Object control and tracking system with zonal transition detection

A method of tracking the movement of an object between predetermined zones within an area, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) establishing transition regions between the predetermined zones;
• (b) detecting the object as the object traverses a transition region;
• (c) identifying the object as it is detected traversing the transition region in step (b);
• and
• (d) determining the zone in which the object is located based upon the detection and identification of the object in steps (b) and (c).

A system for tracking and controlling the movement of objects in a predefined area comprising:

• a central controller;
• an array of readers disposed at preselected locations in the predefined area, said readers being in communication with said central controller;
• a readable tag on each of the objects, each readable tag storing a code identifying its corresponding object;
• said codes of said readable tags being detected by said readers as objects move past said readers and being communicated to said central controller;
• said central controller being programmed to determine the location of each object by analyzing the codes communicated by said readers.