Geospatial lightwave communications system

• US 20040137898A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Talking Signs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Talking Signs, Inc.
• Inventors: Loughborough, William B, Crandall, William F. Jr., Bond, C Ward
• Application Number:
  US10/471,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20040137898A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1083 Pager locating systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information

Abstract

A system for communicating label specific information which comprises a communication network (20) in communication with a computer database (18), at least one transceiver (10), and a plurality of labels (12). Each label (12) is disposed on an object in the environment with which a unique identification code is associated and is configured and is configured to transmit a lightwave signal (A) indicative of the code. The transceiver (10) is configured to receive the lightwave signal (A), process the lightwave signal (A) to obtain the code, communicate through the communication network (20) with the computer database (18) to download information associated with the unique identification code obtained and communicate the information to a user.

Claims

1. A system comprised of a communication network in communication with a computer database, at least one transceiver, and a plurality of labels, each label being (i) disposed on an object the environment with which a unique identification code is associated, wherein the object is either stationary or moving or at times stationary and at times moving, and (ii) configured to transmit at least one lightwave signal indicative of the unique identification code, whereby the at least one transceiver is configured to receive the at least one lightwave signal, to process the lightwave signal to obtain the unique identification code, and to communicate through the communication network with the computer database to download information associated with the unique identification code obtained.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the communication network is a telecommunication network.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured to at least communicate the information associated with the unique identification code to a user.

4. The system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the at least one transceiver is characterized by being portable by hand or otherwise accompanying the user.

5. The system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured to at least communicate the information associated with the unique identification code to a user.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the communication network is a wireless area network.

7. The system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured to at least communicate the information associated with the unique identification code to a user.

8. The system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the at least one transceiver is characterized by being portable by hand or otherwise accompanying the user.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured to at least communicate the information associated with the unique identification code to a user.

10. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the at least one label is further configured to obtain electrical power from either (a) electrical mains wiring, (b) an energy storage/production device, or (c) and energy storage device in operable combination with a photovoltaic device, and to remain dormant until receiving an activating signal from the at least one transceiver, and wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured to transmit the activating signal to the at least one label to cause the at least one label to be active.

11. A method for enabling communication of label-specific information through a communication network in communication with a computer server, which method comprises:

a) designating a plurality of specific locations in an environment by disposing a plurality of labels, each label being (i) disposed on an object in the environment with which a unique identification code is associated, wherein the object is either stationary or moving or at times stationary and at times moving, and (ii) configured to transmit at least one lightwave signal indicative of the unique identification code;

b) providing at least one mobile transceiver adapted to receive the lightwave signal indicative of the unique identification code, to process the lightwave signal to obtain the unique identification code, and to communicate through the communication network with the server; and

c) providing to the server a computer database configured to correlate the unique identification code with information specific to the respective object in the environment, the server being accessible through the communication network and configured to download the specific information correlated with the respective object from the database to the at least one transceiver.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the communication network is a telecommunication network.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 which further comprises configuring the at least one transceiver to communicate downloaded specific information for the respective object to a user.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 which further comprises configuring the transceiver to communicate with the user by (I) displaying the information on a graphic display, (II) communicating the information by generating an audible signal, (III) tactile representation or (IV) any two or more of the foregoing.

15. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the communication network is a wireless area network.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 which further comprises configuring the at least one transceiver to communicate downloaded specific information for the respective object to a user.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 which further comprises configuring the transceiver to communicate with the user by (I) displaying the information on a graphic display, (II) communicating the information by generating an audible signal, (III) tactile representation or (IV) any two or more of the foregoing.

18. A method for communicating label-specific information through a communication network, which method comprises:

(A) transmitting a lightwave signal indicative of a unique identification code by at least one of a plurality of labels, each label being disposed on an object in the environment with which the unique identification code is associated, wherein the object is either stationary or moving or at times stationary and at times moving;

(B) receiving the lightwave signal by at least one transceiver from the at least one label, each transceiver being configured to process the lightwave signal to obtain the unique identification code;

(C) transmitting a first radio frequency signal by the at least one transceiver to a computer network comprised of at least one computer server, the first radio frequency signal being indicative of the unique identification code, and the at least one transceiver and the computer network being in wireless radio communication;

(D) receiving the first radio frequency signal by the at least one server of the computer network from the at least one transceiver, the at least one server being configured to (1) obtain the unique identification code from the first radio frequency signal, (2) process the unique identification code to link the at least one server to a computer database having information associated with the unique identification number, and (3) obtain the information from the database;

(E) transmitting a second radio frequency signal by the at least one server to the at least one transceiver, which second radio frequency signal is indicative of processed database information associated with the object in the environment; and

(F) receiving the second radio frequency signal by the at least one transceiver from the at least one server, wherein the at least one transceiver is configured to obtain the processed database information from the second radio frequency signal and to cause the processed database information to be communicated to a user.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the communication network is a telecommunication network.

20. The method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the communication network is a wireless area network.

21. A system comprised of a computer database, at least one transceiver, and a plurality of labels, each label being (i) disposed on an object the environment with which a unique identification code is associated, wherein the object is either stationary or moving or at times stationary and at times moving, and (ii) configured to transmit at least one lightwave signal indicative of the unique identification code, whereby the at least one transceiver is configured to receive the at least one lightwave signal, to process the lightwave signal to obtain the unique identification code, and to communicate through a communication network with the computer database to download information associated with the unique identification code obtained.