Voice activated electronic locating systems

• US 5,786,764 A
• Filed: 03/04/1997
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xalotroff Fund V LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Engellenner
• Inventors: Engellenner, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/811,270
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/571, 340/505, 340/825.54, 340/825.08, 342/44, 342/42, 342/51, 235/385, 395/2.6, 395/228, 705/22, 705/28, 704/231, 704/246
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• 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 13/2471 Antenna signal processing by receiver or emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/248 EAS system combined with another detection technology, e.g. dual EAS and video or other presence detection system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2485 Simultaneous detection of multiple EAS tags

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for location of objects to facilitate retrieval, filing, security, inventory stock-keeping and the like. The methods and apparatus employ a tag element associated with each object-to-be-located, and interrogation system for searching one or more spatial regions for such tagged items, as well as mechanisms for identifying objects within the interrogated region.

Claims

1. A system for locating an object comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting of an electromagnetic interrogation signal within a defined interrogation zone;

a tag adapted for attachment to an object, the tag being responsive to said electromagnetic interrogation signal and comprising

a signal receiving structure adapted to capture at least a portion of the energy of said interrogation signal, and

a response generator for generating a responsive signal to announce the presence of the object within an interrogation zone;

a receiver for detecting said responsive signal;

input means for entering requests for location of particular tagged objects, said input means further comprising a speech recognition system; and

display means for displaying information on the tagged object.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises polling means for determining the location of a plurality of tagged objects.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises data storage means for storing information on locations of particular tagged objects.

4. A method of locating an object comprising the steps of:

coding an object with a tag responsive to a predetermine electromagnetic signal;

inputting at spoken request for location of an object to a controller which generates an electromagnetic interrogation signal;

interrogating a spatial region with in electromagnetic interrogation signal to cause the tag to generate a responsive signal if present within the region; and

detecting said responsive signal.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of interrogating a spatial region further comprises varying the frequency of signals generated by an electromagnetic radiation signal generator, and the step of detecting a responsive signal further comprises sensing tag-induced perturbations in said signal at a receiver.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the method further comprises displaying a result based upon the detection step.