Wireless ad-hoc RFID tracking system

• US 7,126,470 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ollnova Technologies Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clift, Jeffrey C., Kovarik, Jr., Vincent J., Ridge, Gavin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US10/814,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20050225444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391-53932, 340/539.23, 340/568.1, 340/541, 340/825.49, 340/10, 235375-385, 700213-229, 705/28.29, 370254-255, 709220-222
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• 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: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A method of tracking an entity (130) through a plurality of tracking stations (205, 210, 215, 220) in a wireless ad-hoc network. A unique identifier (250) can be assigned to the entity at a first (205) of the plurality of tracking stations and wirelessly transmitted to at least a second tracking station (210). The number of the tracking stations can be dynamically varied on an ad-hoc basis responsive to variations in a tracking environment. The unique identifier can be selectively communicated to at least a second tracking station based on a predicted transit scenario of the entity. The identifier can be stored on a datastore, such as a radio frequency identification tag (125) attached to the entity. A biometric scan of the entity can be performed. For example, a facial scan, an iris scan, a fingerprinting, or palm printing can be performed to assign a unique identifier.

Claims

1. A method of tracking an entity comprising:

operating a plurality of tracking stations in a wireless ad-hoc network;

assigning to the entity a unique identifier;

determining the presence of the entity within a predetermined area at a first of the plurality of tracking stations responsive to detection of the unique identifier;

comparing at the tracking station the unique identifier that has been detected with a database of unique identifiers stored at the tracking station;

wirelessly transmitting the unique identifier that has been assigned to the entity to at least a second of the plurality of tracking stations; and

dynamically varying the number of the tracking stations on an ad-hoc basis responsive to variations in a tracking environment; and

wherein the step of wirelessly transmitting the unique identifier comprises selectively communicating the unique identifier to at least the second tracking station based on a predicted transit scenario of the entity.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the unique identifier on a datastore attached to the entity.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of storing the unique identifier comprises storing the unique identifier on a radio frequency identification tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning a unique identifier comprises performing a biometric scan of the entity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the biometric scan comprises at least one process selected from the group consisting of a facial scan, an iris scan, a fingerprinting, and obtaining a palm print.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the unique identifier to a logging station.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising propagating from the logging station to at least one of the plurality of tracking stations data that is relevant to the at least one of the plurality of tracking stations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data is propagated during a system boot of the at least one of the plurality of tracking stations.

9. A tracking system comprising:

at least two tracking stations, each of the tracking stations comprising;

a processor;

a datastore containing a database of unique identifier information;

a wireless network adapter capable of operating in a wireless ad-hoc network; and

a radio frequency identification scanning device coupled to the processor and responsive to a RFID tag for determining the presence of said RFID tag within a predetermined area;

wherein the processor compares a unique identifier associated with the RFID tag with a database of unique identifiers stored at the tracking station;

wherein the wireless network adaptor wirelessly transmits the unique identifier to at least a second one of the tracking stations; and

wherein the processor determines a predicted transit scenario for an entity possessing the unique identifier and selectively identifies at least the second one of the tracking stations to which the unique identifier is transmitted based on the predicted transit scenario.

10. The tracking system of claim 9, wherein the processor, the wireless network adapter and the radio frequency identification scanning device are incorporated into a single unit.

11. The tracking system of claim 10, wherein each of the tracking stations further comprises a biometric scanning device capable of uniquely identifying a person.

12. The tracking system of claim 11, wherein the processor, the wireless network adapter, the radio frequency identification scanning device and the biometric scanning device are incorporated into a single unit.

13. The tracking system of claim 9, wherein the processor and wireless network adapter are components of a personal computer.

14. The tracking system of claim 9, wherein the processor and wireless network adapter are components of a laptop computer.