Methods and apparatus for a pervasive locationing and presence-detection system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A locationing system for use in a wireless network, the system comprising:
- a wireless switch;
a global positioning system (GPS) integral with the wireless switch and configured to communicate GPS data to the wireless switch;
at least one access port (AP) coupled to the wireless switch; and
at least two RFID readers configured to communicate with the at least one access port, each of the two RFID readers configured to read an RFID tag and communicate RFID tag data to the wireless switch, wherein the at least two RFID readers include a mobile RFID reader and a fixed RFID reader, the fixed RFID reader having a known location;
wherein the wireless switch is configured to determine the location of the RFID tag utilizing the GPS data and at least one of the known location of the fixed RFID reader and a known offset distance between the access port and the mobile RFID reader.
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Abstract
A locationing system for use in a wireless network generally includes a wireless switch and a global positioning system (GPS) located proximate to or integrated into the wireless switch such that it communicates GPS data to the wireless switch. At least one access port (AP) is coupled to the wireless switch. At least one RFID reader (mobile and/or fixed) is configured to communicate with the access port, and the RFID reader is configured to read an RFID tag and communicate RFID tag data to the wireless switch. The wireless switch is configured to determine the location of the RFID tag utilizing the GPS data and the RFID tag data.
9 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A locationing system for use in a wireless network, the system comprising:
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a wireless switch; a global positioning system (GPS) integral with the wireless switch and configured to communicate GPS data to the wireless switch; at least one access port (AP) coupled to the wireless switch; and at least two RFID readers configured to communicate with the at least one access port, each of the two RFID readers configured to read an RFID tag and communicate RFID tag data to the wireless switch, wherein the at least two RFID readers include a mobile RFID reader and a fixed RFID reader, the fixed RFID reader having a known location; wherein the wireless switch is configured to determine the location of the RFID tag utilizing the GPS data and at least one of the known location of the fixed RFID reader and a known offset distance between the access port and the mobile RFID reader. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A wireless switch comprising:
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a processor configured to receive RFID tag data from an access port, a mobile RFID reader, and a fixed RFID reader, the fixed RFID reader having a known location; a global positioning system (GPS) integral with the wireless switch and communicatively coupled to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to communicate GPS data to the wireless switch, and wherein the wireless switch is configured to determine the location of the RFID tag utilizing the GPS data and at least one of a known location of the fixed RFID reader and a known offset distance between the access port and the mobile RFID reader. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A locationing method comprising:
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providing a wireless switch within an environment; providing a fixed RFID reader within the environment, the fixed RFID reader having a known location; providing a mobile RFID reader within the environment; providing an access port coupled to the wireless switch; providing a global positioning system (GPS) integral with the wireless switch and configured to communicate GPS data to the wireless switch; receiving RFID tag data associated with an RFID tag from the fixed RFID reader and the mobile RFID reader; receiving the GPS data; and determining the location of the RFID tag utilizing the GPS data, the RFID tag data, and at least one of the known location of the fixed RFID reader and a known offset distance between the mobile RFID reader and the access port. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification