System for location in environment and identification tag

A method of locating an object in an environment, comprising the steps of:

• identifying the object to be tracked;
• applying a tag to the object, said tag including a passive element and an energy-harvesting element;
• using a first locating device to detect a location of the object by communicating with the tag;
• further detecting the location of the object by determining a location of the tag using a multi-stage tag locating method used by a second locating device, the multi-stage tag locating method executed by a spatial probabilistic filter resident as executable code in a method associated with the multi-stage tag locating method said spatial probabilistic filter applied at least to said first locating device and a real-time database providing accurate information on the location of the object;
• and
• coupling a power source to the tag, wherein during a sleep mode, the tag is configured to draw power from the power source, and during an awake mode, the tag is configured to transmit the signal using power from the power source, wherein the tag further comprises an RFID circuit coupled to said energy-harvesting element, the power source including an energy storage device comprising at least one of a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor, and an ultra-capacitor, and said energy-harvesting element including a solar cell, a first antenna, and a second antenna, said first antenna electrically coupled to said solar cell, said energy storage device, and said RFID circuit, and electrically coupled to said second antenna through a diode.

A system, comprising:

• a tag for identifying an object in an environment and configured for placement on the object;
• a locating device comprising a processor and executable code for causing the processor to detect a signal relating to the tag to identify a location of the object, wherein the locating device further comprises:
• a probabilistic-spatial filter for determining a probable location area of the object based on the signal received and on a probable compatibility of a geographic characteristic with the object;
• a first power source and a second power source, each coupled to the tag, wherein during a sleep mode, the tag is configured to draw power from the first power source, and during an awake mode, the tag is configured to transmit the signal using power from the second power source;
• wherein the tag further comprises:
• an energy-harvesting element;
• an RFID circuit;
• and
• an energy storage device comprising at least one of a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor, and an ultra-capacitor, and the energy-harvesting element including a solar cell, a first antenna, and a second antenna, the first antenna being electrically coupled to the solar cell, the energy storage device, and the RFID circuit, and being electrically coupled to the second antenna through a diode.