Patent ID: 7098793
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. A system for tracking first and second objects associated respectively with first and second smart tags, comprising: a plurality of smart tag readers for providing and/or receiving information-bearing electrical signals in a smart tag format, wherein at least one of the plurality of smart tag readers is associated with a tracking location and one of the plurality of smart tag readers is associated with a destination location, wherein each of the plurality of smart tag readers produces information signals representative of information contained in the received information-bearing electrical signals and/or inserts information contained in information signals into the transmitted information-bearing electrical signals; a plurality of antenna operatively coupled to respective ones of the plurality of smart tag readers for transmitting and/or receiving the information-bearing electrical signals in a detection region proximate one of a tracking location and a destination location associated therewith, at least some of said plurality of antenna including a plurality of loop antenna arranged with spatial or temporal separation for coupling the information-bearing signals between the smart tag reader and a smart tag in the detection region with substantially 100% reading rate; at least first and second smart tags associated with first and second objects, the first and second smart tags each including an electronic memory and an antenna coupled to the electronic memory for transmitting and/or receiving information-bearing electrical signals in the smart tag format, wherein the information-bearing electrical signals represent information to be stored in the electronic memory and/or represent information produced from the electronic memory; wherein the information stored in and the information produced from the electronic memory of each smart tag includes a permanent number, application specific data and a relational check number representative of the permanent number or of the permanent number and the application specific data; whereby information is communicated between the electronic memory of the smart tag and the smart tag reader of a particular location when the smart tag is in the detection region of that particular location; and a computer processor for processing at least information signals from the smart tag reader at the destination location for comparing information including application specific data and relational check numbers read from the electronic memories of the first and second smart tags for providing an indication of a match or of lack of a match thereof.