Personnel and asset tracking method and apparatus

• US 20030030569A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Ulrich, Joseph James Schmid, Michael Edward Wagener, Robert J. Jennings, Sanjeev Patel
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Ulrich, Joseph James Schmid, Michael Edward Wagener, Robert J. Jennings, Sanjeev Patel
• Inventors: Patel, Sanjeev, Ulrich, Daniel J., Jennings, Robert J., Wagener, Michael Edward, Schmid, Joseph James
• Granted Patent: US 6,825,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.49
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L

Abstract

A system is provided for locating and tracking tags within an area. Each tag includes a transmitter configured to transmit a unique identifier periodically. Location messages are received and processed by at least one monitoring system to determine whether a tag has changed location.

Claims

1. A system for locating and tracking tags, the system comprising:

a first monitoring means adaptable to monitor tags in a first sub-awareness area,

a second monitoring means adaptable to monitor tags in a second sub-awareness area, and

means for notifying the first monitoring means of detection in the second sub-awareness area of a tag assigned to the first sub-awareness area.

2. In a system for locating and tracking tags, a monitor comprising:

means for monitoring tags in a first sub-awareness area, and

means for receiving notification from a means for monitoring tags in a second sub-awareness area of detection in the second sub-awareness area of a tag assigned to the first sub-awareness area.

3. A locating and tracking system comprising:

a first monitor configured to monitor tags located in an awareness area,

a second monitor configured to detect a tag at a location outside the awareness area, and

a server configured to receive location messages from the first and second monitors and notify the first monitor if a tag is detected outside the awareness area.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the server provides location updates to the first monitor.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the location messages identify a tag and a location of the tag.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the location messages identify a status of a tag.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the location messages identify a time that a tag is at a location.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the first monitor includes a memory.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory is configured to store tag location information.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory is configured to store tag status information.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory is configured to store information relating to a time that a tag is at a location.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the first monitor is an independent monitoring system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second monitor is a dependent monitoring system.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second monitor is a second independent monitoring system.

15. In a locating and tracking system, a computer program operable to cause a computer to:

receive a first location message from a first monitoring system,

receive a second location message from a second monitoring system,

process the first and second location messages to determine whether a tag has moved to a new location, and

notify the first monitoring system if a second location message related to a tag assigned to the first monitoring system is received.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer program is also operable to notify the first monitoring system if a tag assigned to the first monitoring system is detected by a second monitoring system.

17. In a locating and tracking system, a computer program operable to cause a first computer which is monitoring an area to:

receive a transmission from a tag,

determine whether the tag has moved from a first location to a second location, and

send a location message to a second computer which is not monitoring the area if the tag has moved from the first location to the second location.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first computer is an independent monitoring system to which the tag is assigned.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the second computer is a client used by an individual to access locating and tracking information.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the location message indicates that the tag has entered a particular location.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the location message indicates that the tag has exited a particular location.

22. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing location messages, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a location message for a tag located in an area,

determining whether the tag is at a new location, and

providing a location update to a networked computer if the tag is at a new location to permit the location update to be accessed by a system that is not monitoring the area.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the system includes a central server.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the system includes a master station.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the system includes a client configured to permit a user to access locating and tracking information via the networked computer.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the client includes an interface to allow a user to perform location searches.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the interface allows the user to identify one of an object and person associated with the tag.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the locating and tracking information includes a previous location of the tag.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the location update includes a status of the tag.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the location update includes a time at which the tag is at a location.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the tag is assigned to a person.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the tag is assigned to an asset.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the location update indicates that the tag has entered a particular location.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the location update indicates that the tag has exited a particular location.

35. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing location messages, comprising the steps of:

receiving a location message,

determining whether an entry condition has occurred,

starting a timer if an entry condition has occurred, and

generating an exit message if the timer expires after a predetermined time during which no location messages are received.

36. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing action messages, comprising the steps of:

receiving an alert signal,

determining whether a first response to the alert signal is available,

initiating the first response if the first response is available,

determining whether a second response to the alert signal is available, and

initiating the second response if the second response is available.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the alert signal is received from a tag.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the first response is maintained by a first computer and the second response is maintained by a second computer.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of initiating the second response is performed only if the first response is not initiated.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the first response and the second response are one of an audible, visual, and electronic response.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of sending one of the first response and the second response to a pager.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of sending one of the first response and the second response to an audio annunciator.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of sending one of the first response and the second response to a client.

44. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of storing the alert signal at a central server.

45. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of storing the time that the alert signal was received.

46. A method for processing a location message in a system for locating and tracking objects, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a location message,

evaluating the location message to determine whether an event has occurred,

determining whether a notification is needed based on the results of the evaluating step, and

notifying a client if necessary based on the results of the determining step.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the evaluating step includes the step of comparing a current location to a prior location.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the evaluating step includes the step of determining whether a rule applies based on the location message.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the evaluating step includes the steps of determining whether the location message invokes any rules, and determining whether the location message violates any rules.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the notifying step includes the step of determining whether the client is registered to be notified of the event.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the location message includes information relating to an object at a location.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the notifying step includes the step of determining which client to notify of the event.

53. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of verifying that the client wants to be notified of the occurrence of the event prior to notifying the client.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein the event includes a change in location of a tag.

55. The method of claim 46, wherein the event includes a change in status of a tag.

56. The method of claim 46, wherein the event includes a tag being present at a location.

57. The method of claim 46, wherein the event includes a tag exiting from a location.

58. The method of claim 46, wherein the event includes a tag entering a location.

59. In a system for locating and tracking objects, a computer program product operable to process a location message, comprising:

means for receiving a location message,

means for evaluating the location message to determine whether an event has occurred, and

means for notifying a client of the occurrence of an event if an event has occurred.

60. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing location messages, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a location update,

storing the location update in a memory,

processing the location update to determine whether a rule applies,

generating a notification pursuant to an applicable rule, and

sending the notification to a client.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the location update includes tag information for a location.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the location update includes location information for a tag.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the rule is associated with a tag.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the rule is associated with a location.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the rule is associated with an asset assigned to a tag.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein the rule is associated with a person assigned to a tag.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein the rule is defined by a user.

68. The method of claim 60, wherein the rule is associated with an event.

69. The method of claim 60, wherein the event includes a tag changing location.

70. The method of claim 60, wherein the event includes a tag entering a location.

71. The method of claim 60, wherein the event includes a tag exiting a location.

72. The method of claim 60, wherein the event includes a change in status of a tag.

73. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing status updates, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a status update,

storing the status update in a memory,

processing the status update to determine whether a rule applies,

generating a notification pursuant to an applicable rule, and

sending the notification to a client.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the status update relates to a tag.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the status update relates to a location.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein the status update relates to an asset assigned to the tag.

77. The method of claim 73, wherein the status update relates to a person assigned to the tag.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein the rule is defined by a user.

79. A locating and tracking system comprising:

a server connected to a network,

a first monitoring system in two-way communication with the server, and

a second monitoring system in one-way communication with the server.