Patent ID: 7479884

Claim:
A method for monitoring a person, animal, object, or place, comprising: associating a modulating reflector tag with said person, animal, object, or place, said modulating reflector tag including an antenna structure having at least one characteristic modified in accordance with a pattern, said pattern intended to convey information pertaining to said person, animal, object, or place, said modulating reflector tag being located at a first location, said antenna structure employing retro reflector effects to improve signal-to-noise of said modulating reflector tag to enable an increased interrogation range; transmitting an interrogation signal towards said modulating reflector tag using an interrogator located at a second location different from said first location, said interrogation signal reflecting off said modulating reflector tag as a return signal, said retro reflector effects causing said return signal to return directly back towards said interrogator regardless of where said interrogator is located relative to said modulating reflector tag; receiving said return signal, said receiving occurring at said second location; demodulating said received return signal to determine said information; and monitoring said person, animal, object, or place based upon said demodulated information.