Two-Tiered Networked Identification Cards

• US 20090146804A1
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Griffin, Robert, Stevens, John K., August, Jason, Cassidy, James
• Application Number:
  US12/030,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20090146804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A two-tiered networked card for identifying and tracking animate and inanimate objects and personnel includes: some components housed in a thick tier of the card and other components housed in the thin tier of the card. The components are: a radio frequency modem operable at a low radio frequency, a loop antenna, a programmable microprocessor, a memory, and a connector for a battery.

Claims

1. A two-tiered networked card for identifying and tracking animate and inanimate objects and personnel, said card comprising some components housed in a thick tier of the networked card and other components housed in a thin tier of the networked card:

a radio frequency modem operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding one megahertz, said radio frequency modem comprising a full duplex transmitter and receiver;

a loop antenna operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem, said antenna operable within a range of hundreds of feet;

a programmable microprocessor operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem, wherein said programmable microprocessor is fully programmable within a network;

a memory operatively coupled with the programmable microprocessor, said memory comprising identification data for identifying the animate and inanimate objects and personnel; and

a battery connector for connecting a battery for providing power to the microprocessor,

wherein thicker surface mount components are housed in the thick tier and thinner components are housed in the thin tier.

2. The two-tiered networked card of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency modem is operable to transmit and receive signals at a radio frequency less than 300 kilohertz.

3. The two-tiered networked card of claim 2 further comprising a privacy switch configured to restrict and enable access to the identification data in the card.

4. The two-tiered networked card of claim 2 wherein the receiver of the radio frequency modem is operable to receive low radio frequency signals all the time.

5. The two-tiered networked card of claim 1 further comprising the battery.

6. The two-tiered networked card of claim 1 wherein the memory is operable for storing more than one kilobyte of the identification data.

7. The two-tiered networked card of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the identification data comprises biometric data.

8. The two-tiered networked card of claim 1 further comprising:

a display driver; and

an onboard display visible on a surface of said two-tiered networked card, said onboard display for presenting the identification data, wherein said onboard display is operatively coupled with the programmable microprocessor.

9. The two-tiered networked card of claim 8 wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

10. The two-tiered networked card of claim 8 wherein the display is a bi-stable display illuminated by reflecting ambient light using colored particles and fluid.

11. The two-tiered networked card of claim 8 wherein the display comprises light-emitting diodes.

12. The two-tiered networked card of claim 10 further comprising at least one button disposed on a front surface of said networked card, said at least one button for use by a user of said two-tiered networked card to manipulate the identification data displayed on the display.

14. The two-tiered networked card of claim 1 further comprising at least one compliant knob disposed on a back surface of said two-tiered networked card.

15. The two-tiered networked card of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor disposed on a surface of said two-tiered networked card, said at least one sensor operable to detect a specified condition.

16. The two-tiered networked card of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor emits an alarm upon detecting the specified condition, wherein said alarm is able to be perceived by a user of said two-tiered networked card.

17. The two-tiered networked card of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic strip disposed on a back surface of said networked card, said magnetic strip recorded with identification data.

18. The two-tiered networked card of claim 1 wherein the identification data is transmitted from a remote data storage device.

19. The two-tiered networked card of claim 5 wherein the battery is a small lithium battery housed within the thin tier of the two-tiered network card.

13. The two-tiered networked card of claim 13 wherein the display comprises a scroll feature operable by the at least one button.

20. An information processing system for identifying and tracking animate and inanimate objects and personnel, the system comprising:

at least one two-tiered network card operable at a radio frequency less than one megahertz;

a base station configured for transmission of signals to and from the at least one two-tiered network card; and

a computer in communication with the base station;

said computer comprising software for enabling real-time transmissions; and

a graphical user interface for enabling a user to read and write data to be transmitted to and from the two-tiered networked card.

21. The information processing system of claim 20 wherein the base station is connected to the computer through a port on the computer.

22. The information processing system of claim 20 wherein the base station is wirelessly coupled with the computer.

23. The information processing system of claim 20 wherein the two-tiered networked card is web managed by a user through an internet connection on the computer.

24. The information processing system of claim 20 further comprising:

a router configured to read and write to the at least one two-tiered network card; and

at least one loop antenna for expanding transmission range.

25. The information processing system of claim 20 further comprising a portal operable to read and write data to and from the two-tiered networked card when the two-tiered network card is within range of the portal.