Identification tag for real-time location of people

• US 6,747,562 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guest Technologies
• Original Assignee: Safetzone Technologies
• Inventors: Giraldin, Patrick W., Giraldin, Timothy W., Kelly, Regan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/992,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/574, 340/573.4, 340/825.49, 340/995, 340/998, 340/990
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A locator system for tracking the location of individuals in a defined environment is disclosed. The system comprises at least one user identifier, at least one reader, at least one locator station and an identification server. The user identifier includes a long-range transmitter adapted to transmit an identification signal and a short-range passive component having identification information. The reader is adapted to receive the identification signal from the long-range transmitter. The locator station is adapted to read the identification information from the short-range passive component. The identification server is adapted to communicate with the reader and the locator, and has a database associating the identification signal of the long-range transmitter and the identification information of the short-range passive component with a particular user. The identification signal from the long-range transmitter may be an intermittent chirp. The long-range transmitter and the short-range passive component may be mounted on an identification tag, which may be attached to a wrist strap for securing the identification tag to a user'"'"'s wrist.

Claims

1. A user identifier for communication with a locator system in a defined environment, comprising:

a long-range transmitter adapted to transmit an identification signal to one or more readers in said defined environment, said identification signal being associated with a particular user; and

a short-range passive component having identification information adapted to be read by a locator station.

2. The user identifier according to claim 1, wherein said identification signal is an intermittent chirp.

3. The user identifier according to claim 1, wherein said identification signal includes user information identifying said user.

4. The user identifier according to claim 3, wherein said user information is identical to said identification information in said short-range passive component.

5. The user identifier according to claim 1, wherein said long-range transmitter and said short-range passive component are mounted on an identification tag.

6. The user identifier according to claim 5, wherein said identification tag is attached to a wrist strap for securing said identification tag to a user'"'"'s wrist.

7. A locator system for tracking the location of individuals in a defined environment, comprising:

at least one user identifier, comprising;

a long-range transmitter adapted to transmit an identification signal; and

a short-range passive component having identification information;

at least one reader adapted to receive said identification signal from said long-range transmitter;

at least one locator station adapted to read said identification information from said short-range passive component; and

an identification server adapted to communicate with said reader and said locator, said identification server having a database associating said identification signal of said long-range transmitter and said identification information of said short-range passive component with a particular user.

8. The locator system according to claim 7, further comprising a registration station adapted to receive user inputs and adapted to relay said inputs to said identification server.

9. The locator system according to claim 7, wherein said identification signal includes user information identifying said user.

10. The locator system according to claim 9, wherein said user information is identical to said identification information in said short-range passive component.

11. The locator system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one reader is adapted to calculate a user position based on receiving said identification signal.

12. The locator system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one reader is adapted to relay said identification signal to said identification server, and said identification server is adapted to calculate a user position based on receiving said identification signal.