System for Location in Environment and Identification Tag

Abstract

A system for location of animals and/or objects in an environment includes a signal processing and signal generation system consisting of electromagnetic tags on animals (or other objects) in an environment (typically a three dimension outdoor natural environment) where the animals or objects are physically present at arbitrary locations, and an electro-magnetic signal generating, signal receiving, and signal processing system that can move through or in relation to the environment. The system can compute the location and identity of the animals or objects based on signals received from their associated tags, including the calculated location of the ID tags, which function as “Reader-Locators.” The calculated location is enhanced by information about the environment provided by maps, satellite photos, GPS, GIS and/or other data specific to the probability of the location of the animals or objects within certain regions of the environment. The system includes a physical and electromagnetic modeling operation that is interactive with the environmental information derived from the actual environment, either historically or in “real-time” as the monitoring process occurs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for locating or identifying a movable object in an environment, the system comprising:
 a tag with at least one from a group of: a passive device, a semi-active device, and an active device associated with the movable object;   a first locating device for reading the tag and emitting a signal containing at least one from a group of: a location of the first locating device, information of a detection direction, and a distance to the tag; and   a second locating device for receiving the signal emitted from the first locating device, the second locating device analyzing at least one from the group of: the location of the first locating device, the information of the detection direction and the distance to the tag, and providing a location of the movable object, at least one of the first and second locating devices further comprising a probabilistic spatial filter for determining a probable location of the movable object; and   a power source coupled to the tag, wherein during a sleep mode, the tag is configured to draw power from the power source, and during an awake mode, the tag is configured to be activated by a signal from the first locating device or the second locating device, and wherein the tag further comprises an energy storage device comprising at least one of a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor, and an ultra-capacitor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first locating device is a mobile locating station. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tag is active and includes a battery and sends a burst signal on receipt of a stimulating signal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tag is active and includes a battery and send a burst signal at a pre-programmed time interval. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the locating device further comprise a probabilistic spatial filter for determining a probable location of the object. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein providing the location of the movable object further comprises:
 computing an initial probability for the location by signal analysis;   refining the initial probability using a probability map; and   determining the location of the identification tag placed on the object based on a refinement of the initial probability.