, and surveillance of the object or person.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

providing a plurality of transponders, scanners and antennas.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

disconnecting each of said scanners; and

polling each of said scanners to determine whether each of said scanners is at least one of;

a surveillance scanner;

an entrance/exit scanner;

a scanner affixed on a ceiling or wall of a facility, thereby designated a wall scanner; and

a scanner for locating and tracking objects within a storage unit within the facility, thereby designated a unit scanner.

29. A method according to claim 28, if said scanner is a surveillance scanner for surveillance of a surveillance transponder, said method further comprising:

determining whether said surveillance transponder is in a field of view of an antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner;

if said surveillance transponder is not in said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner, at least one of generating an alarm and indicating said surveillance transponder as being missing; and

if said surveillance transponder is in said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner, recording a location of the object corresponding to said field of view of said antenna operationally connected to said surveillance scanner.

30. A method according to claim 28, if said scanner is an entrance/exit scanner and detects a transponder ID, said method further comprising:

comparing known transponder IDs with said detected transponder ID;

if one of said known transponder IDs does not correspond to said detected transponder ID, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as being unknown; and

if one of said known transponder IDs corresponds to one of said detected transponder IDs, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as entering or exiting the facility.

31. A method according to claim 28, if said scanner is a wall scanner and detects a transponder ID, said method further comprising:

comparing known transponder IDs with said detected transponder ID;

if one of said known transponder IDs does not correspond to said detected transponder ID, then at least one of recording movement of said detected transponder ID and indicating said detected transponder ID as being unknown; and

if one of said known transponder IDs corresponds to one of said detected transponder IDs, then at least one of recording said detected transponder ID and recording movement of said detected transponder ID.

32. A method according to claim 28, for each unit scanner, said method further comprising:

determining a number of active antennas operationally connected to said unit scanner;

cycling through said active antennas and listing all corresponding transponder IDs for transponders in a field of view of said active antennas;

reporting said transponder IDs found by each active antenna; and

after all unit scanners have been evaluated, comparing a number of said reported transponder IDs with a number of all transponder IDs for transponders known to be in the storage unit.

33. A method according to claim 32, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is greater than said number of reported transponder IDs, said method further comprising:

comparing each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit with each of said reported transponder IDs;

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit does not correspond to each of said reported transponder IDs, then at least one of designating said one known transponder ID as a missing transponder ID, and indicating the object having the missing transponder ID as being removed from said system; and

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit corresponds to one of said reported transponder IDs, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

34. A method according to claim 32, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is equal to said number of reported transponder IDs, said method further comprising:

comparing each said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit with each of said reported transponder IDs;

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit does not correspond to each of said reported transponder IDs, then at least one of designating said one known transponder ID as an unknown transponder ID, and indicating the object having the unknown transponder ID as being unknown to said system; and

if one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit corresponds to one of said reported transponder IDs, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

35. A method according to claim 32, if said number of all transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit is less than said number of reported transponder IDs, said method further comprising:

comparing each of said reported transponder IDs with each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit;

if one of said reported transponder IDs does not correspond to each of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit, then at least one of designating said one reported transponder ID as an unknown transponder ID, and indicating the object having the unknown transponder ID as being at least one of unknown and new to said system; and

if one of said reported transponder IDs corresponds to one of said transponder IDs known to be in the storage unit, then recording a location of the object relative to said field of view of said corresponding active antenna.

36. A method according to claim 26, said system being operable via a network browser.

37. A method according to claim 26, said system being operable via the Internet.