Method and System to Locate an Object

• US 20100159953A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Viale, Joel, Aubert, Denis, Picon, Joaquin, Secondo, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for handling identification information emitted by a radio frequency device, and a radio frequency device for emitting identification information. The method receives and stores identification information transmitted by the radio frequency device, retrieves the identification information from the first mobile communication device, and inserts the identification information into the communication. The system includes a first mobile communication device, a second communication device, and an inserting means. The computer program product includes computer program instructions for carrying out the steps of the method. The radio frequency device includes an antenna adapted to operate in UHF frequency bands, an energy storage means adapted to be charged with energy captured through the antenna, an information storage means adapted to store information, and a transmission means adapted to transmit the information using the energy from the energy storage means.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of handling identification information emitted by a radio frequency device, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving and storing said identification information transmitted by a radio frequency device, wherein a first mobile communication device is connected to a cellular network and said first mobile communication device receives and stores said transmitted identification information;

retrieving said identification information, wherein a second communication device capable of user initiated communications retrieves said identification information from said first mobile communication device and wherein said second communication device awaits an initiation by a user of a communication; and

inserting said identification information in said communication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a location of said first mobile communication device with reference to said cellular network, wherein said location of said first mobile communication device is associated with a location of said radio frequency device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining said location of said first mobile communication device is performed with reference to location information of a base station associated with said first mobile communication device in said cellular network.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining said location of said first mobile communication device is performed with reference to time stamped data associated with said identification information emitted by said radio frequency device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of inserting said identification information in said communication is performed by means of DTMF encoding.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device or the second communication device comprises a cellular telephone or a wireless device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second communication device is a fixed device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device emits radiation at a first frequency, and wherein said radio frequency device is adapted to be responsive at said first frequency.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency device wirelessly receives power from an external energy source other than said first mobile communication device.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a location of said first mobile communication device upon a query by said user.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device and said second communication device are the same device.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting energy to said radio frequency device by means of electromagnetic radiation, wherein a further mobile communication device transmits said energy, and, in response to said further mobile communication device transmitting said energy, said radio frequency device transmits said identification information.

13. A computer program product for handling identification information emitted by a radio frequency device, said computer program product comprising computer program instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium, wherein said instructions, when executed, will cause a computer to perform the steps of the method according to claim 1.

14. A radio frequency device for emitting identification information, said radio frequency device comprising:

an antenna adapted to operate in UHF frequency bands;

an energy storage means adapted to be charged with energy captured through said antenna;

an information storage means adapted to store information; and

a transmission means adapted to transmit said information using said energy from said energy storage means.

15. The radio frequency device of claim 14, wherein said radio frequency device is adapted to emit said information when said energy stored in said energy means equals a predetermined level of energy.

16. The radio frequency device of claim 15, further comprising a logical means adapted to control said transmission of said information at predetermined intervals.

17. A computer-implemented system of handling identification information emitted by a radio frequency device, said system comprising:

a first mobile communication device for receiving and storing said identification information transmitted by said radio frequency device, wherein said first mobile communication device is connected to a cellular network;

a second communication device for retrieving said identification information from said first mobile communication device, wherein said second communication device is capable of user initiated communications and wherein said second communication device awaits an initiation by a user of a communication; and

an inserting means for inserting said identification information in said communication.