Method, apparatus and system for tracking, locating and monitoring an object or individual

• US 6,700,493 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William A. Robinson
• Original Assignee: William A. Robinson
• Inventors: Robinson, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/985,217
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/572.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.16, 340/539.2, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/10.1, 379/38, 379/44
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

A device and system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object or an individual comprising a transmitter member attached to the object or individual having a preset encryption code, radio frequency and preset range for the radio frequency, a power source and a process timer for programming the frequency interval for transmission, at least one transceiver member positioned within range of the transmitter and in communication with a host central processing unit having database software capability and mapping software capability. The system may further include an automatic shutdown module for initiating a sleep mode in response to either an absence of motion or continuous motion, a transmit counter for automated tracking of transmitter battery life, and an automatic peripheral data interface for communicating peripheral data with the location transmissions.

Claims

1. A system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object, either inanimate or animate, in a facility, the system comprising:

a transmitter member attached to the object, said transmitter member having a power source, a discrete preset encryption code, a radio frequency transmitter circuit for transmitting a preset radio frequency as a transmitter signal for a preset distance, and a process timer for selectively programming a frequency interval for transmitting said transmitter signal;

at least one transceiver member positioned within range of said transmitter member, said transceiver member comprising a radio frequency receiver circuit for receipt of said transmitter signal, an interface circuitry in communication with said receiver circuit, and a microprocessor, said interface circuitry and said microprocessor validating said incoming transmitter signal using an embedded algorithm, said transceiver member further including a data storage element for storing incoming data, an input/output circuit for retransmitting said data, and a power supply;

a host central processing unit in communication with said transceiver member for receiving said data, said host central processing unit having,

a display unit displaying, on a continuous basis, a digital floor plan of the facility, said digital floor plan outlining physical locations of all transceiver members installed in the facility and, for each transceiver, an associated area for receipt of incoming transmitter data;

data base software capability for identifying said object; and

mapping software capability for monitoring and displaying, on a continuous basis, said digital floor plan of the facility with a location of said object thereon such that, as the object is moved through the facility, its motion is automatically displayed relative to said facility floor plan.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the automatic display of the object'"'"'s movement through the facility includes display of a status, time and date of movement of the object.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the digital floor plan being displayed further includes a location, position and status of any particular object associated with any transmitter member within said facility.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is only one transceiver member.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of transceiver members, each of said transceiver members communicating directly and independently with said host central processing unit such that there is no transceiver to transceiver communication.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said process timer places said transmitter member in a no power mode when not broadcasting, thereby conserving the power source.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmitter member is incorporated into one of a wrist band, name tag, or belt attachment for use with animate objects.

8. A system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object, either inanimate or animate, the system comprising:

a plurality of multi-directional, long range transmitter members, each of said plurality of multi-directional transmitter members attached to a discrete object to be monitored, each of said transmitter members having,

a power source;

a discrete, programmable, preset encryption code;

an input/output microprocessor controller with security function enabling encryption code change;

a radio frequency transmitter circuit for transmitting a preset radio frequency for a preset distance; and

a microprocessor controller for selectively programming the frequency interval for transmitting said preset radio frequency;

a plurality of transceiver members, at least one of said plurality of transceiver members positioned within range distance of at least one of said plurality of transmitter-members, said transceiver members positioned within range distance of said multi-directional transmitter members simultaneously receiving said preset radio frequency signal from said multi-directional transmitter members within said range distance, each of said transceiver members including,

a radio frequency receiver circuit for receipt of said preset radio frequency;

an interface circuitry in communication with said receiver circuit;

a microprocessor, said interface circuitry and said microprocessor validating incoming data on said preset radio frequency and signal strength by means of an embedded algorithm;

a data storage element for storing said incoming data;

an input/output circuit for retransmitting said data; and

a power supply;

a host central processing unit in direct communication with each of said plurality of transceiver members for receipt of said data directly from each transceiver member, said host central processing unit having,

a display unit displaying, on a continuous basis, a digital floor plan of the facility, said digital floor plan outlining physical locations of all transceiver members installed in the facility and, for each transceiver, an associated area for receipt of incoming transmitter data;

data base software capability for identifying said object; and

mapping software capability for monitoring and displaying, on a continuous basis, said digital floor plan of the facility with a location of said object thereon such that, as the object is moved through the facility, its motion is automatically displayed relative to said facility floor plan.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the automatic display of the object'"'"'s movement through the facility includes display of a status, time and date of movement of the object.

10. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the digital floor plan being displayed further includes a location, position and status of any particular object associated with any transmitter member within said facility.

11. The system in accordance with claim 8 wherein there are a plurality of transceiver members, each of said transceiver members communicating directly and independently with said host central processing unit such that there is no transceiver to transceiver communication.

12. The system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said plurality of transceivers can request multiple validations from said transmitter member to validate said signal.

13. The system in accordance with claim 8 wherein at least one transceiver converts said preset radio frequency from at least one transmitter member to ASCII code for storage and retransmission.

14. The system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said host central processing unit utilizes said data base software capability to maintain inventory and processing control.

15. The system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said host central processing unit utilizes said mapping software capability in identifying the location of said object having said transmitter member attached thereto by means of multiple reception signals received by said plurality of transceiver members, said mapping software capability providing said display in real time.

16. A system for locating, positioning and monitoring an object, either inanimate or animate, in a facility, the system comprising:

a transmitter member attached to the object, said transmitter member having,

a power source;

a discrete preset encryption code;

a radio frequency transmitter circuit for transmitting a preset radio frequency as a transmitter signal for a preset distance;

a microprocessor controller for controlling transmissions at said preset radio frequency, said microprocessor having a transmission mode and a sleep mode;

an automatic RF transmit counter, each transmission by said transmitter member incrementing a count total of a data register by one, said counter comparing said count total with a threshold value and setting a transmitter status bit to indicate a result of said comparison; and

an automatic shutdown module for initiating said sleep mode for conservation of said power source in response to a motion status of said transmitter member;

at least one transceiver member positioned within range of said radio frequency transmitter member, said transceiver member comprising a radio frequency receiver circuit for receipt of said transmitter signal, an interface circuitry in communication with said receiver circuit, and a microprocessor, said interface circuitry and said microprocessor validating said transmitter signal using an embedded algorithm, said transceiver member further including a data storage element for storing incoming data, an input/output circuit for retransmitting said data, and a power supply; and

a host central processing unit in communication with said transceiver member for receiving said data and said transmitter status bit, said host central processing unit having data base software capability, mapping software capability, and a display unit for depicting a digitized floor plan of the facility, said data base software capability identifying said object and said mapping software capability monitoring and displaying a location of said object on said digital floor plan of the facility on a continuous basis.

17. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said automatic shutdown module includes a motion sensor accelerometer for detecting the motion status of said transmitter member, said automatic shutdown module initiating said sleep mode in response to output from said motion sensor accelerometer indicating substantially continuous motion of said transmitter member for a specified time period.

18. The system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said specified time period is approximately ten minutes.

19. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said automatic shutdown module includes a motion sensor accelerometer for detecting the motion status of said transmitter member, said automatic shutdown module initiating said sleep mode in response to output from said motion sensor accelerometer indicating an absence of motion of said transmitter member for a specified time period.

20. The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said specified time period is approximately four seconds.

21. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said power source is a battery and said transmitter status bit indicates an expected remaining lifespan of said battery.

22. The system in accordance with claim 16, said transmitter member further comprising:

an automatic peripheral data interface for receiving status information from said object, said transmitter member transmitting said status information to said transceiver member as part of said transmitter signal for retransmission to said host central processing unit.