| US 7,489,245 B2 | ||
| Networked RF tag for tracking baggage | ||
| Jason August, Toronto (Canada); Paul Waterhouse, Selkirk (Canada); John K. Stevens, Stratham, N.H. (US); Christopher W. Verge, Hamilton (Canada); Michael J. Vandenberg, Erin (Canada); and Kenneth Truong, Scarborough (Canada) | ||
| Assigned to Visible Assets, Inc, Mississauga, Ontario (Canada) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 07, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/462,889. | ||
| Application 11/462889 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/276216, filed on Feb. 17, 2006, granted, now 7,164,359. | ||
| Application 11/276216 is a continuation of application No. 10/820366, filed on Apr. 08, 2004, granted, now 7,049,963, filed on May 23, 2006. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/461562, filed on Apr. 09, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0152826 A1, Jul. 05, 2007 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G08B 13/14 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 340—572.1 [340/505; 340/539.22; 340/539.26; 340/572.8; 340/825.36; 340/10.1; 705/22] | 30 Claims |
| 1. A system for detection and tracking of items of baggage, said system comprising:
a) a low radio frequency tag carried by each of the items of baggage, said tag comprising
a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz,
a transceiver operatively connected to said antenna, said transceiver being operable to transmit and receive data signals
at said low radio frequency,
a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said detection tag,
a programmed data processor operable to process data received from said transceiver and said data storage device and to send
data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon said identification data stored in said data storage
device, and
an energy source for activating said transceiver and said data processor;
b) at least one field antenna disposed at an orientation and within a distance from each item of baggage that permits effective
communication therewith at said low radio frequency;
c) a reader in operative communication with said field antenna, said reader being operable to receive data signals from said
low frequency tags;
d) a transmitter in operative communication with said field antenna, said transmitter being operable to send data signals
to said low frequency tags; and
e) a central data processor (e.g. server) in operative communication with said reader and transmitter.
|