Method and apparatus for supplying commands to a tag
DCFirst Claim
1. An apparatus comprising a tag having circuitry which includes:
- a receiver section operable to receive wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code; and
a transmitter section operable to transmit wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
wherein said signpost signals include a command portion, and wherein said tag is responsive to said command portion of a respective said signpost signal received by said tag for effecting a control function within said tag.
1 Assignment
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10, 240, 300) includes a signpost (11, 241-256, 322, 612, 623, 626-628, 652, 661, 682, 686, 703) which transmits signpost signals (24) to a tag (12, 271-275, 301-316, 395-397, 616-618, 641-643, 653, 656-657, 662-664, 679, 708, 711), which in turn transmits beacon signals (72) to a reader (13, 261, 319, 521-530). One of the signpost and tag is mounted on an item to be tracked. A control system (14, 500) is responsive to the reader, and can cause the signpost to vary the signpost signal in a manner which varies at least one operational characteristic of the tag, such as a transmission rate, a transmission power, a tag identification code, a password, or an encryption code, or which shifts the tag between a normal operational mode and a low power operational mode in which its transmitter is disabled.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising a tag having circuitry which includes:
-
a receiver section operable to receive wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code; and
a transmitter section operable to transmit wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal;
wherein said signpost signals include a command portion, and wherein said tag is responsive to said command portion of a respective said signpost signal received by said tag for effecting a control function within said tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
a signpost which transmits said wireless signpost signals;
a control system having a reader which receives said beacon signals; and
a communication link which facilitates communication between said signpost and said control system, said control system being operable to send instructions to said signpost through said communication link which influence said signpost signals transmitted by said signpost.
-
-
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said instructions sent through said communication link include instructions which control what said signpost uses for said command portion of said signpost signals.
-
13. A method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving in a receiver section of a tag wireless signpost signals that each include a signpost code and a command portion;
transmitting from a transmitter section of said tag wireless beacon signals which each include a beacon code associated with said tag, said transmitting step including the step of causing said transmitter section to be responsive to receipt by said receiver section of a respective said signpost signal for including in at least one said beacon signal the signpost code from the received signpost signal; and
effecting a control function within said tag in response to said command portion of a respective said signpost signal received by said tag. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
transmitting said signpost signals from a signpost which is separate from said tag;
receiving said beacon signals in a reader which is a part of a control system separate from said tag;
providing a communication link between said control system and said signpost; and
sending from said control system to said signpost through said communication link instructions which influence said signpost signals transmitted by said signpost.
-
-
24. A method according to claim 23, including the step of causing said signpost to vary what said signpost uses for said command portion of said signpost signals as a function of said instructions sent through said communication link.
Specification