LPRF device wake up using wireless tag

• US 7,941,095 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US12/436,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/73, 370/328, 370/338, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.42, 340/10.51
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/20 using a distributed 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 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• 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 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted 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 wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

Claims

1. A network including,

a plurality of wireless reader tags (WRTs), each WRT comprising,

a transceiver of electromagnetic energy configured to transmit and receive data signals between other of the plurality of WRTs,

a reader component for reading radio-frequency identification signals from wireless tags (WTs),

a detector for producing data signals representative of motion of an object proximate the WRT, and

a processor coupled to the reader component and to the detector and to the transceiver for forming signals indicative of radio-frequency identification signals read from WTs and data signals for transmission by the transceiver to other of the plurality of WRTs,

wherein each WRT is configured to

(i) maintain at least one common designation for purposes of filtering received data signals, the at least one maintained common designation comprising at least one maintained class designation, and

(ii) determine whether specific data in a received data signal corresponds to at least one maintained common designation, wherein the specific data is found to correspond to at least one maintained common designation when the identified specific data matches an abstracted class of a maintained class designation of that WRT;

and

a gateway configured to receive and transmit signals between the gateway and at least one of the plurality of WRTs.

2. The network of a plurality of WRTs according to claim 1, wherein each WRT includes an ID that is unique with respect to each of the plurality of WRTs;

and wherein the gateway is configured to transmit and receive signals including the unique IDs and data signals between the gateway and at least one of the plurality of WRTs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the WRTs are located in a retail store, and wherein each WRT is associated with a product brand for sale in the retail store.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the WRTs are located in a retail store, and wherein each WRT is associated with a plurality of product brands for sale in the retail store, the WRT including stored therein a different designation for each associated product brand.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the WRTs are utilized to inventory the product brands with which the WRTs are associated.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein some data signals are indicative of product name.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein some data signals are indicative of product cost.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein some data signals are indicative of location of product within the retail store.

9. A network including,

a plurality of wireless reader tags (WRTs), each WRT comprising,

a transceiver of electromagnetic energy configured to transmit and receive data signals between other of the plurality of WRTs,

a reader component for reading radio-frequency identification signals from wireless tags (WTs),

a detector for producing data signals representing sensor derived information, and

a processor coupled to the reader component and to the detector and to the transceiver for forming signals indicative of radio-frequency identification signals read from WTs and data signals for transmission by the transceiver to other of the plurality of WRTs,

wherein each WRT is configured to

(i) maintain at least one common designation for purposes of filtering received data signals, the at least one maintained common designation comprising at least one maintained class designation, and

(ii) determine whether specific data in a received data signal corresponds to at least one maintained common designation, wherein the specific data is found to correspond to at least one maintained common designation when the identified specific data matches an abstracted class of a maintained class designation of that WRT;

and

a gateway configured to receive and transmit signals between the gateway and at least one of the plurality of WRTs.