RF tracking system and method
Described is an RFID tracking system, an RFID tag and method, The tag includes a memory storing identification data and a radio frequency transceiver receiving a signal from a first wireless transceiver. The first wireless transceiver is part of a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The radio frequency transceiver transmits a response signal including the identification data to at least one second wireless transceiver. The at least one second wireless transceiver being part of a wireless local area network (WLAN). A location of the RFID tag is determined as a function of the response signal.
1. An RFID tag, comprising:
a memory storing identification data; and
a radio frequency transceiver receiving a signal from a first wireless transceiver, the first wireless transceiver being part of a wireless wide area network (WWAN),
wherein the RFID tag is a dual-mode tag receiving communications from the WWAN and a wireless local area network (WLAN),
wherein the radio frequency transceiver transmits a response signal including the identification data to at least one second wireless transceiver, the at least one second wireless transceiver being part of the WLAN, and
wherein a location of the RFID tag is determined as a function of the response signal.
2. The RFID tag according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a power supply.
3. The RFID tag according to claim 1 , wherein the response signal includes at least one of (i) a first reception time of the signal, (ii) a first signal strength of the signal and (iii) the identification data.
4. The RFID tag according to claim 1 , wherein the WWAN includes at least three transceivers.
5. The RFID tag according to claim 1 , wherein the WLAN is an IEEE 802.11 network.
6. The RFID tag according to claim 1 , wherein the signal is a high power, low bit rate signal.
7. The RFID tag according to claim 1 , wherein the response signal is a low power, high bit rate signal.
8. The RFID tag according to claim 1 , wherein the identification data includes at least one of a serial number, a MAC address and a BSSID.
9. An RFID tag, comprising:
a memory storing identification data; and
a radio frequency transceiver receiving a first signal from a first wireless transceiver, the first wireless transceiver being part of a wireless wide area network (WWAN),
wherein the RFID tag is a dual-mode tag receiving communications from the WWAN and a wireless local area network (WLAN),
wherein the radio frequency transceiver transmits a first response signal including the identification data to the first wireless transceiver,
wherein the radio frequency transceiver receives a second signal from a second wireless transceiver, the second wireless transceiver being part of the WLAN,
wherein the radio frequency transceiver transmits a second response signal including identification data to the second wireless transceiver, and
wherein a location of the RFID tag is determined as a function of the second response signal.
10. The RFID tag according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a power supply.
11. The RFID tag according to claim 9 , wherein the second wireless transceiver is selected from a plurality of wireless transceivers of the WLAN as a function of the first response signal.
12. The RFID tag according to claim 9 , wherein the response signal includes at least one of (i) a first reception time of the signal, (ii) a first signal strength of the signal and (iii) the identification data.
13. The RFID tag according to claim 9 , wherein the WWAN includes at least three transceivers.
14. The RFID tag according to claim 9 , wherein the WLAN is an IEEE 802.11 network.
15. The RFID tag according to claim 9 , wherein the signal is a high power, low bit rate signal.
16. The RFID tag according to claim 9 , wherein the response signal is a low power, high bit rate signal.