System and method for monitoring individuals and objects associated with wireless identification tags

摘要

A monitoring system includes a wireless identification tag and interrogator. The tag includes memory that stores information associated with a person or object associated with the wireless identification tag. The interrogator wirelessly transmits an interrogation signal, which includes a sequence of interrogation codes, to the wireless identification tag. If one of the interrogation codes is associated with the wireless identification tag, the tag wirelessly transmits an acknowledgment signal associated with the tag. The interrogator receives the acknowledgment signal, which indicates that the wireless identification tag has been monitored within an area. A method of monitoring a person or object within a defined area includes the steps of storing information in a wireless identification tag; transmitting an interrogation signal; receiving the interrogation signal by the tag; determining whether an interrogation code in the received interrogation signal is associated with the tag and, if so, transmitting an acknowledgment signal.