WIRELESS READER TAGS (WRTs) WITH SENSOR COMPONENTS IN ASSET MONITORING AND TRACKING SYSTEMS
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A remote communications device comprising:
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communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless communication signals; and sensor circuitry configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the remote communications device and to generate data indicative of the at least one sensed condition; wherein the communication circuitry is coupled with the sensor circuitry and is configured to receive and to process some of the wireless communication signals and to output the data generated by the sensor circuitry externally of the remote communications device using others of the wireless communication signals at a plurality of different moments in time determined independently of the some of the wireless communication signals received within the remote communications device; and wherein the remote communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the remote communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communication circuitry while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.
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22. A device comprising a wireless reader tag (WRT) comprising:
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a lower power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component configured to communicate wireless communication signals; and sensor components configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the WRT and to generate data indicative of the at least one sensed condition; wherein the LPRF communications component is coupled with the sensor components and is configured to receive and to process some of the wireless communication signals and to output the data generated by the sensor components externally of the WRT using others of the wireless communication signals at a plurality of different moments in time determined independently of the some of the wireless communication signals received within the WRT; and wherein the WRT tag is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the WRT tag, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component of the WRT tag while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A remote communications device comprising:
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communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless communication signals externally of the remote communications device; and sensor circuitry configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the remote communications device; wherein the communication circuitry is coupled with the sensor circuitry and is configured to determine a plurality of different moments in time responsive to criteria originating within the remote communications device and to communicate data indicative of the at least one sensed condition externally of the remote communications device to a reader using the wireless communication signals at the different moments in time; wherein the communication circuitry is configured to; initiate operations of the remote communications device in a first mode at a first moment in time; detect a triggering event; and initiate operations of the remote communications device in a second mode having increased power consumption compared with the first mode at a second moment in time and responsive to the detection, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to communicate the data during the second mode; and wherein the remote communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the remote communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communication circuitry while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.
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26. A device comprising a wireless reader tag (WRT) comprising:
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a lower power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component configured to communicate wireless communication signals externally of the WRT; and sensor components configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the WRT; wherein the LPRF communications component is coupled with the sensor components and is configured to determine a plurality of different moments in time responsive to criteria originating within the WRT and to communicate data indicative of the at least one sensed condition externally of the WRT to a reader using the wireless communication signals at the different moments in time; wherein the LPRF communications component is configured to; initiate operations of the WRT in a first mode at a first moment in time; detect a triggering event; and initiate operations of the WRT in a second mode having increased power consumption compared with the first mode at a second moment in time and responsive to the detection, wherein the LPRF communications component is configured to communicate the data during the second mode; and wherein the WRT tag is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the WRT tag, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component of the WRT tag while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A remote communications device comprising:
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communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless communication signals externally of the remote communications device; and sensor circuitry configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the remote communications device; wherein the communication circuitry is coupled with the sensor circuitry and is configured to determine a plurality of different moments in time responsive to criteria originating within the remote communications device and to communicate data indicative of the at least one sensed condition externally of the remote communications device to a reader using the wireless communication signals at the different moments in time; wherein the communication circuitry is configured to determine some of the moments in time according to a first rate during a first period of time and to determine others of the moments in time according to a second rate during a second period of time, and the first and second rates are different; and wherein the remote communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the remote communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communication circuitry while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.
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30. A device comprising a wireless reader tag (WRT) comprising:
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a lower power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component configured to communicate wireless communication signals externally of the WRT; and sensor components configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the WRT; wherein the LPRF communications component is coupled with the sensor components and is configured to determine a plurality of different moments in time responsive to criteria originating within the WRT and to communicate data indicative of the at least one sensed condition externally of the WRT to a reader using the wireless communication signals at the different moments in time; wherein the LPRF communications component is configured to determine some of the moments in time according to a first rate during a first period of time and to determine others of the moments in time according to a second rate during a second period of time, and the first and second rates are different; and wherein the WRT tag is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the WRT tag, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component of the WRT tag while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A remote communications device comprising:
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communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless communication signals externally of the remote communications device; and sensor circuitry configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the remote communications device and to generate data indicative of the at least one sensed condition; wherein the communication circuitry is coupled with the sensor circuitry and is configured to communicate the data generated by the sensor circuitry externally of the remote communications device using the wireless communication signals, and wherein the communicated data comprises data sampled according to a first rate during a first period of time and sampled according to a second rate different than the first rate during a second period of time; and wherein the remote communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the remote communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communication circuitry while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.
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45. A device comprising a wireless reader tag (WRT) comprising:
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a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component configured to communicate wireless communication signals externally of the WRT; and sensor components configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the WRT and to generate data indicative of the at least one sensed condition; wherein the LPRF communications component is coupled with the sensor components and is configured to communicate the data generated by the sensor components externally of the WRT using the wireless communication signals, and wherein the communicated data comprises data sampled by a first sensor component according to a first rate during a first period of time and sampled by a second sensor component according to a second rate different than the first rate during a second period of time; and wherein the WRT is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the WRT, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification