Methods and apparatus for efficiently tracking activity using radio frequency identification

• US 7,663,490 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Care Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Dishongh, Terrance J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US11/864,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20090085721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/572.4, 340/825.49, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.61, 340/10.1, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 235/385, 235/386, 455/561, 455/571, 455/572, 455/127.5
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• 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

Abstract

A wearable data processing system includes a high power radio module and a low power radio module. The high power radio module may retrieve data from radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags. The low power radio module may transmit data to a base station data pertaining to the detected RFID tags. The low power radio module may also receive a power management signal from a gate radio. The gate radio may have an adjustable range. A power management engine in the wearable data processing system may determine whether the low power radio module is receiving the power management signal from the gate radio. The power management engine may also activate and deactivate the high power radio module, depending on whether the low power radio module is receiving the power management signal from the gate radio. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A system for efficiently monitoring human activity, the system comprising:

a gate radio to transmit a power management signal, the gate radio to draw power from electrical wiring in a building;

an adjustment mechanism in the gate radio to allow the power management signal to be adjusted to a selected range;

a wearable, battery-powered data processing system;

a high power radio module in the wearable, battery-powered data processing system, high power radio module capable of wirelessly retrieving data from an external radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag;

a low power radio module in the wearable, battery-powered data processing system, the low power radio module capable of wirelessly communicating with a base station concerning the data retrieved from the external RFID tag, wherein the low power radio module is also capable of wirelessly receiving the power management signal transmitted by the gate radio when the wearable, battery-powered data processing system is within the selected range of the gate radio; and

a power management engine in the wearable, battery-powered data processing system, the power management engine to perform operations comprising;

determining whether the low power radio module is receiving the power management signal from the gate radio;

deactivating the high power radio module in response to a determination that the low power radio module is not receiving the power management signal from the gate radio; and

activating the high power radio module in response to a determination that the low power radio module is receiving the power management signal from the gate radio.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the power management engine reduces power consumption of the wearable, battery-powered data processing system by at least fifty percent in response to determining that the low power radio module is not receiving the power management signal from the external gate radio.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

when the high power radio module is active, the high power radio module draws more than twice as much power as the low power radio module.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the high power radio module draws more than twenty milliamps when active; and

the low power radio module draws less than ten milliamps when active.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

after determining that the low power radio module is receiving the power management signal from the gate radio and activating the high power radio module, retrieving data from the external RFID tag, via the high power radio module; and

forwarding information concerning the RFID tag to the base station.

6. A wearable data processing system comprising:

a high power radio module in the wearable data processing system capable of retrieving data from a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag;

a low power radio module in the wearable data processing system capable of transmitting data associated with the RFID tag to a base station, wherein the low power radio module is also capable of receiving a power management signal from a gate radio; and

a power management engine in the wearable data processing system, the power management engine to perform operations comprising;

determining whether the low power radio module is receiving the power management signal from the gate radio;

inactivating the high power radio module in response to a determination that the low power radio module is not receiving the power management signal from the gate radio; and

activating the high power radio module in response to a determination that the low power radio module is receiving the power management signal from the gate radio.

7. A wearable data processing system according to claim 6, wherein the power management engine reduces power consumption of the wearable data processing system by at least fifty percent in response to determining that the low power radio module is not receiving the power management signal from the gate radio.

8. A wearable data processing system according to claim 6, wherein:

when the high power radio module is active, the high power radio module draws more than twice as much power as the low power radio module.

9. A wearable data processing system according to claim 6, wherein:

the high power radio module draws more than twenty milliamps when active; and

the low power radio module draws less than ten milliamps when active.

10. A wearable data processing system according to claim 6, wherein the wearable data processing system comprises a wearable, battery-operated data processing system.