Multi-modal active RFID tag with biometric sensors, systems and methods of ITV tracking
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification and autonomous tracking system comprising:
- a) an active, configurable, multi-mode radio frequency identification tag having an internal microprocessor, a memory structure, and a primary and a secondary communication mode, each of which has at least one of uni-directional or bi-directional sensing and communication capability, said primary communication mode comprising a radio frequency transceiver and said secondary communication mode comprising at least one of an optical transceiver and an ultra-sound transceiver;
b) at least one reader communicatively coupled with and adapted with a radio frequency receiver to receive signals from the radio frequency identification tag via the radio frequency transceiver of the radio frequency identification tag;
c) at least one illuminator, positioned within communication range of said tag to sense said illuminator, communicatively coupled with and adapted with an optical transmitter or an ultrasound transmitter to send triggering information signals to the radio frequency identification tag via the secondary mode optical or ultrasound transceiver of the radio frequency identification tag;
d) said tag microprocessor is configured, upon receipt of, or absence of receipt of, a secondary mode communication signal from said illuminator, for transmission of signals by said tag to said reader via said radio frequency primary communication mode, said tag transmission signals representing information from said tag or said illuminator, data from a sensor, tag identification, identification of an object or person with which said tag is associated, illuminator identification, and combinations thereof; and
e) wherein said radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit to said reader at least one of identification data of an illuminator sensed in its communication range and a signal representative of a condition that no-illuminator-is-sensed when said tag does not receive a signal from at least one of said illuminators in its communication range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
RFID tags, methods and systems for total asset management, in-transit visibility and bio-metric verification and authorization. The system comprises an active, multi-modal, bi-directional RFID tag having a primary communication mode RF transceiver and a secondary mode IR/US transceiver. The tag includes sensors, such as bio-metric, and memory containing user bio-metric data. A reader and illuminator(s), preferably IR and/or US, are communicatively coupled with the tag and adapted to provide command and control signals to the tag and receive data/information from it. The user'"'"'s bio-metric data is read by the sensor, compared to the data base and verification communicated to an access or point of sale device. The tag looks for illuminators and reports to the reader the IDs of those it sees. The detection history permits tracking and locating tagged objects or persons, such as theme park guests. If no illuminator signal is seen, the tag sends a special signal.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification and autonomous tracking system comprising:
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a) an active, configurable, multi-mode radio frequency identification tag having an internal microprocessor, a memory structure, and a primary and a secondary communication mode, each of which has at least one of uni-directional or bi-directional sensing and communication capability, said primary communication mode comprising a radio frequency transceiver and said secondary communication mode comprising at least one of an optical transceiver and an ultra-sound transceiver; b) at least one reader communicatively coupled with and adapted with a radio frequency receiver to receive signals from the radio frequency identification tag via the radio frequency transceiver of the radio frequency identification tag; c) at least one illuminator, positioned within communication range of said tag to sense said illuminator, communicatively coupled with and adapted with an optical transmitter or an ultrasound transmitter to send triggering information signals to the radio frequency identification tag via the secondary mode optical or ultrasound transceiver of the radio frequency identification tag; d) said tag microprocessor is configured, upon receipt of, or absence of receipt of, a secondary mode communication signal from said illuminator, for transmission of signals by said tag to said reader via said radio frequency primary communication mode, said tag transmission signals representing information from said tag or said illuminator, data from a sensor, tag identification, identification of an object or person with which said tag is associated, illuminator identification, and combinations thereof; and e) wherein said radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit to said reader at least one of identification data of an illuminator sensed in its communication range and a signal representative of a condition that no-illuminator-is-sensed when said tag does not receive a signal from at least one of said illuminators in its communication range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A radio frequency identification device for a radio frequency identification and autonomous tracking system having at least one optical or ultrasound transmitting illuminator and at least one reader, each of which has the capability of exchanging signals with said device, said device comprising:
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a) an active, configurable, multi-mode radio frequency identification tag having a microprocessor, a memory structure, and both a primary and a secondary communication mode, each of said communication modes being at least one of a uni-directional and a bi-directional communication mode; b) said primary communication mode comprising a radio frequency transceiver in said tag adapted to transmit information to said radio frequency reader of said system; c) said secondary communication mode comprising at least one of a receiver and a transceiver in said tag adapted for at least one of optical, ultra-sound, and both optical and ultra-sound signal processing, said secondary communication mode being adapted to receive signals from said at least one optical and ultra-sound illuminator of said system; d) said tag microprocessor is configured, upon receipt of, or absence of receipt of, a secondary mode communication signal from said illuminator of said system, for transmission by said tag of signals between said tag and said reader or said illuminator of said system via said primary or secondary communication mode, said signals representing information, data from at least one sensor, tag identification, identification of an object or person with which said tag is associated, illuminator identification, receipt of or absence of receipt of a secondary mode communication signal from said illuminator of said system, and combinations thereof; and e) wherein said tag sensor includes a sensor capable of reading bio-metric data and said tag is adapted to transmit said bio-metric data read by said sensor to said reader or said illuminator via said secondary mode of communication. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of communicating with a radio frequency identification tag in a radio frequency identification and tracking system comprising a plurality of tags, and a plurality of devices separate from said tags, each of said devices having at least one illuminator functionality selected from radio frequency, ultra-sound and optical signal transmission, said illuminator devices being distributed in an array throughout a pre-selected area, each tag being positioned within communication range of at least one of said devices the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing among said tracking system tags, at least one active, configurable, multi-modal radio frequency tag having a microprocessor, a memory structure, a primary, radio frequency, mode of communication and at least one secondary, optical or ultra-sound, mode of communication; b) illuminating an area within communication range of said tag with a secondary, optical or ultra-sound, mode of communication signal from at least one said device having said illuminator functionality; c) linking, in said tag, the transmission by said tag of a selected first signal by means of at least one of said tag'"'"'s primary, radio frequency, and said secondary, optical or ultra-sound, modes of communication, to receipt, or not, by said tag of a secondary mode of communication signal from at least one of said devices; d) transmitting by said tag a primary, radio frequency, or secondary, optical or ultra-sound, mode of communication selected second signal to at least one reader, or said device having illuminator functionality within said communication range of said tag; e) receiving by said reader said first or said second selected signal transmitted from said radio frequency identification tag, so that said tracking system can determine information relating to the location of said tag; f) wherein said selected first or second signal from said tag comprises at least one signal representing said location information, data from a sensor, tag identification, identification of an object or person with which said tag is associated, illuminator device identification, and combinations thereof; and g) tracking the location of said tag and an object or person associated with said tag, by comparison of an identification signal from at least one of said devices, or absence of receipt of an identification signal from at least one of said devices by said tag, as reported by said tag to said at least one reader, with information on the physical location of said devices of said array. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification