Systems and methods for location of objects

• US 7,492,262 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Washington, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/590,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 348/169, 348/135, 348/139, 348/143, 348/144, 348/142, 348/151, 348/207.99, 348/208.1, 348/208.14, 348/208.15, 348/208.16, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

Systems and methods that may be employed to visually locate and/or track objects equipped with active RFID tags. The disclosed systems and methods may employ an articulated camera/s, such as closed circuit television (“CCTV”) or other suitable type of articulated camera/s, that is equipped with an antenna array.

Claims

1. A visual locating system, comprising:

a plurality of camera assemblies, each of said camera assemblies comprising an optical block and a RF receiver, said RF receiver being configured to receive from a RF antenna one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by a RFID device; and

a computer processor in communication with each of said plurality of camera assemblies.

2. The visual locating system of claim 1, wherein said optical block of each of said camera assemblies has a line of sight;

and wherein the line of sight of said optical block of each of said plurality of camera assemblies is configured to move cooperatively with a directional line of reception of a RF antenna.

3. The visual locating system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of differential antenna apparatus, each of said plurality of differential antenna apparatus being associated with a respective one of said plurality of camera assemblies and being configured to provide one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by a RFID device to a RF receiver of said respective one of said plurality of camera assemblies;

and wherein said differential antenna apparatus is configured so that a directional line of reception of said differential antenna apparatus moves cooperatively with movement of the line of sight of said optical block of said respective one of said plurality of camera assemblies.

4. The visual locating system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies comprises a differential antenna apparatus, said differential antenna apparatus being configured to receive and provide one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by a RFID device to said RF receiver of said respective camera assembly.

5. The visual locating system of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies comprises a PTZ camera assembly.

6. The visual locating system of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies comprises a differential antenna array.

7. The visual locating system of claim 4, wherein said differential antenna apparatus of each of said plurality of camera assemblies is directionally aligned with an optical block of said respective camera assembly.

8. The visual locating system of claim 7, further comprising signal processing circuitry configured to receive said one or more RF signals from said differential antenna apparatus, and to provide a differential output signal based upon said one or more RF signals.

9. The visual locating system of claim 7, further comprising signal processing circuitry conflaured to receive said one or more RF signals from said differential antenna apparatus, and to provide one or more signal strength signals based upon said one or more RF signals;

and wherein said signal processing circuitry is configured to identify and select one or more of said signal strength signals that are indicative of a RF signal strength value that exceeds a minimum RF signal strength value.

10. The visual locating system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies further comprises a RF transceiver and said RF antenna;

and wherein said RF transceiver is configured to provide a RF signal comprising RFID device activation data to said RF antenna of said respective camera assembly.

11. The visual locating system of claim 10, wherein said RF antenna of each of said plurality of camera assemblies comprises a differential antenna apparatus.

12. The visual locating system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of camera assemblies of said visual locating system are installed in a passenger terminal.

13. The visual locating system of claim 12, wherein said passenger terminal comprises an airport.

14. The visual locating system of claim 1, wherein each of said camera assemblies comprises an RF receiver embedded in said camera assembly and configured to receive from a RF antenna one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by a RFID device.

15. A method of locating objects in a passenger terminal, comprising:

associating a first RFID device with a passenger; and

locating said passenger within said passenger terminal using a RF transmission broadcast by said first RFID device;

wherein said method comprises visually locating said passenger within said passenger terminal using at least one camera assembly; and

wherein said camera assembly comprises an optical block and an RF receiver configured to receive from a RF antenna one or more RF signals comprising said RF transmission broadcast by said first RFID device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said RF antenna comprises a differential antenna apparatus;

and wherein said method further comprises;

receiving said one or more RF signals in said RF receiver from said differential antenna apparatus; and

wherein the line of sight of said optical block of said at least one camera assembly is configured to move cooperatively with a directional line of reception of said differential antenna.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said first RFID device is attached to or contained within a RFID carrier assigned to said passenger.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said RFID carrier comprises a ticket holder or a ticket assigned to said passenger.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said method comprises visually locating said passenger within said passenger terminal using at least one camera assembly having a field of view corresponding to a location of said RF transmission broadcast by said first RFID device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said method comprises visually locating said passenger within said passenger terminal using a plurality of camera assemblies, wherein said passenger is visually located by selecting one or more of said camera assemblies having a field of view corresponding to a location of said RF transmission broadcast by said first RFID device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies comprises an optical block and a RF receiver, said RF receiver being configured to receive from an antenna an RF signal comprising said RF transmission broadcast by said first RFID device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises tracking said passenger within said passenger terminal using a visual locating system, said visual locating system comprising:

said plurality of camera assemblies, each of said camera assemblies comprising an optical block and a RF receiver, said RF receiver being configured to receive from a RF antenna one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by said first RFID device; and

a computer processor in communication with each of said plurality of camera assemblies.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies further comprises a differential antenna apparatus, said differential antenna apparatus being configured to receive and provide one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by said first RFID device to said RF receiver of said respective camera assembly.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies comprises a PTZ camera assembly.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies comprises a differential antenna array.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said differential antenna apparatus of each of said plurality of camera assemblies is directionally aligned with an optical block of said respective camera assembly.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said differential antenna apparatus is directionally aligned with a line of sight (LOS) of said optical block of said camera assembly unit;

and wherein said visual locating system is configured to align said LOS of said optical block with a position of said passenger with the location of the source of said RFID broadcast transmitted by said first RFID device by determining the relationship between said LOS and said source location by analyzing the emitted signals from said first RFID device.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies further comprises a RF transceiver and said RF antenna, said RF transceiver comprising said RF receiver or said respective camera assembly;

and wherein said RF transceiver is configured to provide a RF signal comprising RFID device activation data for said first RFID device to said RF antenna of said respective camera assembly.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said RF antenna of each of said plurality of camera assemblies comprises a differential antenna apparatus.

30. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

associating a second RFID device with a luggage item or carry on item of said passenger; and

at least one of;

locating said luggage item within the luggage handling areas of said passenger terminal or on a passenger vehicle using a RF transmission broadcast by said first RFID device;

or

locating said carry on item within said passenger terminal using a RF transmission broadcast by said second RFID device;

or a combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said method comprises locating said carry on item within said passenger terminal using a RF transmission broadcast by said second RFID device, and detecting when said location of said passenger differs from said location of said carry on luggage by a predetermined distance.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said method comprises locating said luggage item within the luggage handling areas of said passenger terminal or on a passenger vehicle using a RF transmission broadcast by said first RFID device, and detecting when said passenger has not boarded the same passenger vehicle into which said luggage item has been loaded.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said method comprises visually locating said luggage item within said luggage handling areas using a plurality of camera assemblies, wherein said luggage item is visually located by selecting one or more of said camera assemblies having a field of view corresponding to a location of said RF transmission broadcast by said second RFID device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said method further comprises tracking said luggage within said luggage handling areas using a visual locating system, said visual locating system comprising:

a plurality of camera assemblies, each of said camera assemblies comprising an optical block and a RF receiver, said RF receiver being configured to receive from a RF antenna one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by said second RFID device; and

a computer processor in communication with each of said plurality of camera assemblies;

wherein each of said plurality of camera assemblies further comprises a differential antenna apparatus, said differential antenna apparatus being configured to receive and provide one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by said second RFID device to said RF receiver of said respective camera assembly; and

wherein said differential antenna apparatus is directionally aligned with a line of sight (LOS) of said optical block of said camera assembly unit; and

wherein said visual locating system is configured to align said LOS of said optical block with a position of said luggage item with the source location of said RFID broadcast transmitted by said second RFID device by determining the relationship between said LOS and said source location by analyzing the emitted signals from said second RFID device.

35. The method of claim 15, wherein said passenger terminal comprises an airport.

36. The method of claim 15, further comprising associating a photograph of said passenger with an identity of said first RFID device;

receiving said RF transmission broadcast by said first RFID device at a station in said passenger terminal; and

displaying said photograph for identity verification purposes at said station based upon receipt of said RF transmission broadcast at said station by said first RFID device.

37. The method of claim 15, wherein said RF receiver is embedded in said camera assembly.

38. A method of visually locating objects, comprising:

associating a RFID device with an object;

providing a camera assembly unit comprising an optical block and a RF receiver, said RF receiver being configured to receive from an antenna an RF signal comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by said RFID device;

receiving a RFID broadcast transmitted by said RFID device, said RFID broadcast being received by said RF receiver from said antenna; and

visually locating said object usingsaid optical block of said camera assembly based on said RFID broadcast received by said RF receiver from said antenna.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said antenna comprises a differential antenna apparatus;

and wherein said method further comprises;

receiving said RF broadcast in said RF receiver from said differential antenna apparatus; and

moving a directional line of reception of said differential antenna apparatus cooperatively with movement of the line of sight of said optical block to visually locate said object using said optical block.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said camera assembly unit further comprises an RF transceiver, and wherein said method further comprises transmitting a RF signal comprising RFID device activation data to cause said RFID device to transmit said RFID broadcast.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein said camera assembly unit further comprises a differential antenna apparatus, and wherein said method further comprises using said differential antenna apparatus to receive and provide said RF signal comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by a RFID device to said RF receiver.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said camera assembly unit comprises a PTZ camera assembly unit.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein said RF receiver is embedded in said camera assembly unit.

44. A method of visually locating objects, comprising:

associating a RFID device with an object;

providing a camera assembly unit comprising an optical block and a RF receiver, said RF receiver being configured to receive from an antenna an RF signal comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by said RFID device;

receiving a RFID broadcast transmitted by said RFID device, said RFID broadcast being received by said RF receiver from said antenna; and

automatically visually locating said object using said optical block of said camera assembly based on said RFID broadcast received by said RF receiver from said antenna.

45. A visual location system, comprising:

a plurality of camera assemblies, each of said camera assemblies comprising an optical block and a RF receiver;

wherein said RF receiver is configured to receive from a RF antenna one or more RF signals comprising a RFID broadcast transmitted by a RFID device; and

wherein said visual location system is configured to automatically visually locate said object using said optical block of said camera assembly based on said RFID broadcast received by said RF receiver from said antenna.