METHOD FOR ACCOUNTING FOR PEOPLE IN EMERGENCIES IN INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS

• US 20080030359A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BP Corporation North America Incorporated (BP PLC), Multispectral Solutions Incorporated (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BP Corporation North America Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Curt, Fontana, Robert, Poirot, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,868,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A method for accounting for individuals in an emergency at industrial facilities utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) transmitters associated with individuals or objects and UWB monitoring stations. Identification information received from the UWB transmitters by UWB monitoring stations are communicated along with time of arrival information to a computer which calculates the location of the UWB transmitter. The system can be used despite severe multi-path effects and can provide location information in 3 dimensions. The system can optionally include proximity-based RF equipment for access control or otherwise for identification in specific locations. Information from the proximity-based RF equipment is also sent to the computer which also receives information from the UWB monitoring stations.

Claims

1. A method of accounting for individuals in an emergency at an industrial facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a) associating a UWB transmitter with an individual;

b) co-locating the UWB transmitter and the individual;

c) transmitting from the UWB transmitter, a UWB signal;

d) receiving the UWB signal by at least two UWB monitoring stations;

e) communicating from the at least two UWB monitoring stations, at least information identifying the UWB transmitter and time-of-arrival information; and

f) computing, using a computer and information communicated from the at least two UWB monitoring stations, the UWB transmitter'"'"'s location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer is in communication with an output device and is capable of generating a list comprising identity information and location information of individuals at the industrial facility.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

g) associating a passive RFID tag with the individual;

h) emitting from an RF proximity transceiver, an RF signal capable of eliciting from the passive RFID tag a responding signal including information identifying the passive RFID tag; and

i) communicating to the computer information from the RF proximity transceiver identifying the passive RFID tag.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the computer is in communication with an output device and is capable of generating a list comprising identity information and location information of individuals at the industrial facility.

5. A method of accounting for individuals in an emergency, the method comprising the steps of:

a) associating an individual with a co-located UWB transmitter;

b) defining a mustering location having UWB monitoring stations positioned so as to be capable of determining whether or not the co-located UWB transmitter is within the mustering location;

c) identifying an emergency event requiring the individual to report to the mustering location; and

d) determining whether or not the individual has reported to the mustering location by determining whether or not the co-located UWB transmitter is within the mustering location.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

e) defining a zone encompassing the emergency event wherein sufficient UWB monitoring stations are positioned to determine whether or not the co-located UWB transmitter is within the zone; and

f) determining whether or not the individual is within the zone by determining whether or not the co-located UWB transmitter is within the zone.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the sufficient UWB monitoring stations of step (e) are within the zone.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

d) associating a passive RFID tag with the individual; and

e) eliciting an RF signal from the passive RFID tag using an RF proximity transceiver wherein the RF signal includes information identifying the passive RF tag;

wherein determining whether or not the co-located UWB transmitter is within the mustering station includes determining the last known location of the passive RFID tag.

9. A system for locating people or objects in an industrial setting, the system comprising:

a) a UWB transmitter located on or in proximity to a person or object to be located and located in an industrial setting;

b) at least three UWB monitoring stations in different known locations;

c) a metal structure positioned such that a radio frequency signal transmitted by the UWB transmitter is reflected around all or a portion of the metal structure before reaching at least one of the UWB monitoring stations; and

d) a computer in communication with the at least three UWB monitoring stations;

wherein the at least three UWB monitoring stations are capable of receiving a UWB signal from the UWB transmitter, obtaining from the UWB signal identification information identifying the UWB transmitter communicating the identification information and time of arrival information to the computer and wherein the computer is capable of using the identification information and time of arrival information to calculate location of the person or object to be located.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein a rule is applied to the calculated location of the person or object to be located to determine whether an alert should be generated in response to the calculated location of the person or object to be located.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer compares the calculated location of the person or object to be located with authorized locations for the person or object to be located.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

e) a passive RFID tag co-located with the UWB transmitter; and

f) at least one RF proximity transceiver capable of transmitting a signal causing the passive RFID tag to emit a responding signal;

wherein the RF proximity transceiver is capable of obtaining identification information identifying the passive RF tag from the responding signal and communicating identification information identifying the passive RF tag and time of arrival information to the computer.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the RF proximity transceiver is further capable of comparing identification information obtained from the responding signal to predetermined authorized identities.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the computer compares the identification information communicated by the RF proximity transceiver with information communicated from the UWB monitoring stations to verify that the UWB transmitter is transmitting UWB signals.