Monitoring tag with removal detection
First Claim
1. A tag for being secured near a surface of an object and for use in determining whether said object is within an area monitored by a monitoring system, and comprising, in combination:
- a. optical means for sensing when said tag is near said surface of said object, said optical sensing means including means for emitting optical signals to said surface and for receiving reflected optical signals back therefrom; and
b. means for periodically transmitting status messages to said monitoring system, said status messages permitting said monitoring system to determine whether said tag is being held near said object and whether said tag is within said area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tag is provided for being secured to an object whose location is to be monitored. Improved mechanisms are provided for ensuring that removal of the tag is detected and signaled to a monitoring system. One preferred embodiment of the tag of the present invention includes an optical sensor for sensing when the tag is near the surface of the object whose location is being monitored. The optical sensor emits optical signals to the surface of the object being monitored and receives reflected optical signals back therefrom. The tag periodically transmits status messages to the monitoring system which permit the monitoring system to determine whether the tag is being held near the object and whether the tag is within the monitored area. In another embodiment of the present invention, a temperature sensor is substituted for the optical sensor.
146 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A tag for being secured near a surface of an object and for use in determining whether said object is within an area monitored by a monitoring system, and comprising, in combination:
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a. optical means for sensing when said tag is near said surface of said object, said optical sensing means including means for emitting optical signals to said surface and for receiving reflected optical signals back therefrom; and b. means for periodically transmitting status messages to said monitoring system, said status messages permitting said monitoring system to determine whether said tag is being held near said object and whether said tag is within said area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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7. A tag for being secured near a surface of an object and for use in determining whether said object is within an area monitored by a monitoring system, and comprising, in combination:
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a. a layer of optically reflective material secured to said surface, said material having an optical spectral response that is different from that of said surface; b. optical means for sensing when said tag is near said surface of said object, said optical sensing means comprising means for emitting incident optical signals to said layer and for receiving reflected optical signals back therefrom; and c. means for periodically transmitting status messages to said monitoring system, said status messages permitting said monitoring system to determine whether said tag is being held near said object and whether said tag is within said area.
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15. A tag for being placed near a skin surface of a warm-blooded animal and for use in determining whether said animal is within an area monitored by a monitoring system, and comprising:
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a. means for sensing temperature near said tag and for determining based upon the sensed temperature whether said tag is near said surface; and b. means for periodically transmitting status messages to said monitoring system, said status messages permitting said monitoring system to determine whether said tag is near said surface and whether said tag is within said area. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A tag for being held near an object and for being used along with a monitoring system whereby to determine physical location of said object, and comprising:
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a. means for transmitting electromagnetic energy to said object and for receiving a reflection of said energy back therefrom, at least one characteristic of said energy having been modified by being reflected from said object; b. means for comparing said at least one modified characteristic to an expectation therefor and for determining based upon said comparison whether said tag is being held near said object; and c. means for transmitting messages to said monitoring system for permitting said monitoring system to determine said location and whether said tag is near said object. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A tag for being held near an object and for being used along with a monitoring system whereby to determine physical location of said object, and comprising:
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a. an electromagnetic sensor for transmitting electromagnetic energy to said object and for detecting a reflection of said energy back therefrom, said sensor also being for determining when said tag is near said object based upon detection of said reflection; and b. a transmitter for transmitting status messages to said monitoring system whereby to permit said monitoring system to determine whether said tag is being held near said object and whether said tag is within said area. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification