Method for accounting for people in emergencies in industrial settings

• US 7,868,760 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BP Corporation North America Incorporated (BP PLC), Multispectral Solutions Incorporated (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BP Corporation North America Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Curt, Fontana, Robert, Poirot, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Quang
• Application Number:
  US11/757,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/572.4, 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 235/384, 119/721, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• 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 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A method for accounting for individuals in an emergency at industrial facilities utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) transmitters associated with individuals or objects and UWB monitoring stations. Identification information received from the UWB transmitters by UWB monitoring stations are communicated along with time of arrival information to a computer which calculates the location of the UWB transmitter. The system can be used despite severe multi-path effects and can provide location information in 3 dimensions. The system can optionally include proximity-based RF equipment for access control or otherwise for identification in specific locations. Information from the proximity-based RF equipment is also sent to the computer which also receives information from the UWB monitoring stations.

Claims

1. A method of accounting for individuals in an emergency at an industrial facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a) associating an active area-wide UWB transmitter and a passive proximity-based RFID tag with an individual;

b) co-locating the active UWB transmitter, the passive RFID tag and the individual;

c) transmitting from the UWB transmitter, a short UWB pulse as a signal;

d) receiving the UWB signal by at least two UWB monitoring stations;

e) communicating from the at least two UWB monitoring stations to a computer, at least information identifying the UWB transmitter and time-of-arrival information;

f) emitting from an RF proximity transceiver, an RF signal capable of eliciting from the passive RFID tag a responding signal including information identifying the passive RFID tag;

g) communicating to said computer information from the RF proximity transceiver identifying the passive RFID tag; and

h) computing, using the computer and information communicated from the at least two UWB monitoring stations and from the RF proximity transceiver, the UWB transmitter'"'"'s location and the identity of the associated individual;

i) applying steps a)-h) for a plurality of individuals;

wherein the computer is in communication with an output device and is capable of generating a list comprising identity information and location information of individuals at the industrial facility.

2. A method of accounting for individuals in an emergency, the method comprising the steps of:

a) associating an individual with an active area-wide co-located UWB transmitter that transmits a short UWB pulse as a signal and a co-located passive proximity-based RFID tag;

b) defining a mustering location having a UWB monitoring station positioned so as to be capable of determining whether or not the co-located active UWB transmitter is at the mustering location;

c) identifying an emergency event requiring the individual to report to the mustering location;

d) determining whether or not the individual has reported to the mustering location by determining whether or not the active co-located UWB transmitter is at the mustering location; and

e) generating a report comprising identity information and location information of the individual;

f) wherein determining whether or not the active co-located UWB transmitter is at the mustering location includes eliciting an RF signal from the passive RFID tag using an RF proximity transceiver at the mustering location wherein the RF signal includes information identifying the passive RF tag.

3. A system for locating people or objects in an industrial setting, the system comprising:

a) an active area-wide UWB transmitter that transmits a short UWB pulse as a signal and a passive proximity-based RFID tag located on or in proximity to a person or object to be located in an industrial setting;

b) at least three UWB monitoring stations in different known locations;

c) a metal structure positioned such that a radio frequency signal transmitted by the active UWB transmitter is reflected around all or a portion of the metal structure before reaching at least one of the UWB monitoring stations; and

d) a computer in communication with the at least three UWB monitoring stations; and

e) at least one RF proximity transceiver capable of transmitting a signal causing the passive RFID tag to emit a responding signal;

wherein the RF proximity transceiver is capable of obtaining identification information identifying the passive RF tag from the responding signal and communicating identification information identifying the passive RF tag and time of arrival information to the computer;

wherein the computer compares the identification information communicated by the RF proximity transceiver with information communicated from the UWB monitoring stations to verify that the UWB transmitter is transmitting UWB signals; and

wherein the at least three UWB monitoring stations are capable of receiving a short UWB pulse signal from the UWB transmitter, obtaining from the UWB signal identification information identifying the UWB transmitter communicating the identification information and time of arrival information to the computer and wherein the computer is capable of using the identification information and time of arrival information to calculate location of the person or object to be located.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein a rule is applied to the calculated location of the person or object to be located to determine whether an alert should be generated in response to the calculated location of the person or object to be located.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the computer compares the calculated location of the person or object to be located with authorized locations for the person or object to be located.

6. The system in claim 3 wherein the RF proximity transceiver is further capable of comparing identification information obtained from the responding signal to predetermined authorized identities.