Using unique identifiers to retrieve configuration data for tag devices

• US 9,251,455 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lin, Alice, Nelson, Andrew, Yeager, Daniel, Otis, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US13/973,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices

Abstract

Methods and systems for using unique identifiers to retrieve configuration data for tag devices are described herein. An example method may involve obtaining a unique identifier associated with a tag device. The tag device may include an antenna and a sensor configured to obtain sensor readings that can be wirelessly transmitted to a reader device via the antenna. The method may also involve determining configuration parameters associated with the tag device based on the unique identifier. The method may further involve storing, in at least one memory, at least a portion of the configuration parameters in association with the unique identifier.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining a unique identifier associated with a tag device, wherein the tag device includes an antenna and a sensor configured to obtain sensor readings that can be wirelessly transmitted to a reader device via the antenna;

determining, based on the unique identifier, configuration parameters associated with the tag device; and

storing, in at least one memory in the reader device, at least a portion of the configuration parameters in association with the unique identifier, wherein the portion of the configuration parameters includes calibration information associated with the sensor, such that measured values can be determined based on the sensor readings and the calibration information;

receiving, by the reader device, data from the tag device, wherein the data is representative of the unique identifier and a sensor reading obtained by the sensor;

retrieving, by the reader device, the portion of the configuration parameters from the at least one memory based on the unique identifier; and

determining, by the reader device, a measured value based on the sensor reading and the portion of the configuration parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the configuration parameters is a first portion of the configuration parameters, the method further comprising:

communicating, by the reader device, at least a second portion of the configuration parameters to the tag device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the configuration parameters relates to configuring at least one component of the tag device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one component comprises at least one of an electronic oscillator, a radio frequency transceiver, a voltage reference, or a current reference.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining is performed by a mobile computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the unique identifier comprises scanning an optical code associated with the tag device, wherein the optical code encodes the unique identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag device is in a body-mountable device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the body-mountable device is an eye-mountable device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the unique identifier comprises interrogating the tag device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the unique identifier, the configuration parameters associated with the tag device comprises:

transmitting the unique identifier to a server; and

receiving the configuration parameters from the server.

11. A reader device, comprising:

at least one radio frequency (RF) transceiver unit in the reader device;

at least one processor in the reader device;

at least one memory in the reader device, wherein the at least one memory stores instructions that upon execution by the at least one processor cause the reader device to perform operations comprising;

obtaining a unique identifier associated with a tag device, wherein the tag device includes an antenna and a sensor configured to obtain sensor readings that can be wirelessly transmitted to the reader device via the antenna;

determining, based on the unique identifier, configuration parameters associated with the tag device;

storing, in the at least one memory in the reader device, at least a portion of the configuration parameters in association with the unique identifier, wherein the portion of the configuration parameters includes calibration information associated with the sensor, such that measured values can be determined based on the sensor readings and the calibration information;

receiving data from the tag device, wherein the data is representative of the unique identifier and a sensor reading obtained by the sensor;

retrieving the portion of the configuration parameters from the at least one memory based on the unique identifier; and

determining, by the reader device, a measured value based on the sensor reading and the portion of the configuration parameters.

12. The reader device of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

transmitting, via the at least one RF transceiver unit, an RF signal to the tag device, wherein the RF signal includes at least another portion of the configuration parameters.

13. The reader device of claim 12, wherein transmitting the RF signal to the tag device comprises transmitting the RF signal to the tag device using a radio-frequency identification (RFID) protocol.

14. The reader device of claim 11, wherein obtaining the unique identifier comprises scanning an optical code associated with the tag device, wherein the optical code encodes the unique identifier.

15. The reader device of claim 14, wherein the optical code includes a Quick Response (QR) code.

16. The reader device of claim 14, wherein the optical code encodes additional information associated with the tag device.

17. The reader device of claim 16, wherein the additional information includes a date associated with fabrication of the tag device.

18. The reader device of claim 16, wherein the additional information includes a lot number associated with fabrication of the tag device.

19. The reader device of claim 11, wherein obtaining the unique identifier comprises interrogating the tag device.

20. The reader device of claim 11, wherein determining, based on the unique identifier, the configuration parameters associated with the tag device comprises:

transmitting the unique identifier to a server; and

receiving the configuration parameters from the server.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by at least one processor in a reader device to cause the reader device to perform functions, the functions comprising:

obtaining a unique identifier associated with a tag device, wherein the tag device includes an antenna and a sensor configured to obtain sensor readings that can be wirelessly transmitted to the reader device via the antenna;

determining, based on the unique identifier, configuration parameters associated with the tag device; and

storing, in at least one memory in the reader device, at least a portion of the configuration parameters in association with the unique identifier, wherein the portion of the configuration parameters includes calibration information associated with the sensor, such that measured values can be determined based on the sensor readings and the calibration information;

receiving data from the tag device, wherein the data is representative of the unique identifier and a sensor reading obtained by the sensor;

retrieving the portion of the configuration parameters from the at least one memory based on the unique identifier; and

determining, by the reader device, a measured value based on the sensor reading and the portion of the configuration parameters.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, the functions further comprising:

communicating at least another portion of the configuration parameters to the tag device.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein determining, based on the unique identifier, the configuration parameters associated with the tag device comprises:

transmitting the unique identifier to a server; and

receiving the configuration parameters from the server.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein obtaining the unique identifier comprises scanning an optical code associated with the tag device, wherein the optical code encodes the unique identifier.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the configuration parameters are encoded in the optical code.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein obtaining the unique identifier comprises interrogating the tag device.