Method for monitoring the location of monitored objects
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the location of monitored objects within a monitored area, comprising the steps of:
- positioning signpost units within the monitored area, each signpost unit being positioned at the intersection of a first coordinate grid line and a second coordinate grid line with the first coordinate grid lines being spaced generally in a first direction and extending generally in a second direction and with the second coordinate grid lines being spaced generally in the second direction and extending generally in the first direction, the first coordinate grid lines being assigned numbers sequentially increasing in the first direction and the second coordinate grid lines being assigned numbers sequentially increasing in the second direction, each signpost unit having a signpost code encoded therein uniquely identifying the signpost unit and having a first portion corresponding to the number assigned to the first coordinate grid line and a second portion corresponding to the number assigned to the second coordinate grid line of the intersecting first and second coordinate grid lines defining the position of the signpost unit;
transmitting the signpost codes via the signpost units;
receiving the signpost codes at the monitored objects, each received signpost code being a new signpost code and the signpost code received prior to the new signpost code being the last signpost code; and
determining at the monitored object the location of the monitored object within the monitored area, comprising the steps of;
selecting one of the new signpost code and the last received signpost code as a reference signpost code;
comparing the first portion of the new signpost code with the first portion of the last signpost code and comparing the second portion of the new signpost code with the second portion of the last signpost code;
determining the monitored object to be located at the signpost unit identified via the reference signpost code in response to a comparison indicating the first and the last portions of the new signpost code and the last received signpost code are the same; and
determining the direction of the monitored object from the signpost unit identified via the reference signpost code in response to a comparison indicating a difference between any one of the comparisons of the first and last portions of the new signpost code and the last received signpost code.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring the location of monitored objects within a monitored area wherein signpost units are positioned at the intersections of first and second coordinate grid lines and each signpost unit transmits a signpost code comprising a first portion corresponding to the first coordinate grid line and a second portion corresponding to the second coordinate grid line. The first coordinate grid lines are assigned numbers sequentially increasing in a first direction and the second coordinate grid lines are assigned numbers sequentially increasing in a second direction. The signpost unit output signals encoded with the signpost codes are received via vehicle units located in the monitored objects and the unique signpost codes are utilized to determine the location of the monitored object relative to one of the signpost units including the direction of the monitored object from the signpost unit.
192 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method for monitoring the location of monitored objects within a monitored area, comprising the steps of:
-
positioning signpost units within the monitored area, each signpost unit being positioned at the intersection of a first coordinate grid line and a second coordinate grid line with the first coordinate grid lines being spaced generally in a first direction and extending generally in a second direction and with the second coordinate grid lines being spaced generally in the second direction and extending generally in the first direction, the first coordinate grid lines being assigned numbers sequentially increasing in the first direction and the second coordinate grid lines being assigned numbers sequentially increasing in the second direction, each signpost unit having a signpost code encoded therein uniquely identifying the signpost unit and having a first portion corresponding to the number assigned to the first coordinate grid line and a second portion corresponding to the number assigned to the second coordinate grid line of the intersecting first and second coordinate grid lines defining the position of the signpost unit; transmitting the signpost codes via the signpost units; receiving the signpost codes at the monitored objects, each received signpost code being a new signpost code and the signpost code received prior to the new signpost code being the last signpost code; and determining at the monitored object the location of the monitored object within the monitored area, comprising the steps of; selecting one of the new signpost code and the last received signpost code as a reference signpost code; comparing the first portion of the new signpost code with the first portion of the last signpost code and comparing the second portion of the new signpost code with the second portion of the last signpost code; determining the monitored object to be located at the signpost unit identified via the reference signpost code in response to a comparison indicating the first and the last portions of the new signpost code and the last received signpost code are the same; and determining the direction of the monitored object from the signpost unit identified via the reference signpost code in response to a comparison indicating a difference between any one of the comparisons of the first and last portions of the new signpost code and the last received signpost code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for monitoring the location of monitored objects within a monitored area wherein signpost units are positioned within the monitored area, each signpost unit being oriented with respect to a first direction and a second direction and wherein each signpost unit is encoded with a signpost code uniquely identifying the particular signpost unit, each signpost code comprising a first portion sequentially increasing a first direction and a second portion sequentially increasing in a second direction, the signpost codes being transmitted via the signpost units, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving the signpost codes transmitted via the signpost units at the monitored objects, each received signpost code being a new signpost code and the signpost code received prior to the new signpost code being the last signpost code; and determining at the monitored object an indication of the location of the monitored object within the monitored area, comprising the steps of; comparing the first portion of the new signpost code with the first portion of the last received signpost code and comparing the second portion of the new signpost code with the last portion of the last signpost code; and determining the direction of the monitored object from the signpost unit identified via one of the first and last signpost codes in response to the comparisons of the first and last portions of the new signpost code and the last received signpost code. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
Specification