US6975229B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for acquisition management of subject position information
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 2002-08-09
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Granted: 2005-12-13
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Expires: 2022-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for acquisition management of subject position information that utilizes radio frequency identification (RF ID) to store position information in position tags. Tag programmers receive position information from external positioning systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), from manual inputs, such as keypads, or other tag programmers. The tag programmers program each position tag with the received position information. Both the tag programmers and the position tags can be portable or fixed. Implementations include portable tag programmers and fixed position tags for subject position guidance, and portable tag programmers for collection sample labeling. Other implementations include fixed tag programmers and portable position tags for subject route recordation. Position tags can contain other associated information such as destination address of an affixed subject for subject routing.
Inventors
- 👤 Curt Carrender
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/20; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/0009; G01S5/0018; G01S5/0027; G01S5/02; G01S5/10; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S1/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A position tag for communication with a GPS enabled programmer comprising: a memory configured to store position information; at least one radio frequency antenna; and a receiver circuit coupled to the at least one radio frequency antenna, the receiver configured to receive radio frequency control signals and radio frequency position request signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna from the GPS enabled programmer, and to send radio frequency signals containing position information about a fixed position via the at least one radio frequency antenna responsive to the position request signals, the memory configured to store position information about the fixed position in response to the control signals and to recall position information in response to the position request signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A position tag for communication with a GPS enabled programmer comprising: a memory configured to store position information; at least one radio frequency antenna; and a receiver circuit coupled to the at least one radio frequency antenna, the receiver configured to receive radio frequency control signals and radio frequency position request signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna from the GPS enabled programmer, and to send radio frequency signals containing position information about a fixed position via the at least one radio frequency antenna responsive to the position request signals, the memory configured to store position information about the fixed position in response to the control signals and to recall position information in response to the position request signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes position coordinates associated with the fixed position of the position tag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes identification of an intended recipient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes a timestamp associated with a time when the position information was stored in the memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes position coordinates based upon an external positioning system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes position coordinates associated with a building.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes position coordinates associated with a sample collection site.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes position coordinates of multiple positions achieved by a subject affixed to the position tag during a period of time when the subject traversed a route.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the memory is sized sufficient for storage of information regarding one position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes a destination address for a subject affixed to the position tag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the memory stores position information by using one or more pointers to point to position references.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the memory stores position information by storing absolute position references.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The position tag of claim 1 , further comprising a control coupled to the memory and the receiver, the control configured to instruct the memory to store position information in response to the control signals and to recall position information in response to the position request signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memory includes position coordinates broadcast by the United States Department of Defense managed Global Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
A position tag programmer for use with at least one remote position tag, comprising: at least one radio frequency antenna; a receiver configured to receive position information radio signals regarding the position of the remote position tag from an external position reference system via the at least one radio frequency antenna; and a tag program transmitter coupled to the receiver and configured to transmit radio frequency position information control signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna to the remote position tag for storage in the position tag of the position information received from the external position reference system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
A position tag programmer for use with at least one remote position tag, comprising: at least one radio frequency antenna; a receiver configured to receive position information radio signals regarding the position of the remote position tag from an external position reference system via the at least one radio frequency antenna; and a tag program transmitter coupled to the receiver and configured to transmit radio frequency position information control signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna to the remote position tag for storage in the position tag of the position information received from the external position reference system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The position tag programmer of claim 15 wherein the receiver is configured to receive position information radio signals from the United States Department of Defense managed Global Positioning System (GPS) as the external position reference system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The position tag programmer of claim 15 wherein the tag programmer transmitter is further configured to transmit position information control signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna to a second position tag programmer for storage in the second position tag programmer of the position information received from the external position reference system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The position tag programmer of claim 15 , further comprising a local input configured to provide manual input of position information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The position tag programmer of claim 15 , further comprising a battery to provide electrical power to components of the position tag programmer including the receiver and the tag program transmitter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The position tag programmer of claim 15 wherein the tag program transmitter is further configured to store the position information received from the external position reference system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The position tag programmer of claim 15 , further comprising: an adapter configured to removably couple to an input device, the input device configured to input position information to the position tag programmer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The position tag programmer of claim 21 wherein the adapter is configured to removably couple to a keypad as the input device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The position tag programmer of claim 21 wherein the adapter is configured to removably couple to a receiver as the input device, the receiver configured to receive position information radio signals from an external position reference system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The position tag programmer of claim 15 , further comprising a memory configured to store position information regarding multiple positions and associated timestamps from the position tag with respect to a route recordation by the position tag of a traveling subject affixed to the position tag.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of providing position guidance to a subject with respect to an area, the method comprising: dispersing position tags to fixed locations in the area; receiving at a remote programmer position information associated with each fixed location in the area; programming each position tag to store the received position information associated with its fixed location by transmitting the position information via radio frequency signals to each position tag from the programmer; and directing movement of the subject within the area based upon receiving position information stored in the positions tags dispersed to the fixed locations within the area.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of providing position guidance to a subject with respect to an area, the method comprising: dispersing position tags to fixed locations in the area; receiving at a remote programmer position information associated with each fixed location in the area; programming each position tag to store the received position information associated with its fixed location by transmitting the position information via radio frequency signals to each position tag from the programmer; and directing movement of the subject within the area based upon receiving position information stored in the positions tags dispersed to the fixed locations within the area.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 25 , further comprising sending information request signals from points of origination, the signals configured to be received by a dispersed position tag when the position tag is located within a predetermined maximum distance from the points of origination.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the programming further includes the received position information having position coordinates relative to other fixed positions within the area.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 wherein directing movement of the subject within the area further includes providing instructions intelligible to a human.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 wherein directing movement of the subject within the area further includes providing instructions intelligible to a robot.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 wherein directing movement of the subject within the area further includes providing instructions intelligible to a vehicle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 25 wherein receiving further includes receiving position information from the United States Department of Defense managed Global Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 35
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of recording travel by a subject along a route, the method comprising: dispersing position tag programmers to locations along the route; programming each of the dispersed position tag programmers to store local position information related to the location of the dispersed position tag programmer; affixing a position tag to the subject, the position tag configured to store position information related to a plurality of positions; programming the position tag to store the local position information stored in each of the position tag programmers into the position tag as the position tag passes within range of the position tag programmer; and programming the position tag using each of the dispersed position tag programmers to store a timestamp within the position tag associated with the time that the position tag passed within range of the position tag programmer.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of recording travel by a subject along a route, the method comprising: dispersing position tag programmers to locations along the route; programming each of the dispersed position tag programmers to store local position information related to the location of the dispersed position tag programmer; affixing a position tag to the subject, the position tag configured to store position information related to a plurality of positions; programming the position tag to store the local position information stored in each of the position tag programmers into the position tag as the position tag passes within range of the position tag programmer; and programming the position tag using each of the dispersed position tag programmers to store a timestamp within the position tag associated with the time that the position tag passed within range of the position tag programmer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 32 , further comprising reading the local position information and timestamps stored in the position tag after the subject has completed travel of at least a portion of the route.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 32 wherein programming each of the dispersed position tag programmers further includes local position information being based upon position coordinates relative to other positions along the route.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 32 wherein programming each of the dispersed position tag programmers further includes local position information being based upon position information from the United States Department of Defense managed Global Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 40
Independent Claim
212 words
A system for subject position information, the system comprising: a remote position tag including: a memory configured to store position information; at least one radio frequency antenna; and a receiver circuit coupled to the at least one radio frequency antenna, the receiver configured to receive radio frequency control signals and radio frequency position request signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna, and to send radio frequency signals containing position information about a fixed position via the at least one radio frequency antenna responsive to due position request signals, the memory configured to store position information about the fixed position in response to the control signals and to recall position information in response to the position request signals; and a position tag programmer including: at least one radio frequency antenna; a receiver configured to receive position information radio signals about the position of the remote position tag from an external position reference system via the at least one radio frequency antenna; and a tag program transmitter coupled to the receiver and configured to transmit radio frequency position information control signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna to the remote position tag for storage in the remote position tag of the position information received from the external position reference system.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
212 words
A system for subject position information, the system comprising: a remote position tag including: a memory configured to store position information; at least one radio frequency antenna; and a receiver circuit coupled to the at least one radio frequency antenna, the receiver configured to receive radio frequency control signals and radio frequency position request signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna, and to send radio frequency signals containing position information about a fixed position via the at least one radio frequency antenna responsive to due position request signals, the memory configured to store position information about the fixed position in response to the control signals and to recall position information in response to the position request signals; and a position tag programmer including: at least one radio frequency antenna; a receiver configured to receive position information radio signals about the position of the remote position tag from an external position reference system via the at least one radio frequency antenna; and a tag program transmitter coupled to the receiver and configured to transmit radio frequency position information control signals via the at least one radio frequency antenna to the remote position tag for storage in the remote position tag of the position information received from the external position reference system.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system for subject position information of claim 36 wherein the position tag programmer further comprises: an adapter configured to removably couple to an input device, the input device configured to input position information to the position tag programmer.
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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) | 2008-12-12 | 2009-06-13 | 2009-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-12-12 | 2013-06-13 | 2013-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-12-12 | 2017-06-13 | 2017-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |