Portable rfid base station for identifying, detecting, locating, and tracking tagged objects

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention is a portable RFID base station for detecting, locating and tracking tagged items. The base station is constructed of an outer housing that includes a set of vertical sidewalls, a horizontal bottom floor, and a horizontal top lid, as well as a set of wheels beneath the floor allowing the portable RFID base station to be moved. The base station includes a battery for supplying electrical power to the base station system components, an RFID reader for wirelessly communicating with a set of RFID tags, a cellular modem for communicating with a remote server, a computer system, and a router for communicating between the processor, the RFID reader, and the cellular modem. The portable RFID base station may be used to assist with tracking objects during office and household relocation, record storage, trucking, freight, train and rail transportation, air transportation, and logistics.

1 . A portable RFID base station for detecting, locating and tracking tagged objects, comprising:
 an outer housing comprising a set of vertical sidewalls, a horizontal bottom floor, and a horizontal top lid;   a set of wheels beneath the floor allowing the portable RFID base station to be moved;   a battery for supplying electrical power to the portable RFID base station components;   an RFID reader for wirelessly receiving data from and transmitting data to a set of RFID tags;   a cellular modem for communicating with a remote server;   a processor for processing data received from the RFID reader and the cellular modem; and   a router for communicating between the processor, the RFID reader, and the cellular modem.   
     
     
         2 . The base station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a battery charger for receiving AC electrical power through a power cord; and   an inverter for supplying DC electrical power to the battery from the battery charger for purposes of recharging the battery.   
     
     
         3 . The base station of  claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader further comprises:
 two antennas for receiving radio signals transmitted by the RFID tags.   
     
     
         4 . The base station of  claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader further comprises:
 two oppositely facing antennas for receiving radio signals transmitted by the RFID tags, each of said antennas having directional gain facing in opposite directions.   
     
     
         5 . The base station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cellular amplifier for amplifying a cellular signal coming from the remoter server before receipt by the cellular modem.   
     
     
         6 . The base station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an infrared generator for transmitting an infrared beam that carries an identification number that uniquely identifies said infrared generator.   
     
     
         7 . The base station of  claim 6 , wherein said infrared beam emitted by said infrared generator stimulates an infrared receptor located on each RFID tag. 
     
     
         8 . The base station of  claim 7 , wherein each RFID tag has been adapted to receive and process said infrared beam, and responsive to receipt of said infrared beam, each RFID tag transmits a radio signal indicating that it has been stimulated by said infrared generator. 
     
     
         9 . The base station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a monitor for displaying an output from the processor of the portable RFID base station.   
     
     
         10 . The base station of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a touch screen embedded in the monitor for receiving input to the portable RFID base station.