Smart object locator
First Claim
1. A two-way communication system for locating an object comprising:
- an antenna array located at a remote site relative to the object and capable of transmitting a search signal and receiving a direction signal;
a first processor at the remote site electrically coupled to the antenna array, the first processor including a direction-finding software;
a display monitor at the remote site electrically coupled to the first processor and capable of displaying information including information about location of the object;
a transceiver at the object location for receiving the search signal and transmitting the direction signal; and
a second processor at the object location and capable of receiving the search signal, and encoding the measured altitude upon request in the direction signal for transmission to the first processor at the remote site, wherein the first processor determines the location of the object from the received direction signal using the direction-finding software and displays the information about the location of the object on the display monitor.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The presentation is a low-cost, two-way communication system and method for aid in locating an object, such as a container or a package and reporting the contents of the object to a site remote from the location of the object. In one embodiment, the system includes two modules. A remote module includes a directional antenna array mounted on the top of the module (i.e., in a remote site), a processor including a direction-finding software, and a display for pointing the direction of the container'"'"'s location relative to the remote site.
Additionally, a response module includes a transceiver mounted on or within the container, which only allows an unique digital waveform to pass through and to response to a search signal from the remote module by transmitting a direction signal. This direction signal then activates the display in the remote module to indicate the location of the container relative to the remote module. In one embodiment, the response module accesses a database of the container and sends out the container'"'"'s information to the remote module upon a request.
156 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A two-way communication system for locating an object comprising:
-
an antenna array located at a remote site relative to the object and capable of transmitting a search signal and receiving a direction signal;
a first processor at the remote site electrically coupled to the antenna array, the first processor including a direction-finding software;
a display monitor at the remote site electrically coupled to the first processor and capable of displaying information including information about location of the object;
a transceiver at the object location for receiving the search signal and transmitting the direction signal; and
a second processor at the object location and capable of receiving the search signal, and encoding the measured altitude upon request in the direction signal for transmission to the first processor at the remote site, wherein the first processor determines the location of the object from the received direction signal using the direction-finding software and displays the information about the location of the object on the display monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A smart container comprising:
-
an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
a receiver capable of receiving a request signal;
a transmitter capable of transmitting an information signal;
a memory for storing a database including information about the contents of the container; and
a processor electrically coupled to the memory and capable of accessing the database and encoding information about the contents of the container stored in the database in the information signal for transmission to a remote site, responsive to the received request signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A two-way communication system for displaying the contents of a container, comprising:
-
a first processor located at a remote site relative to the container and capable of transmitting a request signal and receiving an information signal;
a display monitor located at the remote site and electrically coupled to the first processor capable of displaying information including information about the contents of the container;
a transceiver at the container location and capable of receiving the request signal and transmitting the information signal;
a memory at the container location for storing a database including the information about the contents of the container; and
a second processor at the object location and electrically coupled to the memory and capable of receiving the request signal, accessing the database, sending the information about the contents of the container in the information signal to the first processor, responsive to the received request signal, wherein the first processor displays the information about the contents of the container on the display monitor, responsive to the received information signal.
-
Specification