OBJECT MONITORING, LOCATING, AND TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING RFID DEVICES
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a container having an exterior surface with a closable opening therein that when closed defines a closable substantially shielded interior space, said system comprising:
- an RFID device comprising;
a sensor of a thing or condition interior to a closable container at or proximate said RFID device;
a memory having stored therein unique identifying information;
a modulator for modulating information relating to the thing or condition sensed by said sensor and coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information stored in said memory; and
a transmitter coupled to said modulator for transmitting messages, wherein each of the messages includes the modulated information;
an antenna coupled to the transmitter of said RFID device for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals; and
a receiving device exterior to the container, said receiving device comprising a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by said RFID device;
wherein messages transmitted by the RFID device at least when the container is not closed are received by the receiving device exterior to the container; and
wherein at least the unique identifying information of said RFID device and the information relating to the thing or condition sensed by said sensor of the messages received by said receiving device exterior the container are processed for providing an indication of whether the container is closed, is not closed, has been closed, or has been not closed, or any combination thereof,whereby an opening of and/or tampering with the container may be detected.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An RFID system and method utilizes an RFID device, wherein the RFID device senses a thing or condition interior to a closable container at or proximate the RFID device and transmits messages. The messages include information uniquely identifying the RFID device and information relating to the thing or condition sensed at or proximate the RFID device. Information in the received messages relating to the thing or condition sensed at or proximate the RFID device of messages are employed for determining whether the container is closed, is not closed, has been closed, or has been not closed, or any combination thereof, whereby an opening of and/or tampering with the container may be detected. Messages received from the RFID device, as well as an indication of a condition, may be relayed to a remote location.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a container having an exterior surface with a closable opening therein that when closed defines a closable substantially shielded interior space, said system comprising:
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an RFID device comprising; a sensor of a thing or condition interior to a closable container at or proximate said RFID device; a memory having stored therein unique identifying information; a modulator for modulating information relating to the thing or condition sensed by said sensor and coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information stored in said memory; and a transmitter coupled to said modulator for transmitting messages, wherein each of the messages includes the modulated information; an antenna coupled to the transmitter of said RFID device for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals; and a receiving device exterior to the container, said receiving device comprising a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by said RFID device; wherein messages transmitted by the RFID device at least when the container is not closed are received by the receiving device exterior to the container; and wherein at least the unique identifying information of said RFID device and the information relating to the thing or condition sensed by said sensor of the messages received by said receiving device exterior the container are processed for providing an indication of whether the container is closed, is not closed, has been closed, or has been not closed, or any combination thereof, whereby an opening of and/or tampering with the container may be detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for monitoring a container having at least one RFID device interior thereto, said method comprising:
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providing an RFID device, wherein the RFID device senses a thing or condition interior to a closable container at or proximate the RFID device and transmits messages; wherein the messages transmitted include information uniquely identifying the RFID device and information relating to the thing or condition sensed at or proximate the RFID device, receiving messages transmitted by the RFID device by a receiving device exterior the closable container; and determining from the information uniquely identifying the RFID device and the information relating to the thing or condition sensed at or proximate the RFID device of messages received from the RFID device whether the closable container is closed, is not closed, has been closed, or has been not closed, or any combination thereof, whereby an opening of and/or tampering with the closable container may be detected. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A system for monitoring a closable container comprising:
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an RFID device, wherein the RFID device senses a thing or condition interior to a closable container at or proximate the RFID device and transmits messages; wherein the messages transmitted include information uniquely identifying the RFID device and information relating to the thing or condition sensed at or proximate the RFID device; means for receiving messages transmitted by the RFID device by a receiving device exterior the closable container; and means for determining from the information uniquely identifying the RFID device and the information relating to the thing or condition sensed at or proximate the RFID device of messages received from the RFID device whether the closable container is closed, is not closed, has been closed, or has been not closed, or any combination thereof, whereby an opening of and/or tampering with the closable container may be detected. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification