SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME TRACKING OF OBJECTS

• US 20110030875A1
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vortex Technology Group, LLC (Vortex Cos. LLC)
• Original Assignee: ZIA Systems LLC
• Inventors: Conte, Giacomo, Rapp, Larry J., Rapp, Gary L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,328,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/64
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0827 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/041 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/34 using tubular layers or sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0096 Identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1651 the flexible liner being everted
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1652 the flexible liner being pulled into the damaged section
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

Real-time location systems and methods use small, battery operated sensors and radios. The radios conform to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The radios are attached to objects to form mobile nodes. Fixed nodes are positioned to define a wired or wireless mesh network representing an area in which the objects can be monitored and tracked. The real-time location systems/methods provide robust, flexible and highly scalable systems/methods for remotely, accurately, efficiently, and/or readily tracking and securing objects (e.g., equipment, inventory, people) at a relatively low cost.

Claims

1. A method for installing a liner including a resin in a pipe, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of mobile tags along a length of the liner;

positioning the liner within the pipe;

applying energy to the liner to cure the resin such that the liner is bonded to the pipe;

using the mobile tags to obtain localized measurements within the pipe; and

transmitting the measurements to a monitoring device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile tags are positioned every 10 to 20 feet along the length of the liner.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile tags are equidistantly spaced along the length of the liner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the energy includes exposing the resin to UV light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy is thermal energy.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the thermal energy is from at least one of heated water and steam.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the localized measurements include a temperature of the at least one of heated water and steam measured at each of the mobile tags.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the localized measurements include a pressure of the at least one of heated water and steam measured at each of the mobile tags.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurements are transmitted to the monitoring device only during application of the energy.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a nose mobile tag at a leading end of the liner;

using the nose mobile tag to detect when the leading end of the liner reaches a predetermined position within the pipe.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

positioning a plurality of reference tags above ground to define a tracking area, the tracking area extending at least between a first location and a second location, the liner positioned in the pipe between the first location and the second location,

wherein each of the mobile tags communicates with one or more of the reference tags to transmit information to the monitoring device.

12. A system for rehabilitating an underground pipe, the system comprising:

a liner for installing in at least a portion of the pipe, the liner including a resin;

a plurality of mobile tags; and

means for applying energy to the liner to cure the resin,

wherein the mobile tags are at least one of removably and permanently attached along a length of the liner,

wherein each of the mobile tags is operable to obtains a measurement within the pipe; and

wherein each of the mobile tags is operable to communicate its measurement to a monitoring device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile tags are positioned every 10 to 20 feet along the length of the liner.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile tags are equidistantly spaced along the length of the liner.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of reference tags,

wherein the reference tags are disposed above ground to define a tracking area.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the tracking area extends between a first station and a second station, each of the first station and the second station providing access to the pipe,

wherein a nose mobile tag is affixed to a leading end of the liner,

wherein the leading end of the liner is operable to be inserted into the pipe at the first station and moved within the pipe toward the second station,

wherein the nose mobile tag is operable to transmit a signal when the leading end of the liner reaches a predetermined location.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for applying energy introduces at least one of heat and UV light into the pipe.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for applying energy introduces at least one of heated water and steam into the pipe.

19. A liner for a pipe, said liner including a resin and a plurality of mobile tags, each of the mobile tags comprising:

a radio transmitter, an antenna, and a power source.

20. The liner of claim 19, wherein the mobile tags are positioned every 10-20 feet between opposite ends of the liner.