Wireless Tracking System And Method Utilizing Near-Field Communication Devices
First Claim
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1. A system utilizing near-field communications, the system comprising:
- a mesh network comprising a plurality of sensors located in a facility for infrastructure-based real-time location tracking of objects and users in the facility, each of the plurality of sensors communicating with other sensors of the plurality of sensors utilizing a medium range wireless communication format, wherein each of the plurality of sensors operates in a geo-spatially fixed physical location in the facility;
a plurality of near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices comprising a transceiver for transferring interaction data from one near-field communication device to another near-field communication device when the near-field communication devices are within a predetermined distance of each other, and a transceiver for transmitting a signal to at least one of the plurality of plug-in sensors, the signal comprising the interaction data and positioning data; and
an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine processing the interaction data and positioning data.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for determining a near-field communication interaction in a wireless tracking mesh network. The present invention preferably utilizes near-field communication devices in conjunction with tracking tags to transmit signals for reception by sensors stationed throughout a facility which form a mesh network and forward the signals to an information engine for analysis. Bearers of the near-field communication devices preferably include individuals, objects, assets and rooms of the facility.
29 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system utilizing near-field communications, the system comprising:
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a mesh network comprising a plurality of sensors located in a facility for infrastructure-based real-time location tracking of objects and users in the facility, each of the plurality of sensors communicating with other sensors of the plurality of sensors utilizing a medium range wireless communication format, wherein each of the plurality of sensors operates in a geo-spatially fixed physical location in the facility; a plurality of near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices comprising a transceiver for transferring interaction data from one near-field communication device to another near-field communication device when the near-field communication devices are within a predetermined distance of each other, and a transceiver for transmitting a signal to at least one of the plurality of plug-in sensors, the signal comprising the interaction data and positioning data; and an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine processing the interaction data and positioning data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the system comprising:
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a plurality of first near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of first near-field communication devices having bearer of the near-field communication device, each of the plurality of first near-field communication devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format; a plurality of second near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of second near-field communication devices representing an object, each of the plurality of second near-field communication devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format; a mesh network comprising a plurality of sensors located in a facility for infrastructure-based real-time location tracking of objects and users in the facility, each of the plurality of sensors communicating with other sensors of the plurality of sensors utilizing a medium range wireless communication format, wherein each of the plurality of sensors operates in a geo-spatially fixed physical location in the facility; and an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine obtaining data on a near-field communication interaction between either plurality of first near-field communication devices or at least one first near-field communication devices and a second object, the near-field communication interaction comprising a position location of the interaction and a duration of the interaction. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the method comprising:
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transmitting a signal from a first near-field communication device associated with a first person, the first near-field communication device operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format; receiving the signal from first near-field communication device at a second near-field communication device associated with a second person, the signal sent on a low power short-range wireless communication format, the second near-field communication device operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format; determining that a near-field communication interaction is occurring between the first person and the second person based on the signal; transmitting a signal using the medium range wireless communication format to a mesh network for transmission to an information engine; determining a business relationship between the first person and the second person based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction, a duration of the interaction, a previous location of the first person prior to the interaction, a previous location of the second person prior to the interaction and the number of other persons at the interaction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification