Electronic tags for micro-proximity location, detection and services

• US 20160048878A1
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Doorga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Doorga Incorporated
• Inventors: Corbalis, Charles Matthew, Matthys, Michael Edward, Paulsen, David, Robidart, Charles M. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US14/814,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20160048878A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Designs of a tag are described. Relevant parameters of the tag can be selected and determined via a device (e.g., a mobile device) running the client module in a predefined mode. Not only is the transmission power controlled to a small amount for detection of a nearby device, but the tag also operates periodically (e.g., every 2 or 10 seconds) to preserve the power driving it. The tag generates a transmission signal in compliance with a wireless technology standard so that the transmission signal can be received by a commonly-used device (e.g., a smartphone). In addition, for simplicity, the tag is not designed as a transceiver but operates as a transmitter only.

Claims

1. A tag comprising:

a battery;

an antenna;

a wake-up timer to turn on and off operations of the tag per a predefined timing, wherein the tag acts as a transmitter to transmit a broadcast in accordance with a wireless standard;

a state machine controller provided to randomize data packets;

a direct digital synthesizer provided to synthesize signal waveforms based upon data provided by the state machine controller and generate data packets to be broadcast via the antenna;

a memory space to store at least an identifier of one tag action that is included in the broadcast and causes a device receiving the broadcast to react per the tag action, wherein the device is loaded with a client module that is configured to digest the broadcast, the tag action is one of tag actions predefined on a server.

2. The tag as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion in the broadcast is encrypted in accordance with an encryption scheme, the client module is configured to decrypt the portion in accordance with a corresponding decryption scheme.

3. The tag as recited in claim 2, wherein the broadcast includes a universally unique identifier (UUID), the client module is registered with the server so that the client module is authorized to process the encrypted portion, the encrypted portion includes an identifier (ID) of the tag.

4. The tag as recited in claim 3, wherein the client module sends a message to the server to indicate that the tag has been detected by the device and receives a response from the server, and wherein the client module causes the device to display a message on a display thereof.

5. The tag as recited in claim 4, wherein the client module is configured to determine an approximate distance from the broadcast received in the device by comparing a designed power of the broadcast at a predefined distance to a measured power actually received by the device.

6. The tag as recited in claim 5, wherein the message to the server includes the approximate distance.

7. The tag as recited in claim 3, wherein the broadcast is in compliance with a wireless standard so that the broadcast is receivable by a commonly used device.

8. The tag as recited in claim 7, wherein the broadcast includes at least one data packet.

9. The tag as recited in claim 8, wherein the data packet includes data fields combined to form a single thirty-two (32) bit field to contain an encrypted version of the ID of the tag that, together with a universally unique identifier (UUID), to form an identity of the tag.

10. The tag as recited in claim 9, wherein the identity of the tag allows the registered client module to read content in the broadcast from the tag.

11. The tag as recited in claim 8, wherein the memory space includes sixty-four (64) versions of the data packet, and only one of the versions is chosen to be sent out in the broadcast.

12. The tag as recited in claim 1, further comprising a saw filter operating to filter out only one side of a spectrum of a radio signal around a M^th harmonic before the radio signal is coupled to the antenna.

13. The tag as recited in claim 12, wherein M=5.

14. The tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the tag is set up by an operator using the client module working in a write mode.

15. The tag as recited in claim 14, wherein the client module is configured to extract data from two designated fields in a data packet and forward the data to the server together with a command, the server is configured to generate a response indicating an operation by the command is complete.

16. The tag as recited in claim 15, wherein the response causes the client module to display a list, once a selection of the list is made, the server is configured to associate the selection with the tag.

17. The tag as recited in claim 15, wherein the response causes the device to scan a UPC code, the server is configured to associate the UPC with the tag.

18. The tag as recited in claim 1, further comprising a motion detector to detect a presence of an object moving close to the tag, the operations of the tag are turned on when the object is detected.

19. The tag as recited in claim 1, wherein radiation power of the broadcast varies over a predefined period.

20. The tag as recited in claim 19, further comprising a table controlling the radiation power, wherein the table is designed in accordance with a pattern.