Radio frequency identification (RFID) based location tracking system in an airport environment

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for tracking items automatically are ed. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is used with a material g system to enable the identification, location tracking, and managing of aviation assets, such as baggage and cargo, in an airport environment. For example, passive RFID tags are attached to an aviation asset. Antennas are placed at locations where monitoring of assets is necessary. A local controller and RFID reader use the antennas to communicate with the passive RFID tags to determine the identity and location of the asset.

1 . A tracking system for monitoring objects in an airport environment, comprising: 
 at least one antenna placed in a corresponding stationary coverage area associated with the at least one antenna, wherein the stationary coverage area is arranged adjacent to at least one conveyor;    an RFID reader that is coupled to the at least one antenna, wherein a unit load device (ULD) is positioned adjacent to the at least one conveyor in the stationary coverage area of the at least one antenna, wherein the reader reads RFID tags, as the objects associated with the tags enter the stationary coverage area.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the objects include baggage.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the objects include cargo.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one conveyor comprises a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first conveyor belt moves objects on the first conveyor belt in a first direction opposite from a second direction in which the second conveyor belt moves objects.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second conveyor belts are positioned in a stacked configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first conveyor belt transports objects from a baggage check-in area to an aircraft, and the second conveyor belt transports objects from an aircraft to a baggage pick-up area.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of antennas, wherein each of the plurality of antennas has a corresponding stationary coverage area, wherein a ULD is positioned in at least one of the coverage areas of the plurality of antennas, wherein the reader reads the tags as the objects associated with the tags enter the coverage area.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second reader that is coupled to a second antenna, wherein a second ULD is positioned in a coverage area of the second antenna, wherein the second reader reads RFID tags associated with objects positioned in the coverage area of the second antenna.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader comprises: 
 an input/output module;    an Ethernet switch; and    a power unit.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader reads a tag of an object that an operator places into the ULD.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operator places the object into the ULD from the at least one conveyor.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader reads a tag of an object that an operator places onto the at least one conveyor.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the operator places the object onto the at least one conveyor from the ULD.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises: 
 an object management system (OMS) that receives information regarding read tags from the reader and stores the information.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the OMS associates an antenna with the ULD.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the OMS tracks which of the objects are associated with the ULD.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises: 
 an operator feedback unit (OFU) that enables an operator to interact with the reader.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the OFU comprises at least one indicator providing an indication related to operation of the reader to the operator.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the OFU comprises at least one input device that enables the operator to control operation of the reader.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of antennas and a plurality of OFUs, each the OFU corresponding to a distinct antenna.  
   
   
       22 . A tracking system for monitoring objects in an airport environment, comprising: 
 a first antenna placed in a corresponding first stationary coverage area;    a second antenna placed in a corresponding second stationary coverage area, wherein the first and the second stationary coverage areas are arranged consecutively adjacent to at least one conveyor;    a first RFID reader coupled to the first antenna;    a second RFID reader coupled to the second antenna, wherein the first and the second RFID readers read RFID tags associated with objects positioned in their respective coverage areas; and    an object management system (OMS) that receives information regarding read tags from the first and the second RFID readers and stores the information,    wherein the OMS associates a location of an object to the first RFID reader that has last read the object tag, until the object enters the second stationary coverage area associated with the second RFID reader, and the second RFID reader starts tracking the object.    
   
   
       23 . A method for monitoring objects in an airport environment, the method comprising: 
 (a) selecting an object from an object carrier;    (b) analyzing a RFID tag associated with the object to determine a unit load device (ULD) to contain the object;    (c) positioning the object in the determined ULD;    (d) reading the RFID tag of the object;    (e) receiving an indicator output that indicates whether the determined ULD is the correct ULD for the object;    (f) if the indicator output indicates the determined ULD is not the correct ULD for the object: 
 (1) removing the object from the determined ULD, and  
 (2) returning to step (b) for the object,  
   (g) if the indicator output indicates the determined ULD is the correct ULD for the object: 
 (1) determining whether the object carrier has another object, and  
 (2) if the object carrier is determined to have another object, selecting the another object from the object carrier, and returning to step (b) for the another object.  
   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (b) comprises: 
 scanning a bar code of the RFID tag.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (b) comprises: 
 reading text associated with the RFID tag.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (d) comprises: 
 (1) attempting to read the RFID tag;    (2) receiving an indicator output that indicates whether the RFID tag was successfully read; and    (3) if the indicator output indicates the RFID tag was not successfully read, adjusting a position of the object and returning to step (1) for the RFID tag.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein an RFID reader is used to read the RFID tag in step (d), the method further comprising: 
 (h) prior to step (a), activating the RFID reader.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , the method further comprising: 
 (i) after step (g), deactivating the RFID reader.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 (h) generating a manifest.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 associating a location of an object to a prior reader that has last read the object tag, until the object enters the corresponding stationary coverage area of a second antenna coupled to a subsequent reader, and the subsequent reader starts tracking the objects actively.    
   
   
       31 . A system for monitoring objects in an airport environment, comprising: 
 means for selecting an object from an object carrier;    means for analyzing an RFID tag associated with the object to determine a unit load device (ULD) to contain the object;    means for positioning the object in the determined ULD;    means for reading the RFID tag of the object;    means for receiving an indicator output that indicates whether the determined ULD is the correct ULD for the object; and    means for removing the object from the determined ULD if the indicator output indicates the determined ULD is not the correct ULD for the object.