Enhanced identification system
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a reader; and
a plurality of transponders;
wherein the reader is configured to transmit a powering signal to the plurality of transponders,wherein each of the transponders is configured to become an active transponder subsequent to receiving the powering signal and transmit identifying data after executing a random wait cycle,wherein the reader is further configured to transmit a mute instruction muting all transponders except for a controlling transponder, wherein the muting instruction causes an active transponder to halt a random wait cycle until restarted,wherein a coded instruction is included in the mute instruction,wherein the controlling transponder is configured to perform an operation in accordance with the coded instruction, andwherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency, the mute instruction being transmitted during a transmission by the controlling transponder.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an identification system used for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders are disclosed. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognizes a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a reader; and a plurality of transponders; wherein the reader is configured to transmit a powering signal to the plurality of transponders, wherein each of the transponders is configured to become an active transponder subsequent to receiving the powering signal and transmit identifying data after executing a random wait cycle, wherein the reader is further configured to transmit a mute instruction muting all transponders except for a controlling transponder, wherein the muting instruction causes an active transponder to halt a random wait cycle until restarted, wherein a coded instruction is included in the mute instruction, wherein the controlling transponder is configured to perform an operation in accordance with the coded instruction, and wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency, the mute instruction being transmitted during a transmission by the controlling transponder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A transponder comprising circuitry configured to:
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receive a powering signal from a reader; transmit identifying data subsequent to receiving the powering signal; receive a mute instruction, wherein the mute instruction causes a halt to a random wait cycle until a restart command is received; recognize a coded instruction included in the mute instruction and perform an operation in accordance with the coded instruction when the transponder is a controlling transponder, and when the transponder is not the controlling transponder mute transmissions by the transponder; and wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency, the mute instruction being transmitted during a transmission by the controlling transponder. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A reader comprising circuitry configured to:
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transmit a powering signal to a plurality of transponders; and in response to receiving a transponder transmission including data identifying a controlling transponder, transmit a mute instruction thereby muting all transponders except for a controlling transponder, wherein the mute instruction causes an active transponder to halt a random wait cycle until restarted; wherein the mute instruction also includes a coded instruction directing the controlling transponder to perform an operation; and wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency, the mute instruction being transmitted during a transmission by the controlling transponder. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification