초록 ▼

In a system for planning, visualizing, tracking and analyzing physical objects such as merchandise in a retail space, a transponder is attached to each object and the transponders are interrogated periodically by a transmitter. Receivers receive the transponder signals and direct the received signal

In a system for planning, visualizing, tracking and analyzing physical objects such as merchandise in a retail space, a transponder is attached to each object and the transponders are interrogated periodically by a transmitter. Receivers receive the transponder signals and direct the received signals to a location processor which determines the location of each object. The locations of the objects can be displayed in various formats on a two or three dimensional map of the space. When objects are moved, they are interrogated more frequently so that traffic patterns in the space can be displayed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [25.] A method of locating objects included in a set of objects which are located in a defined space, each object having a transceiver thereon and each object having at least one attribute, each transceiver being capable of responding to an interrogation signal sent by a transmitter by

[ We claim:] [25.] A method of locating objects included in a set of objects which are located in a defined space, each object having a transceiver thereon and each object having at least one attribute, each transceiver being capable of responding to an interrogation signal sent by a transmitter by sending a response containing an identification of the object associated with such transceiver, said method comprising:(a) associating in a computer memory, for each object, at least one attribute of such object and the identity of the transceiver on such object,(b) reading from said computer memory the identities of the transceivers associated with selected objects which have selected attributes,(c) operating said transmitter to interrogate the transceivers of said selected objects,(d) determining from the transceivers of said selected objects the locations of said selected objects,(e) and displaying the locations of said selected objects.