Tracking objects crossing a border line between two zones
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting the crossing of a border line section between a first zone and a second zone, comprising:
- i. an antenna assembly located near said border line section, comprising;
(a) a first antenna section connected to a first transmitter, having a directional antenna with a radiating element oriented in a first direction and a radiation pattern aligned to radiate greater power in the first direction, and(b) a second antenna section connected to a second transmitter, having a directional antenna with a radiating element oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction and a radiation pattern aligned to radiate greater power in the second direction;
wherein said first antenna section is directed from said border line section toward said first zone and said second antenna section is directed from said border line toward said second zone, andii. a smart tag that can be affixed to an object;
wherein said smart tag detects an event of said smart tag crossing said border line section, by receiving transmission of identification data of said first antenna section but not of said second antenna section when said smart tag is in said first zone, and then receiving transmission of identification data of said first antenna section and said second antenna section simultaneously, and then receiving transmission of identification data of said second antenna section but not of said first antenna section when said smart tag is in said second zone and then detecting that receipt of said transmission of identification data of said second antenna section has stopped while transmission of identification data of said first antenna section is not being received.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses a tracking apparatus and system thereof, useful for objects affixed with a smart tags entering and exiting an enclosed area through a gate. A gate consists of two directional antennas directed respectively inward and outward from the gate crossing line and connected to an RF beacon. Each smart tag affixed to an object approaching the gate area, receives a transmission of ID associated with each directional antenna. The smart tag detects crossing of the gate line and direction of crossing by method of processing the ID of the two directional antennas. The detected crossing data is transmitted via a wireless communication link, to a base station located at the enclosed zone. The base station transmits the gate detection data to a service center.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the crossing of a border line section between a first zone and a second zone, comprising:
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i. an antenna assembly located near said border line section, comprising; (a) a first antenna section connected to a first transmitter, having a directional antenna with a radiating element oriented in a first direction and a radiation pattern aligned to radiate greater power in the first direction, and (b) a second antenna section connected to a second transmitter, having a directional antenna with a radiating element oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction and a radiation pattern aligned to radiate greater power in the second direction; wherein said first antenna section is directed from said border line section toward said first zone and said second antenna section is directed from said border line toward said second zone, and ii. a smart tag that can be affixed to an object; wherein said smart tag detects an event of said smart tag crossing said border line section, by receiving transmission of identification data of said first antenna section but not of said second antenna section when said smart tag is in said first zone, and then receiving transmission of identification data of said first antenna section and said second antenna section simultaneously, and then receiving transmission of identification data of said second antenna section but not of said first antenna section when said smart tag is in said second zone and then detecting that receipt of said transmission of identification data of said second antenna section has stopped while transmission of identification data of said first antenna section is not being received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. A method for detecting the crossing of a border line section between a first zone and a second zone from said first zone to second zone and vice versa, comprising:
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i. providing an antenna;
said antenna comprising;(a) a first antenna section connected to a first transmitter, having a directional antenna with a radiating element oriented in a first direction and a radiation pattern aligned to radiate greater power in the first direction, and (b) a second antenna section connected to a second transmitter, having a directional antenna with a radiating element oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction and a radiation pattern aligned to radiate greater power in the second direction; said first antenna section is directed from said border line section toward said first zone and said second antenna section is directed from said border line section toward said second zone, and ii. providing a smart tag affixed to an object; wherein detecting an event of said smart tag crossing said border line section is processed by a tag state machine, the detecting comprising; (a) receiving by said smart tag identification transmission of said first antenna section but not of said second antenna section when said smart tag is in said first zone and then (b) receiving transmission of identification data of said first antenna section and said second antenna section simultaneously, and then (c) receiving identification transmission of said second antenna section but not of said first antenna section when said smart tag is in said second zone, and then (d) detecting that receipt of said transmission of identification data of said second antenna section has stopped while transmission of identification data of said first antenna section is not being received. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
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20. An apparatus for detecting the crossing of a border line section between a first zone and a second zone, comprising:
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a smart tag configured to be affixed to an object movable between the first zone and the second zone, said smart tag configured to detect an event of said smart tag crossing said border line section, by; receiving transmission of identification data of a first antenna section but not of a second antenna section when said smart tag is in said first zone and then receiving transmission of identification data of said first antenna section and said second antenna section simultaneously, and then receiving transmission of identification data of said second antenna section but not of said first antenna section when said smart tag is in said second zone and then detecting that receipt of said transmission of identification data of said second antenna section has stopped while transmission of identification data of said first antenna section is not being received; wherein said first antenna section is located near said border line section and connected to a first transmitter, said first antenna section having a directional antenna with a radiating element oriented in a first direction and a radiation pattern aligned to radiate greater power in the first direction, said second antenna section is located near said border line section and connected to a second transmitter said second antenna section having a directional antenna with a radiating element oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction and a radiation pattern aligned to radiate greater power in the second direction; and
said first antenna section is directed from said border line section toward said first zone and said second antenna section is directed from said border line section toward said second zone.
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Specification