Selecting RFID tags using memory-mapped parameters

• US 20060187031A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Inventors: Colleran, William T., Diorio, Christopher J., Moretti, Vincent C.
• Application Number:
  US11/217,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.220
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are associated with sensors. Sensor data from a sensor is internally associated with a mask address, such as that of a memory. The tags receive commands by a reader, which can include selection commands. The selection commands can be for selecting according to the sensor data, by invoking the mask address. The selection commands can be further associated with a mask value, calling for setting a selection flag only by those tags whose sensor data meets a selection condition relative to the mask value. Therefore the reader can select a sub-population of tags from a larger population based on sensor data.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an antenna that is arranged to receive a modulated wave; and

a processor that is arranged to;

associate with a mask address sensor data from a sensor associated with the tag;

decode from the wave at least one command that is associated with the mask address and a mask value; and

set a selection flag responsive to the command depending on whether the mask value matches a portion of the sensor data from the sensor.

2. The tag of claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

decode a subsequent command from another wave received by the antenna; and

respond to the subsequent command depending on whether the selection flag is set.

3. The tag of claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

decode the mask address from the wave.

4. The tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory, and

wherein the mask address maps outside the memory.

5. The tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory, and

wherein the mask address maps in a location of the memory.

6. The tag of claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

input the sensor data.

7. The tag of claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

input the sensor data in response to the command.

8. The tag of claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

input the sensor data in response to the tag transitioning from a state of lacking power to a state of having power.

9. The tag of claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

store the sensor data in a memory of the tag.

10. The tag of claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

generate a processed value based on at least the sensor data.

11. The RFID tag of claim 10, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

store the processed value in a memory of the tag.

12. The RFID tag of claim 10, wherein

the processed value is represented on at least one of a thermometer scale, a numeric scale, and a threshold scale.

13. The tag of claim 10, wherein

the processed value is generated also based on a reference value.

14. The tag of claim 13, wherein

the reference value is stored in a memory of the tag.

15. The tag of claim 13, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

decode the reference value from a wave received by the antenna.

16. The tag of claim 13, wherein

the processed value is generated from a difference between the sensor data and the reference value.

17. The tag of claim 1, wherein the sensor data is at least one of:

a parameter of at least one of the modulated wave and a history of modulated waves;

telemetry information associated with at least one of the tag and an object that is attached to the tag;

environmental information associated with at least one of a temperature, a pressure, a humidity, a light intensity, and a pH level; and

physical information associated with at least one of a velocity, an acceleration, and a power level associated with the RFID tag.

18. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a means for associating with a mask address sensor data from a sensor associated with the tag;

a means for receiving a modulated wave;

a means for decoding from the wave at least one command that is associated with the mask address and a mask value; and

a means for setting a selection flag responsive to the command depending on whether the mask value matches a portion of the sensor data.

19. The RFID tag of claim 18, further comprising:

a means for decoding a subsequent command from another received wave; and

a means for responding to the subsequent command depending on whether the selection flag is set.

20. The RFID tag of claim 18, further comprising:

a means for inputting the sensor data; and

a means for storing the sensor data in a memory of the tag.

21. The RFID tag of claim 18, further comprising:

a means for generating a processed value based on at least the sensor data; and

a means for storing the processed value in a memory of the tag.

22. A method for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

associating with a mask address sensor data from a sensor associated with the tag;

receiving a modulated wave;

decoding from the wave at least one command that is associated with the mask address and a mask value; and

setting a selection flag responsive to the command depending on whether the mask value matches a portion of the sensor data.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

decoding a subsequent command from another received wave; and

responding to the subsequent command depending on whether the selection flag is set.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

decoding the mask address from the wave.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein

the tag has a memory, and

the mask address maps outside the memory.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein

the tag has a memory, and

the mask address maps in a location of the memory.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

inputting the sensor data.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

inputting the sensor data in response to the command.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

inputting the sensor data in response to the tag transitioning from a state of lacking power to a state of having power.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

storing the sensor data in a memory of the tag.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

generating a processed value based on at least the sensor data.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

storing the processed value in a memory of the tag.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein

the processed value is represented on at least one of a thermometer scale, a numeric scale, and a threshold scale.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein

the processed value is generated also based on a reference value.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein

the reference value in stored in a memory of the tag.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

decoding the reference value from a received wave.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

the processed value is generated based on a difference between the sensor data and the reference value.