Radio frequency identification (RFID) based location tracking system in an airport environment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tracking system for monitoring objects in an airport environment, comprising:
- at least one antenna placed in a corresponding stationary coverage area associated with the at least one antenna, wherein the stationary coverage area is arranged adjacent to at least one conveyor;
an RFID reader that is coupled to the at least one antenna, wherein a unit load device (ULD) is positioned adjacent to the at least one conveyor in the stationary coverage area of the at least one antenna, wherein the reader reads RFID tags, as the objects associated with the tags enter the stationary coverage area.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for tracking items automatically are ed. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is used with a material g system to enable the identification, location tracking, and managing of aviation assets, such as baggage and cargo, in an airport environment. For example, passive RFID tags are attached to an aviation asset. Antennas are placed at locations where monitoring of assets is necessary. A local controller and RFID reader use the antennas to communicate with the passive RFID tags to determine the identity and location of the asset.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A tracking system for monitoring objects in an airport environment, comprising:
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at least one antenna placed in a corresponding stationary coverage area associated with the at least one antenna, wherein the stationary coverage area is arranged adjacent to at least one conveyor;
an RFID reader that is coupled to the at least one antenna, wherein a unit load device (ULD) is positioned adjacent to the at least one conveyor in the stationary coverage area of the at least one antenna, wherein the reader reads RFID tags, as the objects associated with the tags enter the stationary coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A tracking system for monitoring objects in an airport environment, comprising:
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a first antenna placed in a corresponding first stationary coverage area;
a second antenna placed in a corresponding second stationary coverage area, wherein the first and the second stationary coverage areas are arranged consecutively adjacent to at least one conveyor;
a first RFID reader coupled to the first antenna;
a second RFID reader coupled to the second antenna, wherein the first and the second RFID readers read RFID tags associated with objects positioned in their respective coverage areas; and
an object management system (OMS) that receives information regarding read tags from the first and the second RFID readers and stores the information, wherein the OMS associates a location of an object to the first RFID reader that has last read the object tag, until the object enters the second stationary coverage area associated with the second RFID reader, and the second RFID reader starts tracking the object.
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23. A method for monitoring objects in an airport environment, the method comprising:
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(a) selecting an object from an object carrier;
(b) analyzing a RFID tag associated with the object to determine a unit load device (ULD) to contain the object;
(c) positioning the object in the determined ULD;
(d) reading the RFID tag of the object;
(e) receiving an indicator output that indicates whether the determined ULD is the correct ULD for the object;
(f) if the indicator output indicates the determined ULD is not the correct ULD for the object;
(1) removing the object from the determined ULD, and (2) returning to step (b) for the object, (g) if the indicator output indicates the determined ULD is the correct ULD for the object;
(1) determining whether the object carrier has another object, and (2) if the object carrier is determined to have another object, selecting the another object from the object carrier, and returning to step (b) for the another object. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for monitoring objects in an airport environment, comprising:
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means for selecting an object from an object carrier;
means for analyzing an RFID tag associated with the object to determine a unit load device (ULD) to contain the object;
means for positioning the object in the determined ULD;
means for reading the RFID tag of the object;
means for receiving an indicator output that indicates whether the determined ULD is the correct ULD for the object; and
means for removing the object from the determined ULD if the indicator output indicates the determined ULD is not the correct ULD for the object.
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Specification