Enhanced area separation in wireless location systems and method

• US 7,403,108 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AeroScout (US) LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aeroscout Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniely, Gabi, Chashper, Jonathan, Amsalem, Reuven, Aljadeff, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/466,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20070046460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500
• US Class Current: 340/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system and method for tracking and locating wireless tags by a wireless location system in limited and well defined areas that provides for differentiation between the well defined areas comprises transmitting identifying area information by short range transmitters, at least one short range transmitter positioned in the proximity of an entry and exit point of each well defined area. The wireless tags receive the identifying area information when in coverage range of one of the short range transmitters. The wireless tags will transmit the identifying information in the tag message. The transmission will include the last identifying information received and accepted by the wireless tag. A plurality of location receivers and/or access points are installed in or in the proximity of the well defined areas for locating the wireless tags.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and locating wireless tags in limited and well defined areas that provides for differentiation between the well defined areas comprising:

installing location receivers in a proximity of the well defined areas to locate wireless tags;

installing short range transmitters installed in a proximity of entrance/exit points, said entrance/exit points connecting between said well defined areas, said short range transmitters transmit area identifying information related to a specific defined area where each short range transmitter is located;

receiving the identifying information by the wireless tags in coverage range of any of the short range transmitters;

programming each wireless tag in the coverage range of any of the short range transmitters with the identifying information of the short range transmitter of which the wireless tag is in coverage range, wherein each wireless tag is reprogrammed with new identifying information when in coverage range of a different one of the short range transmitters; and

transmitting the identifying information which is transmitted in a tag message by each wireless tag, said transmission including the identifying information last received and programmed into each wireless tag.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising locating the wireless tags by the location receivers using one of RSSI or TDOA location methods.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising installing short range transmitters which are low frequency REID transmitters.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each short range transmitter continuously broadcasts transmitter ID and an area ID information.

5. A method for tracking and locating wireless tags by a wireless location system in limited and well defined areas that provides for differentiation between the well defined areas comprising:

installing location receivers in a proximity of the well defined areas to locate wireless tags;

installing short range transmitters installed in a proximity of entrance/exit points, said entrance/exit points connecting between said well defined areas, said short range transmitters transmit area identifying information related to a specific defined area where each short range transmitter is located;

receiving the identifying information by the wireless tags in coverage range of any of the short range transmitters;

programming each wireless tag in a coverage range of one of the short range transmitters with the identifying information of the short range transmitter of which the wireless tag is in coverage range, wherein each wireless tag is reprogrammed with new identifying information when in coverage range of a different one of the short range transmitters; and

transmitting the identifying information which is transmitted in a tag message by each wireless tag, said transmission including the identifying information last received and programmed into each wireless tag;

receiving the transmitted identifying information by the wireless location system; and

locating the wireless tags by using location receivers installed in a proximity of the well defined area, the location receivers determining which defined area each wireless tag is located by the identifying information transmitted by each wireless tag and the location in the defined area.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising installing short range transmitters on each side of doors in the well defined areas.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising installing short range transmitters in the proximity of the top and bottom of stairwells, elevators, and accesses connecting between the well defined areas.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising locating the wireless tags by the location receivers using one of RSSI or TDOA location methods.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising installing short range transmitters which are low frequency REID transmitters.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising continuously broadcasting transmitter ID and an area ID information by each short range transmitter.

11. A wireless location system for tracking and locating a wireless tag in a limited and well defined area that provides for differentiation between the well defined areas comprising:

a plurality of short range transmitters, at least one short range transmitter positioned in the proximity of entry and exit points of each well defined area for transmitting identifying area information;

a plurality of wireless tags, wherein each wireless tag is programmed when in a coverage range of one of the short range transmitters with the identifying information of the short range transmitter of which the wireless tag is in coverage range, each wireless tag is reprogrammed with new identifying information when in coverage range of a different one of the short range transmitters, each wireless tag transmits the identifying information in a tag message, the transmission will include the last identifying information received and accepted by the wireless tag; and

a plurality of location receivers installed in a proximity of the well defined area for locating the wireless tags, the location receivers determining which defined area each wireless tag is located by the identifying information transmitted by each wireless tag and the location in the defined area.

12. A wireless location system in accordance with claim 11 wherein at least one short range transmitter is installed in a proximity of each side of doors in the well defined areas.

13. A wireless location system in accordance with claim 11 wherein at least one short range transmitter is installed in a proximity of a top and bottom of stairwells, elevators, and accessed connecting between the well defined areas.

14. A wireless location system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the plurality of location receivers locate the wireless tags by using one of RSSI or TDOA location methods.

15. A wireless location system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the plurality of short range transmitters are low frequency REID transmitters.

16. A wireless location system in accordance with claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of short range transmitters continuously broadcast transmitter ID and an area ID information.

17. A method for tracking and locating wireless tags in limited and well defined areas that provides for differentiation between the well defined areas comprising:

installing WLAN access points in a proximity of the well defined areas to locate wireless tags;

installing short range transmitters in a proximity of entrance/exit points, said entrance/exit points connecting between said well defined areas, said short range transmitters transmit area identifying information;

receiving the identifying information by the wireless tags in coverage range of one of the short range transmitters;

programming each wireless tag in a coverage range of one of the short range transmitters with the identifying information of the short range transmitter of which the wireless tag is in coverage range, wherein each wireless tag is reprogrammed with new identifying information when in coverage range of a different one of the short range transmitters; and

transmitting the identifying information which is transmitted in a tag message, said transmission including a last identifying information received and accepted by each of the wireless tags.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the short range transmitters are installed on each side of doors in the well defined areas.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising installing short range transmitters in the proximity of the top and bottom of stairwells, elevators, and accesses connecting between the well defined areas.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the short range transmitters are installed on an entrance and exit of each access point into and out of each well defined area.