SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBJECT LOCALIZATION AND PATH IDENTIFICATION BASED ON RFID SENSING

• US 20130278390A1
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucomm Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lucomm Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Cristache, Lucian
• Granted Patent: US 10,635,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A networked radio frequency identification system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the RFID tag readers over a network, and a software module for storage on and operable by the computer that localizes RFID tags based on information received from the RFID tag readers using a network model having endpoints and oriented links. In an additional example, at least one of the RFID tag readers includes an adjustable configuration setting selected from RF signal strength, antenna gain, antenna polarization, and antenna orientation. In a further aspect, the system localizes RFID tags based on hierarchical threshold limit calculations. In an additional aspect, the system controls a locking device associated with an access point based on localization of an authorized RFID tag at the access point and reception of additional authorizing information from an input device.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for localizing an RFID tag, the system comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers;

a computer in signal communication with the plurality of RFID tag readers over a network;

a memory associated with the computer, the memory storing a network model having a plurality of endpoints and oriented links between the endpoints, wherein the endpoints are associated with physical locations in space, each of the endpoints having associated with it one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers;

the computer being configured to operate a software module that localizes the RFID tag based on data received from the RFID tag readers;

the software module further being configured to associate a rating with the RFID tag by determining a semantic for the RFID tag and associating the rating with the tag based on the determined semantic.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tag is assigned to a semantic group and the system associates the rating based on the determined semantic and the semantic group.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the semantic group is associated with a rating or a weight.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the semantic is associated with a rating or a weight.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further adjusts the semantic model as a function of the rating associated with the tag.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system includes at least one sensing entity, and further wherein the system adjusts the semantic model as a function of an input from the sensing entity.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system accepts an input from an external source and further wherein the system adjusts the semantic model as a function of the input from the external source.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes at least one sensing entity, and further wherein the determination of the semantic by the system is based on an input from the sensing entity.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system accepts an input from an external source and further wherein the determination of the semantic by the system is based on the input from the external source.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the software model determines an incentive as a function of the rating.