Calibration and Operational Assurance Method and Apparatus for RFID Object Monitoring System

• US 20110063113A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RF Controls LLC
• Original Assignee: RF Controls LLC
• Inventors: Hook, Christopher Derek, Ellinwood, Thomas, Turner, Christopher Gordon Gervase, Bloy, Graham P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,451,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/82 wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4082 using externally generated reference signals, e.g. via remote reflector or transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

A method for monitoring objects in a three dimensional target area and or business process decision making. The methods include calibration, recalibration, operation and rules compliance for a radio frequency object monitoring system. Location tags are placed throughout a three dimensional area in predetermined positions and used to determine relative position, movement and or distances of objects with and without object tags. Repeated scanning and comparison of data provides a database by which the object monitoring system responds according to predetermined rules.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating an objecting monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

placing one or a plurality of location tags within a three dimensional target area, scanning the target area and storing a plurality of location data regarding the location tags in a database;

placing one or a plurality of objects with an object tag(s) thereon in the target area;

scanning the target area and storing the location data and a plurality of object data regarding the object tags in the database;

adding and removing the objects with the object tags thereon within the target area;

scanning the target area and storing the location data and the object data in the database; and

the object monitoring system responding to changes in the database based on a set of predetermined rules.

2. A method of re-calibrating an object monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

comparing a plurality of historical data with a plurality of current data in a database, regarding three dimensional positions, detected by the object monitoring system, of one or a plurality of location tags placed throughout a target area at a plurality of known locations; and

the object monitoring system responding to a difference between the historical location data and the current location data according to a set of predetermined rules.

3. The method of claim 2, further including the object monitoring system detecting a difference in position of a portion of the location tags from the respective known locations;

and

the object monitoring system altering the database to reflect changes in the known locations of the location tags according to the predetermined rules.

4. The method of claim 2, further including the object monitoring system detecting a difference in position of a portion of the location tags from the known locations;

initiating an alarm;

searching for the location tags recognized as one of missing and moved;

one of replacing and identifying updated positions of the location tags; and

scanning the target area and storing the location data obtained in the database as the updated historical data.

5. The method of claim 2, further including the step of

initiating a self-diagnostic routine when a discrepancy between the historical data and the current data is greater than a predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 2, further including the object monitoring system detecting a change in position of a predetermined percentage of the location tags;

verifying whether or not the location tags retain a relative position in relation to each other; and

the object monitoring system responding according to the predetermined rules.

7. The method of claim 2, further including the steps of:

placing at least a portion of the location tags proximate a periphery of the three dimensional target area; and

the object monitoring system scanning the target area and initiating a predetermined response upon a failure to detect a predetermined number of the location tags proximate the periphery of the target area.

8. The method of claim 2, further including the steps of:

placing one or a plurality of untagged objects in desired locations about the location tags;

scanning the target area with the object monitoring system and storing a plurality of data regarding the location tags in the database;

the plurality of data including a plurality of signal characteristics of the location tags;

adding and removing the untagged objects within the target area;

the object monitoring system scanning the target area, collecting the data and updating the database; and

the object monitoring system responding to changes in the database based on the predetermined rules.

9. A method for dynamically configuring a scan pattern of an object monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

placing one or a plurality of location tags in a plurality of predetermined locations within a target area;

the predetermined locations including upon a plurality of doors;

the object monitoring system determining a relative position of the doors according to a detected position of the location tags upon the doors; and

modifying the scan pattern of the object monitoring system according to a set of predetermined rules.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of initiating a predetermined re-configuration of the scan pattern in response to a failure to detect a predetermined number of the location tags upon the doors.

11. The method of claim 9, further including the object monitoring system ceasing to scan a portion of the target area when status of a door is changed from open to closed.

12. The method of claim 9, further including the object monitoring system resuming scanning of a portion of the target area when status of at least one of the doors is changed from closed to open.

13. The method of claim 9, further including the object monitoring system initiating an alarm when status of at least one of the doors is contrary to the predetermined rules.

14. The method of claim 9, further including the object monitoring system initiating an alarm when at least one of a plurality of objects specified by the predetermined rules are detected passing through the doors.

15. A method of rules compliance for an object monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

the object monitoring system monitoring a relative position of a plurality of object tags in comparison with a position of a plurality of location tags;

the object monitoring system provided with a set of predetermined rules; and

the object monitoring system initiating an alarm when the object tags move in relation to the location tags according to the predetermined rules.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined rules specify an action when the object tags approach within a predetermined distance from a door.

17. The method of claim 15, further including assigning a value to each of the object tags;

the predetermined rules including recognizing the values of the object tags; and

the object monitoring system providing a surveillance response to moving object tags proportional to the values of the object tags.

18. The method of claim 15, further including monitoring a predetermined distance between designated object tags and initiating a predetermined response upon detection of the predetermined distance that is less than a predetermined value.

19. A method of rules compliance for an object monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

placing one or a plurality of location tags in predetermined locations within a three dimensional target area;

placing one or a plurality of objects with object tags thereon in the target area;

providing employees with a plurality of employee tags;

scanning the target area with the object monitoring system and storing and updating a plurality of data regarding the location tags, the object tags and the employee tags in a database; and

the object monitoring system responding to changes in the database based on a set of predetermined rules.

20. The method of claim 19, further including the object monitoring system notifying an employee identified as nearest to a point of interest based on movement of the object tags according to the predetermined rules.