Method and apparatus for locating and tracking documents and other objects

An apparatus for locating a particular object among one or more objects, comprising:

• a host transceiver;
• a movable exciter, wherein the movable exciter receives a first signal from the a host transceiver;
• a tag affixed to each of the one or more objects, wherein the tag affixed to the particular object is excited by a second signal transmitted by the movable exciter, wherein the excited tag selectively modulates the second signal from the movable exciter, and the host transceiver directly receives the signal modulated by the excited tag;
• and
• a computer coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the host transceiver.

An apparatus for reading the identification code on an RFID tag attached to a particular object among one or more objects, comprising:

• a host transceiver;
• an exciter, wherein the exciter receives a first signal from the host transceiver;
• a tag affixed to each of the one or more objects, wherein the tag affixed to the particular object is excited by a second signal transmitted by the exciter, wherein the excited tag selectively modulates the second signal from the exciter, and the host transceiver receives the signal modulated by the excited tag, wherein the identification code is determined from the received modulated signal;
• a computer coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the host transceiver.

An automatic system for locating a particular object among a plurality of objects, each of the objects having a tag affixed thereto, comprising:

• one or more host transceivers, wherein each host transceiver comprises a transmitter and a receiver;
• one or more local exciters, wherein each local exciter comprises a receiver and a transmitter, and wherein the one or more local exciters receives a first signal from one of the one or more host transceivers, and, in response to the first signal, the one or more local exciters selectively transmit a second signal to tags affixed to one or more of the objects, wherein the tag affixed to the particular object is excited by the second signal, wherein the excited tag selectively modulates the second signal and one or more of the host transceivers directly receives the signal modulated by the excited tag;
• and
• a computer coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers.

An apparatus for locating a particular object among a plurality of objects, comprising:

• a host transceiver, wherein the host transceiver transmits a first signal;
• a local exciter, wherein the local exciter receives the first signal from the host transceiver, and, in response, the local exciter transmits a second signal;
• a plurality of tags, wherein a tag is attached to each of the plurality of objects, wherein the tag attached to the particular object is selectively excited by the second signal, and wherein the excited tag selectively modulates the second signal, wherein the selectively modulated second signal is received by the host transceiver and the location of the particular object is determined;
• and
• a computer coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers.

An apparatus for locating a particular object comprising:

• one or more host transceivers, wherein each host transceiver comprises a transmitter and a receiver;
• one or more movable exciters, wherein each exciter comprises a receiver and a transmitter, and wherein each exciter receives a first signal from the one or more host transmitters, and after receiving the first signal, the exciter transmits a second signal to a plurality of tags, wherein each tag is attached to an object, and wherein after the plurality of tags receive the second signal, the one or more host receivers receive a modulated second signal from the particular one of the plurality of tags, wherein the location of the particular object is determined;
• and
• a computer coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers.

A method for locating a particular object among a plurality of objects, each of the objects having a tag affixed thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a first signal from one or more host transceivers to one or more local exciters;
• transmitting a second signal from the one or more local exciters to the plurality of objects, wherein the second signal is received and modulated by the tag affixed to the particular object;
• receiving the modulated second signal with one of the one or more host transceivers, wherein the location of the particular object is determined;
• and
• coupling a computer to the one or more host transceivers, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers.

A business environment in which a particular object may be located, comprising:

• at least one area having a plurality of containers for storing a plurality of objects;
• one or more host transceivers, wherein each host transceiver comprises a transmitter and a receiver;
• one or more local exciters, wherein each local exciter comprises a receiver and a transmitter and at least one local exciter is positioned within each of the containers, and wherein the one or more local exciters receives a first signal from one of the one or more host transceivers, and, in response to the first signal, the one or more local exciters selectively transmit a second signal to tags affixed to one or more of the objects, wherein the tag affixed to the particular object is excited by the second signal, wherein the excited tag selectively modulates the second signal and one or more of the host transceivers directly receives the signal modulated by the excited tag;
• and
• a computer coupled to the host transceiver, wherein the computer receives and sends data from and to the one or more host transceivers, wherein the computer displays information indicative of the container containing the particular object.