Personal item monitor using radio frequency identification
AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
InventorsRobert C. Boman, Brian Hanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A personal item monitoring system includes a monitor having a transmitter and a receiver located therein. At least one radio identification tag is adapted to be coupled to a personal item. Alternatively, the radio identification tag may be pre-installed into the personal item. The monitor emits a radio frequency received by the radio frequency identification tag, and the radio frequency identification tag emits a responding signal if within a detection range. The monitor then alerts a user if the radio identification tag leaves the range of detection.
Claims25
A method for monitoring personal items in an item monitoring system comprising:
- monitoring a first set of radio frequency identification tags found within a first detection range of a portable monitor, where said first set is associated with personal items to be monitored;
- monitoring a second set of radio frequency identification tags found within a second detection range of a second monitor, where said second set is associated with other personal items to be monitored;
- and
- providing an alert by the portable monitor when at least one radio frequency identification tag of said first set exceeds said first detection range or when at least one radio frequency identification tag of said second set exceeds said second detection range, wherein the second monitor notifies the portable monitor that one radio frequency identification tag of said second set has exceeded said second detection range.
An item monitoring system comprising:
- a portable monitor having a transmitter and a receiver located therein;
- a first set of radio frequency identification tags found within a first detection range of said portable monitor;
- a second monitor having a second transmitter and a second receiver therein;
- a second set of radio frequency identification tags found within a second detection range of said second monitor,
- said portable monitor provides an alert when at least one radio frequency identification tag of said first set exceeds said first detection range or when at least one radio frequency identification tag of said second set exceeds said second detection range, wherein the second monitor notifies the portable monitor that one radio frequency identification tag of said second set has exceeded said second detection range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.