Enhanced identification system
First Claim
1. An identification system comprising a reader including a transmitter for transmitting a signal and a plurality of transponders, each transponder including a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal, characterised in that on recognising a transponder signal from a transponder the reader immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an identification system used for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders are disclosed. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognises a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.
45 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An identification system comprising
a reader including a transmitter for transmitting a signal and a plurality of transponders, each transponder including a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal, characterised in that on recognising a transponder signal from a transponder the reader immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder.
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6. A method of identifying a plurality of transponders comprising
transmitting a reader signal, and each transponder receiving the reader signal, wherein on recognising a transponder signal from a transponder the reader immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder.
- 14. A transponder comprising receiver means for receiving a reader signal, transmission means for transmitting a transponder signal containing data which identifies the transponder whereby in a set of transponders, two or more transponders may transmit their transponder response signals in response to receiving the reader signal, wherein the transponder is provided with control means, whereby on recognising a mute instruction in the reader signal, all active transponders in the set but one are muted and control is passed to said one transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder.
- 19. An integrated circuit for use in a transponder, comprising receiver means for receiving a reader signal, transmission means for transmitting a transponder signal containing data which identifies the transponder whereby in a set of transponders, two or more transponders may transmit their transponder response signals in response to receiving the reader signal, characterised in that there is provided control means, whereby on recognising a mute instruction in the reader signal, all active transponders in the set but one are muted and control is passed to said one transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder.
- 24. A reader comprising transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal to at least one transponder at a time when at least one other transponder may transmit in response to the interrogation signal and receiver means for receiving a response signal from a transponder, characterised in that on recognising a transponder signal from the transponder the reader immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders, and passing control to said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder.
Specification