Method and system for location-centric information retrieval from wireless devices using RFID coding

• US 7,397,358 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aftercad Software Incorporated (Meggabyte Software, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aftercad Software Incorporated (Meggabyte Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boothroyd, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/900,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.51, 340/505, 235/375, 235/487, 705/1, 705/10
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

The present invention provides an RFID device and RFID reader to obtain an ID string from the device which is then transmitted over the internet to a remote system that uses the ID string to retrieve information related to that ID string. The remote system prepares a ‘menu’ of information which may or may not contain complete data entries for each found data item related to the ID String. The menu is transmitted back through the internet to the RFID reading apparatus or any other device and presented to the user. The user can then select a data item from the menu and view its contents.

Claims

1. A method of providing information via the Internet, in respect of a target location which is fixed with respect to a larger object, to a user having Internet access, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of RFID transponders fixed relative to each other and to said target location and each carrying a unique RFID code;

b) providing a database accessible to said user via the Internet and an Internet accessible server adapted to store data in said database about said target location corresponding to said plurality of unique RFID codes and to interactively communicate information to said user via the Internet;

c) constructing said database by storing data about said target location in association with said plurality of unique RFID codes and the relationship of said plurality of RFID transponders;

d) providing said user with an RFID interrogator for interrogating said RFID transponders and receiving said plurality of unique codes;

e) said user interrogating said RFID transponders and receiving said plurality of unique codes;

f) said user constructing a query including said plurality of unique codes;

g) said user communicating said query to said server over the Internet;

h) said server retrieving data stored in said database in response to said query based on the relationship of said plurality of RFID transponders; and

i) said server communicating and displaying to said user information relating to said data retrieved based on said query;

wherein said larger object is not fixed with respect to the Earth, and is selected from the group consisting of ships, trains, trucks and airborne vehicles, and said interrogator receives said plurality of unique codes from said plurality of RFID transponders which are used to construct said query and to query said database, using the fixed relative locations of said plurality of RFID transponders.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said user accesses said database from a wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said communication to said user is by display on said device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said wireless device is selected from the group cellular telephone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, vehicle onboard data terminal and personal digital assistant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said user accesses said database from a computer terminal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said data includes CAD files.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said data includes GIS files.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said data includes a form for completion and storage by the user.

9. The method of claim 1 including the further step of the user communicating updated information to said server for storage in said database.

10. A system for providing information via the Internet, in respect of a target location which is fixed with respect to a larger object, to a user having Internet access, comprising:

a) a plurality of RFID transponders fixed relative to each other and to said target location and each carrying a unique RFID code;

b) a server accessible to a user on the Internet and comprising an Internet accessible server adapted to

i) provide a database accessible to a user on the Internet and store data about said target location corresponding to said plurality of unique RFID codes and to interactively communicate information to said user;

c) an RFID interrogator for interrogating said plurality of RFID transponders and receiving said plurality of unique codes;

d) means for constructing a query including said plurality of unique codes and communicating said query to said server over the Internet and interactively displaying to said user information based on the data stored in said database in association with said query based on the relationship of said plurality of RFID transponders;

wherein said larger object is not fixed with respect to the Earth, and is selected from the group consisting of ships, trains, trucks and airborne vehicles, and said interrogator receives said plurality of unique codes from said plurality of RFID transponders which are used to construct said query and to query said database, using the fixed relative locations of said plurality of RFID transponders.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said user accesses said database from a wireless device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said communication to said user is by display on said device.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said wireless device is selected from the group cellular telephone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, vehicle onboard data terminal and personal digital assistant.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said user accesses said database from a computer terminal.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said data includes CAD files.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said data includes GIS files.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein said data includes a form for completion and storage by the user.

18. The system of claim 10 including the further step of the user communicating updated information to said server for storage in said database.

19. A method of providing information via the Internet, in respect of a target location which is fixed with respect to a larger object, to a user having Internet access, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of RFID transponders fixed relative to each other and to said target location and each carrying a unique RFID code;

b) providing a database accessible to said user via the Internet and an Internet accessible server adapted to store data in said database about said target location corresponding to said plurality of unique RFID codes and to interactively communicate information to said user via the Internet;

c) constructing said database by storing data about said target location in association with said plurality of unique RFID codes and the relationship of said plurality of RFID transponders;

d) providing said user with an RFID interrogator for interrogating said RFID transponders and receiving said plurality of unique codes;

e) said user interrogating said RFID transponders and receiving said plurality of unique codes;

f) said user constructing a query including said plurality of unique codes;

g) said user communicating said query to said server over the Internet;

h) said server retrieving data stored in said database in response to said query based on the relationship of said plurality of RFID transponders; and

i) said server communicating and displaying to said user information relating to said data retrieved based on said query;

wherein said target location is within a structure such that precise GPS location by the user of said target location is not possible and said interrogator receives said plurality of unique codes from said plurality of RFID transponders which are used to construct said query and to query said database, using the fixed relative locations of said plurality of RFID transponders.

20. A system for providing information via the Internet, in respect of a target location which is fixed with respect to a larger object to a user having Internet access, comprising

a) a plurality of RFID transponders fixed relative to each other and to said target location and each carrying a unique RFID code;

b) a server accessible to a user on the Internet and comprising an Internet accessible server adapted to

i) provide a database accessible to a user on the Internet and store data about said target location corresponding to said plurality of unique RFID codes and to interactively communicate information to said user;

c) an RFID interrogator for interrogating said plurality of RFID transponders and receiving said plurality of unique codes;

d) means for constructing a query including said plurality of unique codes and communicating said query to said server over the Internet and interactively displaying to said user information based on the data stored in said database in association with said query based on the relationship of said plurality of transponders;

wherein said target location is within a structure such that precise GPS location by the user of said target location is not possible and said interrogator receives said plurality of unique codes from said plurality of RFID transponders which are used to construct said query and to query said database, using the fixed relative locations of said plurality of RFID transponders.