System and method for monitoring assets, objects, people and animals utilizing impulse radio

• US 7,405,658 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plus Location Systems Pty. Limited
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Richards, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/281,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/568.1, 340/568.5, 340/568.6, 340/571, 340/552, 342/28, 342/33, 342/463
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02216 Timing or synchronisation of the receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10306 ultra wide band
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71632 Signal aspects H04B1/7172 and H04B1/7176 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/719 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping

Abstract

An asset, object, person or animal monitoring system and associated method for monitoring assets, objects, people or animals utilizing impulse radio techniques. The asset, object, person or animal monitoring system of the present invention can vary the duty cycles of the impulse radio transmitters, by both manual and automatic means, to adapt to varied requirements.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an asset, object, person, or animal, comprising:

associating a first ultra wideband radio with said asset, object, person, or animal; and

transmitting, during at least one transmission interval, ultra wideband signals from said first ultra wideband radio to a second ultra wideband radio, wherein said ultra wideband signals convey information about the asset, object, person, or animal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a sensor with said asset, object, person, or animal, said sensor providing sensor information to said first ultra wideband radio.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said ultra wideband signals convey said sensor information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating said first ultra wideband radio when said first ultra wideband radio is within a defined proximity to an entrance to a structure.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

setting a duty cycle of said first ultra wideband radio.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a position of said first ultra wideband radio.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said position of said first ultra wideband radio is determined by using a global positioning system.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said position of said first ultra wideband radio is determined by using ultra wideband position determination techniques.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said asset, object, person, or animal comprises one of a hospital patient, a piece of equipment, a vending machine, a prisoner, a convict confined to a home, a stock yard animal, a utility meter, or an automobile.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said second ultra wideband radio is associated with one of a toll booth, a monitoring system, or a central station.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a bar code scanner with said asset, object, person, or animal, said bar code scanner providing bar code information to said first ultra wideband radio.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said ultra wideband signals convey said bar code information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating at least one additional communications means with the asset, object, person, or animal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one additional communications means comprises at least one of a satellite technology, a radio frequency technology, an infra red technology, an audio technology, a soft radio technology, a cellular technology, a packet radio communications technology, a direct electrical connection, or a direct optical connection.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

correlating information about the first ultra wideband radio with the conveyed information about the asset, object, person, or animal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said first ultra wideband radio and said second ultra wideband radio are time synchronized and the timing of said at least one transmission interval is predetermined.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said second ultra wideband radio determines the timing of said at least one transmission interval based on an identification of the first ultra wideband radio determined from prior conveyed ultra wideband signals and from predetermined knowledge of a duty cycle of the first ultra wideband radio.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the timing of the at least one transmission interval is determined based on previously received ultra wideband signals.

19. A method for monitoring an asset, object, person, or animal, comprising:

associating a first ultra wideband radio with said asset, object, person, or animal;

transmitting, during at least one transmission interval, ultra wideband signals from said first ultra wideband radio, said ultra wideband signals conveying information about the asset, object, person, or animal;

receiving said ultra wideband signals at a second ultra wideband radio; and

monitoring said information about the asset, object, person, or animal.

20. A system for monitoring an asset, object, person, or animal, comprising:

a first ultra wideband radio associated with said asset, object, person, or animal, said first ultra wideband radio transmitting, during at least one transmission interval, ultra wideband signals conveying information about the asset, object, person, or animal;

a second ultra wideband radio, said second ultra wideband radio receiving said transmitted ultra wideband signals; and

a monitoring station associated with said second ultra wideband radio, said monitoring station monitoring said information about the asset, object, person, or animal.