Method and system for controlling the traffic flow through an RFID directional portal

• US 8,803,706 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morin, Raymond B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/940,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 340/582, 340/568, 340/825.35, 340/825.54, 340/825.31, 340/825.3, 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/568.5, 340/568.8, 340/5.1, 340/10.1, 340/825.25, 340/5.7, 340/10.2, 340/539.27, 340/10.3, 340/540, 701/117, 701/23, 701/24
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications

Abstract

A system having a first motion sensor configured to sense movement of an object on a first side of a portal, the object including an RFID tag, a first RFID reader being activated by the first motion sensor when the first motion sensor senses movement of the object, the first RFID reader reading the RFID tag, a second motion sensor configured to sense movement of the object on a second side of the portal and a second RFID reader being activated by the second motion sensor when the second motion sensor senses movement of the object, the second RFID reader reading the RFID tag, wherein, when one of the first and second motion sensors sense movement of the object, the other one of the first and second motion sensors is deactivated for a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first motion sensor for sensing a movement of a first object on a first side of a portal, the portal comprising the first side and a second side, the first object including a first radio frequency identification tag; and

a first radio frequency identification reader for being activated by the first motion sensor when the first motion sensor senses the movement of the first object on the first side of the portal, wherein the first radio frequency identification reader is for reading the first radio frequency identification tag, wherein the first motion sensor deactivates a second motion sensor for a predetermined period of time when the first motion sensor senses the movement of the first object on the first side of the portal, wherein the second motion sensor is for sensing a movement of a second object on the second side of the portal, wherein the second object comprises a second radio frequency identification tag.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second motion sensor is for activating a second radio frequency identification reader when the second motion sensor senses the movement of the second object on the second side of the portal, wherein the second radio frequency identification reader is for reading the second radio frequency identification tag.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a relay for receiving a signal from the first motion sensor and for deactivating the second motion sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a signaling device for directing a flow of traffic through the portal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the signaling device is for indicating a traffic flow from the first side to the second side when the first motion sensor senses the movement of the first object on the first side of the portal.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the signaling device includes a plurality of lights to direct the flow of traffic through the portal.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the signaling device includes an audio cue to direct the flow of traffic through the portal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is adjustable.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first motion sensor comprises an acoustic motion sensor.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the signaling device includes a first signaling device at the first side of the portal and a second signaling device at the second side of the portal, each of the first signaling device and the second signaling device including a stop signal and a go signal, wherein when the second motion sensor is deactivated, the stop signal of the second signaling device is activated.

11. A method, comprising:

sensing, by a first motion sensor, a movement of a first object on a first side of a portal, the portal comprising the first side and a second side, the first object including a first radio frequency identification tag; and

activating, via the first motion sensor, a first radio frequency identification reader when the first motion sensor senses the movement of the first object on the first side of the portal, wherein the first radio frequency identification reader is for reading the first radio frequency identification tag, wherein the first motion sensor deactivates a second motion sensor for a first predetermined period of time when the first motion sensor senses the movement of the first object on the first side of the portal, wherein the second motion sensor is for sensing a movement of a second object on the second side of the portal, wherein the second object comprises a second radio frequency identification tag.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second motion sensor is for activating a second radio frequency identification reader when the second motion sensor senses the movement of the second object on the second side of the portal, wherein the second radio frequency identification reader is for reading the second radio frequency identification tag.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reading, by the first radio frequency identification reader, the first radio frequency identification tag.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reactivating, after the first predetermined period of time has elapsed following the deactivating of the second motion sensor, the second motion sensor.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

activating, upon the deactivating of the second motion sensor, a stop signal on the second side of the portal.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first motion sensor comprises an acoustic motion sensor.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sensing, by the second motion sensor, a movement of a second object on the second side of the portal, the second object including a second radio frequency identification tag;

activating, upon the sensing of the movement of the second object on the second side of the portal, a second radio frequency identification reader; and

deactivating, upon the sensing of the movement of the second object on the second side of the portal, the first motion sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

reading, by the second radio frequency identification reader, the second radio frequency identification tag; and

reactivating, after a second predetermined period of time has elapsed following the deactivating of the first motion sensor, the first motion sensor.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

activating, upon deactivating the first motion sensor, a first stop signal on the first side of the portal.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the first predetermined period of time is adjustable.