Wireless self-describing buildings

• US 6,963,282 B1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Zhu, Yunqiang, Belvin, Timothy, O'Meara, Brendan, Yeates, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/728,391
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/573.1, 340/505, 340/509, 340/517, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/539.22, 340/825.49, 235/382, 235/385, 700/213, 700/217, 701/200, 701/207, 704/246, 704/251, 704/275, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system and method are provided for wireless self-describing buildings. RFID tags are used to store information relative to a building. This information can be simple information such as a uniform resource locator, or more detailed information. Active and/or passive RFID tags can be used. Varying degrees of user access are provided. Accordingly, different users can be given access to relevant information based upon the type or identity of the user.

Claims

1. An device for providing building information wirelessly, the device comprising:

an RFID tag having memory containing building information.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag comprises:

a controller;

a power source coupled to the controller and being adapted to supply power to the controller;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the power source and the controller, the wireless transceiver being adapted to communicate wirelessly using radio-frequency transmission; and

wherein the memory is coupled to the controller.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is an active RFID tag.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information is selectively accessible based upon a type of user accessing the information.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information is selectively accessible based upon an identification of the user.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information is selectively accessible based on the RF frequency of the reader.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information is a pointer that points to a location of additional building information.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the pointer is a Uniform Resource Identifier.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information is residential building information.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information is industrial building information.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information is commercial building information.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information includes emergency response information.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the building information includes at least one digitized floor plan.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the building information includes information related to hazardous materials.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the building information is changeable using wireless communication with the RFID tag.

17. A system for interacting with a building, the system comprising:

at least one RFID tag disposed in a vicinity of the building, the RFID tag having building information stored therein;

a portable device having an RFID transceiver therein, the portable device configured to interact wirelessly with the at least one RFID tag to access the building information.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the portable device changes the stored building information.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the portable device is a handheld computing device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the handheld computing device includes a communication interface that allows the device to access remote information.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the building information includes at least one Uniform Resource Identifier, and wherein the portable device obtains additional remote information based on the stored Uniform Resource Identifier.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein building information is stored at a remote location and is provided based on user credentials.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein access to the information stored in at least one RFID is selectively provided based on user type.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein user type is selected from the group consisting of:

consumer, owner, contractor, governmental and emergency personnel.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one RFID tag is an active RFID tag.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein at one RFID tag is hidden.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the hidden RFID tag is disposed at a position in the building where a foreseeable user will be.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the position is within range of an entrance.