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US7081818B2
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Article identification and tracking using electronic shadows created by RFID tags
Assignee: Checkpoint Systems Inc
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Filing: 2004-05-17
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Granted: 2006-07-25
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Expires: 2024-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A tracking system uses RFID (radio frequency identification) tag technology to facilitate the identification and tracking of items in an environment through a technique known as shadowing. As an object or target moves within a pre-described detection zone with communicating antenna and RFID sensors, the object or target blocks the line of sight between respective antenna and sensors, preventing electromagnetic coupling between the sensor and the antenna and thus casting an electromagnetic shadow along the line of sight. One approach of this invention uses this shadow technique to perform functions such as theft (shrink) deterrence/detection; tracking the motion of objects through an environment by monitoring the shadow; and correlation analysis of people shadows to tagged items (e.g., merchandise, articles) to foster marketing and merchandizing effectiveness.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Eckstein
- 👤 Gary T. Mazoki
- 👤 William S. Richie, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:32
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2451; G08B13/2462; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10019; G06K7/10079; G06K7/10316; G06K7/10336; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A tracking system, comprising: an identification sensor positioned at a first location, said identification sensor having a responsive circuit; an antenna positioned at a second location to detect said identification sensor by interactive coupling between said antenna and said identification sensor via communication signals therebetween; and a processing member that determines an absence of detection of said identification sensor by said antenna, interprets the absence of detection as indicia of an electronic shadow between the first location and the second location, and infers a presence of an object as cause for the electronic shadow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A tracking system, comprising: an identification sensor positioned at a first location, said identification sensor having a responsive circuit; an antenna positioned at a second location to detect said identification sensor by interactive coupling between said antenna and said identification sensor via communication signals therebetween; and a processing member that determines an absence of detection of said identification sensor by said antenna, interprets the absence of detection as indicia of an electronic shadow between the first location and the second location, and infers a presence of an object as cause for the electronic shadow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The tracking system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of identification sensors, each of said plurality of identification sensors positioned at a respective location for detection by interactive coupling between each sensor and said antenna, wherein said processing member further determines an absence of detection of at least one of said plurality of identification sensors by said antenna, interprets the absence of detection as indicia of an electronic shadow between said antenna and said at least one of said plurality of identification sensors, and infers the presence of at least one object as cause for the electronic shadow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tracking system of claim 2 , wherein said antenna periodically detects said plurality of identification sensors by repeated interactive coupling between said antenna and said identification sensors, and said processing member tracks movement of the object by monitoring movement of the electronic shadow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tracking system of claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of identification sensors is fixed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The tracking system of claim 4 , wherein said antenna detects a mobile identification tag adjacent the electronic shadow by interactive coupling between said antenna and the mobile identification tag, said processing member associating the mobile identification tag with the electronic shadow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tracking system of claim 5 , wherein said processing member tracks movement of the mobile identification tag by monitoring movement of the associated electronic shadow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tracking system of claim 4 , wherein said antenna further detects a mobile identification tag attached to a product by interactive coupling between said antenna and the mobile identification tag, said processing member associating the product with the electronic shadow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tracking system of claim 7 , wherein said processing member tracks movement of the product by monitoring movement of the electronic shadow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The tracking system of claim 7 , wherein said processing member associates the product with a complimentary product related to the product, and further comprising a display device in communication with said processing member for advertising the complimentary product.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
The tracking system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of antennas, each of said plurality of antennas positioned at a respective fixed location for detecting said identification sensor by interactive coupling between said antennas and said identification sensor via communication signals therebetween, wherein said processing member determines an absence of detection of said identification sensor by at least one of said plurality of antennas, interprets the absence of detection as indicia of an electronic shadow between said identification sensor and said at least one of said plurality of antennas, and estimates a size of the object based on a detection or absence of detection of said identification sensor by said plurality of antennas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
The tracking system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of identification sensors and a plurality of antennas, each of said plurality of identification sensors positioned at a respective fixed portion of the first location, each of said plurality of antennas positioned at a respective fixed portion of the second location for detecting at least one of said plurality of identification sensors by interactive coupling between said plurality of antennas and said plurality of identification sensor via communication signals therebetween, wherein said processing member determines an absence of detection of any of said plurality of identification sensors by at least one of said plurality of antennas, and interpret the absence of detection of said identification sensors as indicia of an electronic shadow between said identification sensors and said at least one of said antennas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tracking system of claim 11 , wherein said processing member estimates a size of a footprint of the object as less than a size of the electronic shadow.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tracking system of claim 1 , wherein said processing member includes a computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tracking system of claim 1 , wherein said processing member includes a computer program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the first location is in a floor and the second location is in a ceiling.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tracking system of claim 1 , wherein said identification sensor is an RFID sensor and said responsive circuit is a resonant rf circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A tracking system, comprising: means for communicating signals along a line of sight between a first location and a second location; means for detecting the communicated signals at the second location; means for determining an absence of detection of one of the communicated signals at the second location; means for interpreting the absence of detection as indicia of a shadow between the first location and the second location; and means for inferring a presence of an object as cause for the shadow.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
82 words
A tracking system, comprising: means for communicating signals along a line of sight between a first location and a second location; means for detecting the communicated signals at the second location; means for determining an absence of detection of one of the communicated signals at the second location; means for interpreting the absence of detection as indicia of a shadow between the first location and the second location; and means for inferring a presence of an object as cause for the shadow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tracking system of claim 17 , further comprising means for estimating a size of the object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tracking system of claim 17 , further comprising means for monitoring movement of the shadow to track the object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tracking system of claim 17 , further comprising means for detecting an identification tag, and means for associating the identification tag with the shadow.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tracking system of claim 17 , further comprising means for detecting an identification tag, means for associating the identification tag with a product, means for associating the product with a complimentary product related to the product, and means for advertising the complimentary product.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for targeting an object, comprising: communicating signals along a line of sight between a first location and a second location; detecting the communicated signals at the second location; determining an absence of detection of one of the communicated signals at the second location; interpreting the absence of detection as indicia of a shadow between the first location and the second location; and inferring a presence of the object as cause for the shadow.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for targeting an object, comprising: communicating signals along a line of sight between a first location and a second location; detecting the communicated signals at the second location; determining an absence of detection of one of the communicated signals at the second location; interpreting the absence of detection as indicia of a shadow between the first location and the second location; and inferring a presence of the object as cause for the shadow.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising estimating a size of the object.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising monitoring movement of the shadow to track the object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising sending an alarm based on the movement of the shadow.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising detecting an identification tag, and associating the identification tag with the shadow.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising detecting an identification tag, associating the identification tag with a product, associating the product with a complimentary product related to the product, and advertising the complimentary product.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the object is unknown to said tracking system.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tracking system of claim 17 , wherein the object is unknown to said tracking system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the inferring step infers a presence of the object that is an unknown object as cause for the shadow.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-07-24 | 2010-01-23 | 2010-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-07-24 | 2014-01-23 | 2014-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-07-24 | 2018-01-23 | 2018-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |