Low frequency asset tag tracking system and method
First Claim
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1. A system for determining a location of a particular object among a plurality of similar objects;
- each of said plurality of similar objects having three overall dimensions comprising a length, a width, and a height, said plurality of similar objects being closely spaced from one another relative to at least one dimension of said three overall dimensions;
said system comprising;
a transmitter for transmitting a locating signal, said locating signal having a wavelength greater than at least one said overall dimension, said transmitter located with said particular object;
a plurality of locator receivers displaced from said plurality of similar objects, said plurality of locator receivers receiving said locating signal and determining at least one respective property of said locating signal at each respective receiver;
a processing unit utilizing said at least one respective property of said locating signal at each respective receiver to determine said location of said particular object based on determining a location of a conduction hot spot on said plurality of similar objects resulting from said locating signal.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for low frequency asset tracking includes a low frequency transmitter tag associated with a cargo container or other high value commodity, a plurality of receivers that detect low frequency signals, and a microprocessor that uses algorithms and/or data pertaining to the propagation characteristics of the signal to locate the position of the container or high value commodity. The tag may include sensors to monitor container properties or conditions, such as temperature, motion, intrusion, RF fields, or other properties of interest. Sensor data may be modulated on the low frequency transmitter signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for determining a location of a particular object among a plurality of similar objects;
- each of said plurality of similar objects having three overall dimensions comprising a length, a width, and a height, said plurality of similar objects being closely spaced from one another relative to at least one dimension of said three overall dimensions;
said system comprising; a transmitter for transmitting a locating signal, said locating signal having a wavelength greater than at least one said overall dimension, said transmitter located with said particular object; a plurality of locator receivers displaced from said plurality of similar objects, said plurality of locator receivers receiving said locating signal and determining at least one respective property of said locating signal at each respective receiver; a processing unit utilizing said at least one respective property of said locating signal at each respective receiver to determine said location of said particular object based on determining a location of a conduction hot spot on said plurality of similar objects resulting from said locating signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- each of said plurality of similar objects having three overall dimensions comprising a length, a width, and a height, said plurality of similar objects being closely spaced from one another relative to at least one dimension of said three overall dimensions;
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5. A system for determining a location of a particular object among a plurality of similar objects;
- each of said plurality of similar objects having three overall dimensions comprising a length, a width, and a height, said plurality of similar objects and closely spaced from one another relative to at least one dimension of said three overall dimensions;
said system comprising; a transmitter for transmitting a locating signal, said locating signal having a wavelength greater than at least one said overall dimension, said transmitter located with said particular object; a plurality of locator receivers displaced from said plurality of similar objects and receiving said locating signal and determining at least two respective properties of said locating signal at each respective receiver; a processing unit comparing said at least two respective properties of said locating signal at each respective receiver to determine said location of said particular object based on determining a location of a conduction hot spot on said plurality of similar objects resulting from said locating signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
- each of said plurality of similar objects having three overall dimensions comprising a length, a width, and a height, said plurality of similar objects and closely spaced from one another relative to at least one dimension of said three overall dimensions;
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17. A method for determining a location of a particular object among a plurality of similar objects;
- each of said plurality of similar objects having three overall dimensions comprising a length, a width, and a height, said plurality of similar objects being closely spaced from one another relative to at least one dimension of said three overall dimensions;
said method comprising; positioning a transmitter in association with said particular object; transmitting a locating signal from said transmitter, said locating signal having a wavelength greater than at least one overall dimension of the particular object, said at least one overall dimension from the group consisting of length, width, and height; receiving at least two properties of the locating signal; comparing said at least two respective properties of said locating signal at each respective receiver to determine said location of said particular object based on determining a location of a conduction hot spot on said plurality of similar objects resulting from said locating signal.
- each of said plurality of similar objects having three overall dimensions comprising a length, a width, and a height, said plurality of similar objects being closely spaced from one another relative to at least one dimension of said three overall dimensions;
Specification