Apparatus for identifying objects using radio frequency and apparatus and method for tracking position of object using the same

• US 7,663,485 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Young Woo, Kim, Seong Woon, Kim, Myung Joon, Park, Kyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/295,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20060273903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/568.1, 340/10.1, 340/505, 340/501, 340/825.35, 340/825.49, 340/539.1, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/539.11
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag based object position tracking apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a position recognizer including at least one radio frequency identification unit for reading information data on an object through a sensor; and a path analyzing and processing unit for allocating each unique coordinates to the radio frequency identification units based on a relative position in a space where a position recognizer is disposed and recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path based on the object information data received by the sensor in the radio frequency identification unit corresponding to the unique coordinate. Thus, it is possible to track the path of an object with a low density of RFID tags.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tracking the position of an object, the apparatus comprising:

at least one radio frequency identification unit comprising;

a sensor for sensing the presence of the object;

a radio recognition tag having unique identification information; and

a transmitter for transmitting digital information with the unique identification information of the radio recognition tag, the digital information being obtained by digitizing information from the sensor; and

a path analyzing unit for allocating unique coordinates to the at least one radio frequency identification unit based on a relative position within the at least one radio frequency identification unit, and for recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path of the object based on the digital information and the unique identification information, and

wherein the at least one radio frequency identification unit is maintained in a fixed location in respect to the path analyzing unit to sense the presence or non-presence of the object in a predetermined area.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the path analyzing unit identifies between a stationary object and a moving object based on whether the information from the sensor changes within a predetermined period of time.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the path analyzing unit comprises an RFID reader that receives the digital information and the unique identification information via a radio frequency.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein with the information from the sensor in radio frequency identification unit changed, the path analyzing unit analyzes the path of the object by determining the unique coordinates allocated to the radio frequency identification unit, wherein the unique coordinates allocated to the radio frequency identification unit including the sensor one-to-one corresponds to the unique identification information of the radio recognition tag in the radio frequency identification unit.

5. An object position tracking method comprising:

disposing at least one radio frequency identification unit having at least one sensor for sensing the presence or non-presence of objects in a predetermined area with at least one radio recognition tag including unique identification information;

allocating a unique coordinate to each of the radio frequency identification units depending on the relative fixed positions of the radio frequency identification units;

digitizing sensed information from the sensor of the radio frequency identification unit;

receiving the unique identification information and the digitized sensed information; and

recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path of the object based on the digitized sensed information indicating the presence or non-presence of the object in the predetermined area associated with the allocated unique coordinate.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path of the object comprises identifying a stationary object and a moving object based on whether the object sensing information changes within a predetermined period of time.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path of the object comprises analyzing the path of the object by recognizing the unique coordinate allocated to the RFID tag corresponding to the sensor that indicates a change in the sensing information.