Wireless communications devices

• US 8,130,077 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Bates, Benjamin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/844,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.7, 340/10.31, 340/7.25
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

In one aspect, a wireless communications device includes a processing unit; memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit; at least one antenna; a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the at least one antenna to perform wireless communications using a first protocol; and an identification device communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the at least one antenna to perform wireless communications by modulating a received signal using a second protocol different than the first protocol. The wireless communications device may further include a location-determining system communicatively coupled to the processing unit to determine a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS), to allow the processing unit to perform a control operation based on the current location of the wireless communications device.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

a location system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-system being configured to provide data enabling determination of a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

at least one antenna;

an electronic identification device communicatively coupled to the at least one antenna and the processing unit, the identification device configured to perform wireless communications via the at least one antenna by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field generated by an interrogating device; and

a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

wherein the processing unit is configured to perform a control operation based on the current location of the wireless communications device and information received from the identification device.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the identification device is configured to communicate identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 2, wherein the identification device communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from said interrogation device.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device is portable.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to a locking mechanism.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 5, wherein the interface is configured to communicate to the locking mechanism via wireless communications.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the electronic identification device is configured to provide an identification code stored on the identification device, the identification code identifying a person.

8. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

a first antenna;

a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the first antenna to perform wireless communications via the first antenna using a first protocol;

a second antenna; and

an identification device communicatively coupled to the second antenna and the processing unit to perform wireless communications via the second antenna by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol;

wherein in accordance with the second protocol the identification device uses a random number as an identifier of the identification device; and

wherein the identification device communicates via magnetic field modulation.

9. The wireless communications device of claim 8, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit.

10. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the identification device is configured to communicate identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.

11. The wireless communications device of claim 10, wherein the identification device communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from an interrogator.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the wireless communications device is portable.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 8, further comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to a locking mechanism.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the interface is configured to communicate to the locking mechanism via wireless communications.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the memory is accessible via both the cellular receiver and the identification device.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 8, further comprising:

a communication port to provide a control signal to a second device via a wired connection.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 16, wherein the communication port includes an RS-232 port.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 16, wherein the processing unit is to control the second device via the communication port, in response to a first signal received via the cellular receiver.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 8, further comprising a communication port for a wired connection to a second device, wherein the processing unit is further configured to control the second device via the communication port, in accordance a second signal received via the identification device.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the identification device is configured to provide an identification code stored on the identification device.

21. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

a first antenna;

a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the first antenna to perform wireless communications via the first antenna using a first protocol;

a second antenna; and

an identification device communicatively coupled to the second antenna and the processing unit to perform wireless communications via the second antenna by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol;

wherein in accordance with the second protocol the identification device uses a random number as an identifier of the identification device; and

wherein the identification device communicates via backscattering radio frequency signals from an interrogation apparatus.

22. The wireless communications device of claim 21, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit.

23. The wireless communications device of claim 21, wherein the identification device is configured to communicate identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.

24. The wireless communications device of claim 23, wherein the identification device communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from said interrogation apparatus.

25. The wireless communications device of claim 21, wherein the wireless communications device is portable.

26. The wireless communications device of claim 21, further comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to a locking mechanism.

27. The wireless communications device of claim 26, wherein the interface is configured to communicate to the locking mechanism via wireless communications.

28. The wireless communications device of claim 21, wherein the memory is accessible via both the cellular receiver and the identification device.

29. The wireless communications device of claim 21, further comprising:

a communication port to provide a control signal to a second device via a wired connection.

30. The wireless communications device of claim 29, wherein the communication port includes an RS-232 port.

31. The wireless communications device of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is to control the second device via the communication port, in response to a first signal received via the cellular receiver.

32. The wireless communications device of claim 21, further comprising a communication port for a wired connection to a second device, wherein the processing unit is further configured to control the second device via the communication port, in accordance with a second signal received via the identification device.

33. The wireless communications device of claim 21, wherein the identification device communicates via magnetic field modulation.

34. The wireless communications device of claim 21, wherein the identification device is configured to provide an identification code stored on the identification device.

35. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

a first antenna;

a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the first antenna to perform wireless communications via the first antenna using a first protocol;

a second antenna; and

an identification device communicatively coupled to the second antenna and the processing unit to perform wireless communications via the second antenna by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol;

wherein in accordance with the second protocol the identification device uses a random number as an identifier of the identification device.

36. The wireless communications device of claim 35, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit.

37. The wireless communications device of claim 35, wherein the identification device is configured to communicate identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.

38. The wireless communications device of claim 37, wherein the identification device communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from an interrogator.

39. The wireless communications device of claim 35, wherein the wireless communications device is portable.

40. The wireless communications device of claim 35, further comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to a locking mechanism.

41. The wireless communications device of claim 40, wherein the interface is configured to communicate to the locking mechanism via wireless communications.

42. The wireless communications device of claim 35, wherein the memory is accessible via both the cellular receiver and the identification device.

43. The wireless communications device of claim 35, further comprising:

a communication port to provide a control signal to a second device via a wired connection.

44. The wireless communications device of claim 43, wherein the communication port includes an RS-232 port.

45. The wireless communications device of claim 43, wherein the processing unit is to control the second device via the communication port, in response to a first signal received via the cellular receiver.

46. The wireless communications device of claim 35, further comprising a communication port for a wired connection to a second device, wherein the processing unit is further configured to control the second device via the communication port, in accordance with a second signal received via the identification device.

47. The wireless communications device of claim 35, wherein the identification device communicates via magnetic field modulation.

48. The wireless communications device of claim 35, wherein the identification device communicates via backscattering radio frequency signals from an interrogator.

49. The wireless communications device of claim 35, wherein the identification device is configured to provide an identification code stored on the identification device.

50. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

a location system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location system being configured to provide data useful in determining a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a cellular receiver coupled to the processing unit to perform wireless communications using a cellular communications system;

an identification device coupled to the processing unit to generate a random number and to provide identification information, including the random number, using a carrier provided by an interrogation apparatus wirelessly coupled to the wireless communications device;

a first antenna coupled to the cellular receiver for wireless communications using the cellular communications system; and

a second antenna coupled to the identification device to provide the identification information.

51. The wireless communications device of claim 50, wherein the identification device comprises a transmitter switchable between transmitting using a carrier provided by said interrogation apparatus and transmitting using a carrier generated by the wireless communications device.

52. The wireless communications device of claim 50, wherein the identification information is transmitted via magnetic field modulation.

53. The wireless communications device of claim 50, wherein the carrier provided by the interrogator is an unmodulated radio frequency (RF) signal.

54. The wireless communications device of claim 50, further comprising memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the location system is further configured to log locations determined by the location system in the memory.

55. The wireless communications device of claim 50, wherein the location system includes a GPS receiver.

56. The wireless communications device of claim 50, wherein the identification device stores a unique identification code.

57. The wireless communications device of claim 56, wherein the unique identification code identifies a person with which the identification device is associated.

58. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

a location system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location system being configured to provide data enabling determining a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a cellular receiver coupled to the processing unit to perform wireless communications using a cellular communications system; and

an identification device coupled to the processing unit to generate a random number and to provide identification information, including the random number, using a carrier provided by an interrogator wirelessly coupled to the wireless communications device;

wherein the identification device comprises a transmitter switchable between a first mode in which the transmitter modulates a radio frequency (RF) field generated by a remote interrogation apparatus and a second mode in which the transmitter modulates an RF field generated by the identification device.

59. The wireless communications device of claim 58, further comprising a first antenna coupled to the cellular receiver for wireless communications using the cellular communications system and a second antenna coupled to the identification device to provide the identification information.

60. The wireless communications device of claim 58, wherein the identification information is transmitted via magnetic field modulation.

61. The wireless communications device of claim 58, wherein the carrier provided by the interrogation apparatus is an unmodulated radio frequency (RF) signal.

62. The wireless communications device of claim 58, further comprising memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the location system is further configured to log locations determined by the location system in the memory.

63. The wireless communications device of claim 58, wherein the location system includes a GPS receiver.

64. The wireless communications device claim 58, wherein the identification device stores a unique identification code.

65. The wireless communications device of claim 64, wherein the unique identification code identifies a person with which the identification device is associated.

66. The wireless communications device of claim 58, further comprising a first antenna coupled to the cellular receiver for wireless communications using the cellular communications system and a second antenna coupled to the identification device to provide the identification information.

67. A device comprising:

a processing unit;

a location-determining system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining system being configured to provide data useful in determining a current location of the device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a first wireless communication subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the first wireless communication subsystem comprising a cellular receiver coupled to the processing unit to perform wireless communications using a cellular communications system; and

a second wireless communication subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the second wireless communication subsystem configured to generate a random number and to provide the random number as an identifier of the device by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by a remote interrogation device;

wherein the first subsystem comprises a first antenna for wireless communications using the cellular communications system and the second subsystem comprises a second antenna to provide the random number; and

the second subsystem is switchable between transmitting in a passive mode and transmitting in an active mode.

68. The device of claim 67, wherein the second subsystem is further configured to provide a unique identification code by modulating the RF field.

69. The device of claim 67, wherein the location-determining system includes a GPS receiver.

70. The device of claim 69, wherein the location-determining system is further configured to log locations determined by the location-determination system in a memory coupled to the processing unit.

71. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

a location-determining system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining system being configured to provide data useful in determining a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a cellular receiver coupled to the processing unit to perform wireless communications via a first antenna using a cellular communications system; and

an identification device coupled to the processing unit and configured to generate a random number and to provide the random number via a second antenna in a passive mode of operation by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by an interrogation device wirelessly coupled to the wireless communications device;

wherein the identification device is further configured to store a unique identifier corresponding to a person associated with the identification device.

72. The wireless communications device of claim 71, wherein the identification device is further configured to communicate in an active mode of operation in which an RF field is provided by the identification device.

73. The wireless communications device of claim 71, wherein the identification device is further configured to provide the unique identifier, in addition to the random number, via the second antenna in the passive mode of operation by modulating the RF field.

74. The wireless communications device of claim 71, wherein the location-determining system includes a GPS receiver and is further configured to log multiple locations of the wireless communications device along a route.

75. The wireless communications device of claim 71, wherein the identification device is further configured to provide, via the second antenna, the unique identifier stored in a memory of the identification device.

76. A device, comprising:

a processing unit;

a location-determining system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining system being configured to provide data useful for determining a current location of the device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a first wireless communication subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the first wireless communication subsystem comprising a cellular receiver coupled to the processing unit to perform wireless communications using a cellular communications system; and

a second wireless communication subsystem coupled to the processing unit, the second wireless communication subsystem configured to generate a random number and to provide the random number as an identifier of the device by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by a remote interrogation apparatus;

wherein the second subsystem is further configured to provide a unique identification code corresponding to a person associated with the device.

77. The device of claim 76, wherein the first subsystem comprises a first antenna for wireless communications using the cellular communications system and the second subsystem comprises a second antenna to provide the random number.

78. The device of claim 76, wherein the first subsystem comprises a first antenna for wireless communications using the cellular communications system and the second subsystem comprises a second antenna to provide the random number.

79. The device of claim 78, wherein the second subsystem is switchable between transmitting in a passive mode and transmitting in an active mode.

80. The device of claim 76, wherein the second subsystem is further configured to provide the unique identification code by modulating the RF field.

81. The device of claim 76, wherein the location-determining system includes a GPS receiver.

82. The device of claim 81, wherein the location-determining system is further configured to log locations determined by the location-determination system in a memory coupled to the processing unit.

83. Apparatus comprising:

a processing unit;

a locating system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the locating system being configured to provide data enabling determination of a current location of the apparatus using a global positioning system (GPS);

a first antenna;

a first wireless communication subsystem in communication with the processing unit and the first antenna, the first wireless communication subsystem comprising a cellular receiver;

a second antenna; and

a second wireless communication subsystem in communication with the processing unit and the second antenna, the second wireless communication subsystem configured to generate a random number and to provide the random number as an identifier of the apparatus by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field;

wherein the second subsystem is selectively switchable between transmitting in a passive mode and transmitting in an active mode.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the second subsystem is further configured to provide a unique identification code by modulating the RF field.

85. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the second subsystem is further configured to provide a unique identification code corresponding to a person associated with the apparatus.

86. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit and a memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

a first antenna;

a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the first antenna to perform wireless communications via the first antenna using a first protocol;

a second antenna; and

an identification device communicatively coupled to the second antenna to perform wireless communications via the second antenna by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol;

wherein in accordance with the second protocol, the identification device uses a unique indicia as an identifier.

87. The wireless communications device of claim 86, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit.

88. The wireless communications device of claim 86, wherein the identification device is configured to communicate identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.

89. The wireless communications device of claim 88, wherein the identification device communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from an interrogation apparatus.

90. The wireless communications device of claim 86, wherein the wireless communications device is portable.

91. The wireless communications device of claim 86, further comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to a locking mechanism.

92. The wireless communications device of claim 91, wherein the interface is configured to communicate to the locking mechanism via wireless communications.

93. The wireless communications device of claim 86, wherein the memory is accessible via both the cellular receiver and the identification device.

94. The wireless communications device of claim 86, further comprising:

a communication port to provide a control signal to a second device via a wired connection.

95. The wireless communications device of claim 94, wherein the communication port includes an RS-232 port.

96. The wireless communications device of claim 94, wherein the processing unit is to control the second device via the communication port, in response to a first signal received via the cellular receiver.

97. The wireless communications device of claim 86, further comprising a communication port for a wired connection to a second device, wherein the processing unit is further configured to control the second device via the communication port, in accordance with a second signal received via the identification device.

98. The wireless communications device of claim 86, wherein the identification device communicates via magnetic field modulation.

99. The wireless communications device of claim 86, wherein the identification device communicates via backscattering radio frequency signals from an interrogation apparatus.

100. The wireless communications device of claim 86, wherein the identification device is configured to provide an identification code stored on the identification device.

101. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

a location-determining system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining system being configured to provide data useful in determining a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

a cellular receiver coupled to the processing unit to perform wireless communications via a first antenna using a cellular communications system; and

an identification device configured to provide a unique identifying indicia via a second antenna in a passive mode of operation by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by an interrogation device wirelessly communicating with the wireless communications device;

wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to store a unique identifier corresponding to an account associated with the identification device, said identification device used at least in part to debit said account.

102. The wireless communications device of claim 101, further comprising a GPS receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit.

103. The wireless communications device of claim 101, wherein the identification device communicates via magnetic field modulation.

104. The wireless communications device of claim 101, wherein the identification device communicates via backscattering radio frequency signals from the interrogator.