Ultra-wideband security system

• US 20060121851A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 73 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 73 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Moore, Steve, Santhoff, John
• Application Number:
  US11/005,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10306 ultra wide band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio

Abstract

An ultra-wideband security and tracking apparatus, system and method are provided. In one embodiment, an ultra-wideband device is coupled to luggage or other items to be transported. The ultra-wideband device determines its location and reports its location and other information to an access point. The access point may then report the information to a remote location. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. An ultra-wideband device, comprising:

an ultra-wideband transceiver;

a substantially bendable battery; and

a substantially bendable antenna.

2. The ultra-wideband device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises an application specific integrated circuit.

3. The ultra-wideband device of claim 2, wherein the application specific integrated circuit is configured to receive information selected from a group consisting of:

a package contents, a package destination, a package origination, a passenger name, a passenger address, a passenger age, a passenger itinerary, and a passenger identification number.

4. The ultra-wideband device of claim 1, wherein the ultra-wideband transceiver transmits by using a plurality of discrete electromagnetic pulses.

5. The ultra-wideband device of claim 4, wherein each of the discrete electromagnetic pulses has a duration that ranges between about 10 picoseconds to about 1 microsecond.

6. The ultra-wideband device of claim 4, wherein each of the discrete electromagnetic pulses has a power that can range between about +30 dBm to about −

60 dBm, as measured at a single frequency.

7. The ultra-wideband device of claim 1, wherein the substantially bendable battery comprises a cathode located on a first section of the ultra-wideband device, an anode located on a second section of the ultra-wideband device, and an electrolyte located on either the first or second section of the ultra-wideband device.

8. The ultra-wideband device of claim 1, wherein the substantially bendable antenna comprises a printed antenna.

9. The ultra-wideband device of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener structured to couple a first section of the ultra-wideband device to a second section of the ultra-wideband device.

10. The ultra-wideband device of claim 1, wherein the ultra-wideband device is selected from a group consisting of:

a luggage tag, a package tag, and an identification tag.

11. A security method, the method comprising the steps of:

placing information onto an ultra-wideband device;

sending a first message from the ultra-wideband device to a network access point;

sending a second message from the network access point to a remote location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information placed onto the ultra-wideband device is selected from a group consisting of:

a package contents, a package destination, a package origination, a passenger name, a passenger address, a passenger age, a passenger itinerary, and a passenger identification number.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

determining a location of the ultra-wideband device; and

including the determined location in the first or the second message.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

including a passenger information in the first or second message; and

comparing the passenger information to a passenger list.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the passenger information is selected from a group consisting of:

a passenger name, a passenger address, a passenger age, a passenger itinerary, and a passenger identification number.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote location is selected from a group consisting of:

an airport, a train station, a bus station, and a transportation facility.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of sending the first and second messages comprises sending a plurality of discrete electromagnetic pulses.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the discrete electromagnetic pulses has a duration that ranges between about 10 picoseconds to about 1 microsecond.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the discrete electromagnetic pulses has a power that can range between about +30 dBm to about −

60 dBm, as measured at a single frequency.

20. A method of tracking an object, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling an ultra-wideband device to the object;

placing information onto the ultra-wideband device;

determining a location of the ultra-wideband device;

transmitting a first message from the ultra-wideband device to an access point; and

transmitting a second message from the access point to a remote location.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first message or the second message includes the determined location of the ultra-wideband device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the information placed onto the ultra-wideband device is selected from a group consisting of:

a package contents, a package destination, a package origination, a passenger name, a passenger address, a passenger age, a passenger itinerary, and a passenger identification number.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the steps of sending the first and second messages comprises sending a plurality of discrete electromagnetic pulses.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the discrete electromagnetic pulses has a duration that ranges between about 10 picoseconds to about 1 microsecond.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the discrete electromagnetic pulses has a power that can range between about +30 dBm to about −

60 dBm, as measured at a single frequency.

26. A security system comprising:

a plurality of ultra-wideband devices;

a terminal for placing information on each of the plurality of ultra-wideband devices;

a network access point, configured to communicate with each of the plurality of ultra-wideband devices; and

a remote access point, configured to communicate with the network access point.

27. The security system of claim 26, wherein each of the ultra-wideband devices can communicate with the remote access point.

28. The security system of claim 26, wherein each ultra-wideband device is coupled to an object, and contains information about the object, with the information selected from a group consisting of:

a package contents, a package destination, a package origination, a passenger name, a passenger address, a passenger age, a passenger itinerary, and a passenger identification number.

29. The security system of claim 26, wherein each of the ultra-wideband devices includes an ultra-wideband transceiver.

30. The security system of claim 29, wherein the ultra-wideband transceiver transmits by using a plurality of discrete electromagnetic pulses.

31. The security system of claim 30, wherein each of the discrete electromagnetic pulses has a duration that ranges between about 10 picoseconds to about 1 microsecond.

32. The security system of claim 30, wherein each of the discrete electromagnetic pulses has a power that can range between about +30 dBm to about −

60 dBm, as measured at a single frequency

33. The security system of claim 26, wherein the network access point is attached to a vehicle.

34. The security system of claim 26, wherein the network access point is attached to a vehicle, the vehicle selected from a group consisting of:

an airplane, an automobile, a train, a boat, a car, a bus, and a truck.