Patents Examined by Thomas H. Tarca
  • Patent number: 6542114
    Abstract: An apparatus (10, 240, 300) includes a signpost (11, 241-256, 322, 612, 623, 626-628, 652, 661, 682, 686, 703) which transmits relatively low frequency signpost signals that are fundamentally magnetic in character, a beacon tag (12, 271-275, 301-316, 395-397, 616-618, 641-643, 653, 656-657, 662-664, 679, 708, 711) which receives the signpost signals and transmits radio frequency signals containing a signpost code (42, 93) from a received signpost signal, and a reader (13, 261, 319, 521-530) which receives the radio frequency signals. One of the signpost and tag is stationarily supported, and the other is mounted on a moveable item. Based on the signals received by the reader, the location of the item can determined with a high degree of accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Savi Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Eagleson, Arthur E. Anderson, III, Timothy K. Brand, Nikola Cargonja, Ravindra U. Rajapakse