Method and system for locating a dependent

• US 7,151,445 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Sai-Halasz
• Original Assignee: George Sai-Halasz, Ildiko Medve
• Inventors: Medve, Ildiko, Sai-Halasz, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung
• Application Number:
  US11/032,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.15, 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 235/385, 700/22, 700/28, 700/215
• US Class Current: 340/539.15
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID

Abstract

A method and system for locating a dependent by a guardian entity at a locality using RFID technology is disclosed. A RFID tag is situated with the dependent and a plurality of RFID reader devices capable of communicating with the RFID tag are distributed about the locality. A processor is directing communications between the RFID tag and the plurality of RFID reader devices, and is tracking the RFID tag. An authenticating system, which uniquely associates the RFID tag with the guardian entity, validates commands pertaining to the tracking of the RFID tag. The processor upon receiving a validated command generates a response, which includes location information regarding the dependent.

Claims

1. A method for locating a dependent by a guardian entity at a locality, said method comprising:

situating a RFID tag with said dependent;

distributing about said locality a plurality of RFID reader devices capable of communicating with said RFID tag;

in a processor having a memory, directing communications between said RFID tag and said plurality of RFID reader devices, and tracking said RFID tag as said dependent is moving about said locality;

in an authenticating system, uniquely associating said RFID tag with said guardian entity, wherein a command pertaining to said tracking of said RFID tag is accepted by said processor only if said command is validated by said authenticating system; and

in said processor, upon receipt of a validated command, generating a response, wherein said response comprises providing said guardian entity with a location information regarding said dependent.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispensing said RFID tag to said dependent.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising halting said method upon the expiration of a timed interval.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising commencing said timed interval when said RFID tag is being dispensed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said situating said RFID tag is carried out by affixing said RFID tag thereon said dependent in a hidden manner.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of RFID reader devices has a range of coverage, further comprising activating a warning device situated with said guardian entity when said RFID tag is being in said range of coverage of a specially placed RFID reader device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating comprise providing a code for said guardian entity, wherein said code is uniquely associated with said RFID tag, and wherein entering said code thereinto said processor is said validated command.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising dispensing said RFID tag to said dependent, and carrying out said providing of said code essentially concurrently with said dispensing.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said guardian entity is entering said code by using a radio transmission.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating comprise situating with said guardian entity an additional RFID tag uniquely associated with said RFID tag, further comprising in said processor, directing communications between said additional RFID tag and said plurality of RFID reader devices, and tracking said additional RFID tag as said guardian entity is moving about said locality.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising in said processor, correlating said tracking of said RFID tag and said tracking of said additional RFID tag, and accepting as said validated command if in said correlating a pattern of endangerment for said dependent is recognized, wherein said pattern of endangerment has been stored in said memory of said processor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said pattern of endangerment was learnt by said processor.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising situating a warning device with said guardian entity, wherein said response comprise activating said warning device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising situating a warning device with said guardian entity, wherein each one of said plurality of RFID reader devices has a range of coverage, wherein said pattern of endangerment comprises any one of said plurality of RFID reader devices having said RFID tag in its said range of coverage and not having said additional RFID tag in its said range of coverage, wherein said response comprise activating said warning device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of RFID reader devices has a range of coverage, further comprising activating a public alarm device when said RFID tag is being in said range of coverage of a specially placed RFID reader device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising situating from 2 to about 20 of said RFID tags with same from 2 to about 20 of said dependents.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising from 2 to about 10 of said guardian entities.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising situating at least one supplementary RFID tag with said dependent.

19. A method for finding a child by a guardian entity at a place frequented by the public, said method comprising:

dispensing a RFID tag to said child;

situating said RFID tag with said child;

distributing about said place frequented by the public a plurality of RFID reader devices capable of communicating with said RFID tag; and

in a processor, directing communications between said RFID tag and said plurality of RFID reader devices, and tracking said RFID tag as said child is moving about said place frequented by the public;

dispensing a code to said guardian entity, wherein said code is uniquely associated with said RFID tag and suitable to be entered thereinto said processor; and

in said processor, in case of receiving said code, generating a response, wherein said response comprises providing said guardian entity with a location information regarding said child.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said guardian entity is entering said code by using a radio transmission.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising halting said method upon the expiration of a timed interval.