Method and system for tracking objects using Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver built in the Active Radio Frequency ID (RFID) receiver

• US 20090309731A1
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kwok Wai Chan
• Original Assignee: Kwok Wai Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Kwok Wai
• Application Number:
  US12/140,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20090309731A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method and system for tracking objects using Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver built in the Active Radio Frequency ID (RFID) receiver. The method comprises the steps of determining the position of the object using GPS receiver, detecting the object in a small range using an active RFID, sending the location data using Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) to a database which stores the location data, and using a Geographical Information System (GIS) application to plot the location data onto a map, to track the exact location of the object. The system comprises one or more active RFID tags wherein said tags send out a hard coded ID on predefined intervals to be received and interpreted by a GPS and Active RFID receiver; a GPS; an Active RFID receiver; and a fixed IP remote server receives the output message generated by the Active RFID receiver.

Claims

1. A system for tracking objects consisting of:

one or more active RFID tags wherein said tags send out a hard coded ID on a predefined interval to be received and interpreted by a GPS and an Active RFID receiver;

a GPS;

an Active RFID receiver wherein said Active RFID receiver receives the hard coded ID sent by the tags and generates an output message; and

a fixed IP remote server receives the output message generated by the Active RFID receiver.

2. The system for tracking objects of claim 1 wherein, the active RFID tags may be short range or long range.

3. The system for tracking objects of claim 1 wherein, a tag is powered by a coin battery or onboard electrical system.

4. The system for tracking objects of claim 1 wherein, when an active RFID tag(s) is in range, the tag ID together with the GPS latitude and longitude, and UTC fix time will be sent out as an output message through a serial port of the GPS and Active RFID receiver.

5. The system for tracking objects of claim 1 wherein, the output message from the receiver further comprises

a reader number;

a UTC fix time; and

a longitude and latitude.

6. The system for tracking objects of claim 1 wherein,

the GPS and Active RFID receiver are connected to a GPRS modem that is connected to the Internet;

and

the output message is sent to a fixed IP remote server.

7. The system for tracking objects of claim 1 wherein,

the GPS and Active RFID receiver are connected to a PC that is connected to the Internet;

and

the output message is sent to a fixed IP remote server

8. The system for tracking objects of claim 1 wherein,

the GPS and Active RFID receiver are connected to a LAN that is connected to Internet;

and

the output message is sent to a fixed IP remote server

9. The system for tracking objects of claim 6 wherein, a server program is installed on the fixed IP server that receives all message from the Internet and analyses the message data and sends it to a RDBMS for storage.

10. The system for tracking objects of claim 9 wherein, a GIS displays the location of the tags via a web server for viewing over the Internet via a browser.

11. A method for tracking objects consisting the steps of:

providing one or more active RFID tags;

sending out a hard coded ID on a predefined interval to be received and interpreted by a GPS and Active RFID receiver by an active RFID tag;

provide a GPS;

receiving the hard coded ID sent by the tags by an Active RFID receiver;

generating an output message by the Active RFID receiver; and

receiving the output message by a fixed IP remote server.

12. The method for tracking objects of claim 11 wherein, the active RFID tags may be short range or long range.

13. The method for tracking objects of claim 11 wherein, a tag is powered by a coin battery.

14. The method for tracking objects of claim 11 further comprising the step of,

sending a UTC fix time out together with the tag ID and GPS latitude and longitude as an output message through a serial port of the tag to a GPS and Active RFID receiver when an active RFID tag(s) is in range.

15. The method for tracking objects of claim 11 wherein, the output message from the receiver further comprises

a reader number;

a UTC fix time; and

a longitude and latitude.

16. The method for tracking objects of claim 11 further comprising the steps of,

connecting the GPS and Active RFID receiver are to a GPRS modem;

connection said GPRS modem to the Internet; and

sending the output message to a fixed IP remote server.

17. The method for tracking objects of claim 11 further comprising the steps of,

connecting the GPS and Active RFID receiver to a PC;

connecting the PC to the Internet; and

sending the output message to a fixed IP remote server

18. The method for tracking objects of claim 11 wherein,

connecting the GPS and Active RFID receiver to a LAN

connecting the LAN to the Internet;

and

sending the output message to a fixed IP remote server

19. The method for tracking objects of claim 16 further comprising the steps of,

installing a server program on the fixed IP server that receives all messages from the Internet and analyses the message data;

and

sending messages form the fixed IP server to a RDBMS for storage.

20. The method for tracking objects of claim 19 further comprising the steps of,

displaying on a GIS the location of the tags via a web server;

and

viewing the location of the tags over the Internet via a browser.