Trimble Navigation Limited

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Trimble Inc.

Thingmagic, Inc.

Ravikanth Pappu

Bernd Schoner

Yael Gregory Maguire

Matthew Stephen Reynolds

Sumukh N Pathare

Harry F Tsai

E Rehmatulla Post

Joseph L Richards

John Biondo

Alan Sharp

Linda Chase

Peter Fredriksson

Neil Adam Gershenfeld

Joshua R Smith

Stephen A Benton

Prakash Iyer

Satyan Shah

Wendy J Plesniak

Brian Fiegel

Alois Ludwig Deking

A method for tracking an entity is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of messages conveying an identification of an entity are received using a wireless identification component. A geographic location of the wireless identification component is determined by a position determining component wherein the geographic location describes a respective geographic location of the wireless identification component when each of the plurality of messages is received. A geographic position of the entity is determined based upon a known spatial relationship between the position determining component and the wireless identification component.

Wireless entity tracking and protection

A multi-modal entity tracking and display system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a tracking infrastructure comprising at least one data receiver is configured to detect a tracked entity comprising a first asset class using a first sensing technology and a second sensing technology. The at least one tracking data receiver is further configured to generate a tracking data report conveying a location of the tracked entity. A multi-modal entity tracker is configured to receive and store the tracking data report. The multi-modal entity tracker is further configured to receive and store a second tracking data report of a second tracked entity comprising a second asset class which is conveyed via the tracking infrastructure.

Multi-modal entity tracking and display

Entity tracking

A method of creating and managing a database of meta_data sets for a plurality of objects is provided. The meta-data set is configured to characterize an object. The meta_data set for a 'j'-object is selected from the group consisting of: a first item; a second item; an 'i'-th item; and ID-j tag; wherein &#x201c;i&#x201d; and &#x201c;j&#x201d; being integers. The method comprises: (A) identifying a meta_data set for at least one object; (B) collecting a meta_data set for at least one object; (C) creating the database of meta_data sets for the plurality of objects; (D) storing the database of meta_data sets for the plurality of objects; and (E) accessing the database of meta_data sets for the plurality of objects.

Object recognition and localization service using RFID

A radio device such as a wireless tag reader communicates with multiple types of wireless identification tags in a monitored region. The radio device includes a network interface to receive messages transmitted over a network. In response to receiving a message indicating to reconfigure the radio device to support an additional wireless tag protocol, the radio is reconfigured to support communications with a corresponding new type of wireless identification tag in a monitored region. Based on this technique of reconfiguring the radio device via network messages, the radio device optionally supports additional, new or latest versions of wireless tag protocols without having to physically reprogram or replace the radio device.

Methods and apparatus for operating a radio device

A method of operating a plurality of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers includes operating the readers according to a spatial-division and time-division synchronization schedule. Each reader may be associated with a reader group, and the schedule may specify a duration of time that all of the readers in a group may be active. Readers in different reader groups may be scheduled independent of readers in other reader groups.

Multi-reader coordination in RFID system

Three-dimensional characteristics of a complex physical structure are used to generate a unique identifier. In effect, the characteristics reperesent the basis of a &ldquo;physical one-way hash function&rdquo; that faciliates ready derivation of an identifier based on the physical structure, the structure itself being very difficult to reproduce given only the identifier. The characteristics may be read using a non-contact probe and without the need for precise registration.

Identification and verification using complex, three-dimensional structural features

A user is able to interact with and modify an electronic holographic image using a force-feedback (or haptic) device, which is capable of sensing and reporting the 3D position of its hand-held stylus and &ldquo;displaying&rdquo; appropriate forces to the user. Thus, a user can feel and modify specified shapes in the haptic workspace. The haptic workspace is precisely registered with the free-standing, spatial image displayed by a holographic video (holovideo) system. In the coincident visuo-haptic workspace, a user can see, feel, and interact with synthetic objects that exhibit many of the properties one expects of real ones, and the spatial display enables synthetic objects to become a part of the user's manipulatory space.

Dynamic holographic video with haptic interaction

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Ravikanth Pappu