RFID device for object monitoring, locating, and tracking

• US 7,319,397 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avante International Technology
• Original Assignee: Avante International Technology
• Inventors: Chung, Kevin Kwong-Tai, Li, Jing Jian, Shi, Xiaoming
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/198,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/539.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340/10.42, 370/242, 370/328, 370/342
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• 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

Abstract

An RFID monitoring arrangement comprises a first RFID device and a second RFID device for monitoring the first RFID device. The first RFID device transmits at least two messages each including unique identifying information and a power level code, wherein the transmitter power level corresponds to the power level represented by the power level code in each transmitted message. The second RFID device receives messages transmitted by the first RFID device and processes the identifying information and the power level code to provide an indication of a condition. Messages received from said first RFID device, the indication of a condition, or both the messages received from said first RFID device and the indication of a condition, may be relayed to a remote location.

Claims

1. An RFID monitoring device arrangement comprising a first RFID monitoring device and a second RFID monitoring device for monitoring said first RFID device, said first RFID monitoring device comprising:

a memory having unique identifying information stored therein and having codes representing at least two different transmitter power levels stored therein;

an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals;

a modulator coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information and the transmitter power level codes stored in said memory; and

a transmitter coupled to said modulator and to said antenna for transmitting at least two messages via said antenna, wherein each of the at least two messages includes the modulated unique identifying information and a modulated different one of the transmitter power level codes, wherein the power level of said transmitter is controlled responsive to the power level code to correspond to the power level represented by the power level code in each transmitted message when each message is transmitted;

whereby the transmitter power level is different for each of the messages and corresponds to the power level code contained in each of the messages transmitted by said first RFID device; and

said second RFID monitoring device comprising;

a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by said first RFID device, each message including the identifying information and the power level code representing the power level at which the message is transmitted;

a processor for receiving the received messages and for processing the information therein, wherein said processor decodes the identifying information and the power level code from each received message for associating received messages from said first RFID device and the power level thereof, said processor providing from the messages received from said first RFID device and the power level thereof an indication of a condition; and

a transmitter for relaying messages received from said first RFID device, the indication of a condition, or the messages received from said first RFID device and the indication of a condition, to a remote location,

whereby the first RFID device is monitored by the second RFID device.

2. The RFID monitoring device arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first RFID monitoring device is disposed interior a container and said second RFID monitoring device is disposed exterior the container.

3. The RFID monitoring device arrangement of claim 2 wherein said processor provides from the number of messages received from said first RFID device and the power level thereof an indication of a condition including whether the container is closed.

4. An RFID monitoring device comprising:

a memory having unique identifying information stored therein and having codes representing at least two different transmitter power levels stored therein;

an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals;

a modulator coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information and the transmitter power level codes stored in said memory; and

a transmitter coupled to said modulator and to said antenna for transmitting at least two messages via said antenna, wherein each of the at least two messages includes the modulated unique identifying information and a modulated different one of the transmitter power level codes, wherein the power level of said transmitter is controlled responsive to the power level code to correspond to the power level represented by the power level code in each transmitted message when each message is transmitted;

whereby the transmitter power level is different for each of the messages and corresponds to the power level code contained in each of the messages transmitted.

5. The RFID monitoring device of claim 4 wherein said RFID monitoring device transmits messages continuously, or transmits messages periodically at a regular or at an irregular interval of time, or transmits messages at programmable intervals, or transmits messages at programmable power levels, or transmits messages responsive to an interrogation signal, or transmits messages until receipt of an acknowledgment signal, or any combination of the foregoing.

6. The RFID monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising a sensor of a thing and/or of a condition at or proximate said RFID monitoring device, wherein data produced by said sensor is stored in the memory of said RFID monitoring device.

7. The RFID monitoring device of claim 6 wherein the sensor data stored in said memory may be transmitted by said transmitter in response to an interrogation signal, or at a present time, or at a future time, or at a predetermined time, or periodically, or any combination of the foregoing.

8. The RFID monitoring device of claim 6 wherein the thing and/or condition sensed by said sensor includes an environmental condition, or temperature, or pressure, or position, or location, or motion, or acceleration, or impact, or distance, or inertial information, or magnetic field, or electrical continuity, or altitude, or a physical parameter, or moisture, or humidity, or a chemical, or a medical parameter, or a biological substance and/or agent, or radioactivity, or optical, or light, or infrared, or an image, or an electromagnetic field, or any combination of the foregoing.

9. The RFID monitoring device of claim 4 wherein the unique identifying information stored in the memory of said RFID monitoring device includes a set of a plurality of unique identifiers, one of which unique identifiers is presently utilized for uniquely identifying said RFID monitoring device, wherein the presently utilized one of the set of unique identifiers may be permanently and irreversibly replaced by another unique identifier of the set of unique identifiers for thereafter uniquely identifying said RFID monitoring device, whereby said RFID monitoring device may be identified by the another unique identifier for reuse.

10. The RFID monitoring device of claim 4 wherein:

said RFID monitoring device is associated with an object for enabling the location thereof to be determined from the information contained in the messages transmitted by said RFID monitoring device;

or

said RFID monitoring device is associated with an openable container for enabling a determination of whether the container has been opened to be made from the information contained in the messages transmitted by said RFID monitoring device;

or

said RFID monitoring device further comprises a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by other RFID monitoring devices according to claim 4, wherein the messages transmitted by said transmitter further include the messages received by said receiver from the other RFID monitoring devices;

or

said RFID monitoring device further comprises a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by other RFID monitoring devices according to claim 4, wherein said receiver, or said antenna, or both, are adjusted for adjusting the distance from which a received message may be received;

or

any combination of the foregoing.

11. The RFID monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising:

an input device for calling for assistance by inserting call for assistance information in messages transmitted by said transmitter;

or

an input device for entering information that is included in messages transmitted by said transmitter;

or

an ad hoc networking device coupled to said transmitter for communicating messages via an ad hoc network including other RFID monitoring devices according to claim 4 that include an ad hoc networking device;

or

a GPS locator or other location indicating device for providing location information that is included in messages transmitted by said transmitter;

or

a receiver for receiving messages and an output device for communicating information contained in received messages received by said RFID monitoring device to a user thereof;

or

a receiver for receiving messages and a visual display device for displaying information contained in received messages received by said RFID monitoring device to a user thereof;

or

any combination of the foregoing.

12. The RFID monitoring device of claim 11 wherein:

said input device includes any one or more of a button, a pushbutton, a touch button, a switch, or any combination thereof;

or

said output device includes any one or more of a visual display, a light-emitting diode, an LCD display, an audible device, a voice synthesizer, a speaker, a buzzer, or any combination thereof;

or

any combination of the foregoing.

13. The RFID monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising a receiver for receiving messages for:

programming the power levels at which messages are transmitted by said transmitter;

or

programming the time interval between successive transmissions of the at least two messages transmitted by said transmitter;

or

programming said RFID monitoring device to transmit in response to an interrogation signal;

or

any combination of the foregoing.

14. The RFID monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising:

an electromagnetically shielded container having an electromagnetically shielding cover, wherein said RFID monitoring device is disposed in said electromagnetically shielded container,

wherein messages transmitted by the RFID monitoring device when the cover is closed are substantially attenuated and are not received by the first, second and third relay devices and messages transmitted by the RFID monitoring device when the cover is not closed may be received by a proximate one of the first, second and third relay devices, thereby to provide an indication that the cover of the shielded container has been opened.

15. An RFID monitoring device for monitoring a container in transit via one or more carriers from an origin location to a destination location, wherein the container includes an RFID device interior thereto that transmits messages at plural power levels, said RFID monitor device comprising:

a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by the RFID device, each message including identifying information and a power level code representing the power level at which the message is transmitted;

a processor for receiving the received messages and for processing the information therein, wherein said processor decodes the identifying information and the power level code from each received message for associating received messages from each RFID device and the power level thereof, said processor providing from the number of messages received from an RFID device and the power level thereof an indication of whether the container is closed; and

a transmitter for relaying messages received from the RFID device, the indication of whether a container is closed, or the messages received from the RFID device and the indication of whether the container is closed, to a remote location,

whereby the RFID device and container are monitored.

16. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 wherein the messages received from the RFID device further include data sensed by a sensor of a thing and/or of a condition at or proximate said RFID device, wherein the messages including sensor data may be transmitted by said transmitter at a present time, or at a future time, or at a predetermined time, or periodically, or in response to an interrogating signal, or any combination of the foregoing.

17. The RFID monitor device of claim 16 wherein the thing and/or condition sensed by said sensor includes an environmental condition, or temperature, or pressure, or position, or location, or motion, or acceleration, or impact, or distance, or inertial information, or magnetic field, or electrical continuity, or altitude, or a physical parameter, or moisture, or humidity, or a chemical, or a medical parameter, or a biological substance and/or agent, or radioactivity, or optical, or light, or infrared, or an image, or an electromagnetic field, or any combination of the foregoing.

18. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 further comprising a source of identification information, or location information, or date/time information, or any combination of the foregoing, and wherein said RFID monitor device associates the identification information, or location information, or date/time information, or any combination of the foregoing, with the messages it relays.

19. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 wherein said transmitter operates to transmit messages continuously, or to transmit messages periodically at regular or irregular intervals of time, or to transmit messages at programmable intervals, or to transmit messages at programmable power levels, or to transmit messages responsive to an interrogation signal, or to transmit messages until receipt of an acknowledgment signal, or any combination of the foregoing.

20. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 further comprising a remote terminal for communicating with said processor for accessing the information therein, said remote terminal communicating with said processor via wire, or cable, or telephone, or a radio link, or a network, or the Internet, or an intranet, or a local area network, or a wide area network, or a wireless network, or an ad hoc network, or a satellite, or e-mail, or a computer, or a laptop computer, or a personal digital assistant device, or a Blackberry-enabled device, or a Wi-Fi-enabled device, or a cell phone, or a WAP-enabled cell phone, or a pager, or any combination of the foregoing.

21. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 wherein said processor decodes the unique identifying information and the power level code from each message received from the RFID device for determining the location of the RFID device.

22. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 wherein said RFID monitor device is under the control of an independent monitoring agency.

23. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 wherein an indication of whether the container has or has not remained closed is:

provided to the destination location;

or

not provided to the origin location;

or

not provided to the carrier;

or

any combination of the foregoing.

24. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 further comprising one or more relay devices exterior the container for communicating messages transmitted by the RFID devices to said receiver.

25. The RFID monitor device of claim 24 further comprising an ad hoc networking device, wherein said relay devices each include an ad hoc networking device for establishing an ad hoc network for communicating messages transmitted by the RFID device to said receiver.

26. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 further comprising a processor at the remote location for receiving the messages relayed by said transmitter for determining therefrom whether the container has or has not remained closed and providing an indication thereof.

27. The RFID monitor device of claim 15 wherein the RFID device interior the container comprises:

a memory having stored therein unique identifying information and codes representing at least two different transmitter power levels;

an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals;

a modulator coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information and the transmitter power level codes stored in said memory; and

a transmitter coupled to said modulator and to said antenna for periodically transmitting at least two messages via said antenna, wherein each of the at least two messages includes the modulated unique identifying information and a modulated different one of the transmitter power level codes, wherein the power level of said transmitter is controlled responsive to the power level code to correspond to the power level represented by the power level code in each transmitted message when each message is transmitted;

whereby the transmitter power level of said RFID device changes to correspond to the power level code contained in each of the at least two messages transmitted.