The Bluetooth chips that can set up a wireless links between computers and
other digital devices have found another use: tracing lost luggage in airports.
Bluetags of Denmark suggests fitting the chips into a smart label for suitcases
that stores the owner’s itinerary and personal details (WO 01/37004). The owner
activates the label on departure, and the luggage spends the journey
transmitting its call sign. A portable receiver built into a cellphone picks
this up. Bluetooth only has a range of a few metres, but that’s enough for the
cellphone to direct the owner to the right carousel. Airports…
Technology
Special cases
By Barry Fox
1 September 2001
