Patent ID: 7489242

Claim:
A method for determining the range of an RFID tag from an origin, the method comprising: securing an RFID tag with a unique numerical identifier to an object wherein the numerical identifier further comprises an array of extensions wherein each extension corresponds to a predetermined spatial range from an origin; transmitting the unique numerical identifier associated with the RFID tag using RF signals wherein the strength of each of the RF signals corresponds to a particular extension of the array of extensions; receiving the RF signals at a designated location; reading the RF signals and determining the extension from a predetermined index being transmitted by the RFID tag and determining the range of the RFID tag from an origin; reading the RF signals and determining the unique numerical identifier being transmitted by the RFID tag; analyzing the unique numerical identifier for a corresponding identification of an object from a predetermined index; determining whether the object was not found on the index; and alerting a user when an object is missing.