Radio frequency object locator system
First Claim
1. An electronic object location system comprising:
- at least eight identification tags, each tag having RF receive capabilities, and each tag having an internal tag memory for storing a unique tag identification code associated therewith, each tag being attachable to an object; and
a single portable finder having a processor and an internal finder memory, and RF send capabilities, said finder storing a plurality of said unique tag identification codes in said finder memory, wherein said tag identification codes are associated in said finder memory with descriptive text identifying an object to a user, and wherein said descriptive text identifiers provide an intuitive object identifier;
wherein said finder is configured for direct communication with each individual identification tag of said at least eight identification tags;
wherein a user can select a stored descriptive text identifier for location of at least one desired object from said finder memory, and said finder then transmits a search RF signal to locate the identification tag associated with each desired object using the stored tag identification code associated with said selected descriptive text, the search RF signal including the selected tag identification code,wherein an identification tag in the vicinity of the finder receives the search RF signal and compares the transmitted tag identification code with its own tag identification code stored in said internal tag memory, andwherein the identification tag responds to the search RF signal by signaling only if the transmitted tag identification code matches its own tag identification code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object location system having tags for tracking objects. A finder and tags each have a memory, and RF send and/or receive capabilities. The finder stores tag identification codes in its memory, and associates the identification codes with descriptive text identifying an object to a user. A user selects a descriptive text identifier to locate an object, and the finder transmits a search RF signal including the tag identification code to locate the desired object. The tags receive the search RF signal and compare the transmitted tag identification code with their own stored identification codes. A tag responds to the finder by signaling, which may be by transmitting a found RF signal if the transmitted and stored tag identification codes match. The finder signals to the user that the object with the selected descriptive text identifier has been located, and indicates a relative proximity of the finder to the object.
50 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electronic object location system comprising:
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at least eight identification tags, each tag having RF receive capabilities, and each tag having an internal tag memory for storing a unique tag identification code associated therewith, each tag being attachable to an object; and a single portable finder having a processor and an internal finder memory, and RF send capabilities, said finder storing a plurality of said unique tag identification codes in said finder memory, wherein said tag identification codes are associated in said finder memory with descriptive text identifying an object to a user, and wherein said descriptive text identifiers provide an intuitive object identifier; wherein said finder is configured for direct communication with each individual identification tag of said at least eight identification tags; wherein a user can select a stored descriptive text identifier for location of at least one desired object from said finder memory, and said finder then transmits a search RF signal to locate the identification tag associated with each desired object using the stored tag identification code associated with said selected descriptive text, the search RF signal including the selected tag identification code, wherein an identification tag in the vicinity of the finder receives the search RF signal and compares the transmitted tag identification code with its own tag identification code stored in said internal tag memory, and wherein the identification tag responds to the search RF signal by signaling only if the transmitted tag identification code matches its own tag identification code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification