Method and apparatus involving global positioning and long-range wireless link

• US 20060109109A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Farrell, Steven J., Zhu, Liping Julia, Rajapakse, Ravindra U., Shannon, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A tag has a transmitter for transmitting first wireless signals, and a receiver for receiving second wireless signals from which the tag can determine its current physical location. A different embodiment includes a tag having a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals, and a reader having a receiver for receiving the wireless signals, the receiver in the reader being an ultra-sensitive receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a tag having:

a transmitter for transmitting first wireless signals; and

a receiver for receiving second wireless signals from which said tag can determine its current physical location.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said receiver is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;

and

wherein said second wireless signals are GPS signals.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tag configures said first wireless signals to include information representing the current physical location of said tag as determined from said second wireless signals.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter is one of a radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitter, a pager transmitter, and a satellite transmitter.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tag includes a memory that stores a database containing information identifying a plurality of known readers that can each receive said first wireless signals, and identifying the physical location of each of the known readers.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said tag includes circuitry that selectively controls power to at least one of said transmitter and said receiver as a function of said information in said database and as a function of the current physical location of said tag as determined from said second wireless signals.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein said circuitry has an operational mode in which it disables power to said transmitter;

and

wherein said circuitry utilizes said operational mode when the known readers are outside the range of said first wireless signals.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when said circuitry is operating in said operational mode said circuitry periodically interrupts operation in said operational mode long enough to send some of said first wireless signals through said transmitter.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein said tag includes a further receiver;

and

wherein when said circuitry is operating in said operational mode said circuitry is responsive to an interrogation signal received through said further receiver for interrupting operation in said operational mode long enough to send some of said first wireless signals.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein said circuitry has an operational mode in which it disables power to said receiver;

and

wherein said circuitry utilizes said operational mode when the known readers are outside the range of said first wireless signals.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when said circuitry is operating in said operational mode said circuitry periodically interrupts operation in said operational mode long enough to receive some of said second wireless signals through said receiver and determine the current physical location of said tag.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein said circuitry effects said periodic interruptions at points in time spaced by a selected time interval;

and

wherein said circuitry varies said selected time interval as a function of a distance from said tag to the nearest one of the known readers.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein said tag includes a further receiver;

and

wherein when said circuitry is operating in said operational mode said circuitry is responsive to an interrogation signal received through said further receiver for interrupting operation in said operational mode long enough to receive some of said second wireless signals and determine the current physical location of said tag.

14. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said tag includes:

a further transmitter, said transmitters having respective ranges that are different; and

circuitry that selectively controls power to each of said transmitters as a function of said information in said database and as a function of the current physical location of said tag as determined from said second wireless signals.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tag includes a further receiver that is an ultra-sensitive receiver.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including a reader disposed at a location remote from said tag, said reader having an ultra-sensitive receiver capable of receiving said first wireless signals.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein said tag has a further receiver;

wherein said reader has a transmitter for transmitting signals that can be received by said further receiver in said tag;

wherein said transmitters in said tag and said reader transmit signals at approximately the same power level; and

wherein said receiver in said reader is substantially more sensitive than said further receiver in said tag.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said tag includes a further transmitter, said transmitters having respective ranges that are different;

and

wherein said reader has a further receiver that can receive signals transmitted by said further transmitter.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a tag having a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals; and

a reader having a receiver for receiving said wireless signals, said receiver in said reader being an ultra-sensitive receiver.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein said reader has a transmitter for transmitting further wireless signals, said transmitters in said tag and said reader transmitting signals at approximately the same power level;

and

wherein said tag has a receiver for receiving said further wireless signals, said receiver in said reader being substantially more sensitive than said receiver in said tag.

21. An apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein said reader has a transmitter for transmitting further wireless signals;

and

wherein said tag has a receiver for receiving said further wireless signals, said receiver in said tag being an ultra-sensitive receiver.

22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tag includes a further transmitter, said transmitters in said tag having respective ranges that are significantly different.

23. A method for operating a tag having a transmitter and a receiver, comprising:

transmitting first wireless signals through said transmitter;

receiving second wireless signals through said receiver; and

determining a current physical location of said tag as a function of said second wireless signals.

24. A method according to claim 23, including:

selecting said receiver to be a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and

carrying out said receiving of said second wireless signals in a manner that includes receiving GPS signals.

25. A method according to claim 23, including configuring said first wireless signals to include information representing the current physical location of said tag as determined from said second wireless signals.

26. A method according to claim 23, including storing within said tag a database containing information identifying a plurality of known readers that can each receive said first wireless signals, and identifying the physical location of each of the known readers.

27. A method according to claim 26, including selectively controlling power to at least one of said transmitter and said receiver as a function of said information in said database and as a function of the current physical location of said tag as determined from said second wireless signals.

28. A method according to claim 27,

wherein said tag has an operational mode in which it disables power to said transmitter;

and

including utilizing said operational mode when the known readers are outside the range of said first wireless signals.

29. A method according to claim 28, including periodically interrupting operation in said operational mode long enough to send some of said first wireless signals through said transmitter.

30. A method according to claim 28, including responding to an interrogation signal received through a further receiver of said tag by interrupting operation in said operational mode long enough to send some of said first wireless signals.

31. A method according to claim 27,

wherein said tag has an operational mode in which it disables power to said receiver;

and

including utilizing said operational mode when the known readers are outside the range of said first wireless signals.

32. A method according to claim 31, including periodically interrupting operation in said operational mode long enough to receive some of said second wireless signals through said receiver and determine the current physical location of said tag.

33. A method according to claim 32, including:

effecting said periodic interruptions at points in time spaced by a selected time interval; and

varying said selected time interval as a function of a distance from said tag to the nearest one of the known readers.

34. A method according to claim 31, including responding to an interrogation signal received through a further receiver of said tag by interrupting operation in said operational mode long enough to receive some of said second wireless signals through said receiver and determine the current physical location of said tag.

35. A method comprising:

transmitting wireless signals through a transmitter of a tag; and

receiving said wireless signals through a receiver of a reader, said receiver being an ultra-sensitive receiver.

36. A method according to claim 35, including:

transmitting further wireless signals through a transmitter of said reader at substantially the same power level with which wireless signals are transmitted by said transmitter of said tag; and

receiving said further wireless signals through a receiver in said tag, said receiver in said reader being substantially more sensitive than said receiver in said tag.

37. A method according to claim 35, including:

transmitting further wireless signals through a transmitter of said reader; and

receiving said further wireless signals through a receiver in said tag, and configuring said receiver in said tag to be an ultra-sensitive receiver.

38. A method according to claim 35, including configuring said tag to have a further transmitter, said transmitters in said tag having respective ranges that are significantly different.