METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING OBJECTS AND PEOPLE

• US 20090278686A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automated Tracking Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Automated Tracking Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Sawyer, Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 7,834,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child

Abstract

An object locating, identifying, tracking, and surveillance system, denoted the Assets Locating, Tracking, and Surveillance System (ALTSS), is provided for managing physical objects and evidence in environments such as police departments, law offices, and the Courts. ALTSS employs radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, computer programming and database applications, networking technologies, and hardware elements. ALTSS may locate and track physical evidence, merchandise, information carriers like files, folders or individual pieces of paper, and people, under certain conditions, in near-real time. It may be configured as part of a local area network, a wide area network, or the Internet. ALTSS may employ exemplary components such as RFID transponders, scanners, strategically located antennas and computers to facilitate tracking of objects and people as needed. Any number of users having access privileges and connected to the network may access ALTSS directly or remotely via the Internet to locate and track evidence or objects.

Claims

1-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A system for locating, identifying and tracking of at least one object, said system comprising:

a transponder affixable to the object;

a reader for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal; and

an antenna affixable within a facility for respectively transmitting and receiving RF signals to and from said reader and said transponder;

wherein said system locates, identifies and tracks the object having said transponder affixed to the object.

55. The system according to claim 54, further comprising:

a plurality of transponders, readers and antennas.

56. The system according to claim 54, further comprising:

at least one server for processing, managing and storing data and being logically connectable to said reader.

57. The system according to claim 54, said antenna being affixed at least of at:

an entrance of the facility;

an exit of the facility;

a wall of the facility;

a ceiling of the facility; and

furniture within the facility.

61. The method according to claim 54, the antenna being affixed at least of at:

an entrance of the facility;

an exit of the facility;

a wall of the facility;

a ceiling of the facility; and

furniture within the facility.

58. A method of locating, identifying and tracking at least one object by a system, said method comprising:

affixing a passive or active transponder to the object;

providing a reader;

providing an antenna;

if said transponder is passive, transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal by the reader, energizing said transponder by said RF signal, and transmitting information stored in the transponder back to the reader; and

if said transponder is active, said transponder being capable of automatically transmitting said information stored in said transponder back to the reader,

whereby said transmitted information enabling locating, identifying and tracking of the object.

59. The method according to claim 58, further comprising:

providing a plurality of transponders, readers and antennas.

60. The method according to claim 58, further comprising:

at least one server for processing, managing and storing data and being logically connectable to the reader.