Wireless ad-hoc RFID tracking system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a method of tracking an entity through a plurality of tracking stations which are operated in a wireless ad-hoc network.
A unique identifier can be assigned to the entity at a first of the plurality of tracking stations and wirelessly transmitted to at least a second tracking station.
The number of the tracking stations can be dynamically varied on an ad-hoc basis responsive to variations in a tracking environment.
The unique identifier can be selectively communicated to the second tracking station based on a predicted transit scenario of the entity.
The identifier can be stored on a datastore, such as a radio frequency identification tag, attached to the entity.
A biometric scan of the entity also can be performed.
For example, a facial scan, an iris scan, a fingerprinting, or a palm printing can be performed to assign the unique identifier.
The invention further includes wirelessly transmitting the unique identifier to a logging station.
Data that is relevant to at least one of the tracking stations can be propagated from the logging station to the tracking station.
The data can be propagated during a system boot of the tracking station.
The tracking system can include at least two tracking stations, each of which includes a processor, a wireless network adapter capable of operating in a wireless ad-hoc network, and a radio frequency identification scanning device that can be incorporated into a single unit.
The tracking stations can further include a biometric scanning device capable of uniquely identifying a person.
The processor, the wireless network adapter, the radio frequency identification scanning device, and the biometric scanning device can be incorporated into a single unit.
Further, the processor and wireless network adapter can be components of a personal computer or a laptop computer.