Method and apparatus for tracking via a radio frequency identification device

• US 9,911,020 B1
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Ken, Bogdan, Pamela A. M., Gerszberg, Irwin, Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blouin, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/372,466
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 340 81
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10504 Data fields affixed to objects or articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device, including a radio frequency interface configured to receive, from a radio frequency identification device, a first wireless signal of a first carrier frequency that indicates a personal identifier. A transceiver can be configured to generate a transmission signal of second carrier frequency that indicates the personal identifier and location information associated with the device and to transmit electromagnetic waves in response to the transmission signal at a first physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path. The electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium and are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium, and the transmission signal can be extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system including signal processing circuitry, from a radio frequency identification device, a first wireless signal comprising a first carrier frequency and indicating a personal identifier;

decoding, by the system, the personal identifier from the first wireless signal received from the radio frequency identification device;

generating, by the system, a transmission signal of second carrier frequency and indicating the personal identifier and location information associated with the system, wherein the transmission signal is generated by converting, to the second carrier frequency, an intermediary signal indicating the location information and the personal identifier that is decoded; and

transmitting, by the system and at a first physical interface of a transmission medium, electromagnetic waves in response to the transmission signal that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium, and wherein the transmission signal is extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the system, a second wireless signal to an area proximate to the system, wherein the first wireless signal is received responsive to transmission of the second wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first wireless signal is generated by the radio frequency identification device via energy induced in the radio frequency identification device from the second wireless signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification device is included with a wearable item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is included in a header associated with the transmission signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal identifier is encoded in the first wireless signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission signal is demodulated at the second carrier frequency by the receiving device to extract the location information and the personal identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance associated with the radio frequency identification device is determined by the receiving device according to the location information and the personal identifier that are extracted.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a direction of movement associated with the radio frequency identification device is determined by the receiving device according to the location information and the personal identifier that are extracted.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a speed of movement associated with the radio frequency identification device is determined by the receiving device based on the location information and the personal identifier that are extracted.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein an estimated time of arrival associated with the radio frequency identification device is determined by the receiving device according to the location information and the personal identifier that are extracted.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system including signal processing circuitry and from a radio frequency identification device, a first wireless signal of a first carrier frequency and indicating a personal identifier;

generating, by the system, a transmission signal of second carrier frequency and indicating location information associated with the system and the personal identifier, wherein the transmission signal is generated by converting the first wireless signal to the second carrier frequency; and

transmitting, by the system and at a first physical interface of a transmission medium, electromagnetic waves in response to the transmission signal that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium, and wherein the transmission signal is extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmission signal is demodulated at the second carrier frequency by the receiving device to extract the first wireless signal, and wherein the location information and the personal identifier are extracted from the first wireless signal by the receiving device by demodulating the first wireless signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the location information is included in a header associated with the transmission signal.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting, by the system, a second wireless signal to an area proximate to the system, wherein the first wireless signal is received responsive to transmission of the second wireless signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first wireless signal is generated by the radio frequency identification device via energy induced into the radio frequency identification device from the second wireless signal.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency identification device is included with a wearable item.

18. A device, comprising:

a radio frequency interface configured to receive, from a radio frequency identification device, a first wireless signal of a first carrier frequency that indicates a personal identifier; and

a transceiver configured to generate a transmission signal of a second carrier frequency that indicates the personal identifier and location information associated with the device and to transmit electromagnetic waves in response to the transmission signal at a first physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium and are received by a receiving device at a second physical interface of the transmission medium, and wherein the transmission signal is extracted from the electromagnetic waves by the receiving device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the transmission signal is generated by converting the first wireless signal to the second carrier frequency, wherein the transmission signal is demodulated at the second carrier frequency by the receiving device to extract the first wireless signal, and wherein the location information and the personal identifier are extracted from the first wireless signal by the receiving device by demodulating the first wireless signal.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the transceiver is further configured to decode the personal identifier from the first wireless signal received from the radio frequency identification device, wherein the transmission signal is generated by converting, to the second carrier frequency, an intermediary signal indicating the location information and the personal identifier that is decoded, and wherein the transmission signal is demodulated at the second carrier frequency by the receiving device to extract the location information and the personal identifier.