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Claims  |
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Now, having described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. A monitoring and control system comprising: active transceiver (AT)
means including computing means and memory means and adapted for producing
and transmitting encoded interrogation signals by at least one of
electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and sound and;
unitary, self-contained passive transceiver (PT) means comprising
encodeable and recodeable memory means, including at least one form of ROM
memory means, means for encoding and recoding said memory means on the
receipt of, respectively, encoding and recoding signals from said AT
means, and transmission means adapted to transmit at least one
indentification signal only in response to the receipt of said encoded
interrogation signal.
2. A monitoring and control system comprising at least one each of an
active transceiver (AT) means associated with passive transceiver (PT)
means, each being adapted for at least one of electromagnetic radiation
(EMR) and sound communication with the other within predetermined
distances; and each including computing means and alterable computer
memory means,
said AT means being further adapted for at least one of (a) transmission of
coded interrogation signals; (b) calculation, from identification signals
transmitted by the PT means, of the location of, the identification of,
the motion of, and the count of the said PT means; (c) control of devices
associated with PT means and (d) transmitting encoded PT memory alteration
codes,
each PT means further comprising computing means having memory means
including at least one form of alterable ROM and means for altering memory
means on receipt of at least one PT memory alteration code from an
associated AT means and means for transmitting at least one predetermined
identification signal only after the receipt of a coded interrogation
signal from an associated AT means.
3. A monitoring and control system comprising at least one each of an
active transceiver (AT) means associated with passive transceiver (PT)
means, each being adapted for at least one of electromagnetic radiation
(EMR) and sound communication with the other within predetermined
distances; and each including computing means and alterable computer
memory means,
said AT means being further adapted for at least one of (a) transmission of
coded interrogation signals; (b) calculation, from identification signals
transmitted by the PT means, of the location of, the identification of,
the motion of, and the count of the said PT means; (c) control of devices
associated with PT means and (d) transmitting encoded PT memory alteration
codes,
each PT means further comprising computing means having memory means and
including at least one form of alterable ROM means for altering memory
means on receipt of at least one PT memory alteration code from an
associated AT means and means for transmitting at least one predetermined
encoded identification signal only after the receipt of a coded
interrogation signal from an associated AT means.
4. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said AT means and said PT means
are adapted for communication by at least light.
5. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said AT means and said PT means
are adapted for communication by at least sound.
6. The system of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein said AT means and said PT means
are adapted for communication by at least radio frequency EMR.
7. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said AT means and PT means are
adapted for communication by at least microwave frequency EMR.
8. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the system is adapted to utilize a
plurality of broadcast frequencies in communication between the said AT
means and the said PT means.
9. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means is adapted to
transmit an identification signal only after receipt of a signal
containing at least 12 bits of a predetermined interrogation code.
10. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means and AT means are
adapted for receiving and transmitting at least 12 bits of coding.
11. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the transmissions of the AT means
and the PT means each utilize an 18 to 45 bit identification code.
12. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the transmissions of the AT means
and the PT means each utilize a 36 to 50 bit identification code.
13. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the transmissions of the AT means
and the PT means each utilize in excess of 26 coded bits for
identification purposes.
14. The AT means and PT means of the system of claim 1, 2 or 3 additionally
including anti-jamming means.
15. The At means and PT means of the system of claim 1, 2 or 3 additionally
including error-detection error-correction means.
16. The AT means and PT means of the system of claim 1, 2 or 3 adapted for
use of variable description means.
17. The PT means of the system of claim 1, 2 or 3 additionally having means
programmed in said alterable memory means for operating said PT on a
predetermined carrier frequency on receipt of predetermined carrier code
signal from said AT means.
18. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the computing means includes
means adapted to encode and decode a plurality of codes for a plurality of
purposes.
19. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes means
for transmitting signals at least one of different rates, frequencies and
distances on coded command of said AT means.
20. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein computing means of the AT and the
PT effect coded communication using a combination of digital and frequency
codes.
21. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said AT means additionally
are sealed, coded with an identification code, and include at least one of
means for producing variable description code means, error detection-error
correction means, redundant circuit means, and anti-jamming means.
22. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein at least the computer memory of
said AT means is additionally enclosed in a container means including seal
means.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein said AT means additionally includes
means for at least one of destroying said memory means or erasing said
programming and encoded information in the memory means of said At means
on the destruction of the seal created by the seal means.
24. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is adapted for
incorporation within a predetermined medium which is substantially
transparent to the at least one of sound and EMR which the said PT is
adapted to receive and transmit.
25. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the AT means is a "hand-held"
portable unit.
26. The system of claim 1 wherein said AT means includes computing means
programmed to analyze identification signals received from said PT means
for at least one of location, indentification, movement and inventory
count.
27. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the AT means is additionally
adapted to control objects with which said PTs means are associated by
computing means analysis of the identification signals received by the
said AT means from said PT means to obtain control data and inputing said
control data into means in association with such objects for controlling
such objects.
28. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said AT means includes
triangulation means adapted to locate PT means.
29. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said AT means includes
ranging means adapted to locate PT means.
30. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 including repeater-relay means.
31. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 including at least one of associated EMR
and sound reflectors.
32. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said AT means includes
antenna array means.
33. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes memory
means in PROM form.
34. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes memory
means in EPROM form.
35. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes memory
means in EPROM form.
36. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes memory
means in EPROM form.
37. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes memory
means as a combination of non-alterable and alterable memory means.
38. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes memory
means as an integrated combination of ROM and RAM memory means.
39. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes memory
means as a combination of RAM and a substantially non-alterable memory
means.
40. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes memory
means as a combination of ROM and at least one alterable memory means.
41. The said PT means of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said PT means includes
dynamic RAM memory circuitry.
42. The PT means of the monitoring and control system of claim 1, 2 or 3
further including preprogrammed PROM, said preprogrammed PROM including an
address blanking means and multiple addresses.
43. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is adapted for
association with objects.
44. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a solid object.
45. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a mechanical device.
46. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a machine tool means.
47. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a credit card means.
48. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an identification means.
49. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a separator slug means.
50. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a petroleum product means.
51. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a fencing means.
52. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a decoration means.
53. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a picture means.
54. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a fabric means.
55. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a clothing means.
56. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a vehicle means.
57. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a vehicle component means.
58. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a container means.
59. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a food container means.
60. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a tank means.
61. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a basket means.
62. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a dispenser means.
63. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an encapsulation means.
64. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
means for floating said PT means in a predetermined fluid.
65. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a boat means.
66. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a pleasure boat means.
67. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a marine equipment means.
68. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an amusement device means.
69. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a golf ball means.
70. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is adapted for
association with an animal.
71. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a human.
72. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a book means.
73. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a record medium means.
74. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a ticket means.
75. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a metal medium.
76. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a paper medium.
77. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a currency medium.
78. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a bond medium.
79. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a stock medium.
80. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a glass medium.
81. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a plastic medium.
82. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a wood medium.
83. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a particulate medium.
84. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a picture means.
85. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an electronic component.
86. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a key means.
87. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a building means.
88. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a building component means.
89. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a storage means.
90. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a furniture means.
91. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a building enclosure means.
92. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a sensor means.
93. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a condition sensor means.
94. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a meter means.
95. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a valve means.
96. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a valve operator means.
97. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a bulk distribution means.
98. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a grocery means.
99. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an electronic device means.
100. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a cable means.
101. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a cable assembly means.
102. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an electronic component means.
103. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an electronic device means.
104. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a typewriter means.
105. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an optical reader means.
106. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a printer means.
107. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a display means.
108. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a magnetic recording means.
109. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a sound reproduction medium.
110. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a video reproduction medium.
111. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an isotope disintegration medium.
112. The sytem of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a fluid medium.
113. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a plastic medium.
114. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is adapted to
receive and utilize at least one of an EMR or sound energy spike from an
unassociated source.
115. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means power source means
includes one of a passive power source means and active power source
means.
116. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means includes encode
and decode means and alterable memory means adapted to maintain in said
memory means the codes impressed in said memory means.
117. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means includes at least
a broad band antenna and a narrow band antenna.
118. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means includes at least
one of broad band antenna means and narrow band antenna means.
119. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said AT means antenna means
includes satellite communication means.
120. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said AT means antenna means
includes microwave communication means.
121. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said AT means antenna means
includes telecommunication means.
122. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a computer means.
123. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a communication device means.
124. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a telephone means.
125. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an object storage means.
126. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a parking means.
127. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a shelving means.
128. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a sensor and alarm means.
129. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a photovoltaic means.
130. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a piezoelectric means.
131. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a thermoelectric means.
132. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a way means.
133. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a lane means.
134. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a robot means.
135. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said AT antenna means includes
cellular radio telephone means.
136. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a machine tool means.
137. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a machine tool workpiece means.
138. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a sorter means.
139. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a counter means.
140. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a human adornment means.
141. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
a jewelry means.
142. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said PT means is associated with
an integrated circuit chip means to make an integrated whole.
143. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein PT means includes an integrated
circuit chip means. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to monitoring and control systems, devices and
methods. More particularly it relates to the attachment of passive
transceivers which can be coded, erased, recoded or altered and attached
to various items as "tags", and the use of active transceivers of various
types for Location, Identification, measurement of the Movement of,
Inventory and analytical, control, guidance and sorting Systems (LIMIS)
devices and systems using and analyzing the information received from the
passive transceivers. Limis is coined for the purpose of providing a
generic term for the type of devices and systems taught herein.
SUMMARY OF THE ART
Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) devices are well known. The system
best known to the public uses large white plastic tags which are attached
to clothes in many department stores. These devices are removed by the
clerks upon sale of the goods for reattachment to other clothing. When an
article bearing one of the tags passes through the entrance to a protected
store, the circuit in the tag interferes with a radio frequency broadcast
by units at the door. A radio receiver senses the resulting resonance and
triggers an alarm.
A newer system uses a smaller adhesive label which is glued to the product
being sold and has a circuit which also resonates at the store's exit gate
if not neutralized. These labels must be covered with a second metallic
label to eliminate the tag's ability to resonate.
Magnetic strips form the basis for another EAS system. These strips are of
a metal having a high magnetic permeability and alter the energy of the
magnetic field maintained at the exit gate to trigger an alarm. The
magnetic strips are deactivated by degaussing at the check-out counter.
Still another system uses microwave systems and each tag encapsulates an
antenna, a diode and a resonator circuit. The exit gate transmitter
broadcasts microwaves at two frequencies and the diode generates harmonics
which are detected to set off an alarm. The devices are deactivated at the
check-out counter with a wand that emits a pulse to blow the circuit's
fuse while appearing to read the bar code. The described systems are the
state of the commercial art even with all of their limitations. See Peter
Nulty, "Fortune", February 1980, p. 114-119 and "High Technology",
September-October, 1982, pp. 16-17.
Another type of system which is more pertinent to the invention discussed
herein uses active and passive transceivers which may or may not utilize
digital codes.
Typical of the more pertinent prior U.S. Patents are:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,098,971 to R. M. Richardson. This patent describes the use
of a remotely actuated device capable of receiving rf energy at one
frequency and transmitting at a different carrier frequency.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,762 issued to R. J. Klensch teaches a system wherein
microwaves are impinged on an identification tag and the tag broadcasts a
harmonic frequency of the microwave which is pulse modulated in a preset
identification code.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,167 issued to S. E. Wahlstrom teaches a system which
uses bursts of rf energy to activate passive resonators.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,242,663 issued to L. Slobodin. This patent teaches the
transmission of a coded multi-bit digital code signal utilizing phase
modulation and examining the output of a homodyne mixer operating on a
radar-light recovery reflection signal for a predetermined response.
The prior art devices and systems have consistently failed to solve a
majority of the problems facing those desiring to use EAS "tags" on
articles in commerce.
A commercial identification and sorting system uses encapsulated,
preprogrammed microchip transponders capable of transmitting a specific
radio signal containing up to nine digits. The code is programmed during
the manufacturing process and cannot be changed. The transponders are used
to identify tagged items are powered and interrogated by a "Datawand". The
system is made up of the tag, the wand, and a computer and scanner is used
to identify horses, fish, humans, cattle, trains and a variety of other
devices. Sorting systems can be designed to complement the identification
system. In one model the Datawand acts as a combination transceiver and
repeater-relay in its cooperation with the Datascan. In another, it
activates the tag and this tag broadcasts directly to the Datawand.
Another company uses a coded tag in routing and identification operations,
for example, automobiles in a plant. The failure of the various companies
working in this area to solve the various problems and combine their
solutions with pricing systems and inventory systems is even more obvious.
Their failure has led to the development of a completely new art--that of
"bar coding" with all of its limitations. The limitations of the various
bar coding systems and the enormous future potential for these systems,
even with their inherent problems, is described in "The Bar Coding of
America", "Fortune", Dec. 27, 1982, pp 98-101.
Companies working in the home, office, factory and security industry have
experienced major problems with magnetic, capacitance, and other sensing
devices when combined with coded and uncoded transceivers in various types
of security systems. These security systems have evolved to the extent
that a variety of sensors are used to determine whether refrigerators have
failed and the food is warming, water is rising in the basement, various
windows have been broken or opened, etc. These various sensors are
connected to transceivers which broadcast to a central control unit which
is attached to an automatic telephone dialer, etc., to signal an alarm.
The codes used with the various sensor-transceivers are used to identify
the particular window or object being sensed.
While the previously described industries have, for the most part, evolved
over decades, modern computer technology has evolved from a start during
the late 1950s and 1960s. From the use of magnetic materials as storage
medium, the industry evolved read-only memory (ROM), random access memory
(RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically
alterable programmable read-only memory devices (EAPROM), and electrically
erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The future for EEPROMs is
described by J. Bylinksi, "Fortune", 1982 pp. 183-184. Finally, the
encrypting and decrypting of various electronic devices has evolved with
electronic circuitry and computer technology.
ART ANALYSIS
The fact that so many researchers in so many countries, companies and
universities have worked and are working on various aspects of the
systems' problem addressed by the inventions described herein and have
failed to combine the transceiver, computer memory and coding technology
with their various systems to form the all-encompassing system approach
claimed herein points up the great degree of unobviousness inherent in the
systems described and claimed.
Electronic semiconductor devices are expensive in small volume production
but inexpensive in high volume production, John Free, "Popular Science",
January, 1982, p. 62. To be inexpensive enough to be widely utilized, the
tags in LIMIS systems should be useful for many purposes and in many types
of systems. The inability to alter the transponders used in the prior art
devices limits their utility and prevents ultimate minimal costs. ROM and
PROM units can be compromised if their code is discovered. The alterable
memories utilized in the LIMIS devices can be modified to reduce
compromise. This feature makes the passive transceivers used in the LIMIS
systems preferable to the nonalterable systems of the prior art. As will
be obvious during the course of the description of this invention, the
inventions claimed herein provide tags with the broad utility that leads
to low cost "tags". LIMIS systems provide the necessary breadth for
encompassing all of the multifarious uses of the prior art systems and
provide a basis for still other uses, for example, in systems analysis
with little additional tag cost.
Substantial EAS art exists for obtaining coded responses from passive
transceivers, including some systems for the purpose of locating objects
in two and three dimensions, i.e., spatially. Often, these systems can be
compromised by their size, reasonably simple electronic counter-measures,
jamming, signal identification and conversion. No prior art device is
capable of attaining the objectives of this invention although some of the
devices, codes, circuits, programs, and methods descried in the prior art
can be used, in whole or in part, in designing and using LIMIS systems,
devices and methods.
Basic radio transmission theory and practice is reviewed in, for example,
Principles of Communication Systems, Herbert Taub et al, McGraw-Hill,
1971, p 514; and Signals, Systems and Communication, B. P. Lathi, John
Wiley & Sons, 1967. More sophisticated noise reduction techniques are
discussed in Analog and Digital Filters Design & Realization, L. O. Chua,
ed. Prentiss-Hall, 1979, p. 632. Computer technology is extensively
reviewed in Electronic Circuits: Discrete and Integrated, D. L. Schilling,
ed., McGraw-Hill, 1963; and, G. L. Braun, Academic Press 1963. Further,
the thin film, printed circuit and remaining micro circuits technology
needed for the manufacture of LIMIS devices and systems is commercially
available. See Introduction to Microcomputors, Sydney B. Newel, ed.,
Harper & Row, 1982, Ch. 12-14.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention is, for simplicity, described in terms of electromagnetic
radiation, e.g., radio frequency, TV frequency, and microwave frequency
embodiments. However, it also encompasses light, sound and other
frequencies utilized for various signaling purposes.
The devices include at least one small, passive transceiver (PT) and at
least one active transceiver (AT) and where necessary, one or more
relay-repeaters (RR) and/or EMR reflectors. The PT is association with;
e.g., adhered on a container cover with a contact adhesive; attached to,
adhered to, or embedded or immersed in, (generically speaking "attached"),
the item to be identified. It is encoded, decoded, identified, and located
and/or its motion is detected and/or measured by the AT. The AT unit
functions can be accomplished by one or more independent devices or a
single device. Thus, a security unit can identify, locate and detail the
motion of a PT but can only partially code and decode (alter) the computer
memory of the PT. Alternatively, an inventory system for a large plant can
have a large system of antennas and several AT's in separate locations,
all operating independently with common coding or integrally with a
central processing unit which provides the capability of performing most
or all of the discussed functions.
The passive transceiver, because of its relative simplicity, can be quite
small and inexpensive. The PTs can, for example, be adhered to clothing,
animals, amusement devices, robots, scientific instruments, glass,
recording media, documents, tickets, keys, sound and video reproduction
media, sporting equipment, vehicles and their tires and/or tracks,
calculators and computers, monitoring equipment, building entryways, e.g.,
doors and windows, building enclosures, shipping and other containers,
adornments, e.g., jewelry, and electronic components. Radio, sonic or
photonic homing triangulation or ranging can be used to find the PTs.
Since the PTs are coded, they can be used, for example, to identify
people, count inventory, detect movement of parts in scientific
instruments, identify animals in a herd or which door or window is opened
or windowpane is broken.
Several types of AT's are useful in the systems. These are, for example,
utility (uu), supervisory (su) and originator (ou) units.
The utility unit encodes PTs with at least the ATs identification code and
the user's PT utility code, and can have a code alteration system which
can alter the coding in PTs which it has encoded. It is designed to detect
the PT within the useful limits of the PT's transmitter range and is
equipped with a computer type memory and logic sufficient for its designed
purpose. It is preferably within a sealed container and is adapted to
erase its programming and/or the data in its storage medium on an
unauthorized breaking of the seal. It is, also, preferably, capable of
being restored to its original condition by the manufacturer after a seal
is broken. Finally, it is, preferably, capable of broadcasting a range
code to a PT equipped to receive such range code and thereby substantially
increase the broadcast range of he PT for pre-determined periods.
To monitor and preserve the integrity of the system, supervisory units are
for use by government, e.g., the police, or private security
organizations.
Supervisory units are designed to enable police and other security
organizations in the location of PTs where the security organization has
been provided with certain information such as, for example, the serial
number of the AT utilized to encode the PT, the PT inventory number and
the personal AT owner identification code. Preferably, the supervisory
units can substantially increase the broadcast range of a PT for
predetermined periods.
The supervisory unit can utilize any of the modern fiberoptic or
telecommunication networks, for example, radio telephone cellular
broadcast networks in locating stolen property, pets, children or the
like.
The originator's unit, i.e., a unit from a LIMIS AT manufacturer, can have
one or more or all the features of the utility unit, and the supervisory
unit. These units can have the additional capability of reactivating any
AT which may have had its computer programming and/or storage
automatically erased through the breaking of unit seals by tamperers or
through breakdown of utility transceivers.
The utility, supervisory, and the originator units are all preferably
sealed to prevent breach of AT and PT security. Preferably, all active and
passive units should have a code for identification, a variable
description, a coding method of self-correction using error
detection--error correction methods; redundant circuits; anti-jamming
capability and a coding method for, inter alia, on receipt of
predetermined coded information from an AT, preventative maintenance and
testing.
UTILITY CONSIDERATIONS
The inventions claimed herein provide a basis for pervasive security,
inventory, identification and motion detection, and measurement and
operating controls, equipment and systems. Obviously, these various
functions, methods and devices are overlapping in end use. Most prior art
systems are unable to utilize a minimum of active and passive transceiver
designs to accomplish the pervasive objectives of LIMIS. They, generally
cannot protect themselves from more than the simplest countermeasures and
are not equipped to provide for location of goods once stolen or
misplaced. None appear to have resolved the problems of operating within
limitations of small transceivers imposed by the radar range equation to
achieve results over extended distances. (See The Radar Handbook, M. L.
Skolnick, McGraw-Hill, 1970, Ch. 1-5).
The complexity of a particular LIMIS system will depend upon the type of
encryption and decryption used and complexity of its utility. The
following examples illustrate this fact and design parameters to be
considered.
An owner of a householder utility unit (UU) will, in the normal case, code
less than 1,000 household, shop, and automotive items within the allocated
set of identification numbers.
A Country Club will have a more compicated utility unit. In such a unit, a
central UU will be located in the Club house. It will have a transmitter
with a broadcast range covering the entire gold course and adjacent
grounds. To reduce the broadcast range required of the PTs in, for
example, golf balls, clubs and gold shoes, the player will be provided a
personal pocket-sized UU. The player will encode his golf balls with a
number from the set of numbers allocated to the Club. The player's UU will
act as a switch for the Club house UU. This will insure that the PT power
requirements are low. In operation, the player's UU will send a coded
signal to the Club house indicating that a particular item is lost. The
Club house UU will broadcast a coded signal to which the lost item PT will
respond by emitting identification or ranging signals which are then
detected either through multiple antennas spaced at predetermined
intervals around the course or through repeater-relay transceivers spaced
at predetermined intervals around the course.
An office provides a different kind of complexity. In an office, each sheet
of paper can have an attached PT. Filing, as such, can be ignored. All
papers can be stacked on shelves or generally filed in easily handled
bundles or cartons. A system similar to the golf course UU is used except
that the broadcast frequency is preferably much higher and the antennas
within the office will be located much closer together so that the exact
location of a particular piece of paper within the office can be
identified with some precision. In the office operation, antennas would be
placed at, possibly, 10-24 inch intervals in one or more arrays in the
walls, floor and/or ceiling and inside and/or outside shielded containers
such as metal desks, filing cabinets, and safes. A secretary looking for a
particular sheet of paper will code in the number of the paper in her
hand-held unit, it will broadcast a signal to the office UU which will, in
turn, interrogate each of the antennas or repeaters and receive back a
broadcast providing the position of the PT. The UU computer will analyze
the received signals from the antennas and, from the analysis, determine
and display the approximate to exact location of the sheet of paper on the
master and/or hand unit or generate some signal denoting proximity from
the hand unit.
In an alternate configuration, the hand-held UU can be equipped with a
suitable antenna(s) and the secretary can point the UU around the office
until signal | | |
