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

• US 9,720,081 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• 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:
  US14/480,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101
• 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 readers;

at least one sensor, the sensor being one of an environmental sensor, a biological sensor, a building sensor, or an industrial sensor;

a computer system communicatively coupled with the plurality of RFID tag readers and the at least one sensor;

a memory associated with the computer system, the memory storing a network semantic model having a plurality of endpoints and oriented links between the endpoints, wherein the endpoints are associated with physical locations in space, each of the endpoints having associated with one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers;

the computer system further being configured to determine a preferred location for the RFID tag, the determination of a preferred location being a function of a prior rating assigned to the RFID tag,

wherein the computer system is further configured to determine a preferred semantic route for the RFID tag;

wherein the preferred semantic route is determined as a function of the prior rating;

wherein the prior rating is based on an input received from the at least one sensor, and the computer system adjusts the network semantic model as a function of an input from the at least one sensor sensed parameter;

wherein the computer system accepts an input from an external source and further wherein the computer system adjusts the network semantic model as a function of the input from the external source.

2. The RFID system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is an environmental sensor configured to sense an environmental parameter, and further wherein the determination of the preferred location is based on the sensed environmental parameter.

3. The RFID system of claim 2, wherein the computer system is further configured to determine a preferred path of travel for the RFID tag.

4. The RFID system of claim 2, wherein the prior rating is further based on a prior semantic route associated with the RFID tag.

5. The RFID system of claim 2, wherein the RFID tag and an additional RFID tag belongs to a common semantic group.

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

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers;

a computer system in signal communication with the plurality of RFID tag readers over a network;

a memory associated with the computer system, the memory storing a network semantic model having a plurality of endpoints and oriented links between the endpoints, wherein the endpoints are associated with physical locations in space, each of the endpoints having associated with one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers; and

the computer system containing a software module operable by the computer system, wherein the software module;

localizes the RFID tag based on data received from the RFID tag readers;

associates a rating with the RFID tag by determining a semantic for the RFID tag and associating the rating with the tag based on the determined semantic; and

determines a preferred location for the RFID tag, the determination of a preferred location being a function of the rating assigned to the RFID;

wherein the software module is further configured to determine a preferred semantic route for the RFID tag;

wherein the preferred semantic route is determined as a function of the associated rating; and

at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter external to the RFID tag, and further wherein the associated rating is based on the sensed parameter;

wherein the computer system adjusts the network semantic model as a function of the sensed parameter;

wherein the computer system accepts an input from an external source, and the computer system adjusts the network semantic model as a function of the input from the external source.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the RFID tag is assigned to a semantic group and the system associates the rating based on the determined semantic and the semantic group.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the semantic is associated with a rating or a weight.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the system further adjusts the network semantic model as a function of the rating associated with the tag.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the system accepts an input from an external source and further wherein the determination of the semantic by the system is based on the input from the external source.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the network software model determines an incentive as a function of the rating.