Method And System For Tracking Equipment Employing Rf-Id Technology

• US 20080094208A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,714,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/016 between areas within a building
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for determining the location of at least one of a plurality of uniquely-identified transducers within one of a plurality of known areas (210-270). The method comprises the steps of receiving information from at least one sensor selected from a plurality of first (211, 212, 216) and second sensors (218, 228, 238), wherein the first sensors (211, 212, 216) are distributed within the plurality of known areas, and the second sensors are located between adjacent ones of the plurality of known areas (220, 240), the information including at least a transducer-unique identification, associating the received information based on the transducer identification, and determining the location based on the information received by at least one of the first sensors. In one aspect the information is a signal strength. In another aspect of the invention, the location may be determined based on information received by a plurality of the first sensors. In another aspect of the invention, the transition of the transducers from one area to an adjacent area may be determined and such transition stored in a database.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a location of a transducer within one of a plurality of known areas, said transducer containing at least one uniquely identifiable characteristic, said apparatus comprising:

a processor (320) in communication with a memory (330), said processor for executing code for;

receiving information from selected ones of a plurality of first and second sensors (211-278), wherein said first sensors, which are distributed within said plurality of known areas (210, 260), and said second sensors, which are located between adjacent ones of said plurality of known areas, said information including said uniquely identifiable characteristic;

associating said received information based on said transducer identification; and

determining said transducer location based on the information received by at least one of said sensors (150, 160).

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor further executing code for:

determining said location based on a signal strength received by a plurality of said first sensors (140, 160).

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor further executing code for:

storing said location in a first database.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said processor further executing code for:

collecting a plurality of locations in said first database over a known period of time.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said processor further executing code for:

predicting a transducer location based on said plurality of device locations stored in said first database.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor further executing code for:

determining a transition of said transducer (180) from one area to an adjacent area based on a signal strength received by at least one of said second sensors; and

storing said transducer transition in a database.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor further executing code for:

transmitting a request signal (110), said request signal including at least one transducer identification.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said request signal is transmitted upon receipt of a command (105, 107).

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said request signal is transmitted periodically.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an input/output device (340), in communication with said processor (330), for receiving information from said first and second sensors

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said code is stored in said memory (340).

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said transducer includes an RFID transponder.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said RFID transponders operate in a frequency range selected from the group consisting of:

VHF and UHF.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said RFID transponder includes a unique identification.

15. A method for determining a location of a transducer containing at least one uniquely identifiable characteristic, within one of a plurality of known areas, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving information from selected ones of a plurality of first and second sensors (211-278), said first sensors distributed within said plurality of known areas (210-260), and said second sensors, located between adjacent ones of said plurality of known areas, said information including said uniquely identifiable characteristic;

associating said received information based on said identification characteristic; and

determining said transducer location based on the information received by at least one of said sensors (150, 160).

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

determining said location based on a signal strength received by a plurality of said first sensors within said associated area (140, 160).

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

storing said location in a first database.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of:

collecting a plurality of locations in said first database over a known period of time.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of:

predicting a transducer location based on said plurality of device locations stored in said first database.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

determining a transition (180) of said transducer from one area to an adjacent area based on the information received by at least one of said second sensors; and

storing said transition in a database.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a request signal (110), said request signal including at least one transducer identification.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said request signal is transmitted upon receipt of a manual command.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said request signal is transmitted periodically.

24. A computer-readable medium containing code thereon, said code comprising instructions for executing the steps of:

receiving information from at least one sensor selected from a plurality of first and second sensors (211, 278), wherein said first sensors are distributed within a plurality of known area (210-260) and said second sensors are located between adjacent ones of said plurality of known areas,

receiving information transmitted by said transducers, said information including said unique identification characteristic;

associating said received information based on said transducer identification; and

determining a transducer location based on the information received by at least one of said sensors (150, 160).

25. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein said code further comprising instructions for executing the step of:

determining said transducer location based on a signal strength received by a plurality of said first sensors within said associated area (140, 160).

26. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein said code further comprising instructions for executing the step of:

storing said transducer location in a first database.

27. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said code further comprising instructions for executing the step of:

collecting a plurality of device locations in said first database over a known period of time.

28. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 27, wherein said code further comprising instructions for executing the step of:

predicting said transducer location based on said plurality of transducer locations stored in said first database.

29. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein said code further comprising instructions for executing the step of:

determining a transition (180) of said transducer from one area to an adjacent area based on a signal strength received by at least one of said second sensors; and

storing said transducer transition in a database.

30. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein said code further comprising instructions for executing the step of:

transmitting a request signal (110), said request signal including at least one transducer identification.

31. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 30, wherein said request signal is transmitted upon receipt of a command (105, 107).

32. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 30, wherein said request signal is transmitted periodically.

33. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the information said location is selected from the group consisting of:

a signal strength or a location.