Patents Assigned to Visible Assets Inc.
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Patent number: 7536721Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling the operating state of a lock characterized by a locked state and an unlocked state. The method comprises: entering secret information on an electronic input device (e.g. keypad) located on a radio frequency identity card, then electronically comparing the secret information against an authorized code to determine whether the secret information is authorized, then transmitting by radio frequency an unlocking signal to a radio frequency reader located at the lock for opening the lock in the event that the secret information is authorized. In a related use of such RF identity cards, the invention also provides a system and method of tracking movements of individuals within a secure area.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Visible Assets, IncInventors: John K. Stevens, Paul Waterhouse, Christopher W. Verge, Kenneth Truong, Jason August
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Publication number: 20090058646Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method, system, and associated tag for detection and tracking of inanimate and animate objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: VISIBLE ASSETS, INC.Inventors: Paul Waterhouse, Christopher W. Verge, Michael J. Vandenberg, Kenneth Truong, John K. Stevens, M. Jason August
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Publication number: 20090045965Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method, system, and associated tag for detection and tracking of inanimate and animate objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2007Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: VISIBLE ASSETS, INC.Inventors: Paul Waterhouse, Christopher W. Verge, Michael J. Vandenberg, Kenneth Truong, John K. Stevens, M. Jason August
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Publication number: 20090038191Abstract: A system uses a large loop antenna, connected with a transceiver operating below 1 MHz. The loop antenna is deployed from a spool to surround a crime scene, and may carry indicia communicating that it is a crime scene boundary. The system interrogates devices, including evidence bags and badged personnel, as they enter and leave the scene. The system can optionally log the time of salient events. A second loop antenna can log evidence bags as they enter a vehicle. The devices can be silenced by the transceiver and thus collisions can be reduced and avoided among responses from devices. The system performs “area reads” that would not be possible if higher RF frequencies were employed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Applicant: Visible Asset, IncInventors: Paul Waterhouse, John K. Stevens, Jason August, Jessica L. Olson
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Patent number: 7489245Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method, system, and associated tag for detection and tracking of inanimate and animate objects.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Visible Assets, IncInventors: Jason August, Paul Waterhouse, John K. Stevens, Christopher W. Verge, Michael J. Vandenberg, Kenneth Truong
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Patent number: 7489244Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method, system, and associated tag for detection and tracking of inanimate and animate objects.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Visible Assets, Inc.Inventors: Jason August, Paul Waterhouse, John K. Stevens, Christopher W. Verge, Michael J. Vandenberg, Kenneth Truong
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Publication number: 20090025807Abstract: A control system for an outdoor faucet includes a control unit encased in a waterproof housing. Inside the waterproof housing can be found an omni-directional antenna; a transceiver operatively coupled with the antenna and operating at a low radio frequency below 300 kHz; an onboard memory for storing data; a motor valve for controlling liquid flow; a micro controller unit operatively coupled with the onboard memory and configured for controlling operation of the control unit and for actuating the motor valve; and a connector for coupling with an energy source for powering the control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: Visible Assets Inc.Inventors: Jason August, John Stevens, Paul Waterhouse
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Publication number: 20090027166Abstract: Passive tags use two antennas with only limited mutual coupling one of which receives a power/clock field and the other of which receives a data signal. An area-reading antenna, or two or more antennas, are deployed to generate the power/clock field, from a base station. The base station, or active tags, or both, generate the data signals from time to time. This topology together with the use of low frequencies permits area reads, and permits small and economical passive tags, and further permits localization of a particular passive tag as being nearby to a particular active tag.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2006Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: VISIBLE ASSETS, INCInventors: John K Stevens, Paul Waterhouse
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Publication number: 20090022138Abstract: A method for providing unlimited multiplexing of network nodes includes steps of: placing a plurality of tags within a network node, wherein the tags comprise the RuBee long wavelength network protocol; clipping the plurality of tags into separate areas for transmitting and receiving, by placing a plurality of base stations within the network node such that at least one base station overlaps with an adjacent network node; and synchronizing transmit packets from two adjacent base stations transmitting at a same time, such that the tags detect and respond to the packets from a nearby base station and perceive the packets from the distant base station as noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2007Publication date: January 22, 2009Applicant: Visible Assets Inc.Inventors: Rod Gilchrist, John K. Stevens, Florin Tarcoci, Paul Waterhouse
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Publication number: 20080319280Abstract: An implantable device for in vivo monitoring of biotelemetry data includes: a waterproof housing completely encasing the implantable device, the waterproof housing constructed from a material with chemical and fatigue resistance plus thermal stability for placement in a living being; a radio frequency modem located inside the housing and operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding one megahertz; an antenna located within the housing and operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem; a fully programmable microprocessor located within the housing and operatively coupled with the modem; at least one sensor located within the housing for detecting the biotelemetric data; a memory; and a connector for connecting to a power source to power the programmable microprocessor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: Visible Assets Inc.Inventors: Jason August, Robert Griffin, John K. Stevens, Paul Waterhouse
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Patent number: 7456418Abstract: A cementitious container that has a low-frequency radio tag containing the container's pedigree and history. The container is used for storage of hazardous waste are disclosed having an inner layer of substantially unhydrated cement in contact with the hazardous waste and an outer layer of hydrated cement. Cementitious hazardous waste containers may be prepared by compressing powdered hydraulic cement around solid hazardous waste materials as well as the encapsulated radio tag that uses low frequency communication. This makes it possible to read and write information though the wall of the container as during transportation to a storage site. Once placed at the storage site, the pedigree, (history contents, Chain of Possession, Proof of delivery, weight), may be checked and verified by reading the tag on a regular basis, (once an hour), to confirm the vessel is intact and has not been moved.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Visible Assets, IncInventors: John K. Stevens, Paul Waterhouse, Jason August
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Publication number: 20080275530Abstract: A metal surgical implant has a first antenna wrapped around an elongated portion, the first antenna electrically coupled with circuitry, all tuned to a frequency below 450 kilohertz. The assembly is substantially sterile. A second antenna may also be wrapped around the elongated portion, also electrically coupled with the circuitry. The implant may be a hip implant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2006Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: Visible Assets, Inc.Inventors: John K. Stevens, Paul Waterhouse
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Publication number: 20080275287Abstract: A cementitious container that has a low-frequency radio tag containing the container's pedigree and history. The container is used for storage of hazardous waste are disclosed having an inner layer of substantially unhydrated cement in contact with the hazardous waste and an outer layer of hydrated cement. Cementitious hazardous waste containers may be prepared by compressing powdered hydraulic cement around solid hazardous waste materials as well as the encapsulated radio tag that uses low frequency communication. This makes it possible to read and write information though the wall of the container as during transportation to a storage site. Once placed at the storage site, the pedigree, (history contents, Chain of Possession, Proof of delivery, weight), may be checked and verified by reading the tag on a regular basis, (once an hour), to confirm the vessel is intact and has not been moved.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2005Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: VISIBLE ASSETS, INC.Inventors: John Stevens, Paul Waterhouse, Jason August
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Patent number: 7436304Abstract: A system uses a large loop antenna, connected with a transceiver operating below 1 MHz. The loop antenna is deployed from a spool to surround a crime scene, and may carry indicia communicating that it is a crime scene boundary. The system interrogates devices, including evidence bags and badged personnel, as they enter and leave the scene. The system can optionally log the time of salient events. A second loop antenna can log evidence bags as they enter a vehicle. The devices can be silenced by the transceiver and thus collisions can be reduced and avoided among responses from devices. The system performs “area reads” that would not be possible if higher RF frequencies were employed.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Visible Assets, IncInventors: Paul Waterhouse, John K Stevens, Jason August, Jessica L Olson
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Publication number: 20080246610Abstract: Activities of individuals and the movements/usage of products are monitored in an operating room during a surgical procedure by disposing in the operating room a first transceiver operating in a long wavelength mode in which 99.99% or more of radiated energy is in the form of a magnetic field, for example 131 KHz. A distinguishable radio frequency-enabled identification tag is associated with each of a plurality of persons assigned to the surgical procedure, including for example, doctors, nurses, and/or the patient, and optionally with products to be monitored. A signal is transmitted from the first transceiver and responses from the identification tags are monitored. A log is created from the monitored responses indicative activities of each of the persons in the operating room or of movements of tagged products.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: VISIBLE ASSETS, INC.Inventors: Tom Packert, Jay Pierce, Robert J. Griffin, John K. Stevens
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Publication number: 20080238672Abstract: A system uses a large loop antenna, connected with a transceiver operating below 1 MHz. The loop antenna is deployed from a spool to surround a crime scene, and may carry indicia communicating that it is a crime scene boundary. The system interrogates devices, including evidence bags and badged personnel, as they enter and leave the scene. The system can optionally log the time of salient events. A second loop antenna can log evidence bags as they enter a vehicle. The devices can be silenced by the transceiver and thus collisions can be reduced and avoided among responses from devices. The system performs “area reads” that would not be possible if higher RF frequencies were employed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2006Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: VISIBLE ASSETS, INC.Inventors: Paul Waterhouse, John K. Stevens, Jason August, Jessica L. Olson
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Publication number: 20080228316Abstract: A warehousing system includes a container for storing at least one item, a first electronic (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID)) module associated with the first container, and a controller which wirelessly communicates with first electronic module, for directing a transfer of said at least one item to and/or from said first container. The inventive system may include, for example, a hybrid retail/warehouse system which includes a facility having a shelving area, and a picking area adjacent to the shelving area, and a layout so as to minimize a picking area and a walking distance between a picking area and a shelving area.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: VISIBLE ASSETS, INC.Inventors: John K. Stevens, Paul Waterhouse, Michael J. Vandenberg
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Publication number: 20080218348Abstract: A pedigree tag for tracking and validating authenticity of contents in a container includes: a radio frequency modem operable at a low radio frequency, not exceeding one megahertz, and including a full duplex transmitter and receiver; an antenna operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem; a programmable microprocessor operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem; a memory operatively coupled with the programmable microprocessor; a clock; and a connector for connecting a power source for providing power to the microprocessor; wherein the pedigree tag is in a form factor conformable to the container to which it is affixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: Visible Assets Inc.Inventors: Jason August, John Stevens, Paul Waterhouse
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Publication number: 20080191847Abstract: A method, system, and associated identification device for identification of an entity, such as a passport for identification of national citizens. The identification device includes: a) a display for displaying a photo and other identification data relating to the entity; b) a wireless communication part operable to receive data queries and transmit data wirelessly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2006Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: Visible Assets, Inc.Inventors: Jason August, John K. Stevens, Christopher W. Verge, Paul Waterhouse, Kenneth Truong, Michael J. Vandenberg
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Publication number: 20080186184Abstract: Briefly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a networked security tag affixed to a portable computing device is operable to provide monitoring, tracking, and security for the portable computing device within a protected region. The security tag includes the following: an onboard security program, an omni-directional device antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding one megahertz, a transceiver operatively connected to the device antenna, the transceiver operable to receive radio signals at the low radio frequency and generate data signals at the said low radio frequency, in response thereto. The security tag also includes a programmable microcontroller operatively coupled with the transceiver, the microcontroller configured for controlling operation of the security program and to cause the transceiver to emit a signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2007Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: Visible Assets Inc.Inventors: Jason August, John K. Stevens, Paul Waterhouse