Apparatus for identifying objects using radio frequency and apparatus and method for tracking position of object using the same

• US 20060273903A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Young Woo, Kim, Seong Woon, Kim, Myung Joon, Park, Kyoung
• Granted Patent: US 7,663,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag based object position tracking apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a position recognizer including at least one radio frequency identification unit for reading information data on an object through a sensor; and a path analyzing and processing unit for allocating each unique coordinates to the radio frequency identification units based on a relative position in a space where a position recognizer is disposed and recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path based on the object information data received by the sensor in the radio frequency identification unit corresponding to the unique coordinate. Thus, it is possible to track the path of an object with a low density of RFID tags.

Claims

1. An apparatus for identifying objects using radio frequency comprising:

a sensor for sensing objects in a predetermined area;

a data converter for converting information from the sensor into digital information;

a radio recognition tag having unique identification information; and

a transmitter for transmitting the digital information from the data converter with the unique identification information of the radio recognition tag.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radio recognition tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. An apparatus for tracking the position of an object, the apparatus comprising:

at least one radio frequency identification unit comprising a sensor and a radio recognition tag and transmitting digital information with unique identification information of the radio recognition tag, the digital information being obtained by digitizing information from the sensor; and

a path analyzing unit for allocating a unique coordinates to the at least one radio frequency identification unit based on a relative position within the at least one radio frequency identification unit, and for recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path of the object based on the digital information and the unique identification information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the path analyzing unit identifies between a stationary object and a moving object based on whether the information from the sensor changes within a predetermined period of time.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the path analyzing unit comprises an RFID reader that receives the digital information and the unique identification information via a radio frequency.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein with the information from the sensor in radio frequency identification unit changed, the path analyzing unit analyzes the path of the object by determining the unique coordinates allocated to the radio frequency identification unit, wherein the unique coordinates allocated to the radio frequency identification unit including the sensor one-to-one corresponds to the unique identification information of the radio recognition tag in the radio frequency identification unit.

7. A radio frequency identification (RFID) sensing method comprising:

sensing objects in a predetermined area;

converting sensing information into digital information; and

transmitting the digital information with unique identification information of a radio recognition tag.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the radio recognition tag is an RFID tag.

9. An object position tracking method comprising:

disposing at least one sensor for sensing objects in a predetermined area with at least one radio recognition tag including unique identification information, and allocating a unique coordinate to each of the sensors depending on the relative positions of the sensors;

receiving the unique identification information and digital information obtained by digitizing an object information from the sensor; and

recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path of the object based on the digital information and the allocated unique coordinate.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path of the object comprises identifying a stationary object and a moving object based on whether the object sensing information changes within a predetermined period of time.

11. The method according to claim. 10, wherein the recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path of the object comprises analyzing the path of the object by recognizing the unique coordinate allocated to the RFID tag corresponding to the sensor that indicates a change in the sensing information.