Method, apparatus and system for tracking, locating and monitoring an object or individual
First Claim
1. A system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object, either inanimate or animate, in a facility, the system comprising:
- a transmitter member attached to the object, said transmitter member having a power source, a discrete preset encryption code, a radio frequency transmitter circuit for transmitting a preset radio frequency as a transmitter signal for a preset distance, and a process timer for selectively programming a frequency interval for transmitting said transmitter signal;
at least one transceiver member positioned within range of said transmitter member, said transceiver member comprising a radio frequency receiver circuit for receipt of said transmitter signal, an interface circuitry in communication with said receiver circuit, and a microprocessor, said interface circuitry and said microprocessor validating said incoming transmitter signal using an embedded algorithm, said transceiver member further including a data storage element for storing incoming data, an input/output circuit for retransmitting said data, and a power supply;
a host central processing unit in communication with said transceiver member for receiving said data, said host central processing unit having, a display unit displaying, on a continuous basis, a digital floor plan of the facility, said digital floor plan outlining physical locations of all transceiver members installed in the facility and, for each transceiver, an associated area for receipt of incoming transmitter data;
data base software capability for identifying said object; and
mapping software capability for monitoring and displaying, on a continuous basis, said digital floor plan of the facility with a location of said object thereon such that, as the object is moved through the facility, its motion is automatically displayed relative to said facility floor plan.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object or an individual comprising a transmitter member attached to the object or individual having a preset encryption code, radio frequency and preset range for the radio frequency, a power source and a process timer for programming the frequency interval for transmission, at least one transceiver member positioned within range of the transmitter and in communication with a host central processing unit having database software capability and mapping software capability. The system may further include an automatic shutdown module for initiating a sleep mode in response to either an absence of motion or continuous motion, a transmit counter for automated tracking of transmitter battery life, and an automatic peripheral data interface for communicating peripheral data with the location transmissions.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object, either inanimate or animate, in a facility, the system comprising:
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a transmitter member attached to the object, said transmitter member having a power source, a discrete preset encryption code, a radio frequency transmitter circuit for transmitting a preset radio frequency as a transmitter signal for a preset distance, and a process timer for selectively programming a frequency interval for transmitting said transmitter signal;
at least one transceiver member positioned within range of said transmitter member, said transceiver member comprising a radio frequency receiver circuit for receipt of said transmitter signal, an interface circuitry in communication with said receiver circuit, and a microprocessor, said interface circuitry and said microprocessor validating said incoming transmitter signal using an embedded algorithm, said transceiver member further including a data storage element for storing incoming data, an input/output circuit for retransmitting said data, and a power supply;
a host central processing unit in communication with said transceiver member for receiving said data, said host central processing unit having, a display unit displaying, on a continuous basis, a digital floor plan of the facility, said digital floor plan outlining physical locations of all transceiver members installed in the facility and, for each transceiver, an associated area for receipt of incoming transmitter data;
data base software capability for identifying said object; and
mapping software capability for monitoring and displaying, on a continuous basis, said digital floor plan of the facility with a location of said object thereon such that, as the object is moved through the facility, its motion is automatically displayed relative to said facility floor plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object, either inanimate or animate, the system comprising:
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a plurality of multi-directional, long range transmitter members, each of said plurality of multi-directional transmitter members attached to a discrete object to be monitored, each of said transmitter members having, a power source;
a discrete, programmable, preset encryption code;
an input/output microprocessor controller with security function enabling encryption code change;
a radio frequency transmitter circuit for transmitting a preset radio frequency for a preset distance; and
a microprocessor controller for selectively programming the frequency interval for transmitting said preset radio frequency;
a plurality of transceiver members, at least one of said plurality of transceiver members positioned within range distance of at least one of said plurality of transmitter-members, said transceiver members positioned within range distance of said multi-directional transmitter members simultaneously receiving said preset radio frequency signal from said multi-directional transmitter members within said range distance, each of said transceiver members including, a radio frequency receiver circuit for receipt of said preset radio frequency;
an interface circuitry in communication with said receiver circuit;
a microprocessor, said interface circuitry and said microprocessor validating incoming data on said preset radio frequency and signal strength by means of an embedded algorithm;
a data storage element for storing said incoming data;
an input/output circuit for retransmitting said data; and
a power supply;
a host central processing unit in direct communication with each of said plurality of transceiver members for receipt of said data directly from each transceiver member, said host central processing unit having, a display unit displaying, on a continuous basis, a digital floor plan of the facility, said digital floor plan outlining physical locations of all transceiver members installed in the facility and, for each transceiver, an associated area for receipt of incoming transmitter data;
data base software capability for identifying said object; and
mapping software capability for monitoring and displaying, on a continuous basis, said digital floor plan of the facility with a location of said object thereon such that, as the object is moved through the facility, its motion is automatically displayed relative to said facility floor plan. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object, either inanimate or animate, in a facility, the system comprising:
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a transmitter member attached to the object, said transmitter member having, a power source;
a discrete preset encryption code;
a radio frequency transmitter circuit for transmitting a preset radio frequency as a transmitter signal for a preset distance;
a microprocessor controller for controlling transmissions at said preset radio frequency, said microprocessor having a transmission mode and a sleep mode;
an automatic RF transmit counter, each transmission by said transmitter member incrementing a count total of a data register by one, said counter comparing said count total with a threshold value and setting a transmitter status bit to indicate a result of said comparison; and
an automatic shutdown module for initiating said sleep mode for conservation of said power source in response to a motion status of said transmitter member;
at least one transceiver member positioned within range of said radio frequency transmitter member, said transceiver member comprising a radio frequency receiver circuit for receipt of said transmitter signal, an interface circuitry in communication with said receiver circuit, and a microprocessor, said interface circuitry and said microprocessor validating said transmitter signal using an embedded algorithm, said transceiver member further including a data storage element for storing incoming data, an input/output circuit for retransmitting said data, and a power supply; and
a host central processing unit in communication with said transceiver member for receiving said data and said transmitter status bit, said host central processing unit having data base software capability, mapping software capability, and a display unit for depicting a digitized floor plan of the facility, said data base software capability identifying said object and said mapping software capability monitoring and displaying a location of said object on said digital floor plan of the facility on a continuous basis. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
an automatic peripheral data interface for receiving status information from said object, said transmitter member transmitting said status information to said transceiver member as part of said transmitter signal for retransmission to said host central processing unit.
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Specification