Method and System for Controlling the Traffic Flow Through an RFID Directional Portal

• US 20090289793A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morin, Raymond B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,487,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• 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 7/10356 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

Abstract

A system having a first motion sensor configured to sense movement of an object on a first side of a portal, the object including an RFID tag, a first RFID reader being activated by the first motion sensor when the first motion sensor senses movement of the object, the first RFID reader reading the RFID tag, a second motion sensor configured to sense movement of the object on a second side of the portal and a second RFID reader being activated by the second motion sensor when the second motion sensor senses movement of the object, the second RFID reader reading the RFID tag, wherein, when one of the first and second motion sensors sense movement of the object, the other one of the first and second motion sensors is deactivated for a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first motion sensor configured to sense movement of an object on a first side of a portal, the object including an RFID tag;

a first RFID reader being activated by the first motion sensor when the first motion sensor senses movement of the object, the first RFID reader reading the RFID tag;

a second motion sensor configured to sense movement of the object on a second side of the portal; and

a second RFID reader being activated by the second motion sensor when the second motion sensor senses movement of the object, the second RFID reader reading the RFID tag, wherein, when one of the first and second motion sensors sense movement of the object, the other one of the first and second motion sensors is deactivated for a predetermined period of time.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a relay receiving a signal from the one of the first and second motion sensors, the relay deactivating the other one of the first and second motion sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a signaling device directing a flow of traffic through the portal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the signaling device indicates a traffic flow from the first side to the second side when the first motion sensor senses movement of the object.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the signaling device includes a plurality of lights to direct the flow of traffic through the portal.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the signaling device includes an audio cue to direct the flow of traffic through the portal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is adjustable.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first motion sensor is one of an optical motion sensor and an acoustic motion sensor.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the signaling device includes a first signaling device at the first side of the portal and a second signaling device at the second side of the portal, each signaling device including a stop signal and a go signal, wherein, when the one of the first and second motion sensors is deactivated, the stop signal of the corresponding signaling device is activated.

10. A method, comprising:

sensing, by a first motion sensor arranged at a first side of a portal, a movement of an object, the object including an RFID tag;

activating, upon sensing the movement, a first RFID reader; and

deactivating, upon sensing the movement, a second motion sensor arranged at a second side of the portal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

reading, by the first RFID reader, the RFID tag.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

reactivating, after a predetermined period of time, the second motion sensor.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

activating, upon deactivating the second motion sensor, a stop signal on the second side of the portal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined period of time is adjustable.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first motion sensor is one of an optical motion sensor and an acoustic motion sensor.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

sensing, by the second motion sensor, a movement of a further object, the further object including a further RFID tag;

activating, upon sensing the movement, a second RFID reader;

deactivating, upon sensing the movement, the first motion sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

reading, by the second RFID reader, the further RFID tag; and

reactivating, after a further predetermined period of time, the first motion sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

activating, upon deactivating the first motion sensor, a further stop signal on the first side of the portal.

19. A system, comprising:

a first sensing means for sensing movement of an object on a first side of a portal;

a first reading means being activated by the first sensing means when the first sensing means senses movement of the object, the first reading means for reading an identification of the object;

a second sensing means for sensing movement of the object on a second side of a portal; and

a second reading means being activated by the second sensing means when the second sensing means senses movement of the object, the second reading means for reading the identification of the object, wherein, when one of the first and second sensing means sense movement of the object, the other one of the first and second sensing means is deactivated for a predetermined period of time.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a signaling means for directing a flow of traffic through the portal.