Inventorying method and system for monitoring items using tags
First Claim
1. A method for communicating between at least one transponder and a transceiving device, comprising the steps of:
- providing the at least one transponder, said at least one transponder having a transmission operating mode and a reception operating mode, wherein while operating in the transmission operating mode said at least one transponder has a capability for transmitting signals, and while operating in said reception operating mode said at least one transponder has a capability for receiving signals;
while the at least one transponder operates in the transmission mode, transmitting a first signal from the at least one transponder to the transceiving device;
in response to the performance of the transmitting step, switching the operating mode of the transponder from the transmission operating mode to the reception operating mode and operating the at least one transponder in the reception operating mode for a predetermined time period;
receiving the first signal at the transceiving device;
sending a second signal from the transceiving device to the at least one transponder;
receiving the second signal at the at least one transponder within a duration of the predetermined time period; and
in response to an expiration of the predetermined time period, switching the operating mode of the at least one transponder from the reception operating mode to the transmission operating mode.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items based upon random times that occur as a function of a first specified time interval, and a random interval inventory system that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes a first step of transmitting information signals based upon random times from individual ones of a plurality of tags (5a1-5xx) to at least one of at least one master transceiver and at least one transceiver (4a-4n). The individual tags (5a1-5xx) are affixed to respective individual ones of a plurality of items. The information signals transmitted from each tag (5a1-5xx) correspond at least to the respective item to which the tag (5a1-5xx) is affixed. The random times occur as a function of a first specified time interval. For a case wherein the information signals are transmitted to the at least one remote transceiver, each at least one remote transceiver (4a-4n) receives information signals from at least one of the tags (4a-4n), and in response to receiving each information signal, relays the signal to the master transceiver (3). In response to the master transceiver (3) receiving an information signal, a next step includes supplying the signal to an associated confirmation device (2). Within the confirmation device (2), in response to receiving an information signal from the master transceiver (3), a next step includes confirming that the item corresponding to the information signal is accounted for.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for communicating between at least one transponder and a transceiving device, comprising the steps of:
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providing the at least one transponder, said at least one transponder having a transmission operating mode and a reception operating mode, wherein while operating in the transmission operating mode said at least one transponder has a capability for transmitting signals, and while operating in said reception operating mode said at least one transponder has a capability for receiving signals; while the at least one transponder operates in the transmission mode, transmitting a first signal from the at least one transponder to the transceiving device; in response to the performance of the transmitting step, switching the operating mode of the transponder from the transmission operating mode to the reception operating mode and operating the at least one transponder in the reception operating mode for a predetermined time period; receiving the first signal at the transceiving device; sending a second signal from the transceiving device to the at least one transponder; receiving the second signal at the at least one transponder within a duration of the predetermined time period; and in response to an expiration of the predetermined time period, switching the operating mode of the at least one transponder from the reception operating mode to the transmission operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for communicating between at least one transmitter, at least one first transceiver, and a second, master transceiver, the at least one transmitter transmitting information signals to the at least one first transceiver, comprising the steps of:
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within the at least one first transceiver, setting a timer to run in response to receiving a first one of the information signals from the at least one transmitter; storing within the at least one first transceiver information which indicates an alarm status in response to one of;
(1) the timer reaching a first predetermined time value before a second one of the information signals is received by the at least one first transceiver from the at least one transmitter and (2) a second one of the information signals being received by the at least one first transceiver prior to the timer reaching a second predetermined time value;communicating an interrogation command from the second, master transceiver to the at least one first transceiver; and in response to the at least one first transceiver receiving the interrogation command, communicating the stored information from the at least one first transceiver to the second, master transceiver.
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5. A method for reporting an occurrence of a condition affecting an individual one of a plurality of transmitter tags, the individual transmitter tags transmitting information signals in a predefined manner to at least one remote transceiver, the information signals transmitted from the individual transmitter tags corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of items with which the respective transmitter tags are associated, comprising the steps of:
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recognizing the occurrence of a condition affecting an individual one of the transmitter tags by detecting that information signals received by the at least one remote transceiver from the individual transmitter tag have different strengths; and notifying a master transceiver that the condition affecting the individual transmitter tag has occurred in response to the at least one remote transceiver receiving an interrogation command from the master transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A receive/transmit (RX/TX) tag, comprising:
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a controller; a receiver portion; and a transmitter portion, said controller being coupled to each of said receiver portion and said transmitter portion, wherein said controller controls an operating mode of said RX/TX tag, wherein in a first, transmission operating mode of said RX/TX tag, said transmitter portion is turned on and said receiver portion is turned off under the control of said controller, wherein in the first, transmission operating mode, said transmitter is controllable by said controller for transmitting a signal from the RX/TX tag, wherein after the signal is transmitted from said RX/TX tag said controller turns off said transmitter portion for a predetermined time period and turns on said receiver portion for the predetermined time period for causing the RX/TX tag to operate in a second, reception operating mode for the predetermined time period, wherein said controller is responsive to an expiration of said predetermined time period for again turning on said transmitter portion and turning off said receiver portion for causing the RX/TX tag to again operate in the first, transmission operating mode.
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8. A communication system, comprising:
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a receive/transmit (RX/TX) tag comprising means for transmitting signals, a receiver, and a controller, said controller being coupled to each of said signal transmitting means and said receiver, said controller for controlling an operating mode of said RX/TX tag, wherein in a first, transmission operating mode of said RX/TX tag, said signal transmitting means is turned on and said receiver is turned off under the control of said controller, wherein in the first, transmission operating mode, said signal transmitting means is controllable by the controller for transmitting a signal from the RX/TX tag, wherein after the signal is transmitted from said RX/TX tag said controller turns off said signal transmitting means for a predetermined time period and turns on said receiver for the predetermined time period for causing the RX/TX tag to operate in a second, reception operating mode for the predetermined time period, wherein said controller is responsive to an expiration of said predetermined time period for again turning on said signal transmitting means and turning off said receiver for causing the RX/TX tag to again operate in the first, transmission operating mode; and at least one transceiver, said at least one transceiver for receiving said signal from said RX/TX tag, and for transmitting, in response thereto, a response signal to said RX/TX tag such that the response signal is received by said RX/TX tag within the predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A communication system, comprising:
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a plurality of tags, individual ones of said plurality of tags for transmitting information signals in a predefined manner, said information signals transmitted from said individual ones of said plurality of tags corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of items; at least one remote transceiver, said at least one remote transceiver for recognizing an occurrence of a condition affecting individual ones of the tags by detecting that information signals received by the at least one remote transceiver from individual ones of the tags have different strengths; and at least one master transceiver for providing an interrogation command to said at least one remote transceiver, wherein said at least one remote transceiver responds to the interrogation command received from said at least one master receiver by notifying said at least one master transceiver of the occurrence of the condition affecting said individual ones of the tags.
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18. A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information signals from individual ones of a plurality of transmitter tags to a receiving device, the transmissions of the information signals occurring at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive first predetermined time intervals, the individual ones of the plurality of transmitter tags being affixed to respective individual ones of the plurality of items, the information signals transmitted from the individual transmitter tags corresponding at least to the respective items to which the transmitter tags are affixed; in response to an input signal applied to at least one of the transmitter tags, transmitting the information signals from the at least one transmitter tag to the receiving device at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive second predetermined time intervals;
wherein within the receiving device, in response to receiving individual ones of the information signals, confirming that the items corresponding to the information signals are accounted for, and, detecting a variation in a rate at which the information signals are received from the at least one transmitter tag; andwherein a probability that an individual one of the plurality of transmitter tags will transmit an information signal at a time when none of the other ones of the plurality of transmitter tags are transmitting information signals is represented by Ptx, where;
##EQU5## and where;
ton represents a duration of an information signal transmission;
toff represents an average time interval between chronological information signal transmissions of interest; and
n represents the number of the other ones of the plurality of transmitter tags.
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19. A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information signals from individual ones of a plurality of transmitter tags to a receiving device, the transmissions of the information signals occurring at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive first predetermined time intervals, the individual ones of the plurality of transmitter tags being affixed to respective individual ones of the plurality of items, the information signals transmitted from the individual transmitter tags corresponding at least to the respective items to which the transmitter tags are affixed; in response to an input signal applied to at least one of the transmitter tags, transmitting the information signals from the at least one transmitter tag to the receiving device at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive second predetermined time intervals;
wherein within the receiving device, in response to receiving individual ones of the information signals, confirming that the items corresponding to the information signals are accounted for, and, detecting a variation in a rate at which the information signals are received from the at least one transmitter tag; andwherein a probability that an individual one of the plurality of transmitter tags will transmit an information signal during a period of time when none of the other ones of the plurality of transmitter tags are transmitting information signals is represented by n, where;
##EQU6## and where;
m represents a number of transmissions attempted during the time period;
ton represents a duration of an information signal transmission;
toff represents an average time interval between chronological information signal transmissions of interest; and
n represents the number of the other ones of the plurality of transmitter tags.
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20. A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information signals from individual ones of a plurality of transmitter tags to a receiving device, the transmissions of the information signals occurring at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive first predetermined time intervals, the individual ones of the plurality of transmitter tags being affixed to respective individual ones of the plurality of items, the information signals transmitted from the individual transmitter tags corresponding at least to the respective items to which the transmitter tags are affixed; in response to an input signal applied to at least one of the transmitter tags, transmitting the information signals from the at least one transmitter tag to the receiving device at random times within respective ones of a plurality of successive second predetermined time intervals;
wherein within the receiving device, in response to receiving individual ones of the information signals, confirming that the items corresponding to the information signals are accounted for, and, detecting a variation in a rate at which the information signals are received from the at least one transmitter tag; andfurther comprising the step of; within the receiving device, in response to receiving a pair of at least one of the first and second information signals originally transmitted from an individual one of the transmitter tags, measuring the strength of each of the pair of said at least one of the first and second information signals; and based upon a relationship between the measured strengths of each of said pair of said at least one of said first and second information signals, determining at least one of a location of an item to which the transmitter tag is affixed and a displacement of the item from a reference location.
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Specification