SCREENING TRANSMISSIONS FOR POWER LEVEL AND OBJECT IDENTIFIER IN ASSET MONITORING AND TRACKING SYSTEMS

• US 20100219938A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: TWITCHELL, Robert W. JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/768,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219938A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/20 using a distributed architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for communicating to a recipient transceiver from a plurality of transceivers located within the broadcast range of the recipient transceiver includes: transmitting a communication at a first power level such that only a first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, the communication including a command causing each of the first group of transceivers not to respond to a subsequent broadcast; and subsequent thereto, transmitting a communication at a second power level greater than the first power level such that a second group of transceivers greater than and including the first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, but such that only a limited number of transceivers of the second group respond to the broadcast, the limited number of transceivers excluding the first group of transceivers. Each of the plurality of transceivers is associated with a respective sensor for acquiring data and transmitting the data to the recipient transceiver.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a container having at least one RFID device interior thereto, said method comprising:

providing an RFID device interior to a container, the RFID device periodically transmitting messages;

wherein each of the messages includes information uniquely identifying the RFID device, and

wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when the container is closed are substantially attenuated by the container, and wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when an opening in the container is open are not substantially attenuated by the container;

receiving messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container by a receiving device exterior the container;

whereby ones of the messages that are transmitted when the container is closed are substantially attenuated and/or are not received by the receiving device, and wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when the container is tampered with and/or when the opening of the container is open are received by the receiving device; and

determining from the messages received from the RFID device whether the opening of the container has or has not been opened and/or the container has been tampered with,

whereby a container having an RFID device therein is monitored for being opened and/or tampered with.

2. A method for monitoring a container having at least one RFID device interior thereto, said method comprising:

providing an RFID device interior to a container, the RFID device periodically transmitting messages, wherein each of the messages includes information uniquely identifying the RFID device;

receiving messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container by a receiving device exterior the container; and

determining from the messages received from the RFID device status changes of the container;

whereby a container having an RFID device therein is monitored.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when the container is closed are substantially attenuated by the container, and wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when an opening in the container is open are not substantially attenuated by the container.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when a status change occurs are received by the receiving device.