Systems and methods for zone security
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag affixed to an asset, said RFID tag having an identification code stored therein; and
a plurality of RFID readers in communication with each other and programmed to recognize said identification code, wherein the plurality of RFID readers are configured to,poll for said RFID tag at a predetermined time interval,receive a response signal from the RFID tag when the asset is within a predetermined area, said response signal to include said identification code, andactivate a notification device to indicate that the asset is not within said predetermined area when said response signal is not received.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for utilizing a plurality of RFID readers as proximity sensors to detect one or more RFID tagged assets. In one embodiment, an array of RFID readers provides a coverage area and polls one or more tagged assets at a predetermined interval. If a tagged asset is removed from the coverage area, it will not be able to respond to the next RFID-reader poll, thereby indicating that it has been removed from the coverage area. One or more of the RFID readers may then provide a notification of this fact. In another embodiment, one or more RFID readers operating in combination with one or more RFID tags can be used to detect whether expendable items should be replaced, or whether a device should be allowed to be activated.
60 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag affixed to an asset, said RFID tag having an identification code stored therein; and a plurality of RFID readers in communication with each other and programmed to recognize said identification code, wherein the plurality of RFID readers are configured to, poll for said RFID tag at a predetermined time interval, receive a response signal from the RFID tag when the asset is within a predetermined area, said response signal to include said identification code, and activate a notification device to indicate that the asset is not within said predetermined area when said response signal is not received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising:
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serializing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, said RFID tag having an identification code stored therein; affixing the RFID tag to an asset; programming a plurality of RFID readers in communication with each other to recognize said identification code; polling said RFID tag at a predetermined time interval; receiving a response signal, by one or more of the plurality of RFID readers, from the RFID tag when the asset is within a predetermined area, said response signal to include said identification code; and providing a notification when said response signal is not received, where said notification indicates that the asset is not within the predetermined area. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having an identification code stored therein; an activation device; and an RFID reader coupled to the activation device, the RFID reader being programmed to recognize said identification code, said RFID reader to, detect an attempt to activate said activation device, poll, in response to said attempt to activate the activation device, said RFID tag, receive a response signal from the RFID tag when the RFID tag is within a predetermined area, said response signal to include said identification code, and permit the activation of said activation device in response to receiving said response signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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programming a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to recognize an identification code of an RFID tag; detecting an attempt to activate an activation device; polling, in response to said attempt, said RFID tag; receiving a response signal from the RFID tag when the RFID tag is within a predetermined area, said response signal to include said identification code; and permitting the activation of said activation device in response to receiving said response signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A system comprising:
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a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag affixed to a replaceable item that is designated to be replaced after a predetermined period of time, said RFID tag having an identification code stored therein; and an RFID reader programmed to recognize said identification code, said RFID reader to, poll for said RFID tag after said predetermined period of time has elapsed, receive a response signal from the RFID tag indicating that the replaceable item has not been replaced, said response signal to include said identification code, and activate a notification device to indicate that the replaceable item should now be replaced. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method comprising:
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serializing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, said RFID tag having an identification code stored therein; affixing the RFID tag to a replaceable item that is designated to be replaced after a predetermined period of time; programming an RFID reader to recognize said identification code; polling said RFID tag after said predetermined period of time has elapsed; receiving a response signal from the RFID tag indicating that the replaceable item has not been replaced, said response signal to include said identification code; and activating a notification device to indicate that the replaceable item should now be replaced. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification