SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOBILE MONITORING OF NON-ASSOCIATED TAGS

• US 20110195701A1
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aeroscout Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aeroscout Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Joel Powell, Aljadeff, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/826 where the data is sent periodically
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for monitoring at least one tag device has at least one mobile cellular telephone. The mobile cellular telephone is capable of communicating on a WiFi network, wherein the at least one tag device transmits wireless data messages in a non-associating mode.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring at least one tag device comprising:

at least one mobile cellular telephone capable of communicating on a Wi-Fi network, the at least one mobile cellular telephone capable of communicating with the at least one tag device when in a predetermined range of the at least one tag device;

wherein the at least one tag device transmits wireless data messages in a non-associating mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile cellular phone is capable of communicating with both associating and non-associating tag devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tag device transmits Wi-Fi data messages using Clear Channel Assessment (CCA).

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one mobile cellular telephone functions as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server for the at least one tag device and as a router for forwarding the Wi-Fi data messages.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile cellular phone is capable of measuring a signal strength of the wireless data messages transmitted by the at least one tag device to estimate at least one of a location of the at least one tag device and the distance of the at least one tag device to the portable mobile device.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one mobile cellular phone receives the Wi-Fi data messages from the at least one tag device and communicates information in the Wi-Fi data messages over a cellular network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one mobile cellular phone receives the Wi-Fi data messages from the at least one tag device and communicates information in the Wi-Fi data messages over a cellular network in one of an email, Short Message Service (SMS), pre-recorded voice message, synthesized voice message or combinations thereof.

8. A system comprising:

at least one tag; and

at least one portable mobile device, the at least one portable mobile device able to perform wireless data communication and voice communication, the at least one portable mobile device able to receive and decode data messages from said at least one tag, said tag transmitting said data messages in a non-associating mode.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one tag device comprises:

a tag controller; and

a Wi-Fi transceiver coupled to the tag controller.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one tag device comprises:

a low frequency receiver and antenna coupled to the tag controller; and

at least one monitoring sensor coupled to the tag controller.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one tag device further comprises a push button coupled to the tag controller, pressing the push button allowing the at least one tag device to transmit the data messages in a non-associating mode.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one tag device transmits the data messages in a non-associating mode using Clear Channel Assessment (CCA).

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one tag device transmits the data messages with a format according to one of IEEE 802.11 standards.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein information transmitted in the data messages by the at least one tag device is one of shown on a display screen of the at least one portable mobile device or stored in the at least one portable mobile device.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one portable mobile device measures signal strength of the data messages received, wherein the signal strength is used to estimate at least one of a location of the at least one tag device and the distance of the at least one tag device to the portable mobile device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one portable mobile device may perform a search of at least one tag based on said estimated at least one of a location of the at least one tag device and the distance of the at least one tag device to the portable mobile device.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the data messages comprises at least one of:

tag identification data, status of the at least one tag device, location, and transmission channel data.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one mobile portable mobile device functions as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server for the at least one tag device and as a router for forwarding the data messages.

19. The system of claim 8, further comprising a low frequency transmitter, the low frequency transmitter transmitting data messages to the at least one tag device.

20. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one tag device is a bi-directional wireless communication tag device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one portable mobile device transmits data for programming the at least on tag device.

22. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one mobile portable device communicates the decoded data messages.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one mobile uses an encrypted communications protocol (VPN) to communicate the decoded data messages.

24. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one portable mobile device uses a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) for positioning information.

25. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one portable mobile device can record barcode data of the at least one tag device.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one portable mobile device receives the data messages from the at least one tag device and communicates information in the data messages over a cellular network in one of an email, Short Message Service (SMS), pre-recorded voice message, synthesized voice message or combinations thereof.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one portable mobile device uses a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) for positioning information and said positioning information is further communicated over said cellular network.

28. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one portable mobile device detects the at last one tag device when in a predetermined range of the at least on tag device and the at least one tag device is active.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one portable mobile device detects the at last one tag device when in a predetermined range of the at least on tag device and the at least one tag device is active, wherein the at least one portable mobile device one of vibrates or rings in response to the data messages received.

30. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one portable mobile device receives and decodes data messages defined by the Cisco CCX specifications, AeroScout tag message format specifications, and the like.

31. The system of claim 8, wherein the data messages are encrypted data messages, wherein the at least one portable mobile device can receive and decode encrypted.

32. The system of claim 8, wherein the data message triggers the at least one portable mobile device to perform a designated action.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the designated action may be one of:

post a message on a designated website, send a pre-recorded message, send a synthesized voice message, send a text message, record a video, transmit a video, take a photograph, record a sound, play a sound, initiate a short-range wireless connection with another device, start an Internet application and the like or combinations thereof.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one portable mobile device can one of accept or reject the designated action.

35. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one tag transmits the data messages on a plurality of channels.

36. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one tag device transmits data messages when activated by one of:

normal blink, sensor alert, trigger signal from an infrared transmitter, trigger signal from an ultrasound transmitter, trigger signal from a LF transmitter or pushbutton on the at least one tag device.

37. The system of claim 8, wherein the decode data messages from said at least one tag includes a telephone number, the at least one portable mobile device performing one of:

sending a text message or calling the telephone number.

38. The system of claim 8, wherein the decode data messages from said at least one tag is stored in the at least one portable mobile device, the decoded data messages stored in a formatted document to be transmitted by the at least one portable mobile device.

39. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one portable mobile device sends a message to one of:

activate, deactivate, trigger or program the at least one tag device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said sent message by the at least one portable mobile device is triggered by a Short Message Service (SMS) received at said at least one portable mobile device.

41. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of portable mobile devices, the plurality of portable mobile devices using RSSI triangulation to locate the at least one tag device.

42. A method of monitoring a tag device comprising:

providing at least one portable mobile device being able to perform wireless data communication and voice communication;

transmitting data messages in a non-associating mode by the at least one tag; and

receiving and decoding the data messages from said at least one tag by the at least one portable mobile device.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising transmitting the data messages in a non-associating mode by the at least one tag using Clear Channel Assessment (CCA).

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising one of showing on a display screen of the at least one portable mobile device or storing in the at least one portable mobile device the information transmitted in the data messages by the at least one tag device.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising measuring a signal strength of the data messages received by the at least one portable mobile device, wherein the signal strength is used to estimate at least one of a location of the at least one tag device and the distance of the at least one tag device to the portable mobile device.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the at least one portable mobile device may perform a search of at least one tag based on said estimated at least one of a location of the at least one tag device and the distance of the at least one tag device to the portable mobile device.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the at least one mobile cellular telephone functions as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server for the at least one tag device and as a router for forwarding the data messages.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising transmitting data from the at least one portable mobile device for programming the at least on tag device.

49. The method of claim 42, further comprising communicating the decoded data messages by the at least one mobile portable device.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein communicating the decoded data messages by the at least one mobile portable device further comprises communicating the decoded data messages over a cellular network in one of an email, Short Message Service (SMS), pre-recorded voice message, synthesized voice message or combinations thereof.

51. The method of claim 42, wherein transmitting data messages by the at least one tag further comprises transmitting encrypted data messages by the at least one tag, wherein the at least one portable mobile device can receive and decode the encrypted data messages.

52. The method of claim 42, wherein the data message triggers the at least one portable mobile device to perform a designated action.

53. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

A plurality of portable mobile devices being able to perform wireless data communication and voice communication;

transmitting data messages in a non-associating mode by the at least one tag; and

receiving and decoding the data messages from said at least one tag by at least two portable mobile devices.

54. The method of claim 45, further comprising a plurality of portable mobile devices, the plurality of portable mobile devices using RSSI triangulation to locate the at least one tag device.

55. The method of claim 45, further comprising a plurality of portable mobile devices, the plurality of portable mobile devices being in communication with a location system, wherein the measured RSSI values at each device of said plurality of portable mobile devices is reported to said location system;

wherein said location system has information related to the position of said plurality of portable mobile devices and wherein said location system estimates the location of the at least one tag device.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein at least one of said plurality of portable mobile devices further comprising a GPS receiver and wherein said locate further using positioning information from said GPS receiver.

57. A mobile cellular telephone capable of communicating on a wireless network, said mobile cellular telephone capable of communicating with at least one tag device when in a predetermined range of the at least one tag device;

wherein the at least one tag device transmits wireless data messages in a non-associating mode.

58. The mobile cellular telephone of claim 57, wherein said mobile cellular telephone is capable of communicating with both associating and non-associating tag devices.

59. The mobile cellular telephone of claim 57 wherein the wireless network is a Wi-Fi network, and wherein the at least one tag device transmits Wi-Fi data messages using Clear Channel Assessment (CCA).

60. The mobile cellular telephone of claim 59 wherein said mobile cellular telephone functions as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server for the at least one tag device and as a router for forwarding the Wi-Fi data messages.

61. The mobile cellular telephone of claim 57 wherein said mobile cellular phone is capable of measuring a signal strength of the wireless data messages transmitted by the at least one tag device to calculate at least one of a location of the at least one tag device and the distance of the at least one tag device to the portable mobile device.

62. The mobile cellular telephone of claim 59 wherein said mobile cellular phone receives the Wi-Fi data messages from the at least one tag device and communicates information in the Wi-Fi data messages over a cellular network.

63. The mobile cellular telephone of claim 62 wherein said mobile cellular phone receives the Wi-Fi data messages from the at least one tag device and communicates information in the Wi-Fi data messages over a cellular network in one of an email, Short Message Service (SMS), pre-recorded voice message, synthesized voice message or combinations thereof.