Systems and methods for object localization and path identification based on RFID sensing

• US 9,513,370 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucomm Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lucomm Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Cristache, Lucian
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US14/480,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A networked radio frequency identification system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the RFID tag readers over a network, and a software module for storage on and operable by the computer that localizes RFID tags based on information received from the RFID tag readers using a network model having endpoints and oriented links. In an additional example, at least one of the RFID tag readers includes an adjustable configuration setting selected from RF signal strength, antenna gain, antenna polarization, and antenna orientation. In a further aspect, the system localizes RFID tags based on hierarchical threshold limit calculations. In an additional aspect, the system controls a locking device associated with an access point based on localization of an authorized RFID tag at the access point and reception of additional authorizing information from an input device.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for localizing an RFID tag, the system comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag beacons having at least one setting selected from transmit power, antenna orientation, antenna gain, and antenna polarization;

a localization module in signal communication with the RFID tag;

a software module communicatively coupled with the localization module;

a plurality of location based endpoints, each of the endpoints being associated with one or more of the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag beacons;

the localization module being configured to localize the RFID tag based on data received from the RFID tag beacons;

wherein the RFID tag is configured to receive a beacon identifier and a beacon setting from at least one of the RFID tag beacons, and further the RFID tag is configured to transmit the beacon tag identifier, the beacon tag setting, and a set of received signal parameters to the localization module, and wherein the localization module is configured to determine a first location of the RFID tag based on the received signal parameters and the tag beacon setting;

wherein the software module further is configured with a plurality of time management rules, at least one of the time management rules associating a predefined time interval and a presence of the RFID tag at one or more of the location based endpoints with a particular semantic attribute from among a plurality of semantic attributes, the software module further assigning the particular semantic attribute to the RFID tag based on the application of the at least one time management rule and a comparison of the predefined time interval with a determined time associated with the RFID tag in relation to a particular one of the one or more endpoints; and

wherein the predefined time interval is defined as one of a plurality of predefined semantic intervals.

2. The RFID system of claim 1, wherein the localization module is further configured to determine a semantic attribute of movement for the RFID tag.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system changes an activation status of at least one of the RFID tags based on the assigned semantic.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system adjusts the setting of at least one of the plurality of RFID beacon tags based on a time interval and a configured security level.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the software module provides a notification to a user based on the assigned semantic.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further includes a sensor measuring a parameter other than RFID location, and wherein the at least one time management rule includes an association between a value of a parameter detected by the sensor and the semantic attribute.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the software module sends a semantic identifier associated with the assigned semantic to at least one RFID beacon tag, and further wherein the RFID beacon tag broadcasts the semantic identifier.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the semantic identifier is the assigned semantic attribute.