Communicating with electronic tags
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising:
- a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising;
circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to an object in the group and identifies the first electronic tag and the other electronic tag, anda memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information,a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising;
circuitry for communicating the information with the first electronic tag,a memory connected to the circuitry in the second electronic tag and capable of storing the information, anda computer having circuitry in communication with the circuitry in the first electronic tag.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An object in a storage area or moving vehicle is monitored by attaching an electronic tag to the object. An electronic device detects the presence of the object by communicating with the tag while the object is in storage or is being moved by the vehicle. The tags may also determine the location of an attached object and may reroute the object if it deviates from a given shipping schedule. A group of objects is monitored by two electronic tags, each attached to an object in the group. Each tag has circuitry for communicating information relating to an object in the group to a second tag. Each tag also includes a memory connected to the circuitry that is capable of storing the information, and a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry. A computer is used that has circuitry for communicating with a tag.
431 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising:
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a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising; circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to an object in the group and identifies the first electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising; circuitry for communicating the information with the first electronic tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second electronic tag and capable of storing the information, and a computer having circuitry in communication with the circuitry in the first electronic tag.
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2. A system for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising:
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a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising; circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information pertaining to an object in the group, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising circuitry for communicating the information with the first electronic tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second electronic tag and capable of storing the information, and a computer having circuitry in communication with the circuitry in the first electronic tag, the computer comprising a processor connected to the circuitry in the computer, a port for communicating with a user, the port being coupled to the processor, and a computer memory coupled to the processor and comprising a stored threshold and a program configuring the processor to perform a function when the processor reads the computer memory, the function causing the processor to enable the circuitry to receive information from the first electronic tag, to compare the information to the threshold, and to enable the port to notify the user if the information exceeds the threshold.
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3. A system for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising:
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a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising; circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to an object in the group and identifies the first electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising circuitry for communicating the information with the first electronic tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second electronic tag and capable of storing the information, and a module comprising; a port for communicating with the circuitry in the first electronic tag, a processor connected to the port, a module memory coupled to the processor and comprising a program configuring the processor to perform a function when the processor reads the module memory, the function causing the processor to employ the port to receive an activating signal and to provide information regarding an object in the system in response to the activating signal. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising:
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a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising; circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to an object in the group and identifies the first electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, and a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising circuitry for communicating the information with the first electronic tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second electronic tag and capable of storing the information, wherein the circuitry in the first electronic tag comprises a port for infrared communications. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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8. A system for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising:
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a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising; circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to an object in the group and identifies the first electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, and a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising circuitry for communicating the information with the first electronic tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second electronic tag and capable of storing the information, wherein the circuitry in the first electronic tag comprises a port for radio frequency communications.
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9. A system for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising:
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a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising; circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to an object in the group and identifies the first electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, and a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising circuitry for communicating the information with the first electronic tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second electronic tag and capable of storing the information, wherein the circuitry in the first electronic tag comprises a port for acoustic communications.
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11. A system for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of a group of objects, comprising:
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a first electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising; circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to an object in the group and identifies the first electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and capable of storing the information, a second electronic tag attached to an object in the group, comprising circuitry for communicating the information with the first electronic tag, a memory connected to the circuitry in the second electronic tag and capable of storing the information, and a device having an information exchange port configured to communicate with the circuitry on the first electronic tag, the port enabling the device to store information in the memory of the first electronic tag and to retrieve information from the memory in the first electronic tag. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An electronic tag, comprising
a mechanism for attaching the electronic tag to an asset, circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to said asset and identifies the electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and storing the information, wherein the circuitry comprises a device for electromagnetic communication.
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14. An electronic tag, comprising
a mechanism for attaching the electronic tag to an asset, circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to said asset and identifies the electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and storing the information, wherein the circuitry comprises a device for acoustic communication.
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15. An electronic tag, comprising
a mechanism for attaching the electronic tag to an asset, circuitry for communicating with another electronic tag, the circuitry communicating at least information that pertains to said asset and identifies the electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a memory connected to the circuitry and storing the information, wherein the circuitry comprises a device for long range communications.
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16. A module for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of an object, the module comprising
a first electronic tag having a mechanism attaching the first electronic tag to an object, a port, and circuitry coupled to the port, the circuitry being configured for communicating information with another electronic tag, the information identifying the first electronic tag and the other electronic tag, and a second electronic tag, comprising a link for attaching the second electronic tag to the first electronic tag, a port, the port on the second electronic tag being disposed adjacent to the port on the first electronic tag when the second electronic tag is attached to the first electronic tag, a circuit coupled to the port in the second electronic tag, the circuit being configured for communicating with the first electronic tag, and a circuit for communicating with a third electronic tag substantially identical to the first electronic tag and attached to a second object.
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18. A module for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of an object, the module comprising
a first electronic tag having a mechanism attaching the first electronic tag to an object, a port, circuitry coupled to the port, the circuitry being configured for communicating with another electronic tag, a controller connected to the circuitry, and a power connection, the power connection being coupled to the controller, and a second electronic tag, comprising a link for attaching the second electronic tag to the first electronic tag, a port, the port on the second electronic tag being disposed adjacent to the port on the first electronic tag when the second electronic tag is attached to the first electronic tag, a circuit coupled to the port in the second electronic tag, the circuit being configured for communicating with the first electronic tag, a circuit for communicating with a third electronic tag substantially identical to the first electronic tag and attached to a second object, a power source coupled to the circuit, and a second power connection, the second power connection coupling with the first-mentioned power connection when the second electronic tag is attached to the first electronic tag.
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20. A module for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of an object, the module comprising
a first electronic tag having a mechanism attaching the first electronic tag to an object, a port, circuitry coupled to the port, the circuitry being configured for communicating with another electronic tag, and a controller connected to the circuitry, and an interrupt port coupled to the controller, a second electronic tag, comprising a link for attaching the second electronic tag to the first electronic tag, a port, the port on the second electronic tag being disposed adjacent to the port on the first electronic tag when the second electronic tag is attached to the first electronic tag, a circuit coupled to the port in the second electronic tag, the circuit being configured for communicating with the first electronic tag, a circuit for communicating with a third electronic tag substantially identical to the first electronic tag and attached to a second object, and an interrupt source coupled to a second port on the second electronic tag, the second port on the second electronic tag being coupled to the interrupt port on the first electronic tag when the second electronic tag is attached to the first electronic tag.
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21. A module for monitoring and affecting actions on behalf of an object, the module comprising
a first electronic tag having a mechanism attaching the first electronic tag to an object, a port, and circuitry coupled to the port, the circuitry being configured for communicating with another electronic tag, and a second electronic tag, comprising a link for attaching the second electronic tag to the first electronic tag, a port, the port on the second electronic tag being disposed adjacent to the port on the first electronic tag when the second electronic tag is attached to the first electronic tag, a circuit coupled to the port in the second electronic tag, the circuit being configured for communicating with the first electronic tag, a circuit for communicating with a third electronic tag substantially identical to the first electronic tag and attached to a second object, and a second circuit for communicating with a third electronic tag, and a switch connecting the second circuit to the first-mentioned circuit in the second electronic tag.
Specification