Tracking system for persons and/or objects

• US 20170220829A1
• Filed: 02/03/2016
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timekeeping Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Timekeeping Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Papatonis, Nicholas F., Hansley, II, John E., Argentieri, Paolo, Stahl, Roger W., Hoffman, John W., Doyle, Jason D., Markwitz, Barry J., Chriss, Dean M.
• Application Number:
  US14/998,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20170220829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/09 for tracking people
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A tracking system that tracks persons and/or objects of interest without the need for triangulation techniques is disclosed. The tracking system utilizes very low power active radio frequency tags with limited effective broadcast range that operate only in the transmit mode with no need to establish two-way communication with any part of the system. The person or object of interest is provided with a radio frequency tag incorporating a unique identifier. Gateways connected to a common network interface are positioned relative to specific areas within the facility to be monitored. A computer connected to the same network as the gateways analyzes data relating to the strength of the of the radio frequency signals received by the radio frequency receivers from the radio frequency tags to determine if, and when, persons and/or objects of interest are present within particular subareas within the facility.

Claims

10-1. ) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said subarea within said plurality of subareas is contiguous to an unmonitored subarea.

14. ) A system for determining which subarea within a plurality of subareas comprising an area to be monitored contains an object of interest that may move between said subareas comprising at least one gateway device associated with each of said subareas and having a field of view within its said associated subarea, a transmitter device operatively attached to said object of interest, said transmitter device transmitting a unique identifier for said object of interest, a computer device operatively connected to said gateway device, said computer device executing software associating said unique identifier with said object of interest and determining the subarea in which said object of interest is present regardless of whether said object of interest is being continuously detected by said gateway device.

15. ) The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said transmitter device is a radio frequency tag.

16. ) The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said radio frequency tag operates only in the transmit mode.

17. ) The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said radio frequency tag transmits said unique identifier substantially periodically.

18. ) The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said radio frequency tag transmits said unique identifier on multiple radio frequencies and said gateway device includes multiple single channel receivers each set to one of said multiple radio frequencies.

19. ) The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said radio frequency tag comprises electrical circuitry and a battery, said electrical circuitry being interposed between said battery and said object of interest, said radio frequency tag becoming substantially omnidirectional when operatively attached to said object of interest.

20. ) The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a radio frequency transmitter and an antenna.

21. ) The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said radio frequency tag comprises an accelerometer device and a processing device.

22. ) The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said radio frequency tag comprises a temperature sensor and a processing device.

23. ) The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said radio frequency tag comprises an accelerometer device, a temperature sensor, and a processing device.

24. ) The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said computer device software analyzes signal strength data relative to pairs of gateways receiving said transmission of said unique identifier to determine said subarea in which said object of interest is present.

25. ) The system as defined in claim 14 further including at least one remote computer device operatively connected to said computer device permitting said at least one remote computer device to access the determinations relating to said subarea in which said object of interest is present.

26. ) The system as defined in claim 25 further including a near field gateway device operatively connected to said remote computer device, said near field gateway device being utilized to create an association between the identity of the object of interest with its said unique identifier contained in its associated radio frequency tag.