Combination RFID and GPS functionality on intelligent label

• US 6,614,392 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MAI Capital Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Howard, John
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/005,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 342/51, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 701/213, 701/215, 340/825.54, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0718 the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/13; biometric access-control systems in general, see G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

A intelligent label comprising a radio frequency transponder coupled to a global positioning system, both of which are attached to a substrate. Once the intelligent label is attached to an object, it will enable the object to be tracked as it moves from one point to another point. As the object moves, the global positioning system receives signals from GPS satellites and processes those signals into location data. The data is then either transmitted directly to an interrogation station by the radio frequency transponder, or stored in a memory. The memory serves to allow all or part of the previous location data to be stored for transmittal to an interrogator at a later date.

Claims

1. An intelligent label comprising:

a radio frequency transponder coupled to a global positioning system; and

a flexible substrate, said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system being attached to said substrate.

2. The label of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency transponder comprises at least one antenna and at least one integrated circuit chip.

3. The label of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system comprises at least one antenna, at least one receiver, and at least one processor.

4. The label of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system comprises at least one antenna and at least one integrated circuit chip.

5. The label of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency transponder includes a memory for storing data.

6. The label of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system includes a memory for storing data.

7. The label of claim 1, further comprising at least one memory chip coupled to at least one of said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system.

8. The label of claim 1, further comprising a computer connected to at least one of said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system.

9. The label of claim 1, further comprising a power source connected to at least one of said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system.

10. The label of claim 9, wherein said power source comprises a printed battery.

11. The label of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system are embedded in said substrate.

12. The label of claim 1, wherein said substrate is at least part of one of a label, a badge, a package, a container, an envelope, a box, a piece of cardboard and a piece of paper.

13. The label of claim 1, wherein said substrate is made from at least one of paper, synthetic paper, plastic, metal, cloth and glass.

14. The label of claim 1, wherein said substrate is a label, said label comprising a front side and a back side, said back side being provided with adhesive.

15. The label of claim 1, wherein said intelligent label is dimensioned to fit into a standard 4.125 inch by 9.5 inch U.S. mail envelope.

16. The label of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna shared by said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system.

17. The label of claim 1, further comprising at least one power source shared by said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system.

18. The label of claim 17, wherein said power source comprises a printed battery.

19. The label of claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing data, said memory being shared by said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system.

20. The label of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system share a common processor.

21. The label of claim 1, wherein filler material is provided around said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system to provide a label of uniform thickness.

40. The label of claim 1, wherein said substrate is unrolled substrate stock.

22. An intelligent label comprising:

a radio frequency transponder coupled to a global positioning system; and

a substrate, said substrate comprising a liner and a face stock, wherein said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system are positioned between said liner and said face stock, said liner being secured to said face stock.

23. An intelligent label comprising:

a radio frequency transponder coupled to a global positioning system; and

a substrate, said substrate comprising a liner and a face stock, wherein said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system is positioned between said liner and said face stock, said liner or said face stock being secured to at least one of said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system.

24. The label of claim 23, wherein said liner and said face stock is secured to at least one of said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system.

25. A method of making an intelligent label, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a radio frequency transponder coupled to a global positioning system; and

attaching said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system to a flexible substrate.

26. The method of making an intelligent label of claim 25, wherein said radio frequency transponder comprises at least one antenna and at least one integrated circuit chip.

27. The method of making an intelligent label of claim 25, wherein said global positioning system comprises at least one antenna, at least one receiver, and at least one processor.

28. The method of making an intelligent label of claim 25, wherein said attaching step comprises embedding said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system in said substrate.

41. The method of claim 25, further comprising unrolling said substrate from a roll prior to attaching said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system to said substrate.

29. A method of making an intelligent label, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a substrate comprising a pressure sensitive stock and a liner;

delaminating said substrate by peeling off said liner to expose an adhesive on said pressure sensitive stock;

obtaining a continuous web comprising radio frequency transponders coupled to global positioning systems;

cutting said web to produce web cuttings, whereby each web cutting comprises at least one radio frequency transponder coupled to at least one global positioning system;

transferring a web cutting to the adhesive exposed on said pressure sensitive stock of said substrate; and

relaminating said liner onto said pressure sensitive stock thereby covering said web cutting.

30. A method of making an intelligent label, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a substrate comprising a pressure sensitive stock and a liner;

delaminating said substrate by peeling off said liner to expose said pressure sensitive stock;

pattern coating said pressure sensitive stock with a hot melt adhesive;

obtaining a continuous web comprising radio frequency transponders coupled to global positioning systems;

cutting said web to produce web cuttings, whereby each web cutting comprises at least one radio frequency transponder coupled to at least one global positioning system; and

transferring a web cutting to said pressure sensitive stock of said substrate;

relaminating said liner onto said pressure sensitive stock thereby covering said web cutting.

31. The method of tracking or identifying an object, comprising the steps of:

obtaining an intelligent label comprising a radio frequency transponder coupled to a global positioning system, said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system being attached to a flexible substrate;

attaching or inserting said intelligent label to the object to be tracked or identified; and

tracking or identifying said object to be tracked or identified.

32. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the tracking step comprises:

receiving signals from an appropriate number of GPS satellites;

processing said signals into location data; and

storing said location data in a memory.

33. The method as defined in claim 32, wherein the tracking step further comprises retrieving said location data from said memory.

34. The method as defined in claim 32, wherein the tracking step further comprises transmitting said location data.

35. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the tracking step further comprises analyzing said location data retrieved from said memory.

36. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the tracking step comprises:

receiving signals from an appropriate number of GPS satellites;

processing said signals into location data; and

transmitting said location data.

37. The method as defined in claim 36, wherein an interrogation station receives said transmitted location data.

38. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the identifying step comprises transmitting an identification signal.

42. The label of claim 31, wherein said substrate is unrolled substrate stock.

39. The method of tracking and identifying an object, comprising the steps of:

obtaining an intelligent label comprising a radio frequency transponder coupled to a global positioning system, said radio frequency transponder and said global positioning system being attached to a flexible substrate;

attaching or inserting said intelligent label to the object to be tracked or identified; and

tracking and identifying said object to be tracked and identified.

43. The label of claim 39, wherein said substrate is unrolled substrate stock.