Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1996-09-17
2001-05-22
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S870030, C340S568300, C340S572800, C340S573300, C342S463000, C342S450000, C342S451000, C235S383000, C235S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236335
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to systems for tracking wireless devices, and more specifically to a system and method of tracking short range transmitters.
In today's retail environment, there may be many different types of wireless devices, such as wireless data terminals, wireless hand-held scanners, wireless electronic shelf labels, wireless voice products, and wireless financial cards. Knowledge of the location of such devices would be helpful to store owners in tracking customer shopping patterns. However, there is currently no method of locating and processing location information for wireless transmitting devices within a transaction establishment.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method of locating short range transmitters within a transaction establishment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method of tracking short range transmitters in transaction establishments is provided.
The system includes a number of transceivers each including a transmitter which transmits a first signal to the wireless device, a plurality of receivers including a plurality of antennae and at least one signal strength determining circuit for determining signal strengths of second signals received by the antennae, and a control circuit for controlling transmission of the first signal and reception of the second signals. A storage medium contains the locations for each of the antennae. A computer coupled to the control circuit instructs the control circuit to transmit the first signal and determines a location of the wireless device from the signal strengths and from the locations of the antennae.
A method of locating a wireless device transported through an area by a customer includes the steps of storing locations of a plurality of receiving antennae in the area, receiving signals from the wireless device as it is transported by the receiving antennae, determining signal strength measurements for the signals, and determining locations of the wireless device from the signal strength measurements.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a system and method of tracking short range transmitters in transaction establishments.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method of tracking short range transmitters in transaction establishments which is preferably based upon signal strength measurements from receiving antennae located throughout the transaction establishment.
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Beaulieu Yonel
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Martin Paul W.
NCR Corporation
Priest Peter H.
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