Location, communication and tracking systems

• US 20040169589A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paxflow Patents Limited
• Original Assignee: Paxflow Holdings Pte., Limited
• Inventors: Lowther, Jonathan Rae, Lea, Kelvin Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,737,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.49
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/916 Airport surface monitoring [ASDE]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A passenger location system comprises a plurality of radio transceivers at predtermined locations in a passenger terminal facility. At least one transponder is associated in use with a passenger. The transponder is adapted to transmit a radio signal in response to receiving a signal from one or more of the transceivers. The transponder signal is capable of being received by more that one tranceiver. The passenger location means is adapted to determine the position of the transponder by determining the location of the one or more transceiver that have received the transponder signal.

Claims

1. A passenger location system having

a plurality of radio signal transceiver devices provided at predetermined physical locations in a passenger terminal facility,

at least one passenger transponder device associated in use with the passenger, the transponder being adapted to transmit a radio signal in response to receiving a signal from one or more of the transceiver devices,

the transponder signal being capable of being received by more than one transceiver, and

passenger location means adapted to determine the position of the transponder by determining the location of the one or more transceiver devices that have received the transponder signal.

2. A passenger location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passenger location means are further adapted to locate the position of a transponder device dependent on the strength of the transponder signal received by one or more of the transceiver devices.

3. A passenger location system as claimed in claim 1, further including a database and a location of one or more transponders being recorded in the database at periodic intervals.

4. A passenger location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location means cease to record location of the device once the device is at a predetermined location such as a terminal exit.

5. A passenger location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passenger location means begin locating one or more transponders when those one or more transponders are present at a predetermined location in the terminal facility, such as a check-in counter.

6. A passenger location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder includes visual or audible means to alert a passenger of a relevant event.

7. A passenger location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder includes a memory, and the memory contains identification information relating to the passenger, information relating to the passengers schedule departure time, and at least one predetermined boarding call time.

8. A passenger location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder has clip means to clip the transponder device to a passenger boarding pass.

9. A passenger location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder device includes active response means to allow the passenger to actively communicate with the system.

10. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.