Method and apparatus for supplying commands to a tag
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising a tag having circuitry which includes:
- a receiver section operable to receive wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code; and
a transmitter section operable to transmit wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
wherein said signpost signals include a command portion, and wherein said tag is responsive to said command portion of a respective said signpost signal received by said tag for effecting a control function within said tag.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10, 240, 300) includes a signpost (11, 241-256, 322, 612, 623, 626-628, 652, 661, 682, 686, 703) which transmits signpost signals (24) to a tag (12, 271-275, 301-316, 395-397, 616-618, 641-643, 653, 656-657, 662-664, 679, 708, 711), which in turn transmits beacon signals (72) to a reader (13, 261, 319, 521-530). One of the signpost and tag is mounted on an item to be tracked. A control system (14, 500) is responsive to the reader, and can cause the signpost to vary the signpost signal in a manner which varies at least one operational characteristic of the tag, such as a transmission rate, a transmission power, a tag identification code, a password, or an encryption code, or which shifts the tag between a normal operational mode and a low power operational mode in which its transmitter is disabled.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising a tag having circuitry which includes:
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a receiver section operable to receive wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code; and
a transmitter section operable to transmit wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
wherein said signpost signals include a command portion, and wherein said tag is responsive to said command portion of a respective said signpost signal received by said tag for effecting a control function within said tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving in a receiver section of a tag wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code and a command portion;
transmitting from a transmitter section of said tag wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitting step including the step of causing said transmitter section to be responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal; and
effecting a control function within said tag in response to said command portion of a respective said signpost signal received by said tag. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification