Method and system for locating a dependent

• US 7,498,943 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Sai-Halasz
• Original Assignee: George Sai-Halasz, Ildiko Medve
• Inventors: Medve, Ildiko, Sai-Halasz, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/588,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/572.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 235/385, 235/375, 700/22, 700/28
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID

Abstract

A method and system for locating a dependent by a guardian entity at a locality using RFID technology is disclosed. A RFID tag is situated with the dependent and a plurality of RFID reader devices capable of communicating with the RFID tag are distributed about the locality. A processor is directing communications between the RFID tag and the plurality of RFID reader devices, and is tracking the RFID tag. An authenticating system, which uniquely associates the RFID tag with the guardian entity, validates commands pertaining to the tracking of the RFID tag. The processor upon receiving a validated command generates a response, which includes location information regarding the dependent.

Claims

1. A system for keeping a first mobile RFID tag within a zone, said system comprising:

a second mobile RFID tag, wherein said zone pertains to said second mobile RFID tag, whereby said zone has an extent about said second mobile RFID tag, and said zone is mobile;

a plurality of RFID reader devices capable of communicating with said first mobile RFID tag and said second mobile RFID tag;

a processor having a memory, wherein a pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag is stored in said memory, wherein said processor is configured to;

directing communications between said plurality of RFID reader devices and said first mobile RFID tag and said second mobile RFID tag;

tracking said first mobile RFID tag and tracking said second mobile RFID tag by using said communications between said plurality of RFID reader devices and said first mobile RFID tag and said second mobile RFID tag; and

recognizing in said trackings said pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to issue an alert if said pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag is recognized.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a warning device, wherein said warning device is capable of being activated by said alert.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of RFID reader devices are distributed about a locality, and said first mobile RFID tag and said second mobile RFID tag are tracked at said locality.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag has been learnt by said processor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to observe a timed interval, wherein only during said timed interval is said system functional.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of RFID reader devices has a range of coverage, wherein said pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag comprises:

any one of said plurality of RFID reader devices having said first mobile RFID tag in its said range of coverage and not having said second mobile RFID tag in its said range of coverage.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one supplementary mobile RFID tag moving in conjunction with said first mobile RFID tag, wherein said processor is capable of a more accurate tracking of said supplementary mobile RFID tag than said tracking of said first mobile RFID tag.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising more than one of said first mobile RFID tag.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising more than one of said second mobile RFID tag.

11. A method for keeping a first mobile RFID tag within a zone, said method comprising:

providing a second mobile RFID tag, and define said zone to pertain to said second mobile RFID tag, wherein said zone is mobile;

providing a plurality of RFID reader devices capable of communicating with said first mobile RFID tag and said second mobile RFID tag;

in a processor;

directing communications between said plurality of RFID reader devices and said first mobile RFID tag and said second mobile RFID tag;

tracking said first mobile RFID tag and tracking said second mobile RFID tag by using said communications between said plurality of RFID reader devices and said first mobile RFID tag and said second mobile RFID tag; and

recognizing in said trackings a pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said processor comprises a memory, said method further comprises storing in said memory said pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises issuing an alert if said pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag is recognized.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said method further comprises providing a warning device, wherein said alert comprises activating said warning device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises distributing said plurality of RFID reader devices about a locality, and tracking said first mobile RFID tag and tracking said second mobile RFID tag at said locality.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises setting a timed interval, wherein only during said timed interval is said method being executed.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein each one of said plurality of RFID reader devices has a range of coverage, said method further comprises selecting said pattern of moving out of said zone by said first mobile RFID tag to comprise:

any one of said plurality of RFID reader devices having said first mobile RFID tag in its said range of coverage and not having said second mobile RFID tag in its said range of coverage.