SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATING AN ENTITY

• US 20080042844A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insight Holding Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Strategic Data Systems
• Inventors: Christopher, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,772,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for locating an entity both within and outside of a structure using an RFID system in conjunction with other location systems and methods. The RFID systems may include a portable RF transmitter/receiver transported by the entity within the structure, a base unit, and a plurality of RFID tags. The methods may comprise the steps of: (a) emitting an RF interrogation signal at constant, predetermined intervals; (b) powering up and emitting a signal containing location data; (c) receiving the location data and broadcasting the location data to the base unit; and (d) receiving and displaying the location data; wherein steps (a) and (c) are performed by the RF transmitter/receiver, step (b) is performed by an RFID tag when the RF interrogation signal is within an effective range of the RFID tag, and step (d) is performed by the base unit.

Claims

1. A method for locating and tracking an entity, comprising the steps of:

(a) emitting an RF interrogation signal;

(b) powering up and emitting a signal containing RFID tag location data in response to the RF interrogation signal;

(c) receiving the RFID tag location data and broadcasting the RFID tag location data to a base unit;

(d) receiving and displaying the RFID tag location data;

(e) determining location using a supplemental location determination device configured to provide supplemental location data;

(f) broadcasting the supplemental location data to the base unit; and

(g) receiving and displaying the supplemental location data;

wherein steps (a), (c) and (f) are performed by an RF transmitter/receiver, step (b) is performed by an RFID tag when the RF interrogation signal is within an effective range of the RFID tag, and steps (d) and (g) are performed by the base unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) is performed using a global positioning system receiver as the supplemental location determination device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the global positioning system receiver is coupled to the RF transmitter/receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein data collection comprises both static and dynamic components and data dissemination comprises at least one of a push service or a pull service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising additional management and data presentation capabilities.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in a construction material of the structure.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the construction material is selected from the group comprising dry wall, floor panel, ceiling panel, frames, and concrete.

6. The method of claim 6, wherein the additional data management capabilities comprise at least one of data models, data ingest, data storage, data logging, data export, or data integration, and wherein the additional presentation capabilities comprise formatting data, integrating specific RFID based location system services, and adjusting data to appropriate reference frames.

10. The RFID system of claim 6, wherein the portable RF transmitter/receiver comprises an IRU or a Smart IRU.

12. The RFID system of claim 6, wherein the base unit comprises a laptop configured with a browser and coupled to a database that comprises at least one of GIS information, GPS information, national infrastructure data, state infrastructure data, local infrastructure data or tribal infrastructure data.

14. The RFID system of claim 12, wherein the supplemental location determination device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

16. The RFID system of claim 12, wherein the RF transmitter/receiver comprises an IRU or a Smart IRU.

18. The RFID system of claim 12, wherein the base unit comprises a laptop configured with a browser and coupled to a database that comprises at least one of GIS information, GPS information, national infrastructure data, state infrastructure data, local infrastructure data or tribal infrastructure data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein step (c) is performed using a global positioning system receiver as the supplemental location determination device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein an RF transmitter/receiver broadcasts the location data to the base unit, and wherein the location data comprises a combination of supplemental location data and RFID tag location data.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein data collection comprises both static and dynamic components and data dissemination comprises at least one of a push service or a pull service.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising additional management and data presentation capabilities.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the additional data management capabilities comprise at least one of data models, data ingest, data storage, data logging, data export, or data integration, and wherein the additional presentation capabilities comprise formatting data, integrating specific RFID based location system services and adjusting data to appropriate reference frames.

7. An RFID system for locating and tracking an entity both within and outside of a structure, the system comprising:

a portable RF transmitter/receiver comprising an RFID interrogator configured to receive location data from an RFID tag, the portable RF transmitter/receiver further comprising a supplemental location determination device configured to determine supplemental location data; and

a base unit;

wherein the RF transmitter/receiver records a location of the entity based on the location data received from an RFID tag or the supplemental location device, and broadcasts the location to the base unit.

8. The RFID system of claim 7, wherein the supplemental location determination device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

9. The RFID system of claim 7, wherein the global positioning system receiver is coupled to the RF transmitter/receiver.

11. The RFID system of claim 9, wherein the IRU or the Smart IRU comprises an IRU integrated on a chip.

28. The RFTD system of claim 7, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in a construction material of the structure.

29. The RFTD system of claim 28, wherein the construction material is selected from the group comprising dry wall, floor panel, ceiling panel, frames, and concrete.

13. An RFID system for locating an entity both within and outside of a structure, the system comprising:

a portable RF transmitter/receiver comprising an RFID interrogator configured to receive location data from an RFID tag, the portable RF transmitter/receiver further comprising a supplemental location determination device configured to determine location; and

a base unit;

wherein the RF transmitter/receiver broadcasts location data that comprises a combination of supplemental location data and RFID tag location data to the base unit.

15. The RFID system of claim 13, wherein the global positioning system receiver is coupled to the RF transmitter/receiver.

17. The RFID system of claim 15, wherein the IRU or the Smart IRU comprises an IRU integrated on a chip.

19. A method for locating an entity, comprising the steps of:

(a) emitting an RF interrogation signal;

(b) receiving RFID tag location data;

(c) determining location using a supplemental location determination device configured to provide supplemental location data;

(d) broadcasting location data to a base unit, wherein the location data is based on the received RFID tag location data or the supplemental location data; and

(e) receiving and displaying the location data at the base unit.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the global positioning system receiver is coupled to an RF transmitter/receiver.