Systems and methods for locating an entity

• US 7,772,976 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insight Holding Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Strategic Data Systems
• Inventors: Christopher, James
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/683,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5728, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.13, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for locating an entity both within and outside of a structure using an RFID system in conjunction with other location systems and methods. The RFID systems may include a portable RF transmitter/receiver transported by the entity within the structure, a base unit, and a plurality of RFID tags. The methods may comprise 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.

Claims

1. A method for locating an entity within and outside of 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 the 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;

a supplemental location determination device determining the location of the entity; and

the RF transmitter/receiver broadcasting the identity of the unit, the location of the RFID tag and the location of the entity to the base unit, which maintains a log of the identity of the unit, the location of the RFID tag and the location of the entity, 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;

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. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental location determination device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the global positioning system receiver is coupled to the RF transmitter/receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the base unit providing additional management and data presentation capabilities.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the additional data management capabilities comprise at least one of data models, data ingest, data storage, data logging, data export, or data integration, and wherein the additional presentation capabilities comprise formatting data, integrating specific RFID based location system services, and adjusting data to appropriate reference frames.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in a construction material of the structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the construction material is selected from the group comprising dry wall, floor panel, ceiling panel, frames, and concrete.

6. An RFID system for locating an entity within and outside of a structure, the system comprising:

a plurality of portable units, a portable unit comprising a storage, a unique identity, and an RF transmitter/receiver transported by the entity within the structure;

a base unit comprising an RF transmitter/receiver and a display; and

a plurality of passive RFID tags;

wherein the RF transmitter/receiver records a location of an RFID tag and the unit stores the location of the RFID tag in the storage;

wherein the portable RF transmitter/receiver further comprises a supplemental location determination device configured to receive supplemental GPS location data from GPS satellites;

wherein the RF transmitter/receiver records a location of the entity based on the supplemental location device, and broadcasts the location data that comprises a combination of supplemental location data and RFID tag location data 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 the predetermined standard of placement;

wherein the base unit transmits an interrogation signal to the 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.

7. The RFID system of claim 6, wherein the supplemental location determination device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

8. The RFID system of claim 7, wherein the global positioning system receiver is coupled to the RF transmitter/receiver.

9. The RFID system of claim 6, wherein the portable RF transmitter/receiver comprises an IRU or a Smart IRU.

10. The RFID system of claim 9, wherein the IRU or the Smart IRU comprises an IRU integrated on a chip.

11. The RFID system of claim 6, wherein the base unit comprises a laptop configured with a browser and coupled to a database that comprises at least one of GIS information, GPS information, national infrastructure data, state infrastructure data, local infrastructure data or tribal infrastructure data.

12. The RFID system of claim 6, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in a construction material of the structure.

13. The RFID system of claim 12, wherein the construction material is selected from the group comprising dry wall, floor panel, ceiling panel, frames, and concrete.