RFID BASED GUIDANCE IN REMOTE LOCATIONS

• US 20120280812A1
• Filed: 05/04/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Sheikman, Boris Leonid, Hatch, Charles Terrance, Whitefield, Charles David II
• Application Number:
  US13/100,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20120280812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence

Abstract

A guidance location system and an associated method for locating and guiding a user within an area is provided. The system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader device configured to send at least one query signal and receive at least one response signal. The system includes at least one RFID tag positioned within an area. The at least one RFID tag stores unique information associated with a location of the at least one RFID tag within the area. Each of the at least one RFID tag is configured to receive the least one query signal from the RFID reader device and to transmit one of the at least one response signal, conveying the unique information, to the RFID reader device. The RFID reader device is further configured to utilize the at least one response signal to determine a current location of the RFID reader device within the area.

Claims

1. A location system including:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader device configured to send at least one query signal and receive at least one response signal; and

at least one RFID tag positioned within an area, the at least one RFID tag storing unique information associated with a location of the at least one RFID tag within the area, each of the at least one RFID tag being configured to receive the least one query signal from the RFID reader device and to transmit one of the at least one response signal, conveying the unique information, to the RFID reader device;

the RFID reader device being further configured to utilize the at least one response signal to determine a current location of the RFID reader device within the area.

2. The location system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader device is configured to display a map of the area on a display screen.

3. The location system of claim 2, wherein the RFID reader device is configured to chart a path on the map from the current location of the RFID reader device to a desired location.

4. The location system of claim 2, further including one or more area sensors located within the area, each of the one or more area sensors is configured to communicate with the RFID reader device.

5. The location system of claim 2, wherein each of the one or more area sensors is configured to sense at least one hazard proximate to its location and communicate information about the sensed at least one hazard to the RFID reader device.

6. The location system of claim 5, wherein the RFID reader device is configured to chart a path on the map from the current location of the RFID reader device to a desired location, with the charted path avoiding the sensed at least one hazard.

7. The location system of claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID tag includes a plurality of RFID tags, with each of the plurality of RFID tags being positioned at a different location within the area.

8. The location system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of RFID tags is configured to transmit to transmit a respective one of the at least one response signal to the RFID reader device, with each respective response signal conveying respective unique information.

9. The location system of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader device is configured to analyze features of the response signals from the plurality of RFID tags.

10. The location system of claim 9, wherein the RFID reader device is configured to analyze the time of occurrence of each response signal.

11. The location system of claim 10, wherein the RFID reader device is configured to analyze the strength of each response signal.

12. The location system of claim 11, wherein the RFID reader device is configured to compare the response signals to determine the current location of the RFID reader device.

13. The location system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader device includes a map of an area, the RFID reader device is configured to determine a current location of the RFID reader device on the map, and the RFID reader device is configured to display a path on the map from the current location of the RFID reader device to a desired location within the area.

14. The location system of claim 13, wherein the RFID reader device includes a display screen, and the RFID reader device displays the map of the area on the display screen.

15. The location system of claim 14, wherein the RFID reader device displays the current location of the RFID reader device on the display screen.

16. The location system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader device includes a speaker, and the RFID reader device is configured to provide voice commands through the speaker.

17. A method of locating a user within an area, the method including:

providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader device;

positioning at least one RFID tag within the area, wherein the at least one RFID tag is configured to store unique information associated with a location of the at least one RFID tag within the area;

sending at least one signal from the RFID reader device that is received by the at least one RFID tag;

transmitting the stored unique information of at least one RFID tag to the RFID reader device; and

determining a current location of the RFID reader device within the area.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method includes a displaying the current location upon a screen.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes displaying a map of the area upon the screen, and displaying the current location and a path on the map from the current location to a desired location on the map.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes sending the current location of the RFID reader device within the area to a centralized server.