Autonomous interrogating transponder for direct communications with other transponders
First Claim
1. A transponder comprising:
- a transmitter, a receiver and a controller;
wherein the receiver is adapted for receiving one group interrogation signal;
wherein the controller is adapted for causing the transmitter to transmit a response signal in response to receipt of said one group interrogation signal and for causing the transmitter to transmit another group interrogation signal andwherein said transmission of the other group interrogation signal is undertaken autonomously without outside control of the transponder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A group of associated transponders are respectively attached to a plurality of objects, such as sensors or containers. Each transponder includes a memory, a transmitter, a receiver and a controller. The memory stores group data, which includes data related to the respective attached objects. The controller causes the transmitter to autonomously transmit a group interrogation signal and to transmit a response signal in response to receipt of a group interrogation signal from another transponder of the group. The response signal includes at least some of the stored group data. The receiver receives both the group interrogation signals and the response signals from the other transponders of the group. The controller controls the transmitter and receiver and causes the memory to store data related to the respective object to which the transponder is attached and to store the group data included in the received response signals.
29 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A transponder comprising:
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a transmitter, a receiver and a controller; wherein the receiver is adapted for receiving one group interrogation signal; wherein the controller is adapted for causing the transmitter to transmit a response signal in response to receipt of said one group interrogation signal and for causing the transmitter to transmit another group interrogation signal and wherein said transmission of the other group interrogation signal is undertaken autonomously without outside control of the transponder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A group of associated transponders respectively attached to a plurality of objects, wherein each transponder comprises:
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a memory for storing group data, wherein the stored group data includes data related to the respective objects to which the transponders of the group are attached; a transmitter, a receiver and a controller; wherein the receiver is adapted for receiving a group interrogation signal; wherein the controller is adapted for causing the transmitter to transmit a response signal in response to receipt of said group interrogation signal, wherein the response signal includes at least some of said stored group data; wherein the receiver is also adapted for also receiving said response signals from the other transponders of the group; and wherein the controller is also adapted for causing the memory to store data related to the respective object to which the transponder is attached and to store the group data included in said received response signals; wherein the controller is further adapted for causing the transmitter to transmit a said group interrogation signal and wherein said transmission of the group interrogation signal is undertaken autonomously without outside control of the transponder. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication method for a group of transponders that are respectively attached to a plurality of objects, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing group data in each said transponder, wherein the stored group data includes data related to the respective objects to which the transponders of the group are attached; (b) directly transmitting a group interrogation signal from each transponder of the group to at least one other transponder of the group; (c) directly transmitting a response signal from at least one transponder of the group to at least one other transponder of the group in response to receipt of a said group interrogation signal by said at least one transponder, wherein the response signal includes, said stored group data; (d) receiving by at least one transponder of the group a said response signal from at least one other transponder of the group; and (e) causing each transponder of the group to also store the group data included in response signals received directly from at least one other transponder of the group; wherein for step (b), said transmission, of the group interrogation signal is undertaken without outside control of said any transponder from which the group interrogation signal is transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification