RFID TIMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH INTEGRATED EVENT PARTICIPANT LOCATION TRACKING

• US 20130285794A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Inventors: Hansen, Kurt S
• Granted Patent: US 9,489,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• 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 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10415 the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM banking machines in general G07F19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00185 Image output for details of particular output arrangements see the relevant sub-class, e.g. B41J, G03B, G09G, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• 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 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for determining and tracking a location of a participant traveling along a route wherein the participant being tracked with an RFID tag during an event. The system includes a tag reader system receiving one or more tag reads from the RFID tag, determining a time for each tag read, identifying the tag number of the RFID tag, and transmitting a tag read message including at least a portion of the received tag reads with the tag number and the determined times. A timing system is configured for receiving and storing the tag read message including the tag number from the tag reader. A location device that is associated with the RFID tag of the participant has a location data receiver for receiving location data from a location providing source, and a wireless communication interface. The location detection device receives location information from the location providing source, time stamps each received location information, and transmits tag location data over the wireless interface. A location detection device that is in at least periodic wireless communication with the location device receives the transmitted tag location data, and transmits the received location data to the timing system. The timing system stores the location data and associates the location data with the RFID tag number as provided by the RFID tag reader from at least one of the tag reads from the tag associated with the location device.

Claims

1. A system for determining and tracking a location of a participant traveling along a route wherein the participant being tracked with an RFID tag during an event, the system comprising:

a tag reader system receiving one or more tag reads from the RFID tag, determining a time for each tag read, identifying the tag number of the RFID tag, and transmitting a tag read message including at least a portion of the received tag reads with the tag number and the determined times;

a timing system receiving and storing the tag read message including the tag number from the tag reader;

a location device associated with the RFID tag of the participant, the location device having a location data receiver for receiving location data from a location providing source, and a wireless communication interface, the location detection device receiving location information from the location providing source, time stamping each received location information, and transmitting tag location data over the wireless interface; and

a location detection device in at least periodic wireless communication with the location device for receiving the transmitted tag location data, and transmitting the received location data to the timing system;

wherein the timing system stores the location data and associates the location data with the RFID tag number as provided by the RFID tag reader from at least one of the tag reads from the tag associated with the location device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the location device includes the RFID tag number of the associated RFID tag for the participant

3. The system of claim 1 wherein location device is configured for storing location data at intervals based on a predetermined rate.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the location device is configured to receive programming instructions for establishing the predetermined rate, and wherein such predetermined rate can be change with the receipt of new programming instructions during an event.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the location device is communicatively coupled to the RFID tag.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the location device is configured to receive a GPS download request, and wherein the location device transmits the tag location over the wireless interface to a location detection device responsive to said request.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein at least one of the timing system and the tag reader system detects the proximity of the RFID tag to the RFID tag reader and transmits a location data download command to the location detection system, and wherein the location detection device transmits the GPS download request to the location device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the location detection device only transmits the received location data responsive to the location detection device receiving an input that a transmission to the location detection device is currently available.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the timing system is configured to transmit the location data associated with a particular RFID tag number responsive to a request from a remote system.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a remote system configured to request location data from the timing system, receive the requested location data, and to display the location data on a display map of the route indicating the route traveled by the participant or the most recent and current location of the participant.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the remote system is a Kiosk, a website, a mobile phone, a PC, a tablet, a news station, or a broadcast network.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the location device is configured for selective activation and deactivation of its location data receiver, and wherein the wireless interface is configured to receive activation and deactivation commands, and wherein the location detection system is configured for transmitting the activation and deactivation commands responsive to a message received from the timing system.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the location detection system is configured to transmit to the location tag a location data request requesting all or a portion of the location data from the location device, and wherein the location device is configured to transmit the location data responsive to the location data request.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the location detection system is configured to transmit a dump all data and then clear all data commands, and wherein the location device is configured to transmit all of the location data and then clear a memory associated with the location device.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the location providing source is a plurality of GPS satellites and wherein the location data is GPS data.

16. A timing system for determining and tracking a location of a participant traveling along a route wherein the participant being tracked with an RFID tag during an event, the system comprising:

a tag reader system having a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface for communicating with a timing system, a radio frequency transceiver for wireles sly communicating with the tag for receiving a tag identification unique to the tag, and one or more antenna coupled to the radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a first monitored point at a first distance from the reference line, the tag reader system transmitting a tag read request and receiving one or more tag reads from the tag, and transmitting over the communication interface a tag read message including at least a portion of the received tag reads;

a timing system having a processor, a memory, and a data interface, the timing system receiving and storing the tag read message including the tag identification from the tag reader, determining whether a tag location device is associated with the tag identification, and if so, transmitting a location data request command including the tag identification;

the tracked location device having a location data receiver, a processor, a clock and a wireless communication interface, the location detection device receiving location information on a periodic basis from a location providing source and time stamping each receiving or determined location as location data, receiving a request for wirelessly transmitting the location data; and

transmitting the location data responsive to the received request; and

a location detection device having a processor, a memory, a wireless communication interface for communicating with the tracked location device, and a data communication interface for communicating with the timing system, the location detection system transmitting the request for the location data responsive to receiving a command from the timing system including the tag identification, and receiving the location data from the tracked location device associated with the tag identification, and forwarding the received location data to the timing system,

wherein the timing system stores the location data and associated the location data with the tag read message including the tag identification.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the location device includes the RFID tag number of the associated RFID tag for the participant

18. The system of claim 16 wherein location device is configured for storing location data at intervals based on a predetermined rate.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the location device is configured to receive programming instructions for establishing the predetermined rate, and wherein such predetermined rate can be change with the receipt of new programming instructions during an event.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the location device is communicatively coupled to the RFID tag.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the location device is configured to receive a GPS download request, and wherein the location device transmits the tag location over the wireless interface to a location detection device responsive to said request.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein at least one of the timing system and the tag reader system detects the proximity of the RFID tag to the RFID tag reader and transmits a location data download command to the location detection system, and wherein the location detection device transmits the GPS download request to the location device.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein the location detection device only transmits the received location data responsive to the location detection device receiving an input that a transmission to the location detection device is currently available.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the timing system is configured to transmit the location data associated with a particular RFID tag number responsive to a request from a remote system.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a remote system configured to request location data from the timing system, receive the requested location data, and to display the location data on a display map of the route indicating the route traveled by the participant or the most recent and current location of the participant.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the remote system is a Kiosk, a website, a mobile phone, a PC, a tablet, a news station, or a broadcast network.

27. The system of claim 16 wherein the location device is configured for selective activation and deactivation of its location data receiver, and wherein the wireless interface is configured to receive activation and deactivation commands, and wherein the location detection system is configured for transmitting the activation and deactivation commands responsive to a message received from the timing system.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein the location detection system is configured to transmit to the location tag a location data request requesting all or a portion of the location data from the location device, and wherein the location device is configured to transmit the location data responsive to the location data request.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the location detection system is configured to transmit a dump all data and then clear all data commands, and wherein the location device is configured to transmit all of the location data and then clear a memory associated with the location device.

30. The system of claim 16 wherein the location providing source is a plurality of GPS satellites and wherein the location data is GPS data.

31. A method for determining and tracking a location of a participant traveling along a route wherein the participant being tracked with an RFID tag during an event, the method comprising:

a) in a tag reader system;

receiving one or more tag reads from the RFID tag;

determining a time for each tag read;

identifying the tag number of the RFID tag; and

transmitting a tag read message including at least a portion of the received tag reads with the tag number and the determined times;

b) in a timing system;

receiving the tag read messages as transmitted by the tag reader system; and

storing the tag read message including the tag number from the tag reader;

c) in a location device associated with the RFID tag of the participant;

receiving location data from a location providing source;

time stamping each received location information; and

transmitting tag location data over the wireless interface; and

d) in a location detection device in at least periodic wireless communication with the location device;

receiving the transmitted tag location data; and

transmitting the received location data to the timing system;

e) in the timing system;

receiving the location data;

associating the location data with the RFID tag number as provided by the RFID tag reader from at least one of the tag reads from the tag associated with the location device; and

storing the location associated with the RFID tag number.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein in the location device, the storing of location data is at intervals based on a predetermined rate.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein in the location device, receiving programming instructions for establishing the predetermined rate, and wherein such predetermined rate can be change with the receipt of new programming instructions during an event.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein in the location device, receiving a GPS download request, and transmitting the tag location over the wireless interface to a location detection device is responsive to said request.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein in at least one of the timing system and the tag reader system:

detecting a proximity of the RFID tag to the RFID tag reader; and

transmitting a location data download command to the location detection system, wherein in the location detection device, transmitting the GPS download request to the location device.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein in the location detection device, the transmitting is only responsive to the location detection device receiving an input that a transmission to the location detection device is currently available.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein in the timing system, transmitting the location data associated with a particular RFID tag number responsive to a request from a remote system.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein in a remote system;

requesting location data from the timing system; and

receiving the requested location data, and displaying the location data on a display map of the route indicating the route traveled by the participant or the most recent and current location of the participant.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the remote system is a Kiosk, a website, a mobile phone, a PC, a tablet, a news station, or a broadcast network.

40. The method of claim 31

wherein in the location detection system:

transmitting at least one of an activation and a deactivation command responsive to a message received from the timing system;

wherein in the location device;

selectively activating and deactivating the location data receiver responsive to receipt of the message from the location detection system.

41. The method of claim 31 wherein in the location detection system:

transmitting to the location tag a location data request requesting all or a portion of the location data from the location device, and wherein in the location device transmitting the location data responsive to the location data request.

42. The system of claim 31 wherein in the location detection system transmitting a dump all data command and then transmitting a clear all data command, and wherein in the location device, transmitting all of the location data responsive to the receipt of the dump all data command and clearing a memory of all location data responsive to receiving the clear all data command.