Mobile terminal finding system and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for locating a mobile terminal in an RFID environment, comprising:
- apparatus coupled to the mobile terminal for instructing the terminal to enter a LOCATE mode;
an RFID transceiver in the terminal that interrogates nearby RFID tags to obtain information therefrom correlatable with their known positions;
a processor coupled to the RFID transceiver for using the information received from the responding RFID tags to determine their known locations and determine the terminal location based at least in part on the RFID tag locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for locating a mobile terminal in an RFID environment. The apparatus comprises a communicator coupled to the mobile terminal for instructing the terminal to enter a LOCATE mode, an RFID transceiver in the terminal that interrogates RFID tags while in the LOCATE mode to obtain information therefrom correlatable with their known positions, and a processor coupled to the RFID transceiver for determining the terminal location based at least in part on such information. Location determination may take place either in the terminal or a local network server or both. The tags may be either fixed position infrastructure tags or item tags that have been mapped in the local server or the terminal. Once the terminal location is determined, the terminal and/or server may announce and/or broadcast the terminal location.
74 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for locating a mobile terminal in an RFID environment, comprising:
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apparatus coupled to the mobile terminal for instructing the terminal to enter a LOCATE mode;
an RFID transceiver in the terminal that interrogates nearby RFID tags to obtain information therefrom correlatable with their known positions;
a processor coupled to the RFID transceiver for using the information received from the responding RFID tags to determine their known locations and determine the terminal location based at least in part on the RFID tag locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for locating a mobile terminal in an RFID environment, comprising:
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placing the terminal in a LOCATE mode;
transmitting an RFID tag interrogation signal from the terminal toward RFID tags;
receiving responses from nearby RFID tags containing information correlatable with their locations; and
determining the terminal location at least in part based on the RFID tag responses. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for locating an active terminal, comprising:
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sending an ENTER LOCATE MODE signal to the terminal;
causing a transceiver aboard the terminal to transmit an RFID tag interrogation signal toward nearby RFID tags;
receiving responses from the nearby RFID tags containing information correlatable with their locations; and
determining the terminal location at least in part based on the RFID tag responses. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification