Methods of configuring and using a wireless communications device

• US 8,633,800 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• 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): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US13/296,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.21, 340/5.5, 340/5.61, 340/5.73, 340/7.25, 340/7.29, 340/10.31, 711100-173, 713182-186, 726 1- 30, 455/26.1, 109 45- 49, 70/63
• 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: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
• 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

A method of controlling access to a movable container, the method comprising controllably locking the container using an electronically actuated locking mechanism; storing in a memory a desired geographical location; determining the geographical location of the container; and enabling the locking mechanism to unlock the container if the determined geographical location matches the desired geographical location. Apparatus, including secure cargo transportation systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless communications device comprising a processing unit, a first antenna, and a second antenna, the method comprising:

configuring 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;

configuring 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; and

enabling communication of identifying information associated with a user associated with the wireless communications device;

wherein, in accordance with the second protocol, the identification device uses a unique indicia as an identifier, wherein the indicia comprises a random number configured to identify the identification device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications via the second antenna is performed by the identification device communicating in an active mode of operation in which the RF field is provided by the identification device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling determination of a current location of the wireless communications device using data provided by a global positioning system (GPS) receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling communication of identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identification device communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from an interrogating apparatus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification device communicates via magnetic field modulation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification device is configured to provide an identification code stored on the identification device.

8. A method of enabling wireless transactions by a user communications device having a processing apparatus, an identification apparatus, and a location-determining apparatus, the method comprising:

configuring the communication device to provide data related to a current location of the communications device using the location determining apparatus;

enabling wireless communications between the device and a cellular communications network via a first wireless communication apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus; and

configuring the communications device to communicate a unique identifier via a second wireless communication apparatus, the second wireless communication apparatus communicatively coupled to the processing apparatus and capable of modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by a remote interrogation apparatus;

wherein;

the location determining apparatus comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver communicatively coupled to the processing apparatus; and

the identifier comprises a random number generated by the identification apparatus.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the identification apparatus is operably coupled to the processing apparatus; and

the identifier is configured to provide a unique identification code corresponding to a person associated with at least one of (i) the communications device and (ii) the identification apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the communications device is further configured to store the identification code.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification apparatus is further configured to store the identification code in a memory location of the identification apparatus.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the first wireless communications apparatus comprises a first antenna for wireless communications with the cellular network; and

the second wireless communications apparatus comprises a second antenna providing the identifier.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the second wireless communications apparatus communicates via backscattering the RF field.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the second wireless communications apparatus is further configured to provide a unique identification code by modulating the RF field.

15. A method of configuring a portable wireless communications device having a processing apparatus, an identification apparatus, and a location-determining apparatus, the method comprising:

configuring the communication device to provide data related to a current location of the communications device using the location determining apparatus and a global positioning system (GPS);

coupling a first wireless communication subsystem to a first antenna and the processing apparatus;

enabling wireless communications between the communication device and a cellular communications network via the first antenna;

operably coupling a second wireless subsystem, comprising the identification apparatus coupled to a second antenna, to the processing apparatus; and

configuring the identification apparatus to generate a random number and to wirelessly communicate via the second antenna the random number as an identifier associated with the communications device by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field;

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

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in the passive mode, the second wireless subsystem communicates via modulating RF field provided by a remote interrogator apparatus, and (ii) in the active mode, the RF field is provided by the second wireless subsystem.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second wireless subsystem is further configured to provide a unique identification code by modulating the RF field.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second wireless subsystem is further configured to provide a unique identification code corresponding to a person associated with the identification apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising configuring the communications device to store the identification code.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said identifier is communicated based at least in part on a financial transaction by a user of the communications device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

configuring the communications device to determine the current location of the communications device; and

configuring the communications device to perform the transaction pursuant to establishing a predetermined relationship between the current location and at least one reference location.

22. A method of performing a transaction using a wireless communications device comprising a processing apparatus, an identification apparatus, and a location-determining apparatus, the method comprising:

configuring the communication device to provide data useful in determining a current location of the communications device using the location determining apparatus and a global positioning system (GPS);

configuring a cellular receiver, coupled to the processing apparatus and to a first antenna, to perform wireless communications via the first antenna using a cellular communications network;

enabling the identification apparatus 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, wherein the indicia comprises a random number configured to identify the identification apparatus, said enabling effected by, at least in part, communicatively coupling the identification apparatus to the processing apparatus; and

configuring the communications device to store a unique identifier corresponding to a user account associated with the identification apparatus, said identification apparatus being enabled to debit said user account.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the unique identifier comprises number of said account.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the unique identifier comprises bank identification information.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the unique identifier comprises user identification information.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the identification apparatus communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from an interrogation apparatus.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the identification apparatus communicates via backscattering radio frequency signals from an interrogation apparatus.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the identification apparatus is configured to communicate identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.