Wireless Communication Devices

• US 20100148924A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: BATES, Benjamin G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,232,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/7.210
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising controllably locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism; storing in a memory a desired geographical location; determining the geographical location of the container; and enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location. A secure cargo transportation system comprises a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening; a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position; an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure; a memory supported by the vehicle and configured to store a location coordinate; and a global positioning system supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and to the lock, and configured to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

Claims

1. A method of performing wireless communications with a portable device, the method comprising:

communicating between an interrogator and the portable device via wireless communications using a first protocol, the communicating being performed at least in part by the portable device backscattering identification information to the interrogator; and

communicating between a first wireless communications device and the portable device, the portable device including a wireless receiver and communicating to the first wireless communications device via wireless communications using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a cellular receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications device comprises a paging transmitter and the second protocol comprises a paging protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a current location of the portable device, the determining being performed at least in part by a global positioning system.