Method and apparatus for locating personnel and objects in response to telephone inquiries

Abstract

An automated position location system is provided which, in response to a telephone caller's inquiry and without human intervention, connects the caller directly to the telephone extension located nearest the individual or object of interest. A transmitter is attached to each individual (or object) to be monitored within a building. A number of stationary receivers are positioned at designated locations throughout the building. When a transmitter is transported within range of a receiver, information about the transmitter's identity and the receiver's location is provided to a tracking system, which calculates the transmitter's location and stores its identity and location in a chronological database. As the transmitter is transported throughout the building, the tracking system continually updates transmitter location information in the database. In response to a telephone caller's inquiry, an automated locating system determines the whereabouts of an individual person or object of interest and communicates a message to the caller which describes that location. Then, as requested by the caller, the locating system automatically places the call to the telephone extension nearest that location. Alternatively, the caller may request a list of those individuals and objects currently at a particular location.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.