Abstract: A wide area object tracking system comprises a primary and two secondary base stations. Each secondary base station is coupled to the primary base station to define a tag detecting cell. Each station receives a signal from a tag attached to a tracked object, yielding three signals indicative of the tag location within the cell. Many overlapping cells in a given space allow tracking objects within that space. The system comprises a central server coupled to the primary base station, and may include at least one tag recording unit and a tag recovery apparatus both coupled to the central server. The primary base station uses three channels to communicate with the tag, the central server, and with at least one other primary base station, the secondary base stations, and a portable control unit.

Abstract: The wide area object and large capacity tracking system comprises a plurality of tags to be attached to an object to be tracked and being configured so as to generate and transmit a tag signal indicative of the object-related information, a tag-recording unit configured to program a tag's memory with object-related information pertaining to the object to which the tag is attached, a central server including a memory for storing the information stored to the tags; primary base stations, each being coupled to the central server and being coupled to a pair of secondary base stations so as to define a tag detecting cell; each of the primary and secondary base stations being configured to receive tag signals, each yielding three received signals indicative of the location of a tag within the cell; and at least one portable control unit wirelessly coupled to the system and being configured to receive tag signals and object-related information.