Identifications and communications methods

• US 7,802,724 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Modena Navigation LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Steven Paul Nohr
• Inventors: Nohr, Steven Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US10/323,909
• Time in Patent Office: 2,839 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/492, 340/572.1, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

The invention relates to improved methods and forms for automatically and non-unobtrusively to detect, without human interpretation, the identification of people(s), object(s), and other, with various methods utilized in connection to creating, storing, adding, connecting, modifying, sharing, inputting, recalling, authorizing, approving, tracking, generating, formatting, monitoring, accessing, locating, deleting, controlling, linking, collecting all types of data and information, and generating at least one type of identifiable communications information related to anyone or anything, and in and/or around any type of environment, such as an airport(s), airline(s), and/or other aviation location(s), theme park, amusement park, aquarium, cruise ships, tourist location, hospitals, buildings, government complex, malls, customs boards, sports events, parking, manufacturing, hotels, resorts, clubs, retail, elevators, utilities, museums, libraries, as well as other types of location(s), among other environments.

Claims

1. An identification and communication system for objects and users, comprising:

a plurality of radio identification devices;

means for attaching the radio identification devices to the objects and to the users;

at least one device for receiving and transmitting data via at least one antenna regarding the objects and the users to which the radio identification apparatus is attached, the at least one device coupled to at least one type of computer hardware device adapted to provide identifying, monitoring, storing, and processing functions for the data, whether non-networked, networked, or peer-to-peer among at least two additional computer hardware devices; and

a plurality of display terminals adapted to identify a user in physical proximity to the respective display terminal and to selectively access the stored data in the at least one device at the request of the user and upon verification of user authorization to access requested stored data and to provide the requested stored data to the user on the display, the stored data comprising user location, object location, anticipated object location, and travel services.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching comprises one from among a bracelet and a sticker apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a user interface for providing and creating a user profile and for providing data to the at least one device regarding one from among time, audit, and attendance, crowd control, management efficiencies, user inter-communications, interaction, identification, monitoring, processing, acknowledging, inputting, outputting, inventory control, and tracking worker activities, and for providing all types of audible and visual data and information, the user interface including a security component adapted to enable access to user data only by an authorized user.

4. A system for use with objects to identify and track objects and users of the objects and to provide information to users, comprising:

a plurality of a radio frequency identification tags adapted to store and retrieve unique user information;

a mechanism of attaching each tag to a respective object and to attach a tag to a user and adapted to activate the tags when attached to the object and to the user and to deactivate the tag when detached from the object and detached from the user;

a tracking system for reading data from each tag and generating data regarding the location of each tag;

a computer system for storing the location data of each read tag and for storing information for and about each user and communicating the information upon request by a user; and

a device with a display terminal coupled to the computer system for reading data from each user tag when in radio frequency communication range with the user tag and to display the location data and user requested information upon verification of the requesting user'"'"'s authorization.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the user requested information in the computer system that comprises travel related information that comprises airline scheduling, ticketing, and departure and arrival information.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the system comprises an airport terminal and a plurality of tag readers throughout the terminal as well as at security checkpoints in the terminal.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least the user tag comprises means for providing at least one form of encryption.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the attaching mechanism comprises an activation circuit that activates the respective tag when the attaching mechanism becomes attached to the object or the user and deactivates the respective tag when detached from the object or the user.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 comprising a user authentication circuit adapted to authenticate a user with at least one from among a full facial image of a user, voice identification of a user, and luggage image identification.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 comprising a circuit adapted to invalidate the unique user information in the tag.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the attaching mechanism comprises a conductive material that activates the tag when the attaching mechanism becomes attached to the object.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the conductive material comprises electrical contacts.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the conductive material is utilized as a means of providing intercommunication between components of the tag.

14. The identifications apparatus of claim 11 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a circuit adapted to communicate acknowledgement in activation and deactivation of the tag.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a source of power for the tag.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a timer circuit that is adapted to define a life time for use in expiration of the tag.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the display terminal comprises a display screen to display visual information and illumination of different areas of the display screen.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein illumination of a different area of the display screen is based on one or more of proximity, geographic location, external event, reception of a radio frequency signal, inactivation, user choice, or time.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the attachment mechanism displays visual information that can include advertisement, promotion, discounts, sales, and events.