Methods for locating an entity within a structure using RFID
First Claim
1. A method for locating a plurality of entities within a structure using an RFID system including a plurality of portable units, a portable unit comprising a storage, a unique identity, and an RF transmitter/receiver transported by an entity within the structure, a base unit comprising an RF transmitter/receiver and a display, and a plurality of passive RFID tags, the method comprising the steps of:
- the RF transmitter/receiver recording a location of an RFID tag;
the base unit storing the location of the RFID tag in the storage; and
the RF transmitter/receiver broadcasting the identity of the unit and the location of the RFID tag to the base unit, which maintains a log of the identity of the unit and the location of the RFID tag, determines the location of the entity from the location of the RFID tag, determines the identity of the entity from the identity of the unit, and maintains a log of the location the entity;
wherein the RFID tags contain unique location information encoded according to a predetermined standard;
wherein the RFID tags are disposed at predetermined intervals within the structure determined according a predetermined standard of placement;
wherein the base unit transmits an interrogation signal to an active RFID tag and receives a schematic of the structure; and
wherein the base unit displays the schematic on the display and displays the location of the portable RF transmitter/receiver, the identity of the entity, and the log overlaid on the schematic.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides method for locating an entity within a structure using RFID system including a portable RF transmitter/receiver transported by the entity within the structure, a base unit, and a plurality of RFID tags, the method comprising the steps of: (a) emitting an RF interrogation signal at constant, predetermined intervals; (b) powering up and emitting a signal containing location data; (c) receiving the location data and broadcasting the location data to the base unit; and (d) receiving and displaying the location data; wherein steps (a) and (c) are performed by the RF transmitter/receiver, step (b) is performed by an RFID tag when the RF interrogation signal is within an effective range of the RFID tag, and step (d) is performed by the base unit.
43 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for locating a plurality of entities within a structure using an RFID system including a plurality of portable units, a portable unit comprising a storage, a unique identity, and an RF transmitter/receiver transported by an entity within the structure, a base unit comprising an RF transmitter/receiver and a display, and a plurality of passive RFID tags, the method comprising the steps of:
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the RF transmitter/receiver recording a location of an RFID tag; the base unit storing the location of the RFID tag in the storage; and the RF transmitter/receiver broadcasting the identity of the unit and the location of the RFID tag to the base unit, which maintains a log of the identity of the unit and the location of the RFID tag, determines the location of the entity from the location of the RFID tag, determines the identity of the entity from the identity of the unit, and maintains a log of the location the entity; wherein the RFID tags contain unique location information encoded according to a predetermined standard; wherein the RFID tags are disposed at predetermined intervals within the structure determined according a predetermined standard of placement; wherein the base unit transmits an interrogation signal to an active RFID tag and receives a schematic of the structure; and wherein the base unit displays the schematic on the display and displays the location of the portable RF transmitter/receiver, the identity of the entity, and the log overlaid on the schematic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for locating a plurality of entities within a multiple story building using an RFID system including a plurality of portable units, a portable unit comprising a storage, a unique identity, and an RF transmitter/receiver transported by an entity within the multiple story building, a base unit comprising an RF transmitter/receiver and a display, and a plurality of passive RFID tags including information encoded according to a predetermined standard, the method comprising the steps of:
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disposing an active RFID tag at an entrance of the structure that is encoded with a schematic of the multiple story building, the building'"'"'s contact information, and the number of stories of the multiple story building, wherein the location of the active RFID tag is determined according to a predetermined standard of placement corresponding to a second active RFID tag disposed at an entrance of a second building; the RF transmitter/receiver recording a location of an RFID tag; the base unit storing the location of the RFID tag in the storage; and the RF transmitter/receiver broadcasting the identity of the unit and the location of the RFID tag to the base unit, which maintains a log of the identity of the unit and the location of the RFID tag, determines the location of the entity from the location of the RFID tag, determines the identity of the entity from the identity of the unit, and maintains a log of the location the entity; wherein the RFID tags are disposed at predetermined intervals within each story of the multiple story building determined according the predetermined standard of placement; and wherein the base unit displays the schematic on the display and displays the location of the portable RF transmitter/receiver, the identity of the entity, and the log overlaid on the schematic. wherein an RFID tag located at an entrance to the multiple story building includes general information about the multiple story building including the building'"'"'s contact information, the number of stories of the multiple story building and a schematic of the multiple story building. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification