Firearm visibility network

• US 8,325,041 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Waterhouse, Paul, August, Jason, Stevens, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US12/108,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/00 Accessories or details not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A system for identifying, monitoring, and tracking a firearm includes: a low frequency radio tag affixed to the firearm, the radio tag configured to receive and send data signals, the radio tag including: a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz, a transceiver operatively connected to the tag antenna, the transceiver configured to transmit and receive data signals at the low radio frequency; a data storage device configured to store data including identification data for identifying the firearm, and a data processor configured to process data received from the transceiver and the data storage device and to transmit data to cause the transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon the identification data stored in the data storage device.

Claims

1. A system for identifying, monitoring, and tracking a firearm, the system comprising:

a low frequency radio tag affixed to the firearm, said radio tag configured to receive and send data signals, the radio tag comprising;

a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz, a transceiver operatively connected to the tag antenna, said transceiver configured to transmit and receive data signals at the low radio frequency;

a data storage device configured to store data comprising identification data for identifying the firearm;

a processor configured to process data received from the transceiver and the data storage device and to transmit data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon the identification data stored in said data storage device;

a connector for a power source to power the processor and the transceiver; and

an onboard crystal used for data encryption.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the low radio frequency does not exceed 300 kilohertz.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification data comprises an internet protocol address, and the processor is operable for communication with an internet router using said internet protocol address, such that at least a portion of the identification data can be transmitted through the internet router to be viewable through a web browser.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio tag further comprises at least one sensor operable to generate a status signal upon sensing a pre-determined status condition.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein another radio tag within a network is operable to receive the status signal through its transceiver and wherein the another radio tag is operable to respond to this signal.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the transceiver is operable to automatically emit a warning signal at the low radio frequency upon generation of the status signal by the at least one sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the radio tag further comprises:

a clock operable to generate a time signal corresponding to the status signal, and wherein the data storage device is operable to store corresponding pairs of status and time signals as a temporal history of events corresponding to the firearm.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the transceiver is operable to automatically transmit the temporal history at the low radio frequency upon receipt by said transceiver of a data signal that corresponds to the identification data stored in the data storage device.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising the energy source operable for activating the transceiver and the processor.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reader in operative communication with the tag antenna, said reader configured to receive data signals from the radio tag.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one field antenna disposed at an orientation and within a distance from the radio tag that permits effective communication therewith at the low radio frequency.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one field antenna comprises a large loop, wherein a distance from the at least one field antenna to the tag does not exceed a major dimension of said large loop.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one field antenna is positioned vertically.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one field antenna is a loop antenna.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter in operative communication with the tag antenna, said transmitter being operable to send data signals to the radio tag.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the transmitter is in communication with an at least one field antenna.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the reader, an at least one field antenna, and a transmitter are combined into a handheld device configured for reading and transmitting signals to and from the radio tag.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one field antenna, the reader, and a transmitter are combined into a handheld device configured for reading and transmitting signals to and from the radio tag.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the transmitter, at least one field antenna, and a reader are combined into a handheld device configured for reading and transmitting signals to and from the radio tag.

20. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a central data processor in operative communication with the reader.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a central data processor in operative communication with the transmitter.

22. A reader for identifying, monitoring, and tracking a firearm, said reader comprising a low frequency transceiver configured to receive and send encrypted data signals to a radio tag operating at a low frequency, said radio tag being affixed to the firearm.

23. The reader of claim 22, the reader further comprising:

at least one field antenna disposed at an orientation and within a distance from the radio tag that permits effective communication therewith at the low radio frequency.

24. A method for identifying, tracking and monitoring a firearm, said method comprising steps of:

attaching a low frequency radio tag to the firearm, said radio tag comprising a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz, a transceiver operatively connected to said antenna, said transceiver being operable to transmit and receive data signals at said low radio frequency, a data storage device configured to store data comprising identification data for identifying said radio tag, a processor operable to process data received from said transceiver and said data storage device and to send data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon said identification data stored in said data storage device, and a connector for an energy source for activating said transceiver and said processor, and an onboard crystal used for data encryption;

storing, in the data storage device of the radio tag, data comprising identification data relating to said firearm;

reading the identification data from the transceiver of the radio tag by interrogating said radio tag with radio frequency interrogation signals at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz via said tag antenna; and

storing encrypted data.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising a step of:

transmitting the identification data from the radio tag to a central data processor.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising a step of:

transmitting the data such that the data is viewable via web browser.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising a step of:

generating a report detailing the transmitted data.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the storing step further comprises storing a unique identifier corresponding to the firearm, the unique identifier stored in the data storage device.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the unique identifier is used as a key to access data about the firearm.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising a step of:

receiving a status signal from at least one sensor located in the radio tag, the at least one sensor operable to generate a status signal upon sensing a pre-determined status condition.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising a step of:

receiving a time signal corresponding to the status signal, said receiving step further comprising steps of;

receiving stored corresponding pairs of status and time signals as a temporal history of events experienced by the firearm; and

receiving the temporal history at said low radio frequency.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of receiving a time signal is performed automatically upon receipt by the transceiver of the status signal.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising a step of emitting a warning signal upon receipt of the status signal.

34. The method of claim 27 further comprising a step of transmitting signals to the radio tag to cause the processor to modify its programming, in response to information contained in the report.