Systems and methods for locating objects using RFID technology and alerting mechanisms

摘要

Systems (100) and methods (400) for an object (1121) within an area (102). The methods involve: receiving, by a Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tag (1141) coupled to the object, a Radio Frequency (“RF”) interrogator signal transmitted from an RFID reader (108); processing, by the RFID tag, the RF interrogator signal to determine if the RF interrogator signal applies thereto; and performing operations by the RFID tag to direct a person's attention directly to the object by activating at least one alerting mechanism (220) electrically and mechanically coupled to the RFID tag when the RF interrogator signal is determined to apply to the RFID tag. In some scenarios, the alerting is additionally or alternatively performed by a beacon (110).

主权项

1. A method for locating an object within an area, comprising:
receiving, by a Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tag coupled to the object, a Radio Frequency (“RF”) interrogator signal transmitted from an RFID reader; processing, by the RFID tag, the RF interrogator signal to determine if the RF interrogator signal applies thereto; selecting, by the RFID tag, a number of alerts to be issued and at least one alert type from a plurality of different alert types based on at least one characteristic of the RF interrogator signal, said plurality of different alert types comprising a visual alert type, an auditory alert type and a tactile alert type; and performing operations by the RFID tag to direct a person's attention directly to the object by activating at least one alerting mechanism electrically and mechanically coupled to the RFID tag when the RF interrogator signal is determined to apply to the RFID tag, where activation of the at least one alerting mechanism causes the selected number of alerts of the selected alert type to be issued; wherein at least one of the number of alerts to be issued and the alert type issued during an object locating process is modified based on changes of the at least one characteristic of the RF interrogator signal.