Portable lap counter and system
DCFirst Claim
1. A plurality of highly portable vertically-standing RFID tag readers (bollards) for use in athletic events, such as marathons, each of the bollards comprising:
- a vertical element for supporting an internal RFID tuner component above a surface on which the bollard is placed during use;
a base element located at the bottom of the vertical element for providing stability to the vertical element when the bollard is placed on the surface; and
an internal RFID tuner component comprising a plurality of components all of which are located within the bollard for reading an RFID tag, the plurality of components including;
a power system for providing power to the powered components of the internal RFID tuner component;
a processor for directing the functions of the bollard with regard to an athletic event in which the bollard is participating;
a tuner component configured to read RFID tags that come within the RFID communication range of the bollard; and
a wireless interface component configured to provide wireless communication to and from the bollard, whereby if a bollard is not in direct communication with a base station, the bollard is configured to relay information to the base station through another bollard.
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Abstract
A highly portable, vertically-standing RFID tag reader, referred to as a “bollard,” is presented. The bollard includes a vertical element supporting an internal RFID tuner component above the surface on which the bollard rests. Additionally, each bollard includes a base element that provides vertical stability to the vertical element and a plurality of internal components. The internal components include the following: a power system, a processor, a tuner component, and a wireless interface. The power system provides power to the powered components of the bollard. The processor directs and/or executes the functions of the bollard with regard to an event in which the bollard is configured to participate. The tuner component is configured to read RFID tags that come within RFID communication range of the bollard. The wireless interface component is configured to provide wireless communications between the bollard and an operator console.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A plurality of highly portable vertically-standing RFID tag readers (bollards) for use in athletic events, such as marathons, each of the bollards comprising:
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a vertical element for supporting an internal RFID tuner component above a surface on which the bollard is placed during use; a base element located at the bottom of the vertical element for providing stability to the vertical element when the bollard is placed on the surface; and an internal RFID tuner component comprising a plurality of components all of which are located within the bollard for reading an RFID tag, the plurality of components including; a power system for providing power to the powered components of the internal RFID tuner component; a processor for directing the functions of the bollard with regard to an athletic event in which the bollard is participating; a tuner component configured to read RFID tags that come within the RFID communication range of the bollard; and a wireless interface component configured to provide wireless communication to and from the bollard, whereby if a bollard is not in direct communication with a base station, the bollard is configured to relay information to the base station through another bollard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An event tracking system for tracking participants in an event using an RFID tag, the event tracking system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of highly portable vertically-standing RFID tag readers (bollards) for recording the RFID tags of event participants, each of the bollards comprising; (1) a vertical element for supporting an internal RFID tuner component above a surface on which the bollard is placed during use; (2) a base element located at the bottom of the vertical element for providing stability to the vertical element when the bollard is placed on the surface; and (3) an internal RFID tuner component comprising a plurality of components all of which are located within the bollard for reading an RFID tag, the plurality of components including; (i) a power system for providing power to the powered components of the internal RFID tuner component; (ii) a processor for directing the functions of the bollard with regard to an athletic event in which the bollard is participating; (iii) a tuner component configured to read RFID tags that come within the RFID communication range of the bollard; and (iv) a wireless interface component configured to provide wireless communication to and from the bollard; (b) an operator console for managing an event and its participants according to the information provided by the plurality of bollards; and (c) a base station, wherein the base station is communicatively coupled to the operator console, and wherein the base station is communicatively coupled to at least some of the plurality of bollards in a wireless manner, whereby if a bollard is not in direct communication with the base station, the bollard is configured to relay information to the base station through another bollard. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification