USE OF RF-ID TAGS FOR TRACKING A PERSON CARRYING A PORTABLE RF-ID TAG READER
First Claim
1. A method of tracking a person, said method comprising:
- placing an RF-ID tag at each of a plurality of locations, the RF-ID tag at each of the plurality of locations having a tag identifier identifying said each of the plurality of locations;
the person carrying a portable RF-ID tag reader while visiting at least some of the locations, the portable RF-ID tag reader detecting the presence of the RF-ID tags at said at least some of the locations and reading the tag identifiers identifying said at least some of the locations, and monitoring a sequence of the tag identifiers read by the portable RF-ID tag reader in order to track the person.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
For tracking a person such as a security guard at a construction site, RF-ID tags are placed at a plurality of locations at the site. The person carries a portable RF-ID tag reader while visiting at least some of the locations, and the portable RF-ID tag reader detects the presence of the RF-ID tags at these locations and reads tag identifiers identifying these locations. The person is tracked by monitoring a sequence of the tag identifiers read by the portable RF-ID tag reader. For example, the person also carries an Internet capable cell telephone that transmits the tag identifiers over the Internet to a computer at a location remote from the site, and the computer detects when the person deviates from an assigned path at the site.
20 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of tracking a person, said method comprising:
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placing an RF-ID tag at each of a plurality of locations, the RF-ID tag at each of the plurality of locations having a tag identifier identifying said each of the plurality of locations;
the person carrying a portable RF-ID tag reader while visiting at least some of the locations, the portable RF-ID tag reader detecting the presence of the RF-ID tags at said at least some of the locations and reading the tag identifiers identifying said at least some of the locations, and monitoring a sequence of the tag identifiers read by the portable RF-ID tag reader in order to track the person. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of employing a security officer at a site, said method comprising:
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placing an RF-ID tag at each of a plurality of locations at the site, the RF-ID tag at said each of the plurality of locations having a tag identifier identifying said each of the plurality of locations;
the security officer carrying a portable RF-ID tag reader while visiting at least some of the locations, the portable RF-ID tag reader detecting the presence of the RF-ID tags at said at least some of the locations and reading the tag identifiers identifying said at least some of the locations; and
using a computer to monitor a sequence of the tag identifiers read by the portable RF-ID tag reader. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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- 19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cell telephone repetitively dials-up the computer to transmit groups of consecutive ones of said at least some of the tag identifiers and the respective times at which the consecutive ones of said at least some of the tag identifiers were read by the RF-ID tag reader.
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19-1. Apparatus for tracking a person comprising a portable RF-ID tag reader and a cell telephone for carrying by the person while the person walks along a path including RF-ID tags at respective locations, the RF-ID tag reader being coupled to the cell telephone for transmitting tag identifiers to the cell telephone, the cell telephone being programmed for transmitting the RF-ID tag identifiers to a computer programmed for monitoring the tag identifiers received from the cell telephone in order to track the person.
Specification