Patent ID: 6838992
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: G01S,G06K,G06Q,G07C,G16H

Abstract:
1. A method for locating subjects within a tracking environment, the method comprising the steps of: for each subject, providing a badge capable of automatically transmitting a shorter interval, lower power, local area RF signal including a unique badge ID and a longer interval, higher power, wide area signal also including the unique badge ID separate from transmission of the local area RF signal; providing an array of receivers distributed within the tracking environment, wherein the array of receivers includes at least one receiver for receiving the shorter interval, lower power, local area signal and the longer interval, higher power, wide area signal; generating a wide area detection packet including the unique badge ID in response to each received wide area signal; generating a local area detection packet including the unique badge ID in response to each received local area signal; and determining the location of each badge and its associated subject based on the identity of the at least one receiver for the badge as represented by its local area or wide area detection packets.