Method and apparatus combining a tracking system and a wireless communication system

• US 6,812,824 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2000
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RF Technologies, Inc. (Microwave Techniques LLC)
• Original Assignee: RF Technologies, Inc. (Microwave Techniques LLC)
• Inventors: Lanzl, Colin, Werb, Jay, Goldinger, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US09/517,606
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/825.49, 340/870.11, 340/825.73, 340/7.21, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 455/403, 455/456.5, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/562.1, 455/561, 342/357, 342/118, 370/344, 310/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/02 Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/84 for distance determination by phase measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

System for tracking mobile tags. Cell controllers with multiple antenna modules generate a carrier signal which is received by the tags. Tags shift the frequency of the carrier signal, modulate an identification code onto it, and transmit the resulting tag signal at randomized intervals. The antennas receive and process the response, and determine the presence of the tags by proximity and triangulation. The recursive-least squares (RLS) technique is used in filtering received signals. Distance of a tag from an antenna is calculated by measuring the round trip signal time. The cell controllers send data from the antenna to a host computer. The host computer collects the data and resolves them into positional estimates. A combined infrastructure including a wireless communication system and the local positioning system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag that transmits a first signal in a first frequency range;

a wireless communication system that transmits a second signal in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range;

an antenna module used in receiving the first signal from said radio frequency identification tag, said antenna module also used in transmitting and receiving signals used in said wireless communication system for communication between devices other than radio frequency identification tags, wherein said devices are physically separate from a radio frequency identification tag, and the communication between said devices is unrelated to communication with radio frequency identification tags; and

a controller coupled to said antenna module, said controller being used in communications with said radio frequency identification tag and said wireless communication system.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a first transmitter for transmitting signals to said radio frequency identification tag and a second transmitter for transmitting signals to said wireless communication system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first and second transmitters transmit at different frequencies.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said antenna module is also used in transmitting signals to said radio frequency identification tag.

5. The system of claim 2, further including a first receiver for receiving the first signal from said radio frequency identification tag and a second receiver for receiving the second signal from said wireless communication system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said wireless communication system operates in accordance with a DECT wireless communication standard.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said radio frequency identification tag receives a third signal at a third frequency and transmits the first signal at the first frequency.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first frequency and said third frequency are different.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication system operating at the second frequency is non-interfering with operation of said radio frequency identification tag at said first frequency.

10. The system of claim 9, further including a tag reader for detecting a presence of said radio frequency identification tag and for use in operation of said wireless communication system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said wireless communication system is a cordless PBX product.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said antenna module operates in a first mode for detecting said presence of said radio frequency identification tag and a second mode for use in said wireless communication system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said antenna module includes a transmitter and a receiver.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency identification tag is used in locating an object associated with said radio frequency identification tag.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said antenna module is also used in transmitting signals to said radio frequency identification tag.

16. A radio frequency identification system comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag transmitting a first signal at a first frequency;

a wireless communication system that transmits and receives second signals in a second frequency range;

a remote antenna module for receiving said first signal at said first frequency and for transmitting and receiving said second signals in said second frequency range, said second signals being for communication between devices other than radio frequency identification tags, wherein said devices are physically separate from a radio frequency identification tag, and the communication between said devices is unrelated to communication with radio frequency identification tags;

a frequency converter included in said remote antenna module for converting said first signal at said first frequency to a third signal at a third frequency that is less than said first frequency; and

a cable for transmitting said third signal at said third frequency from said remote antenna module to a tag reader.

17. The radio frequency identification system of claim 16, wherein said cable is a first cable, said frequency converter is a first frequency converter, and further comprising:

a transmitter included in said tag reader for transmitting a fourth signal at a fourth frequency;

a second cable for transmitting said fourth signal at said fourth frequency to said remote antenna module;

a second frequency converter included in said remote antenna module for converting said fourth signal at the fourth frequency to a fifth signal at a fifth frequency that is greater than said fourth frequency;

an antenna included in said remote antenna module for transmitting said fourth signal at said fourth frequency; and

a receiver included in said radio frequency identification tag for receiving said fifth signal at said fifth frequency.

18. The radio frequency identification system of claim 16, wherein said tag reader transmits and receives signals from said radio frequency identification tag.

19. The radio frequency identification system of claim 16, wherein said radio frequency identification tag transmits and receives signals.

20. A method for locating objects and operating a wireless communication system comprising:

receiving first signals in a first frequency range with an antenna module from a radio frequency identification tag;

transmitting and receiving second signals in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range with said antenna module from said wireless communication system, said second signals being for communication between devices other than radio frequency identification tags, wherein said devices are physically separate from a radio frequency identification tag, and the communication between said devices is unrelated to communication with radio frequency identification tags; and

controlling, with a controller that is coupled to said antenna module, communications with said radio frequency identification tag and said wireless communication system.

21. The method of claim 20 further including:

transmitting, with a first transmitter, third signals to said radio frequency identification tag and;

transmitting, with a second transmitter, said second signals to said wireless communication system.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said first and second transmitters transmit at different frequencies.

23. The method of claim 21 further including:

receiving, at a first receiver, signals from said radio frequency identification tag; and

receiving, at a second receiver, signals from said wireless communication system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said first and second receivers operate at different frequencies.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said wireless communication system operates in accordance with a DECT wireless communication standard.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said radio frequency identification tag receives a signal at a third frequency and transmits a first signal at a first frequency.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said first frequency and said third frequency are different.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said radio frequency identification tag operates at a first frequency and said wireless communication system operates at a second frequency that is non-interfering with operation of said radio frequency identification tag at said first frequency.

29. The method of claim 28, further including:

detecting, using a tag reader, a presence of said radio frequency identification tag wherein said tag reader is also used in operation of said wireless communication system.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said wireless communication system is a cordless PBX product.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said tag reader operates in a first mode for detecting said presence of said radio frequency identification tag and a second mode for use in said wireless communication system.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said tag reader includes a transmitter and a receiver.

33. The method of claim 20, further including:

using said radio frequency identification tag to locate an object associated with said radio frequency identification tag.

34. The method of claim 33, further including:

transmitting signals from said radio frequency identification tag using said antenna module.

35. A method for locating objects comprising:

transmitting a first signal at a first frequency from a radio frequency identification tag;

receiving said first signal at said first frequency at a remote antenna module;

converting, by a converter included in said remote antenna module, said first signal at said first frequency to a second signal at a second frequency that is less than said first frequency;

transmitting said second signal at said second frequency from said remote antenna module to a tag reader using a cable; and

receiving, with the remote antenna module, a third signal at a third frequency from a wireless communication system, said third signal being for communication between devices other than radio frequency identification tags, wherein said devices are physically separate from a radio frequency identification tag, and the communication between said devices is unrelated to communication with radio frequency identification tags.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said cable is a first cable, said converter is a first converter, and further comprising:

transmitting, using said tag reader, a fourth signal at a fourth frequency;

transmitting, using a second cable, said fourth signal at said fourth frequency to said remote antenna module;

converting, using a second converter included in said remote antenna module, said fourth signal at said fourth frequency to a fifth signal at a fifth frequency that is greater than said fourth frequency;

transmitting said fifth signal at said fifth frequency to said remote antenna module; and

receiving said fifth signal at said fifth frequency using a receiver included in said radio frequency identification tag.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said tag reader transmits and receives signals from said radio frequency identification tag.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said radio frequency identification tag transmits and receives signals.