Systems and methods for locating objects using RFID technology and alerting mechanisms

• US 9,396,425 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Schattmaier, Steve, Treat, William, Shorts, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US14/605,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20160217361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

Systems (100) and methods (400) for an object (112₁) within an area (102). The methods involve: receiving, by a Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tag (114₁) coupled to the object, a Radio Frequency (“RF”) interrogator signal transmitted from an RFID reader (108); processing, by the RFID tag, the RF interrogator signal to determine if the RF interrogator signal applies thereto; and performing operations by the RFID tag to direct a person'"'"'s attention directly to the object by activating at least one alerting mechanism (220) electrically and mechanically coupled to the RFID tag when the RF interrogator signal is determined to apply to the RFID tag. In some scenarios, the alerting is additionally or alternatively performed by a beacon (110).

Claims

1. A method for locating an object within an area, comprising:

receiving, by a Radio Frequency Identification (“

RFID”

) tag coupled to the object, a Radio Frequency (“

RF”

) interrogator signal transmitted from an RFID reader;

processing, by the RFID tag, the RF interrogator signal to determine if the RF interrogator signal applies thereto;

selecting, by the RFID tag, a number of alerts to be issued and at least one alert type from a plurality of different alert types based on at least one characteristic of the RF interrogator signal, said plurality of different alert types comprising a visual alert type, an auditory alert type and a tactile alert type; and

performing operations by the RFID tag to direct a person'"'"'s attention directly to the object by activating at least one alerting mechanism electrically and mechanically coupled to the RFID tag when the RF interrogator signal is determined to apply to the RFID tag, where activation of the at least one alerting mechanism causes the selected number of alerts of the selected alert type to be issued;

wherein at least one of the number of alerts to be issued and the alert type issued during an object locating process is modified based on changes of the at least one characteristic of the RF interrogator signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises an auditory, visual or tactile alerting device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising outputting alerts from the alerting mechanism at a frequency which signifies a proximity of the RFID reader to the RFID tag.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising selecting the frequency at which the alerts are to be output from the alerting mechanism based on a received signal strength.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising changing a frequency at which alerts are output from the alerting mechanism when a distance between the RFID reader and the RFID tag changes.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising changing a frequency at which alerts are output from the alerting mechanism when a received signal strength increases or decreases.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising outputting at least two alerts of different types from the alerting mechanism so as to signify a proximity of the RFID reader to the RFID tag.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising changing a type of at least one alert output from the alerting mechanism when a distance between the RFID reader and the RFID tag changes.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising outputting at least one additional alert from the alerting mechanism when a distance between the RFID reader and the RFID tag changes.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a reply signal from the RFID tag which includes information specifying an alert state thereof.

11. A method for locating an object within an area, comprising:

detecting, by a beacon, a particular combination of Radio Frequency (“

RF”

) interrogator signals and reply signals communicated between an RFID reader and an RFID tag coupled to the object;

selecting, by the beacon, a number of alerts to be issued and at least one alert type from a plurality of different alert types based on at least one characteristic of the RF interrogator signal, said plurality of different alert types comprising a visual alert type, an auditory alert type and a tactile alert type; and

performing operations by the beacon to direct a person'"'"'s attention to the area within which the object is disposed by activating at least one alerting mechanism of the beacon when the particular combination of RF interrogator signals and reply signals is detected thereby, where activation of the at least one alerting mechanism causes the selected number of alerts of the selected alert type to be issued;

wherein at least one of the number of alerts to be issued and the alert type issued during an object locating process is modified based on changes of the at least one characteristic of the RF interrogator signal.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises an auditory, visual or tactile alerting device.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising outputting alerts from the alerting mechanism at a frequency which signifies a proximity of the RFID reader to the beacon.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising selecting the frequency at which the alerts are to be output from the alerting mechanism based on a received signal strength.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising changing a frequency at which alerts are output from the alerting mechanism when a distance between the RFID reader and the beacon changes.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising changing a frequency at which alerts are output from the alerting mechanism when a received signal strength increases or decreases.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising outputting at least two alerts of different types from the alerting mechanism so as to signify a proximity of the RFID reader to the beacon.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising changing a type of at least one alert output from the alerting mechanism when a distance between the RFID reader and the beacon changes.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising outputting at least one additional alert from the alerting mechanism when a distance between the RFID reader and the beacon changes.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising monitoring, by the beacon, communications between the RFID reader and a plurality of RFID tags.