Wireless identification systems and protocols
First Claim
1. In a system for monitoring location of tags, a method performed by a tag for transmitting a tag message, the method comprising:
- determining whether the tag has been moved since an immediately prior tag message transmission; and
if it is determined that the tag has been moved, then beginning transmitting the tag message without awaiting lapse of an intermessage gap;
otherwise, beginning transmitting the tag message after lapse of the intermessage gap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Monitoring systems and protocols are disclosed that are flexible in mode operation and format depending on the environment in which they are used. Such monitoring systems and protocols are able to change their utilization automatically, or by received instruction to do so. A location detection system includes one or more low frequency transmitters, one or more radio frequency monitoring tags and one or more receiving devices. The low frequency transmitter transmits location identification information, such as the transmitter ID, to a tag in the vicinity of the transmission. The tag relays the transmitter ID using a higher frequency transmission sent from the tag to the receiver. Communication protocols are disclosed that enable deciphering of multiple tag transmissions starting simultaneously.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. In a system for monitoring location of tags, a method performed by a tag for transmitting a tag message, the method comprising:
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determining whether the tag has been moved since an immediately prior tag message transmission; and
if it is determined that the tag has been moved, then beginning transmitting the tag message without awaiting lapse of an intermessage gap;
otherwise, beginning transmitting the tag message after lapse of the intermessage gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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3. In a system for monitoring location of tags, the system comprising at least two of a monitor, a locator, and a tag, a method performed by at least one of the monitor, the locator, and the tag for transmitting a message, the message comprising a first group of slots and a second group of slots, the method comprising:
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transmitting a start of message signal;
selecting a series of slots, for signaling an assertion in each slot of the series, such that selected slots of the series are separated in time by more than a minimum number of slots;
transmitting a signal in the first group of slots to convey the series in a progressive order; and
transmitting a signal in the second group of slots to convey the series in regressive order. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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4. In a system for monitoring location of tags, the system comprising at least two of a monitor, a locator, and a tag, a method performed by at least one of the monitor, the locator, and the tag for transmitting a message, the message comprising a first group of slots and a second group of slots, the method comprising:
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transmitting a start of message signal;
selecting a series of slots, such that selected slots of the series are separated in time by more than a minimum number of slots;
transmitting a signal in the first group of slots to convey an assertion in each of the slots of the series; and
transmitting a signal in the second group of slots to convey an assertion in each of the slots that is not in the series.
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5. In a system for monitoring location of tags, the system comprising at least two of a monitor, a locator, and a tag, a method performed by at least one of the monitor, the locator, and the tag for transmitting a message, the message comprising a first group of slots and a second group of slots, the method comprising:
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transmitting a start of message signal;
selecting a series of slots, such that selected slots of the series are separated in time by more than a minimum number of slots;
transmitting a signal in the first group of slots to convey an assertion in each of the slots of the series, and to convey the series in a progressive order; and
transmitting a signal in the second group of slots to convey an assertion in each of the slots not in the series, and to convey the series in regressive order.
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16. A tag for use in a system for monitoring location of tags, the tag comprising:
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means for determining whether the tag has been moved since an immediately prior tag message transmission; and
means operative, if it is determined that the tag has been moved, for beginning transmitting the tag message without awaiting lapse of an intermessage gap; and
means operative, otherwise, for beginning transmitting the tag message after lapse of the intermessage gap. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A system for monitoring location of tags, the system comprising a monitor, a plurality of locators, and a plurality of tags, communication from a sender, being at least one of the monitor, a particular locator, and a particular tag, comprising a message that includes a first group of slots and a second group of slots, the sender comprising:
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means for transmitting a start of message signal;
means for selecting a series of slots, for signaling an assertion in each slot of the series, such that selected slots of the series are separated in time by more than a minimum number of slots;
means for transmitting a signal in the first group of slots to convey the series in a progressive order; and
means for transmitting a signal in the second group of slots to convey the series in regressive order. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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19. A system for monitoring location of tags, the system comprising a monitor, a plurality of locators, and a plurality of tags, communication from a sender, being at least one of the monitor, a particular locator, and a particular tag, comprising a message that includes a first group of slots and a second group of slots, the sender comprising:
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means for transmitting a start of message signal;
means for selecting a series of slots, such that selected slots of the series are separated in time by more than a minimum number of slots;
means for transmitting a signal in the first group of slots to convey an assertion in each of the slots of the series; and
means for transmitting a signal in the second group of slots to convey an assertion in each of the slots that is not in the series.
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20. A system for monitoring location of tags, the system comprising a monitor, a plurality of locators, and a plurality of tags, communication from a sender, being at least one of the monitor, a particular locator, and a particular tag, comprising a message that includes a first group of slots and a second group of slots, the sender comprising:
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means for transmitting a start of message signal;
means for selecting a series of slots, such that selected slots of the series are separated in time by more than a minimum number of slots;
means for transmitting a signal in the first group of slots to convey an assertion in each of the slots of the series, and to convey the series in a progressive order; and
means for transmitting a signal in the second group of slots to convey an assertion in each of the slots not in the series, and to convey the series in regressive order.
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31. A monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of locators, each locator for transmitting a respective locator message, the locator message comprising indicia of locator identity;
a plurality of tags, each tag for receiving at least one locator message and for transmitting a respective tag message, the tag message in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, indicia of locator identity, indicia of time the particular locator message was received, and indicia of received signal strength of the particular locator message;
a monitor that determines, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular tag and a particular locator corresponding to a particular time.
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43. A monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of locators, each locator for transmitting a respective locator message, the locator message comprising indicia of locator identity;
a plurality of tags, each tag for receiving at least one locator message and for transmitting a respective tag message, wherein;
(1) the tag message is in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, indicia of locator identity, and indicia of time the particular locator message was received;
(2) each tag transmits according to a respective beacon rate; and
(3) each tag transmits a respective tag message in accordance with a most recently received locator message;
a monitor that determines, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular tag and a particular locator corresponding to a particular time.
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44. A monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of locators, each locator for transmitting a respective locator message, the locator message comprising indicia of locator identity;
a plurality of tags, each tag for receiving at least one locator message and for transmitting a respective tag message, wherein;
(1) the tag message is in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, indicia of locator identity, and indicia of time the particular locator message was received;
(2) at least one of a monitor and a locator of the plurality transmits a query; and
(3) the tag transmits a respective tag message in response to receiving the query; and
the monitor that determines, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular tag and a particular locator corresponding to a particular time.
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45. A monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of locators, each locator for transmitting a respective locator message, the locator message comprising indicia of locator identity;
a plurality of tags, each tag for receiving at least one locator message and for transmitting a respective tag message, wherein;
(1) the tag message is in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, indicia of locator identity, and indicia of time the particular locator message was received;
(2) operation of the tag includes a plurality of modes comprising a first mode wherein transmitting is according to a beacon rate, each transmitted tag message in accordance with a respective most recently received locator message, and a second mode wherein transmitting is in response to receiving a query; and
(3) the tag selects a mode of operation from the plurality of modes in accordance with a command; and
a monitor that determines, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular tag and a particular locator corresponding to a particular time, wherein at least one of a locator of the plurality and the monitor transmit the command. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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49. A monitoring system comprising:
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a locator for transmitting a respective locator message, the locator message comprising indicia of physical location of the locator;
a plurality of tags, each tag for receiving at least one locator message and for transmitting a respective tag message, the tag message in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, and indicia of physical location of the locator, and indicia of time the particular locator message was received; and
a monitor that determines, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular tag and the locator corresponding to a particular time. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of means for transmitting a respective locator message, each locator message comprising location identification information;
a plurality of means for identifying an object, each means for identifying an object receiving at least one locator message and transmitting a respective tag message, the tag message in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, location identification information, indicia of time the particular locator message was received, and indicia of received signal strength of the particular locator message;
a means for determining, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular tag and a particular locator corresponding to a particular time. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of means for transmitting a respective locator message, each locator message comprising respective location identification information;
a plurality of means for identifying objects, each means for identifying receiving at least one locator message and transmitting a respective tag message, wherein;
(1) the tag message is in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, and location identification information, and indicia of time the particular locator message was received;
(2) each means for identifying transmits according to a respective beacon rate; and
(3) each means for identifying transmits a respective tag message in accordance with a most recently received locator message; and
means for determining, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular tag and a particular locator corresponding to a particular time.
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67. A monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of means for transmitting a respective locator message, each locator message comprising location identification information;
a plurality of means for identifying, each means for identifying receiving at least one locator message and transmitting a respective tag message, wherein;
(1) the tag message is in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, location identification information, and indicia of time the particular locator message was received;
(2) at least one of a means for determining and a means for transmitting of the plurality transmits a query; and
(3) the means for identifying transmits a respective tag message in response to receiving the query; and
the means for determining that determines, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular means for identifying and a particular means for transmitting corresponding to a particular time.
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68. A monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of means for transmitting a respective locator message, each locator message comprising location identification information;
a plurality of means for identifying, each means for identifying receiving at least one locator message and transmitting a respective tag message, wherein;
(1) the tag message is in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, location identification information, and indicia of time the particular locator message was received;
(2) operation of the means for identifying includes a plurality of modes comprising a first mode wherein transmitting is according to a beacon rate, each transmitted tag message in accordance with a respective most recently received locator message, and a second mode wherein transmitting is in response to receiving a query; and
(3) the means for identifying selects a mode of operation from the plurality of modes in accordance with a command; and
means for determining, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular tag and a particular locator corresponding to a particular time, wherein at least one of a means for transmitting of the plurality and the means for determining transmit the command. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71)
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72. A monitoring system comprising:
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a means for transmitting a respective locator message, the locator message comprising indicia of physical location of the means for transmitting;
a plurality of means for identifying, each means for identifying receiving at least one locator message and transmitting a respective tag message, the tag message in accordance with a particular locator message, the tag message comprising indicia of tag identity, and indicia of physical location of the locator, and indicia of time the particular locator message was received; and
means for determining, in accordance with received tag messages, a proximity between a particular means for identifying and the means for transmitting corresponding to a particular time. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. In a system for monitoring location of tags, the system comprising a monitor, a plurality of locators, and a plurality of tags, a method performed by the monitor comprising:
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receiving a plurality of tag messages, each tag message comprising respective indicia of identity of a respective tag, and respective location identification information; and
determining a location of a particular tag corresponding to a particular indicia of identity in accordance with a multiplicity of tag messages. - View Dependent Claims (78)
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Specification