Radio location system for precisely tracking objects by RF transceiver tags which randomly and repetitively emit wideband identification signals
First Claim
1. A system for identifying locations of objects within a monitored environment, using time-of-arrival differentiation for transmissions from tags disposed with said objects, as detected at a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers for said monitored environment comprising:
- for each of said objects, a respective tag disposed therewith containing a tag transmitter which is operative to randomly and repetitively transmit, irrespective of motion of said each object and in a random and repetitive manner that does not depend upon whether said each object is in motion or is stationary, a pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal encoded with information representative of the identification of said each object, and wherein said tag transmission readers are operative to detect pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said each object;
reader output processors coupled to said plurality of tag transmission readers, each reader output processor comprising a correlation-based RF signal processor that is operative to correlate pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals detected by its associated tag transmission reader with spread spectrum reference signal patterns, and thereby determine which pseudo random RF spread spectrum signals received by said plurality of tag transmission readers are first-to-arrive pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals as transmitted from said respective tag, and wherein said correlation-based RF signal processor comprises a matched filter correlator, having a plurality of matched filter banks containing parallel correlators, which are operative to correlate a received pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal with successive time offset versions of a reference pseudo random spreading code corresponding to that of said pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said respective tag; and
an object location processor which is coupled to said reader output processors and is operative to carry out time-of-arrival differentiation of said first-to-arrive transmissions from said respective tag, as detected by said plurality of tag transmission readers, so to locate said respective tag and its associated object within said environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An asset management radio location system uses time-of-arrival differentiation for random and repetitive spread spectrum, short duration pulse `blinks` from object-attached tags, to provide a practical, continuous identification of the location of each and every object within an environment of interest, irrespective whether the object is stationary or moving. Correlation-based RF processors determine which signals received by tag transmission readers are first-to-arrive signals as transmitted from any blinking tag, and an object location processor carries out time-of-arrival differentiation of these first-to-arrive transmissions from any blinking tag to determine where the respective object is located within the environment. A low power interrogation wand may be employed to refine the location of an object by a user programmed transmission-response exchange between the wand and the tag associated with the object of interest.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for identifying locations of objects within a monitored environment, using time-of-arrival differentiation for transmissions from tags disposed with said objects, as detected at a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers for said monitored environment comprising:
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for each of said objects, a respective tag disposed therewith containing a tag transmitter which is operative to randomly and repetitively transmit, irrespective of motion of said each object and in a random and repetitive manner that does not depend upon whether said each object is in motion or is stationary, a pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal encoded with information representative of the identification of said each object, and wherein said tag transmission readers are operative to detect pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said each object; reader output processors coupled to said plurality of tag transmission readers, each reader output processor comprising a correlation-based RF signal processor that is operative to correlate pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals detected by its associated tag transmission reader with spread spectrum reference signal patterns, and thereby determine which pseudo random RF spread spectrum signals received by said plurality of tag transmission readers are first-to-arrive pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals as transmitted from said respective tag, and wherein said correlation-based RF signal processor comprises a matched filter correlator, having a plurality of matched filter banks containing parallel correlators, which are operative to correlate a received pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal with successive time offset versions of a reference pseudo random spreading code corresponding to that of said pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said respective tag; and an object location processor which is coupled to said reader output processors and is operative to carry out time-of-arrival differentiation of said first-to-arrive transmissions from said respective tag, as detected by said plurality of tag transmission readers, so to locate said respective tag and its associated object within said environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for locating objects within a monitored environment, using time-of-arrival differentiation for transmissions from tags associated with said objects, as detected at a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers for said monitored environment, comprising the steps of:
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(a) irrespective of motion of an object, causing its associated tag to randomly and repetitively transmit in a random and repetitive manner that does not depend upon whether said object is in motion or is stationary, a pseudo random spread spectrum signal encoded with information representative of the identification of said object; (b) processing, by correlation-based RF signal processors, signals detected at said plurality of spatially separated tag transmission readers, each of which is operative to detect pseudo spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said tags of said objects, to determine which signals received by said plurality of tag transmission readers are first-to-arrive signals as transmitted from said associated tag, each correlation-based RF signal processor being operative to correlate pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals detected by its associated tag transmission reader with spread spectrum reference signal patterns, and thereby determine which pseudo random RF spread spectrum signals received by said plurality of tag transmission readers are first-to-arrive pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals as transmitted from said associated tag, and wherein said correlation-based RF signal processor comprises a matched filter correlator, having a plurality of matched filter banks containing parallel correlators, which are operative to correlate a received pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal with successive time offset versions of a reference pseudo random spreading code corresponding to that of said pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said associated tag; and (c) conducting time-of-arrival differentiation of said first-to-arrive signals to locate said associated tag and thereby said object within said environment. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for locating objects within a monitored environment, using time-of-arrival differentiation for transmissions from tags associated with said objects, as detected at a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers for said monitored environment, comprising the steps of:
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(a) causing an object'"'"'s associated tag to transmit, in a random and repetitive manner that does not depend upon whether or said object is in motion or is stationary a pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal encoded with information representative of the identification of said object, and wherein said tag transmission readers are operative to detect pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said object; (b) processing signals detected at said plurality of spatially separated tag transmission readers, in reader output processors coupled to said plurality of tag transmission readers, each reader output processor comprising a correlation-based RF signal processor that is operative to correlate pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals detected by its associated tag transmission reader with spread spectrum reference signal patterns, and thereby determine which pseudo random RF spread spectrum signals received by said plurality of tag transmission readers are first-to-arrive pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals as transmitted from said respective tag, and wherein said correlation-based RF signal processor comprises a matched filter correlator, having a plurality of matched filter banks containing parallel correlators, which are operative to correlate a received pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal with successive time offset versions of a reference pseudo random spreading code corresponding to that of said pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said respective tag, and thereby determine which signals received by said plurality of tag transmission readers are first-to-arrive signals as transmitted from said associated tag; (c) conducting time-of-arrival differentiation of said first-to-arrive signals to determine the approximate location of said associated tag and thereby said object; (d) transmitting a query signal from a portable transceiver unit to said tag receiver, and causing said tag to transmit a response signal; and (e) detecting said response signal at said portable transceiver and processing said response signal to locate said associated tag and thereby said object. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method for identifying locations of objects within a monitored environment, using time-of-arrival differentiation for transmissions from tags disposed with said objects, as detected at a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers for said monitored environment comprising the steps of:
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(a) at each of said objects, randomly and repetitively transmitting, in a random and repetitive manner that does not depend upon whether said each object is in motion or is stationary a pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal encoded with information representative of the identification of said each object, and wherein said tag transmission readers are operative to detect pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said object; (b) correlating spread spectrum signals detected by associated tag transmission readers with spread spectrum reference signal patterns, by means of a matched filter correlator, having a plurality of matched filter banks containing parallel correlators, which are operative to correlate a received pseudo random spread spectrum RF signal with successive time offset versions of a reference pseudo random spreading code corresponding to that of said pseudo random spread spectrum RF signals transmitted by said respective tag, and thereby determining which spread spectrum signals received by said plurality of tag transmission readers are first-to-arrive spread spectrum signals as transmitted from said respective tag; and (c) conducting time-of-arrival differentiation of said first-to-arrive transmissions from said respective tag, as detected by said plurality of associated tag transmission readers, so to locate said respective tag and its associated object within said environment. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification