Radio frequency identification based sensor

• US 7,538,657 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/930,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1033- 1034, 340/10.1, 340 732- 737
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10108 interrogating only those RFIDs that fulfill a predetermined requirement, e.g. selecting all RFIDs having the same speed and moving in a cloud like fashion, e.g. on the same train; interrogating only RFIDs having a certain predetermined temperature, e.g. in the same fridge, another possibility being the active ignoring of a group of tags that fulfill a predetermined requirement, equivalent to the Boolean NOT operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized 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 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 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle 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 radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor includes one or more sensor elements, a sensor interface having an analog to digital converter coupled to the one or more sensor elements, at least one antenna, an RF power and communications interface coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface, a controller coupled to the RF power and communications interface and the sensor interface, and a memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface, wherein the memory is configured to store a tag identification number. The RF addressable sensor communicates with a wireless device that is coupled to a communications network. The wireless device communicates with the RF addressable sensor to obtain sensor data for transmission over the communications network. At least one of the one or more sensor elements is an antenna. The RF addressable sensor is configured for common designation network communications.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor comprising:

one or more sensor elements;

a sensor interface having an analog to digital converter coupled to the one or more sensor elements;

at least one antenna;

an RF power and communications interface coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface, the communications interface including a transmitter and a first receiver;

a controller coupled to the RF power and communications interface and the sensor interface; and

a memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface, wherein the memory is configured to store a tag identification number;

wherein the RF addressable sensor communicates with a wireless device that is coupled to a communications network, the communications comprising common designation network communications,

wherein the wireless device communicates with the RF addressable sensor to obtain sensor data for transmission over the communications network,

wherein at least one of the one or more sensor elements is an antenna, and

wherein the RF addressable sensor is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the RF addressable sensor, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communications interface while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

2. A radio frequency (RF) addressable device comprising:

one or more sensors;

a sensor interface coupled to the one or more sensors;

at least one antenna;

an RF power and communications interface coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface, the communications interface including a transmitter and a first receiver;

a controller coupled to the RF power and communications interface and the sensor interface; and

a memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface, wherein the memory is configured to store a tag identification;

wherein the RF addressable device communicates with a wireless device that is coupled to a communications network, the communications comprising common designation network communications,

wherein the wireless device communicates with the RF addressable device to obtain sensor data for transmission over the communications network,

wherein at least one of the one or more sensors includes an antenna, and

wherein the RF addressable device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the RF addressable device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communications interface while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

3. A radio frequency (RF) addressable device comprising:

one or more sensor components;

a sensor interface coupled to the one or more sensor components;

at least one antenna;

an energy source and communications component coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface, the communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver;

a controller coupled to the energy source and communications component and the sensor interface; and

a memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface, wherein the memory is configured to store an identification;

wherein the RF addressable device communicates with a wireless device that is coupled to an external network, the communications comprising common designation network communications,

wherein the wireless device communicates with the RF addressable device to obtain sensor derived information for transmission over the external network,

wherein at least one of the one or more sensor components includes an antenna, and

wherein the RF addressable device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the RF addressable device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communications interface while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

4. A method in a wireless sensor reader for obtaining sensor data from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors, comprising:

(a) transmitting signals to the one or more RF addressable sensors wherein the signals initialize the one or more RF addressable sensors;

(b) interrogating the one or more RF addressable sensors to isolate an individual RF addressable sensor;

(c) receiving sensor data from the isolated RF addressable sensor, wherein the received sensor data includes sensor identification information;

(d) communicating sensor identification information to a processor external to the wireless sensor reader;

(e) receiving sensor data processing information; and

(f) processing the sensor data based on the received processing information;

(g) wherein at least step (a) comprises common designation network communications;

(h) wherein the wireless sensor reader is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(i) wherein the wireless sensor reader comprises, (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless sensor reader, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the received sensor data processing information includes a database command.

6. A method in a wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device for obtaining sensor data from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors, comprising:

(a) transmitting signals to the one or more RF addressable sensors wherein the signals initialize the one or more RF addressable sensors;

(b) interrogating the one or more RF addressable sensors to target an individual RF addressable sensor;

(c) receiving sensor data from the targeted RF addressable sensor, wherein the received sensor data includes sensor identification information;

(d) communicating sensor identification information to a processor external to the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device;

(e) receiving sensor data processing information; and

(f) processing the sensor data based on the received processing information;

(g) wherein at least step (a) comprises common designation network communications;

(h) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(i) wherein the two-way radio frequency data communication device comprises, (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the received sensor data processing information includes a database command.

8. A method in a wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device for obtaining sensor derived information from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor interfaces, comprising:

(a) transmitting signals to the one or more RF addressable sensor interfaces wherein the signals initialize the one or more RF addressable sensor interfaces;

(b) communicating with the one or more RF addressable sensor interfaces to target an individual RF addressable sensor interface;

(c) receiving sensor derived information from the targeted RF addressable sensor interface, wherein the received sensor derived information includes sensor identification information;

(d) communicating sensor identification information to a processor external to the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device;

(e) receiving sensor data processing information; and

(f) processing the sensor derived information based on the received processing information;

(g) wherein at least step (a) comprises common designation network communications;

(h) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(i) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device comprises, (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the received sensor data processing information includes a database command.

10. A method in a wireless sensor reader for obtaining sensor data from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors, comprising:

(a) transmitting signals to the one or more RF addressable sensors, wherein the signals initialize the one or more RF addressable sensors;

(b) interrogating the one or more RF addressable sensors to isolate an individual RF addressable sensor;

(c) receiving sensor data from the isolated RF addressable sensor, wherein the received sensor data includes sensor processing information; and

(d) processing the sensor data based on the received processing information;

(e) wherein at least step (a) comprises common designation network communications;

(f) wherein the wireless sensor reader is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(g) wherein the wireless sensor reader comprises, (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless sensor reader, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

11. A method in a wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device for obtaining sensor data from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors, comprising:

(a) transmitting signals to the one or more RF addressable sensors, wherein the signals initialize the one or more RF addressable sensors;

(b) interrogating the one or more RF addressable sensors to target an individual RF addressable sensor;

(c) receiving sensor data from the targeted RF addressable sensor, wherein the received sensor data includes sensor processing information; and

(d) processing the sensor data based on the received processing information;

(e) wherein at least step (a) comprises common designation network communications;

(f) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(g) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device comprises, (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

12. A method in a wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device for obtaining sensor derived information from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor interfaces, comprising:

(a) transmitting signals to the one or more RF addressable sensor interfaces, wherein the signals wake up the one or more RF addressable sensor interfaces;

(b) communicating with the one or more RF addressable sensor interfaces to target an individual RF addressable sensor interface;

(c) receiving sensor derived information from the targeted RF addressable sensor interface, wherein the received sensor derived information includes sensor processing information; and

(d) processing the sensor derived information based on the received processing information;

(e) wherein a signal that is transmitted in said step (a) comprises specific data that represents a common designation in common designation network communications;

(f) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(g) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device comprises, (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device comprises a data packet radio device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device comprises a digital processor.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device comprises logic circuitry.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device comprise memory in which a profile of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is stored, the profile comprising a class designation assigned to the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the profile further comprises a unique identification of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the specific data representing a common designation, which is included in the signal transmitted in said step (a), is included in a preamble of the communication.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of filtering, by the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device, wireless communications for an identification of its class designation within the communication, and ignoring each communication if an identification of its class designation is not found therein.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device comprise memory in which a profile of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is stored, the profile comprising a class designation assigned to the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is attached to an asset to be tracked and wherein each class designation represents a common characteristic or behavior of an asset that is tracked.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device comprises logic circuitry in which is a profile of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is programmed, the profile comprising a class designation assigned to the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor derived information comprises temperature related information.

24. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor derived information comprises humidity related information.

25. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor derived information comprises altitude related information.

26. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor derived information comprises pressure related information.

27. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is part of a distributed database.

28. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is part of a distributed hierarchical database.

29. The method of claim 12, wherein said steps (a)-(d) are performed in response to a communication received by the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device that is sent from a server.