RFID device tracking and information gathering

• US 20050174236A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mailroom Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mailroom Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Brookner, George M.
• Application Number:
  US10/766,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174236A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.260
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

An RFID system includes an RFID transceiver, a sensor system, and an RFID interface connected to the sensor system for transmitting information acquired by the sensor system in response to interrogation by the RFID transceiver.

Claims

1. An RFID system comprising:

an RFID transceiver;

a sensor system; and

an RFID interface connected to the sensor system for transmitting information acquired by the sensor system in response to interrogation by the RFID transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID transceiver and RFID interface exchange information in an encrypted format.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID interface comprises a plurality of RFID interfaces, and the RFID transceiver is operable to distinguish among and exchange information with individual ones of the plurality of RFID interfaces.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a back end host for analyzing information received by the RFID transceiver.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the back end host is operable to convey the information received by the RFID transceiver and the results of any analysis to another entity.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information received by the RFID transceiver includes position information from a position location service.

7. A method of exchanging information comprising:

interrogating an RFID interface; and

transmitting environmental data collected by sensors through the RFID interface in response to the interrogation;

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the environmental data in an encrypted format.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

interrogating a plurality of RFID interfaces; and

distinguishing among and exchanging information with individual ones of the plurality of RFID interfaces.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising analyzing information received by the RFID transceiver.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising conveying the information received by the RFID transceiver and the results of any analysis to another entity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information received by the RFID transceiver includes position information from a position location service.