Apparatus and method for radio frequency silencing in oil and gas operations, excavation sites, and other environments
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a silence command at a location tracking device, the silence command instructing the location tracking device to stop all wireless transmissions;
stopping all wireless transmissions from the location tracking device for a specified period of time in response to the silence command;
determining at the location tracking device that the specified period of time has elapsed;
automatically resuming wireless transmissions from the location tracking device in response to the determination that the specified period of time has elapsed;
receiving a second silence command before the specified period of time has elapsed; and
extending the specified period of time in response to the second silence command,wherein a length of the specified period of time is identified by the location tracking device prior to the specified period of time elapsing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes receiving a silence command at a location tracking device, where the silence command instructs the location tracking device to stop wireless transmissions. The method also includes stopping wireless transmissions from the location tracking device for a specified period of time in response to the silence command. The method further includes automatically resuming wireless transmissions from the location tracking device after the specified period of time has elapsed. A length of the specified period of time can be defined by the silence command. A request to identify the location tracking device can be received at the location tracking device, and a response identifying the location tracking device can be transmitted prior to receiving the silence command.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a silence command at a location tracking device, the silence command instructing the location tracking device to stop all wireless transmissions; stopping all wireless transmissions from the location tracking device for a specified period of time in response to the silence command; determining at the location tracking device that the specified period of time has elapsed; automatically resuming wireless transmissions from the location tracking device in response to the determination that the specified period of time has elapsed; receiving a second silence command before the specified period of time has elapsed; and extending the specified period of time in response to the second silence command, wherein a length of the specified period of time is identified by the location tracking device prior to the specified period of time elapsing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a location tracking device configured to be associated with an asset, the location tracking device configured to track a location of the location tracking device to thereby track a location of the asset, the location tracking device comprising; at least one wireless transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly; and a control unit configured to; receive via the at least one wireless transceiver a silence command instructing the location tracking device to stop all wireless transmissions; stop all wireless transmissions from the at least one wireless transceiver for a specified period of time in response to the silence command; determine that the specified period of time has elapsed; automatically resume wireless transmissions by the at least one wireless transceiver in response to the determination that the specified period of time has elapsed; receive a second silence command before the specified period of time has elapsed; and extend the specified period of time in response to the second silence command, wherein the control unit is configured to identify a length of the specified period of time prior to the specified period of time elapsing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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identifying one or more location tracking devices in a specified area by; initiating broadcasting of an identification request, and receiving one or more responses from the one or more location tracking devices, the one or more responses identifying the one or more location tracking devices; initiating transmission of a silence command to the one or more location tracking devices, the silence command instructing the one or more location tracking devices to stop all wireless transmissions for a specified period of time before automatically resuming wireless transmissions, the silence command identifying a length of the specified period of time; and initiating transmission of a second silence command to the one or more location tracking devices, the second silence command instructing the one or more location tracking devices to extend the specified period of time to stop all wireless transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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receiving a silence command at a location tracking device, the silence command instructing the location tracking device to stop all wireless transmissions; stopping all wireless transmissions from the location tracking device for a specified period of time in response to the silence command; before the specified period of time has elapsed, receiving a second silence command; extending the specified period of time in response to the second silence command; determining at the location tracking device that the specified period of time has elapsed; and automatically resuming wireless transmissions from the location tracking device in response to the determination that the specified period of time has elapsed; wherein a length of the specified period of time is identified by the location tracking device prior to the specified period of time elapsing.
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Specification