Patent ID: 6915135

Claim:
A system for detecting a presence and its duration in a given area, comprising: a mobile transmitter operable to periodically send a beacon signal having an unique identification code; a node at a location within a given area, the node including a receiver operable to receive the beacon signal and the unique identification code from the mobile transmitter in response to the mobile transmitter being within a threshold distance of the node, wherein the node includes a transmitter operable to transmit an information signal to a base unit in response to receipt of the beacon signal, the information signal including information as to the unique identification code of the mobile transmitter and an identification code of the node; a base unit operable to receive the information signal from the node, the base unit operable to generate reports with respect to a presence and a duration of presence of the mobile transmitter within the threshold distance of the node in response to one or more information signals.