Object monitoring, locating, and tracking method employing RFID devices
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring one or more objects each having an RFID device associated therewith, said method comprising:
- transmitting at least two messages at two different power levels from the RFID device, wherein each of the at least two messages includes information uniquely identifying the RFID device and information representing the power level at which the message is transmitted;
relaying the at least two messages transmitted by each RFID device to a processor; and
processing the relayed messages for determining the location of each RFID device, said processing comprising;
processing the unique identifying information and the power level information from each relayed message for associating the relayed messages from each RFID device and the power level thereof, and selecting the relayed messages from a particular RFID device that are at the lowest power level that produces at least two corresponding relayed messages for determining the location of that particular RFID device and its associated object therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring a container having an RFID device interior comprises periodically transmitting messages including unique identifying information and receiving messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container by a receiving device exterior the container. Some messages transmitted when the container is closed are not received by the receiving device, and some messages transmitted when the container is not closed are received. The method comprises storing and/or relaying the received messages and determining from the number of messages received from the RFID device that are stored and/or relayed whether the container has or has not been opened. The method may also comprise transmitting the messages at two or more power levels and selecting messages that are at the lowest power level that produces at least two corresponding stored and/or relayed messages for determining the location of the RFID device.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring one or more objects each having an RFID device associated therewith, said method comprising:
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transmitting at least two messages at two different power levels from the RFID device, wherein each of the at least two messages includes information uniquely identifying the RFID device and information representing the power level at which the message is transmitted;
relaying the at least two messages transmitted by each RFID device to a processor; and
processing the relayed messages for determining the location of each RFID device, said processing comprising;
processing the unique identifying information and the power level information from each relayed message for associating the relayed messages from each RFID device and the power level thereof, and selecting the relayed messages from a particular RFID device that are at the lowest power level that produces at least two corresponding relayed messages for determining the location of that particular RFID device and its associated object therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for monitoring an object having at least one RFID device interior thereto, said method comprising:
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periodically transmitting at least two messages at two different power levels from at least one RFID device interior to a closable object;
wherein each of the at least two messages includes information uniquely identifying the RFID device and information representing the power level at which the message is transmitted, and wherein ones of the periodic messages that are transmitted when the closable object is closed are substantially attenuated by the closable object, and wherein ones of the periodic messages that are transmitted when the closable object is not closed are not substantially attenuated by the closable object;
relaying the received ones of the at least two messages transmitted periodically by each RFID device via at least one relay device exterior the closable object, wherein at least some of the substantially attenuated messages are not received by the relay device; and
processing the relayed messages for determining the location of each RFID device, said processing comprising;
processing the unique identifying information and the power level information from each relayed message for associating the messages from each RFID device and the power level thereof, and selecting the messages from a particular RFID device at the lowest power level that produces at least two corresponding relayed messages for determining the location of that particular RFID device therefrom, whereby a particular RFID device and its associated object are monitored. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for monitoring a container having at least one RFID device interior thereto, said method comprising:
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providing an RFID device interior to a closable container, the RFID device periodically transmitting messages;
wherein each of the messages includes information uniquely identifying the RFID device, and wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when the closable container is closed are substantially attenuated by the closable container, and wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when the closable container is not closed are not substantially attenuated by the closable container;
receiving messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the closable container by a receiving device exterior the closable container;
whereby ones of the messages that are transmitted when the closable container is closed are not received by the receiving device, and wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when the closable container is not closed are received by the receiving device;
storing the received messages in the receiving device, relaying the received messages from the receiving device, or both; and
determining from the number of messages received from the RFID device that are stored or that are relayed, or both, whether the closable container has or has not been opened, whereby a container having an RFID device therein is monitored for being opened. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification