RF Tags for Tracking and Locating Travel Bags

For use in a system for accessing information about a travel bag during shipment (e.g. via airline) thereof, a radio frequency (RF) travel bag tag operable to be associated with said travel bag, said RF travel bag tag comprising a data storage device operable to store information, the stored information comprising both identification information that identifies said travel bag and database information concerning characteristics of said travel bag, said database information being selected from information concerning the destination, origin, identification (e.g. name, address) of owner, travel history of bag and owner, and historical characteristics of said travel bag, said RF travel bag tag further comprising a first loop antenna, a transceiver operatively connected with said first loop antenna and operable to receive an RF interrogation signal, at a low frequency not exceeding 15 MHz (e.g. 128 kHz), from a first reader and to transmit RF signals in response thereto, a microprocessor operable to control data flow between said data storage device and said transceiver in response to said RF interrogation signal, and an energy storage device for providing energy to said transceiver, data storage device, and said microprocessor.

A method of determining whether a repository (e.g. hold of an airplane, airport baggage room), which includes a plurality of travel bags each bearing an RFID tag, includes an unrecorded travel bag which is not known to be present at said repository, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) transmitting an interrogation signal corresponding to an identity code of each travel bag that is known to be included at said repository, said interrogation signal being operable to evoke a confirmatory response signal operable to confirm the presence, in said repository (e.g. hold of an airplane, airport baggage room), of a travel bag bearing an RFID tag which stores said identity code;
• b) programming each of said RFID tags to automatically emit a volunteer stowaway signal only in the event that each of said RFID tags has not emitted a said confirmatory response signal within a selected period of time.

An RFID tag borne by each travel bag at a repository (e.g. hold of an airplane, airport baggage room), said RFID tag comprising:

• a) a data storage device operable to store the identification (ID) code of said RFID tag,
• b) an RF transceiver operable to acknowledge receipt of an interrogation signal corresponding to said ID code, said RF transceiver being operable to automatically emit a stowaway signal unless said RFID tag has received an interrogation signal corresponding to said ID code within a selected period of time, said stowaway signal being used as an indication that said travel bag is not known to be present at said repository.

A system for determining whether a repository (e.g. hold of an airplane, airport baggage room), which includes a plurality of travel bags each bearing an RFID tag, contains an unrecorded travel bag which is not known to be present at said repository, said system comprising:

• a) a reader operable to transmit an interrogation signal corresponding to an identity code of each RFID tag that is known to be present at said repository,
• b) a data storage device within each of said RFID tags for storing an identity code thereof,
• c) a transceiver within each of said RFID tags, said transceiver being operable to transmit a confirmatory response signal in response to said interrogation signal when said interrogation signal corresponds to an identity code stored in the storage device of each of said RFID tags, for confirming the presence of a travel bag bearing an RFID tag which stores said identity code, said transceiver being operable to transmit automatically a volunteer stowaway signal only in the event that said transceiver has not emitted a said confirmatory response signal within a selected period of time, and an energy storage device (e.g. battery, solar cell) operable to energize said transceiver.

A travel bag operable for communicating wireless radio frequency (RF) signals, said travel bag comprising an antenna integrated therewith.