Method and apparatus combining a tracking system and a wireless communication system

A radio frequency identification system comprising:

• a radio frequency identification tag transmitting a first signal at a first frequency;
• a wireless communication system that transmits and receives second signals in a second frequency range;
• a remote antenna module for receiving said first signal at said first frequency and for transmitting and receiving said second signals in said second frequency range, said second signals being for communication between devices other than radio frequency identification tags, wherein said devices are physically separate from a radio frequency identification tag, and the communication between said devices is unrelated to communication with radio frequency identification tags;
• a frequency converter included in said remote antenna module for converting said first signal at said first frequency to a third signal at a third frequency that is less than said first frequency;
• and
• a cable for transmitting said third signal at said third frequency from said remote antenna module to a tag reader.

A method for locating objects and operating a wireless communication system comprising:

• receiving first signals in a first frequency range with an antenna module from a radio frequency identification tag;
• transmitting and receiving second signals in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range with said antenna module from said wireless communication system, said second signals being for communication between devices other than radio frequency identification tags, wherein said devices are physically separate from a radio frequency identification tag, and the communication between said devices is unrelated to communication with radio frequency identification tags;
• and
• controlling, with a controller that is coupled to said antenna module, communications with said radio frequency identification tag and said wireless communication system.

A method for locating objects comprising:

• transmitting a first signal at a first frequency from a radio frequency identification tag;
• receiving said first signal at said first frequency at a remote antenna module;
• converting, by a converter included in said remote antenna module, said first signal at said first frequency to a second signal at a second frequency that is less than said first frequency;
• transmitting said second signal at said second frequency from said remote antenna module to a tag reader using a cable;
• and
• receiving, with the remote antenna module, a third signal at a third frequency from a wireless communication system, said third signal being for communication between devices other than radio frequency identification tags, wherein said devices are physically separate from a radio frequency identification tag, and the communication between said devices is unrelated to communication with radio frequency identification tags.