System and method for locating individuals and equipment, airline reservation system, communication system

• US 6,127,917 A
• Filed: 05/03/1999
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORNSBY III, ALTON
• Application Number:
  US09/305,182
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/825.44, 379/106.11, 379/38, 379/42, 455/88, 455/95, 455/100, 705/6, 707/1
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1083 Pager locating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber

Abstract

A system for locating an individual in a facility, the system including a portable wireless transponder device borne by the individual; an interrogator; and a plurality of antennas distributed in the facility, the antennas being selectively separately connected to the interrogator, the interrogator when connected to any of the antennas having a communications range covering less than the area of the entire facility, the interrogator being configured to repeatedly transmit a wireless command to the portable wireless transponder device using alternating antennas, the portable wireless transponder device being configured to transmit data identifying the portable wireless transponder device in response to a command if the portable wireless transponder device is within communications range of the antenna sending the command, the individual being locatable by determining with which antenna the interrogator was able to establish communications with the portable wireless transponder device.

Claims

1. A travel reservation system comprising:

a computer including a database configured to store information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a voyage, information about the scheduled departure for the voyage, and information identifying passengers who have checked in for the voyage; and

a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the computer being configured to modify the database to indicate that one of the passengers who purchased a ticket has checked in in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from the portable identification device associated with that passenger within a predetermined time period, which response includes identifying data for that passenger.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising one of the portable identification devices, including a housing, and battery, a transponder, and a microprocessor in the housing, the housing having length and width dimensions no greater than standard length and width dimensions of a credit card.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising one of the portable identification devices, including an integrated circuit having a transponder, a microprocessor, and a memory, and being configured to communicate with the wireless transponder at a microwave frequency.

4. A travel reservation system comprising:

a computer including a database configured to store information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a voyage, information about the scheduled departure for the voyage, and information identifying passengers who have checked in for the voyage; and

a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the computer being configured to modify the database to indicate that one of the passengers who purchased a ticket has checked in in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from the portable identification device associated with that passenger within a predetermined time period, which response includes identifying data for that passenger; and

a second antenna selectively alternately connected to the wireless transponder and configured to communicate with portable identification devices that have passed to a predetermined area indicating that the passenger has boarded a vessel, the computer being configured to modify the database, to indicate that a passenger has boarded the vessel, in response to a portable identification device identifying a passenger communicating with the wireless transponder from the predetermined area.

5. A system for communicating custom flight information to a passenger, the system comprising:

a computer including a database configured to store information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a flight, and information about scheduled departures for flights;

a monitor coupled to the computer; and

a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the wireless transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit wireless identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder, having a communications range for communicating with portable identification devices, the antenna being located within a predetermined distance from the monitor, the computer being configured to cause flight information about a passenger'"'"'s flight to be displayed on the monitor in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices using the antenna, the flight information including departure time information for the passenger'"'"'s flight.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the flight information displayed on the monitor includes the passenger'"'"'s destination.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the flight information displayed on the monitor includes the passenger'"'"'s name.

8. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the flight information displayed on the monitor includes the gate for the flight.

9. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein if multiple passengers having portable identification devices are within the range, the computer causes the monitor to show flight information for a plurality of the passengers within the range, with the flight information for a passenger being shown adjacent the passenger'"'"'s name.

10. A system for communicating travel information to a passenger, the system comprising:

a computer including a database configured to store information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets, and information about scheduled departures;

a monitor coupled to the computer; and

a wireless transponder in communication with the computer and configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder having a range for communicating with portable identification devices within a desired distance from the monitor, the computer being programmed to cause information about a passenger'"'"'s departure to be displayed on the monitor in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices within the range.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the information displayed on the monitor includes the passenger'"'"'s destination.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the information displayed on the monitor includes the passenger'"'"'s name.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the information displayed on the monitor includes a gate for the departure.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein if multiple passengers having portable identification devices are within the range, the computer causes the monitor to show flight information for a plurality of the passengers within the range, with the information for a passenger being shown adjacent the passenger'"'"'s name.

15. A system for communicating custom travel information to a passenger, the system comprising:

a computer including a database configured to store information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a voyage, and information about scheduled departures;

a speaker coupled to the computer; and

a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the wireless transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices transmitting wireless identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder, when connected to the antenna, having a communications range for communicating with portable identification devices within a distance from the antenna, the antenna being located proximate the speaker, the computer causing departure information for a passenger'"'"'s voyage to be announced on the speaker in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices using the antenna proximate the speaker.

16. A system for communicating custom travel information to a passenger, the system comprising:

a computer including a database configured to store information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a voyage, and information about scheduled departures;

an interrogator in communication with the computer;

a plurality of distributed antennas configured to alternately be coupled with the interrogator, the interrogator being configured to send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices when coupled with one of the antennas; and

portable identification devices adapted to be carried by respective passengers and respectively configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command from an interrogator, and receive travel information from the interrogator for a passenger identified by the identifying data, the portable identification devices respectively further including a display configured to show the travel information.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the portable identification devices include an actuator, and wherein the travel information is shown on the display in response to the actuator being actuated.

18. A system for locating an individual in a facility, the system comprising:

a portable wireless transponder device borne by the individual;

an interrogator transceiver; and

a plurality of antennas distributed in the facility, the interrogator transceiver in operation, using different ones of the antennas at different times, the interrogator transceiver when connected to any of the antennas having a communications range covering less than the area of the entire facility, the interrogator transceiver being configured to transmit a wireless command to the portable wireless transponder device using respective ones of the antennas, the portable wireless transponder device being configured to transmit data identifying the portable wireless transponder device in response to a command if the portable wireless transponder device is within communications range of the antenna sending the command, the individual being locatable by determining with which of the antennas communications between the interrogator transceiver and the portable wireless transponder device could be established.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the system is configured to use triangulation, based on with which antennas communications between the interrogator transceiver and the portable wireless transponder device could be established, to determine the location of the individual.

20. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the system determines the location of the individual as being within communications range of a particular antenna if communications between the interrogator and the portable wireless transponder device could be established with only that particular antenna.

21. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the wireless transponder device comprises a remote intelligent communications device having an integrated circuit including a microprocessor, a transmitter, a receiver, and a memory.

22. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the wireless transponder device comprises a radio frequency identification device configured to communicate at a microwave frequency.

23. A system in accordance with claim 18 and further comprising an airline reservation system, and a network connecting the interrogator to the airline reservation system.

24. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the interrogator is sequentially connected to respective antennas, and makes at least one communication attempt using each respectively connected antenna.

25. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein an area of communication is defined by the interrogator connected to a first one of the plurality of antennas, and wherein the area of communication of the interrogator using the first one of the antennas overlaps with the area of communication of the interrogator using another one of the plurality of antennas.

26. A system for locating equipment in a facility, the system comprising:

a portable wireless transponder device supported by the equipment;

an interrogator transceiver; and

a plurality of antennas distributed in the facility, the interrogator transceiver, in operation, using different ones of the antennas at different times, the interrogator transceiver when connected to any of the antennas having a communications range covering less than the area of the entire facility, the interrogator transceiver being configured to repeatedly transmit a wireless command to the portable wireless transponder device using respective antennas, the portable wireless transponder device being configured to transmit data identifying the portable wireless transponder device in response to a command if the portable wireless transponder device is within communications range of the antenna sending the command, the equipment being locatable by determining with which of the antennas communications between the interrogator transceiver and the portable wireless transponder device could take place.

27. A system for locating carry-on baggage in a transportation facility, the system comprising:

a portable wireless transponder device supported by the carry-on baggage;

an interrogator transceiver; and

a plurality of antennas distributed in the facility, the interrogator transceiver, in operation, using different ones of the antennas at different times, the interrogator transceiver when connected to any of the antennas having a communications range covering less than the area of the entire facility, the interrogator transceiver being configured to repeatedly transmit a wireless command to the portable wireless transponder device using respective antennas, the portable wireless transponder device being configured to transmit data identifying the portable wireless transponder device in response to a command if the portable wireless transponder device is within communications range of the antenna sending the command, the carry-on baggage being locatable by determining with which of the antennas communications between the interrogator transceiver and the portable wireless transponder device could take place.

28. A system for locating checked-in luggage in a transportation facility, the system comprising:

a portable wireless transponder device supported by the luggage;

an interrogator transceiver; and

a plurality of antennas distributed in the facility, the interrogator transceiver, in operation, using different ones of the antennas at different times, the interrogator transceiver when connected to any of the antennas having a communications range covering less than the area of the entire facility, the interrogator transceiver being configured to repeatedly transmit a wireless command to the portable wireless transponder device using respective antennas, the portable wireless transponder device being configured to transmit data identifying the portable wireless transponder device in response to a command if the portable wireless transponder device is within communications range of the antenna sending the command, the luggage being locatable by determining with which of the antennas communications between the interrogator transceiver and the portable wireless transponder device could take place.

29. A method of locating an individual bearing a portable wireless identification device, in a facility where multiple individuals bear respective of the portable wireless devices, the method comprising:

providing a wireless interrogator transceiver;

distributing a plurality of antennas in the facility;

sequentially connecting the interrogator transceiver to respective antennas, the interrogator transceiver when connected to an antenna having a range covering less than the area of the entire facility, the interrogator transceiver transmitting a wireless command with alternate antennas to the portable wireless transponder devices, the portable wireless transponder device transmitting data identifying its bearer in response to a identify command if the portable wireless transponder device is within communications range of an antenna;

storing in a memory the identifying data for responding portable wireless transponder devices and associating the identifying data with the antennas to which the transponder device responded;

searching the memory for identifying data for a particular individual being sought; and

determining the location of the particular individual based on which of the antennas were used to communicate with the portable wireless transponder device borne by the particular individual.