ASSOCIATIVE OBJECT TRACKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. An associative tracking apparatus for tracking a first object using tracking information for the first object and tracking information for a second object, comprising:
- a tracking reliability monitor for determining when the tracking information for the first object is not reliable;
a proximity detector for identifying the second object as closest to the first object when the tracking reliability monitor determines that the tracking information for the first object is not reliable; and
an associative tracker for associating a location of the first object with a location of the second object when the tracking reliability monitor determines that the tracking information for the first object is not reliable.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods track a first object when continuous tracking information for the first object is not available. The systems and methods detect when the tracking information for the first object is not available. A last time of a last determined location of the first object is determined and a second object closest to the last determined location at the last time is determined. The location of the first object is associated with a location of the second object if tracking information for the first object is not available.
7 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An associative tracking apparatus for tracking a first object using tracking information for the first object and tracking information for a second object, comprising:
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a tracking reliability monitor for determining when the tracking information for the first object is not reliable; a proximity detector for identifying the second object as closest to the first object when the tracking reliability monitor determines that the tracking information for the first object is not reliable; and an associative tracker for associating a location of the first object with a location of the second object when the tracking reliability monitor determines that the tracking information for the first object is not reliable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for tracking a first object using tracking information for a second object, comprising the steps of:
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sensing proximity of the first object to the second object; transmitting an indication of the sensed proximity with the tracking information for the second object; detecting, within a tracking apparatus receiving the tracking information, when tracking information for the first object is not available; and associating the location of the first object with a location determined from the tracking information when the tracking information for the first object is not available. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for tracking a first object using tracking information for a second object, comprising:
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a generator for generating a proximity signal relative to the first object; a sensor configured with the second object for detecting the proximity signal; and a transmitter, configured with the second object, for transmitting tracking information for the second object and an indication of proximity of the first object to the second object based upon detecting the proximity signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for automatically associating a tracking tag with a tracked object, comprising the steps of:
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determining an object identity (ID) of the object located within a detection area; determining a tracking ID of the tracking tag from a radio signal received from the tracking tag; and associating, within a database, the tracking tag ID with the object ID. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for automatically assigning a tracking tag to an object to be tracked, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a wireless signal from the tracking tag; and an assignment device for determining a tracking tag identity (ID) of the tracking tag based upon the wireless signal, for determining an object ID of the object when positioned within a detection area, and for associating the tracking tag ID with the object ID within a database. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification