System for real-time location of people in a fixed environment
First Claim
1. A system for tracking in real-time the location of a group of individuals within a defined environment and for providing information to any individuals of the group about the location of any other individuals of the group, comprising:
- (a) identification tags having a unique identification tag number carried by each individual of the group, the tags having means for receiving a radio signal and for responding to that signal with a radio signal that includes the identification tag number;
(b) cells controllers distributed throughout the environment having radio transmission and receiving means for sending and receiving a radio signal via one or more monitoring sites, each site having an antenna for sending and receiving the signals;
(c) means for computing a tag to antenna distance based on the time between sending the signal and receiving the signal from the tag;
(d) a host computer for storing identification tag numbers with the identity of each individual, the host computer in communication with cell controllers and ID stations, said stations accessible to individuals of the group and distributed throughout the environment and having means for communicating with individuals of the group who visit the station and for obtaining information about the location of individuals of the group, wherein said means for communicating with individuals at the station comprises a display that offers two buttons, one for activating the system to locate an individual and one for indicating that the individual activating the button is lost.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for tracking in real-time the location of a group of individuals within a defined environment, for providing information to an individual user about the location of any other individuals of the group and for gaining assistance to locate and reunite lost individuals. The system uses an identification Tag with serial identification Tag number worn by each individual of the group, has means for communicating with each Tag as it moves with the individual through the environment and means for using the communication to determine the position of the Tag in the environment. The system also uses strategically placed ID stations distributed within the environment for users to activate a request that the system locate members and for displaying a map indicating the location of members of the group.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for tracking in real-time the location of a group of individuals within a defined environment and for providing information to any individuals of the group about the location of any other individuals of the group, comprising:
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(a) identification tags having a unique identification tag number carried by each individual of the group, the tags having means for receiving a radio signal and for responding to that signal with a radio signal that includes the identification tag number;
(b) cells controllers distributed throughout the environment having radio transmission and receiving means for sending and receiving a radio signal via one or more monitoring sites, each site having an antenna for sending and receiving the signals;
(c) means for computing a tag to antenna distance based on the time between sending the signal and receiving the signal from the tag;
(d) a host computer for storing identification tag numbers with the identity of each individual, the host computer in communication with cell controllers and ID stations, said stations accessible to individuals of the group and distributed throughout the environment and having means for communicating with individuals of the group who visit the station and for obtaining information about the location of individuals of the group, wherein said means for communicating with individuals at the station comprises a display that offers two buttons, one for activating the system to locate an individual and one for indicating that the individual activating the button is lost. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for tracking in real-time the location of a group of individuals within a defined environment and for providing information to individuals of the group about the location of any other individuals of the group, comprising:
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(a) an identification tag worn by each individual of the group;
(b) means for communicating with each tag as it moves with the individual through the environment and means for using the communication to determine the position of the tag in the environment;
(c) ID stations distributed within the environment, said stations providing a “
Locate”
button or other means for activating a request that the system locate members of the group;
(d) means for receiving the activation request from an ID station and for generating a map showing the location of each group member on the map; and
(e) means for displaying the map at the ID station, wherein said means for activating a request that the system locate members of the group includes a keyboard or a bar code scanning device, and wherein said stations further include a “
Lost”
button which when activated indicates the user is lost or needs assistance to meet an individual of the group.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for tracking in real-time the location of a group of individuals within a defined environment and for providing information to individuals of the group about the location of any other individuals of the group, comprising:
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(a) providing individuals of the group with identification tags having a unique identification tag number, the tags having means for receiving a radio signal and for responding to that signal with a radio signal that includes the identification tag number;
(b) locating one or more cells controllers throughout the environment having radio transmission and receiving means for sending and receiving a radio signal via one or more monitoring sites, each site having an antenna for sending and receiving the signals;
(c) computing a tag to antenna distance based on the time between sending the signal and receiving the signal from the tag;
(d) using a host computer for storing identification tag numbers with the identity of each individual, the host computer in communication with cell controllers and ID stations, said stations accessible to individuals of the group and distributed throughout the environment and having means for communicating with individuals of the group who visit the station and for obtaining information about the location of individuals of the group, wherein said means for communicating with individuals at the station comprises a display that offers two buttons, one for activating the system to locate an individual and one for indicating that the individual activating the button is lost. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification