Devices, Systems and Methods for Portable Device Location

• US 20100148963A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• 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: O'Hern, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,269,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0063 of measured values, i.e. measurement on base station and position calculation on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to a network of RFID readers which detect a location of an RFID transmitter coupled to a portable device. The network of RFID readers transmits the location to a user. The RFID transmitter couples to any personal device and broadcasts a unique ID. The nearest RFID reader(s) receive the unique ID and alert a server in communication with the network of RFID readers. The server calculates the distance of the RFID transmitter from each RFID reader receiving the unique ID. The server triangulates the location of the RFID transmitter when three or more RFID readers are receiving the unique ID. The server then securely transmits the location of the RFID transmitter to the user of the portable device. The user receives the transmission through a secure receiver.

Claims

1. A portable device tracking system comprising:

an RFID transmitter coupled to a portable device;

a plurality of RFID readers, which can detect an RFID transmitter, distributed about an area;

a server in communication with the plurality of RFID readers; and

a secure receiver in communication with the server;

wherein the server calculates a location based on one or more readings from the plurality of RFID readers and transmits the location securely to a user through the secure receiver.

2. The system in claim 1, wherein the RFID transmitter is one of a passive, semi-passive, and active RFID transmitter.

3. The system in claim 1, wherein the RFID transmitter is adhesive.

4. The system in claim 1, wherein the RFID transmitter is coupled with a battery.

5. The system in claim 1, wherein the RFID transmitter contains two exposed electrical contacts.

6. The system in claim 1, wherein the RFID transmitter is embedded in a card receivable by a portable device.

7. The system in claim 1, wherein the area is one of a floor in a house, a city block, and a country.

8. The system in claim 1, wherein the secure receiver is a web portal.

9. The system in claim 1, wherein the secure receiver is a handheld device.

10. A portable device tracking system comprising:

an RFID transmitter coupled to a personal device;

a plurality of RFID readers which detect the RFID transmitter;

a server in communication with the plurality of RFID readers;

a logic on the server which calculates a distance of the RFID transmitter read by an RFID reader; and

a secure receiver in communication with the server;

wherein a user locates the personal device by receiving a location of the personal device calculated by the logic anywhere the personal device is detectable by at least one RFID reader.

11. The system in claim 10, wherein the logic triangulates the location of the personal device with three or more RFID readers detecting the RFID transmitter.

12. A portable electronic device comprising:

a battery;

two exposed device electrical contacts; and

a removable active RFID transmitter having two exposed transmitter electrical contacts coupled with the portable electronic device;

wherein the RFID transmitter is oriented such that the device electrical contacts touch the transmitter electrical contacts allowing the battery to power the removable active RFID transmitter.

13. The device in claim 12, wherein the battery powers the active RFID transmitter when the battery does not have enough life to power the portable electronic device.

14. A method of tracking a portable device comprising:

reading an RFID transmitter with one or more RFID readers;

calculating a distance of the RFID transmitter from each of the RFID readers; and

outputting a location of the RFID transmitter;

wherein a user securely receives the location of the RFID transmitter.

15. The method in claim 14, wherein the calculating further comprises triangulating the position when three or more RFID readers have read the RFID transmitter.

16. The method in claim 14, wherein the outputting further comprises displaying the location on a map.

17. The method in claim 14, wherein the outputting further comprises inputting a longitude and latitude into a GPS navigator.