Method and apparatus for tracking objects and people
First Claim
1. A RFID system comprising:
- a RFID reader for detecting transponder data from a RFID transponder in any of a plurality of coverage areas;
a plurality of antennas in communication with the reader, wherein each antenna has an associated coverage area of the plurality of coverage areas;
a processor in communication with the reader, wherein the processor is configured to receive first transponder data that includes a timestamp from the reader and to generate detection information based on the received first transponder data, wherein the detection information includes first sighting data indicating a first sighting of a first transponder in any of the plurality of coverage areas and last sighting data indicating a last sighting of the first transponder in a first coverage area, and to use the last sighting data of the first transponder to determine that the first transponder is dwelling in the first coverage area, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the first transponder has been detected previously by the system in any of the plurality of coverage areas; and
a storage device, associated with the processor, that holds the detection information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object locating, identifying, tracking, and surveillance system, denoted the Assets Locating, Tracking, and Surveillance System (ALTSS), is provided for managing physical objects and evidence in environments such as police departments, law offices, and the Courts. ALTSS employs radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, computer programming and database applications, networking technologies, and hardware elements. ALTSS may locate and track physical evidence, merchandise, information carriers like files, folders or individual pieces of paper, and people, under certain conditions, in near-real time. It may be configured as part of a local area network, a wide area network, or the Internet. ALTSS may employ exemplary components such as RFID transponders, scanners, strategically located antennas and computers to facilitate tracking of objects and people as needed. Any number of users having access privileges and connected to the network may access ALTSS directly or remotely via the Internet to locate and track evidence or objects.
253 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A RFID system comprising:
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a RFID reader for detecting transponder data from a RFID transponder in any of a plurality of coverage areas; a plurality of antennas in communication with the reader, wherein each antenna has an associated coverage area of the plurality of coverage areas; a processor in communication with the reader, wherein the processor is configured to receive first transponder data that includes a timestamp from the reader and to generate detection information based on the received first transponder data, wherein the detection information includes first sighting data indicating a first sighting of a first transponder in any of the plurality of coverage areas and last sighting data indicating a last sighting of the first transponder in a first coverage area, and to use the last sighting data of the first transponder to determine that the first transponder is dwelling in the first coverage area, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the first transponder has been detected previously by the system in any of the plurality of coverage areas; and a storage device, associated with the processor, that holds the detection information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23)
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19. A RFID system comprising:
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a RFID reader for detecting transponder data from a plurality of RFID transponders in a plurality of coverage areas, wherein each transponder has unique transponder ID; a plurality of antennas in communication with the reader, wherein each antenna has an associated coverage area of the plurality of coverage areas; a processor in communication with the reader, wherein the processor is configured to receive detected transponder data that includes a transponder ID and a timestamp from the reader and to generate detection information based on the received detected transponder IDs, the detection information including first sighting data indicating first sighting of a particular transponder in a first coverage area and last sighting data indicating last sighting of a particular transponder in a first coverage area, and to use the last sighting data of the particular transponder to determine whether the particular transponder is dwelling in the first coverage area, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the particular transponder has been detected previously by the system in any of the plurality of coverage areas; a storage device, associated with the processor, that stores known transponder IDs and detection information associated with the known transponder IDs, wherein the detection information indicates whether a known transponder ID has been previously detected by the system in any of the plurality of coverage areas; wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether a detected transponder ID has been previously detected by the system based on the detection information stored in said storage device for the detected transponder ID, and identifying the detected transponder ID as new to the system if the detected transponder ID has not been previously detected in any of the plurality of coverage areas based on a comparison of the known transponder ID with the detected transponder ID; and wherein the processor further determines that the detected transponder ID is a detected known transponder ID if the detected transponder ID matches one of the stored known transponder IDs. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An RIM system comprising:
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a reader configured to perform a continuous series of read cycles during a first period of time, wherein said reader is further configured to read one or more transponders of a first plurality of transponders in a first coverage area during a read cycle; a plurality of antennas, wherein each antenna has an associated coverage area to provide a plurality of coverage areas coupled to said reader for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals to and from the first plurality of transponders in said first coverage area; and a processor configured to receive data from said reader, and responsive to said received data, to determine that a first transponder in said one or more transponders has entered said first coverage area, and to subsequently determine that said first transponder has exited said first coverage area.
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Specification