Patent US6127928A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6127928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for locating and tracking documents and other objects
Assignee: E Tag Systems Inc
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Filing: 1999-07-26
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Granted: 2000-10-03
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Expires: 2019-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are described for a radio frequency document control system that enables the location of documents, such as office files, to be automatically and rapidly identified. A host transceiver, controlled via a PC, transmits a coded RF signal, at a first frequency, to individually addressable, low cost, local exciters/transceivers located on shelves and/or in drawers. The local exciters, which may be sequentially addressed, retransmit the coded RF signal at a second frequency via an antenna. A passive radio frequency identification tag, containing the same code as that transmitted by the local exciter and attached to a document, such as a file folder, when in the vicinity of the antenna of the local exciter, is energized by the RF field and modulates the second frequency signal from the local exciter. The second frequency signal modulated by the energized tag is then directly received by the host transceiver. A PC, coupled to the host transceiver, enables the system to automatically and rapidly identify, down to a specific shelf or drawer, the location of tagged documents in an office environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin Issacman
- 👤 Denis McGreivy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10316; G06K7/10346; A; A01; A01K; A01K11/00; A01K11/006; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00896
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 64
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for locating a particular object among a plurality of objects, each of the objects having a tag affixed thereto, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a first signal from one or more host transceivers to one or more exciters; transmitting a second signal from the one or more exciters to the plurality of objects, wherein the second signal is received and modulated by the tag affixed to the particular object; receiving the modulated second signal with one of the one or more host transceivers, wherein the location of the particular object is determined; and coupling a computer to the one or more host transceivers, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for locating a particular object among a plurality of objects, each of the objects having a tag affixed thereto, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a first signal from one or more host transceivers to one or more exciters; transmitting a second signal from the one or more exciters to the plurality of objects, wherein the second signal is received and modulated by the tag affixed to the particular object; receiving the modulated second signal with one of the one or more host transceivers, wherein the location of the particular object is determined; and coupling a computer to the one or more host transceivers, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating data indicative of the location of the particular object to a computer, wherein the computer displays the location and characteristics of the particular object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of characteristics of the objects into a database accessed by the computer; and storing identification codes for each of the tags into a database accessed by the computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 3, wherein data indicative of user access to the database is stored in the database, wherein data indicative of user queries for particular objects are stored in the database, wherein data is retained in the database such that it may be determined which users queried for particular objects.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: sequentially addressing the exciters to determine the location of each of the objects; storing data indicative of the location of each of the objects in the database accessed by the computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5, wherein an inventory of the objects is produced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6, wherein at a first time a first inventory of the objects is produced, wherein at a second time a second inventory of the objects is produced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: comparing the first inventory and the second inventory; generating a list of objects in either the first inventory or the second inventory but not the second inventory or the first inventory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of: sequentially addressing the exciters to determine the location of a second particular one of the objects; storing data indicative of the location of the second particular one of the objects if a modulated second signal from the second particular one of the objects is received by the host transceiver; and indicating a lost-object condition if all of the exciters are sequentially addressed and the modulated second signal from the second particular one of the objects is not received by the host transceiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6, wherein a list of lost objects is produced based on the inventory and data in the database.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of comparing the list of lost objects with data indicative of user queries for particular objects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of generating a list of user(s) who have queried for lost objects.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the data indicative of characteristics of the objects are generated by optically scanning the objects.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: sequentially addressing the exciters to determine the location of each of the objects; storing data indicative of the location of each of the objects in the database accessed by the computer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14, wherein an inventory of the objects is produced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15, wherein at a first time a first inventory of the objects is produced, wherein at a second time a second inventory of the objects is produced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: comparing the first inventory and the second inventory; generating a list of objects in either the first inventory or the second inventory but not the second inventory or the first inventory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a first exciter is coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the first exciter excites one or more of the tags and reads identification data from one or more of the tags.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a first exciter coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the first exciter programs data into one or more of the tags.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the objects comprise documents.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the method locates a particular document in an office or other document storage area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the objects comprise files, wherein the method locates a particular file in an office.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the office includes at least one area in which the objects are stored, wherein the one area has an entry through a user must pass to enter into or exit from the one area, wherein one or more independent, stand alone readers are coupled to the computer and are positioned in proximity to the entry, wherein a reader interrogates one or more of the tags and reads identification data from one or more of the tags as a user passes through the entry.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the reader also interrogates a tag that identifies the user passing through the entry.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 24, wherein a computer coupled to an independent reader or readers records which users passed through the entry and which objects passed through the entry with each user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the computer accesses a database storing data indicative of the objects, wherein the database stores data indicative of the objects and which users removed or returned the objects from or to the area.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is programmed so as to control the apparatus to perform a search cycle, wherein the particular object is located, wherein data representing the location of the particular object is stored by the computer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the objects comprise files or documents.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 28, wherein tags are affixed in a peripheral portion of the files or documents.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 28, wherein tags are affixed on a tab protruding from the files or documents.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 28, wherein tags are affixed to a region of the file or document that is within a distance of one half of a wavelength of the second signal from an edge of the file or document, wherein the second signal is of a second frequency.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the objects are stored in a container.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the container includes an aperture through which the second signal may pass.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 33, wherein the container comprises a filing cabinet.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the host transceiver incorporates a diversity antenna to maximize the reception of the signal generated by the excited tag.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a frequency transmitted by the exciter is adjusted over a range to achieve frequency diversity and to improve the reception of the signal generated by the excited tag.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a frequency transmitted by the exciter is monotonically related to a power supply voltage to enable monitoring of the condition of a battery supply power to the exciter.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the host transceiver autocorrelates the modulated signal from the excited tag, wherein the signal to noise ratio of the modulated signal from the tag is improved.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is transmitted from the one or more host transceivers to the one or more exciters via a radio link.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is transmitted from the one or more host transceivers to the one or more exciters via a hardware link.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is transmitted from the one or more host transceivers to the one or more exciters via a hardware serial link.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more exciters comprise local exciters or desktop exciters.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
182 words
A business environment in which a particular object may be located, comprising: at least one area having a plurality of containers for storing a plurality of objects; one or more host transceivers, wherein each host transceiver comprises a transmitter and a receiver; one or more exciters, wherein at least one exciter is positioned within each of the containers, and wherein the one or more exciters receive a first signal from one of the one or more host transceivers, and, in response to the first signal, the one or more exciters selectively transmit a second signal to tags affixed to one or more of the objects, wherein the tag affixed to the particular object is excited by the second signal, wherein the excited tag selectively modulates the second signal and one or more of the host transceivers directly receives the signal modulated by the excited tag; and a computer coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers, wherein the computer displays information indicative of the container containing the particular object.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
182 words
A business environment in which a particular object may be located, comprising: at least one area having a plurality of containers for storing a plurality of objects; one or more host transceivers, wherein each host transceiver comprises a transmitter and a receiver; one or more exciters, wherein at least one exciter is positioned within each of the containers, and wherein the one or more exciters receive a first signal from one of the one or more host transceivers, and, in response to the first signal, the one or more exciters selectively transmit a second signal to tags affixed to one or more of the objects, wherein the tag affixed to the particular object is excited by the second signal, wherein the excited tag selectively modulates the second signal and one or more of the host transceivers directly receives the signal modulated by the excited tag; and a computer coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers, wherein the computer displays information indicative of the container containing the particular object.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the one or more exciters are coupled to one or more antennas positioned within the containers.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
34 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the one or more exciters comprise a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller switches the one or more exciters between a low power stand-by mode and a normal reception mode.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The environment of claim 45, wherein the microcontroller includes a non-volatile memory, and wherein the microcontroller periodically wakes up from the low power stand-by mode.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
61 words
The environment of claim 43, further comprising an optical reader for reading optical information from the one or more objects, wherein data corresponding to an identification code on the tag affixed to the particular object is stored in a database accessed by the computer, and wherein data corresponding to optical information read from the particular object is stored in the database.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
10 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the objects comprise documents.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
14 words
The environment of claim 48, wherein a particular document is located in an office.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the objects comprise files, wherein a particular file is located in an office.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
41 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the computer is programmed so as to control the apparatus to perform a search cycle, wherein the particular object is located, wherein data representing the location of the particular object is stored by the computer.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
18 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the containers include an aperture through which the second signal may pass.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
11 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the containers comprise filing cabinets.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The environment of claim 53, wherein at least some of the filing cabinets are positioned around a centrally located host transceiver.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
25 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the host transceiver incorporates a diversity antenna to maximize the reception of the signal generated by the excited tag.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein a frequency transmitted by the exciter is adjusted over a range to achieve frequency diversity and to improve the reception of the signal generated by the excited tag.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
34 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein a frequency transmitted by the exciter is monotonically related to a power supply voltage to enable monitoring of the condition of a battery supply power to the exciter.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
32 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the host transceiver autocorrelates the modulated signal from the excited tag, wherein the signal to noise ratio of the modulated signal from the tag is improved.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
28 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the first signal is transmitted from the one or more host transceivers to the one or more exciters via a radio link.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
28 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the first signal is transmitted from the one or more host transceivers to the one or more exciters via a hardware link.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the first signal is transmitted from the one or more host transceivers to the one or more exciters via a hardware serial link.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
17 words
The environment of claim 43, wherein the one or more exciters comprise local exciters or desktop exciters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-03 | 2004-04-03 | 2004-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | 2008-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-03 | 2012-04-03 | 2012-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |