Remote communications devices, wireless communications systems, remote communications device operable methods, and retail article monitoring methods
First Claim
1. A remote communications device comprising:
- communications circuitry configured to implement wireless communications with respect to another wireless communications device; and
a configurable portion configured to be altered, and wherein the remote communications device is configured to respond to wireless interrogation signals from the another wireless communications device and incident at the remote communications device with the configurable portion in an unaltered condition, and wherein the remote communications device is insensitive to the wireless interrogation signals from the another wireless communications device and incident at the remote communications device with the configurable portion in an altered condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Remote communications devices, wireless communications systems, remote communications device operable methods, and retail article monitoring methods are described. According to one embodiment, a remote communications device includes communications circuitry configured to implement wireless communications with respect to another wireless communications device and a configurable portion configured to be altered, and wherein the remote communications device is configured to respond to wireless interrogation signals from the another wireless communications device, and incident at the remote communications device with the configurable portion in an unaltered condition and wherein the remote communications device is insensitive to the wireless interrogation signals from the another wireless communications device and incident at the remote communications device with the configurable portion in an altered condition.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A remote communications device comprising:
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communications circuitry configured to implement wireless communications with respect to another wireless communications device; and
a configurable portion configured to be altered, and wherein the remote communications device is configured to respond to wireless interrogation signals from the another wireless communications device and incident at the remote communications device with the configurable portion in an unaltered condition, and wherein the remote communications device is insensitive to the wireless interrogation signals from the another wireless communications device and incident at the remote communications device with the configurable portion in an altered condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless communications system comprising:
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a base station configured to output wireless interrogation signals and to receive wireless identification signals responsive to the outputting of the wireless interrogation signals; and
a plurality of remote communications devices remotely located with respect to the base station, and wherein individual ones of the remote communications devices comprise;
communications circuitry configured to implement wireless communications with respect to the base station; and
a configurable portion configured to be altered, and wherein the respective remote communications device is configured to output the wireless identification signals responsive to the wireless interrogation signals incident at the remote communications device with the configurable portion in an unaltered condition, and wherein the respective remote communications device is configured to not respond to the wireless interrogation signals incident at the remote communications device with the configurable portion in an altered condition. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A wireless communications system comprising:
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a plurality of remote communications means associated with a plurality of retail articles;
base station means comprising;
communications means for wirelessly communicating with the remote communications means including outputting a plurality of wireless interrogation signals and receiving a plurality of wireless identification signals from the remote communication means responsive to the outputting; and
processing means for processing the wireless identification signals after the receiving; and
wherein individual ones of the remote communications means further comprise configurable means configurable in an operable state wherein the respective remote communications means within a communications range of the base station responds to the wireless interrogation signals from the base station and an inoperable state wherein the respective remote communications means within the communications range of the base station is insensitive to the wireless interrogation signals from the base station. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A remote communications device operable method comprising:
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providing a remote communications device;
receiving a plurality of wireless interrogation signals from a base station using the remote communications device present within a communications range of the base station;
using the remote communications device in an unaltered configuration, outputting a plurality of wireless identification signals responsive to the receiving of the wireless interrogation signals;
reconfiguring the remote communications device from the unaltered configuration to an altered configuration after the outputting; and
wherein the reconfiguring to the altered configuration renders the remote communications device insensitive to the wireless interrogation signals received by the remote communications device while the remote communications device is present within the communications range of the base station. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A retail article monitoring method comprising:
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offering a retail article for sale;
associating a remote communications device with the retail article;
interrogating the remote communications device using a plurality of wireless interrogation signals to monitor the location of the retail article during the offering;
providing the retail article for purchase; and
after the providing the retail article for purchase, rendering the remote communications device insensitive to the wireless interrogation signals. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification