Determining presence of radio frequency communication device

• US 7,907,941 B2
• Filed: 01/01/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): HTUN, SAN A
• Application Number:
  US11/618,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/99, 455/556, 455/557, 455/66, 455/553, 455/72, 455/466, 455/419, 455/41.2, 455/404.2, 4554561-4566, 455/551, 455/9, 455/67.11, 455/115.1, 455/151.2, 4553431-3436, 455/73, 370/310, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/338, 340/10.33, 340/7.36, 340/10.34, 340/10.42, 340/10.52, 23546201-46219
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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 communication device includes a receiver; a transmitter; an interface for receiving one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition; and electronic components. The electronic components are arranged and configured such that the device operates in at least two states. In the first state, the device responds to a Present Broadcast by making a Present Response. In the second state, the device does not respond to a Present Broadcast with a Present Response. The electronic components further are arranged and configured such that the device enters the second state from the first state upon responding to a Present Broadcast with a Present Response, and such that the device enters the first state from the second state upon receiving, through the interface, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A radio frequency communication device, comprising:

(a) a receiver configured to receive radio frequency transmissions;

(b) a transmitter configured to make radio frequency transmissions;

(c) an interface for receiving one or more signals from a sensor; and

(d) electronic components arranged and configured such that,

(i) the radio frequency communication device operates in at least two states comprising,

(A) a first state of operation, in which the radio frequency communication device responds to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and

(B) a second state of operation, in which the radio frequency communication device does not respond to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and

(ii) the radio frequency communication device enters the second state of operation from the first state of operation upon,

(A) receiving by the receiver a radio frequency transmission that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, and

(B) making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and

(iii) the radio frequency communication device enters the first state of operation from the second state of operation upon,

(A) receiving, through the interface, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition,

(B) wherein the predetermined condition is movement of the radio frequency communication device;

(e) wherein the radio frequency communication device is physically associated with an asset that is tracked in an asset tracking system, whereby the presence of the asset is determinable within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices.

4. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensor signals includes the sensor-acquired data.

5. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensor signals is representative of the sensor-acquired data.

6. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensor signals is representative of a state of a sensor.

7. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the computer processor effects state changes of the radio frequency communication device as a function of received radio frequency transmissions and one or more received sensor signals.

8. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the electronic components are further arranged and configured such that the radio frequency communication device enters the first state upon receiving, through the receiver, a radio frequency transmission including an instruction to enter the first state.

9. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the electronic components are further arranged and configured such that the radio frequency communication device enters the first state upon expiration of predetermined period of time as indicated by a timer of the radio frequency communication device.

10. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the electronic components are further arranged and configured such that the radio frequency communication device enters the first state after a predetermined number of failed attempts to communicate by the radio frequency communication device have occurred.

11. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the electronic components are further arranged and configured such that the radio frequency communication device enters the second state upon receiving, through the receiver, a radio frequency transmission including an instruction to enter the second state.

12. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency communication device further comprises a component configured to detect movement of the radio frequency communication device, and wherein the one or more sensor signals are received through the interface from said component.

13. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency communication device further comprises a GPS receiver component for detecting the geographical location of the radio frequency communication device, and wherein the one or more sensor signals are received through the interface from said GPS receiver component.

2. The radio frequency communication device of 1, wherein the electronic components are further configured such that the radio frequency communication device makes a radio frequency transmission upon receiving, through the interface, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of the predetermined condition.

3. The radio frequency communication device of 1, further comprising a computer processor that processes received radio frequency transmissions and received sensor signals.

14. A method performed by a radio frequency communication device in an asset tracking system, the radio frequency communication device being physically associated with an asset to be tracked for determining the presence of the asset within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) first, responding to a radio frequency transmission that is received by a receiver of the radio frequency communication device, and that includes data representative of a general inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with a transmitter of the radio frequency communication device that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and then, not responding to subsequent radio frequency transmissions that are received by the receiver of the radio frequency communication device, and that include data representative of a general inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter of the radio frequency communication device that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device; and

(b) repeating said step (a) upon receiving, through an interface of the radio frequency communication device, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition, wherein the predetermined condition is movement of the radio frequency communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter of the radio frequency communication device upon receiving, through an interface of the radio frequency communication device, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of the predetermined condition.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the radio frequency communication device is associated with an asset being tracked in an asset tracking system.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising repeating said step (a) after a predetermined number of failed attempts to communicate by the radio frequency communication device have occurred.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising repeating said step (a) in response to an instruction received by the radio frequency communication device in a radio frequency transmission.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more sensor signals are received through the interface from a GPS receiver.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more sensor signals are received through the interface from a motion or accelerometer sensor.

16. The method of 15, wherein the predetermined condition comprises movement of the radio frequency communication device.

17. The method of 15, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a change, exceeding a threshold amount, in the location of the radio frequency communication device as determined based on GPS data.

18. The method of 15, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a temperature associated with the radio frequency communication device exceeding a predetermined threshold.

24. An asset tracking system comprising a plurality of radio frequency communication devices, each being physically associated with an asset to be tracked and each configured to,

(a) first, respond to a radio frequency transmission that is received by a receiver of the radio frequency communication device, and that includes data representative of a general inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with a transmitter of the radio frequency communication device that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device and, thereafter, not respond to subsequent radio frequency transmissions that are received by the receiver of the radio frequency communication device, and that include data representative of a general inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter of the radio frequency communication device that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and

(b) repeat step (a) upon receiving, through an interface of the radio frequency communication device, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition, wherein the predetermined condition is movement of the radio frequency communication device,

(c) whereby the presence of the asset is determinable within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices.

25. The asset-tracking system of claim 24, wherein the one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition comprises sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein each radio frequency communication device is further configured to repeat said step (a) after a predetermined number of failed attempts to communicate by the radio frequency communication device have occurred.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein each radio frequency communication device is further configured to repeat said step (a) in response to an instruction received by the radio frequency communication device in a radio frequency transmission.

28. The asset-tracking system of claim 24, wherein the predetermined condition comprises the opening of a container.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the one or more sensor signals are received through the interface from a GPS receiver.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the one or more sensor signals are received through the interface from a motion or accelerometer sensor.