Method, system, and apparatus for an indicator driven by an RFID tag for localization purposes

1. A system for an indicator driven by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for localization purposes, comprising:

a host system;

a communication system including a mobile device operated by a person to communicate with the host system;

a plurality of similar items, including an item of interest;

a unique RFID tag disposed on each of the plurality of similar items that is specific to each of the plurality of similar items, each RFID tag having an associated indicator element comprising a visual indicator and/or an audio indicator and that is not included directly on the RFID tag but is built into a reusable item;

an indicator detector; and

a reader system comprising

a RFID reader in communication with the host system and each RFID tag, the RFID reader operable to signal each RFID tag to activate the associated indicator element when the RFID tag is receiving energy above a defined threshold,

where each RFID tag is configured to modulate the associated indicator element when the RFID tag communicates to the reader system allowing a system to correlate data streams to provide an image or other representation which associates an RFID identity with the indicator, and

wherein the host system is configured to allow a consumer to specify the item of interest with the mobile device and activate the indicator element by interaction with the communication system and the RFID reader in order to locate the item of interest, and

where the RFID system is integrated with a shelving or racking where the plurality of similar items are located.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of similar items is any one of a box, package, pallet or product container.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of similar items is any one of a document, file or folder.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader is in wireless communication with each RFID tag.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator is a light emitting diode, electro-luminescent panel or other emissive visual indicator.

6. A system for an indicator driven by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for localization purposes, comprising:

an item among a plurality of items;

a RFID tag unique to each of the plurality of items attached to each of the plurality of items;

a each RFID tag having an associated indicator element; comprising a visual indicator and/or an audio indicator and that is not included directly on the RFID tag but is built into a reusable item

a camera operable to detect the indicator element of each RFID tag and to record a time at which each RFID tag was within range of the camera; and

an electronic shutter on the camera such that the camera only accepts light when the indicator element is emitting.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the indicator element is an infra-red element, and the camera is equipped with an infra-red filter.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the item is any one of a security badge, security pass, ticket or sensitive document.

9. A method for an indicator driven by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for localization purposes, comprising:

associating a unique RFID tag with an item that is specific to the item, the RFID tag having an indicator element that is a control loop, where the item is any one of a security badge, security pass, ticket or sensitive document, and the RFID tag having a coil connected to a pair of pins on an RFID chip;

transmitting a signal from a RFID reader to the unique RFID tag;

activating the indicator element of the RFID tag upon receiving the signal from the RFID reader;

localizing the item by means of the indicator element; and

recording the time at which the RFID tag was within range of a camera,

wherein a time between activating the indicator is changed according to a pseudo random pattern.

10. A system for an indicator driven by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for localization purposes, comprising:

an item, where the item is any one of a security badge, security pass, ticket or sensitive document;

a unique RFID tag that is specific to the item disposed on the item;

an indicator projector remote from the item; and

a RFID reader comprising a phased array scanner in communication with the RFID tag, the RFID reader operable to signal the RFID tag to activate the indicator projector to project a visual indicator onto the item to aid in locating the item and

where the system is configured to activate the projector to project an image or laser spot onto the body of or floor space near the item if the RFID tag has not been recorded as having been near a point of sale terminal by calculating the location history of the RFID tag.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication system comprises at least one of internet, WIFI and short range NFC.

12. The system of claim 1 , where the indicator element is a non-emissive visual indicator.

13. The system of claim 12 , where the non-emissive visual indicator is a liquid crystal device, an electrophoretic device, or a liquid crystal display shutter combined with an optical retroflector.

14. The system of claim 1 , where each RFID tag has an indicator control element.

15. The system of claim 14 , where the indicator control element is a coil connected to a pair of input/output pins on a RFID chip on the RFID tag.