Radio frequency identification (RFID) based sensor networks

• US 20060181414A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altivera, LLC, Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Altivera, LLC, Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Bandy, William R., Peeters, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,492,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.220
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An RF addressable sensor network architecture is provided. The RF addressable sensor network includes one or more RF addressable sensors, one or more wireless sensor readers coupled to a communications network, and one or more end user devices coupled to the communications network. The RF addressable sensor network may also include a sensor network processor. An RF addressable sensor includes one or more sensor elements, one or more antennas for communicating with the wireless sensor reader, an RF power and communications interface, and RFID control module, and a sensor interface. The wireless sensor reader includes one or more antennas, a user interface, a controller, a network communications module, and an RF addressable sensor logic module.

Claims

1-83. -83. (canceled)

84. A sensor network for monitoring for the presence of hazardous agents within a geographic area, comprising:

one or more RF addressable sensors wherein each RF addressable sensor includes at least one sensor element for detecting the presence of a hazardous agent;

one or more wireless sensor readers coupled to a communications network, wherein the wireless sensor readers obtain sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors; and

a centralized sensor network processor coupled to a communications network, wherein the centralized sensor network processor receives sensor data from the one or more wireless sensor readers.

85. The sensor network of claim 84, wherein at least one of the one or more RF addressable sensors is capable of detecting the presence of a chemical agent.

86. The sensor network of claim 85, wherein at least one of the one or more RF addressable sensors is capable of detecting the presence of a radiological agent.

87. The sensor network of claim 86, wherein at least one of the one or more RF addressable sensors is capable of detecting the presence of a biological agent.

88. A method for monitoring a geographic area for the presence of hazardous agents, the method comprising:

(a) distributing a plurality of RF addressable sensors over a geographic area;

(b) deploying one or more wireless sensor readers within the geographic area to read the plurality of RF addressable sensors;

(c) at each wireless sensor reader,

initiating a read of the one or more RF addressable sensors,

receiving sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors, and

communicating the received sensor data to a centralized network sensor processor;

(d) determining whether the sensor data indicates the presence of a hazardous agent; and

(e) if it is determined that the sensor data indicates the present of a hazardous agent, performing geolocation to identify the location of the RF addressable sensor that communicated the sensor data.

89. A sensor network for the remote monitoring of shipping containers, comprising:

one or more packages, wherein each package includes one or more RF addressable sensors;

one or more shipping containers, wherein the one or more packages are loaded onto at least one of the one or more shipping containers for transport;

at least one transport vessel having a device for receiving sensor data from a wireless sensor reader; and

a centralized network monitoring processor for performing risk management on the received sensor data,

wherein each shipping container includes one or more wireless sensor readers, wherein the wireless sensor readers obtain sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors, and

wherein each RF addressable sensor includes at least one sensor element for detecting the presence of a hazardous agent.

90. The sensor network of claim 89, wherein the centralized network monitoring processor includes logic for performing geolocation.

91. The sensor network of claim 90, wherein each shipping container includes one or more RF addressable sensors.

92. The sensor network of claim 89, further comprising one or more shipping boxes.

93. A sensor network for the remote monitoring of one or more individuals, comprising:

one or more smart cards transported by at least one individual, wherein each smart card includes one or more RF addressable sensors;

at least one wireless sensor reader coupled to a communications network; and

one or more end user devices for remotely initiating a read of the RF addressable sensors over the communications network,

wherein the at least one wireless sensor reader communicates with the one or more RF addressable sensors to obtain sensor data to communicate over the communications network, and

wherein an individual has at least one smart card.

94. The sensor network of claim 93, wherein the smart card is positioned such that the one or more RF addressable sensors are proximate to the skin of the at least one individual.

95. The sensor network of claim 93, further comprising a centralized diagnostic system for initiating a read of the RF addressable sensors and processing the received sensor data to identify changes requiring attention of a health care professional.

96. A sensor network for monitoring of the contents of an appliance, comprising:

one or more items placed in the interior of the appliance;

one or RF addressable sensors coupled to each item;

one or more wireless sensor readers located within a read range of the RF addressable sensors and coupled to a communications network; and

an end-user device coupled to the communications network for initiating a read of the RF addressable sensors.

97. A sensor network for monitoring structures, comprising:

one or more RF addressable sensors wherein the RF addressable sensors are proximate to the support members of the structure;

one or more wireless sensor readers coupled to a communications network, wherein the wireless sensor readers obtain sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors; and

a centralized sensor network processor coupled to the communications network, wherein the centralized sensor network processor receives sensor data from the one or more wireless sensor readers over a communication network.

98. The sensor network of claim 97, wherein the RF addressable sensors include a sensor element for measuring structural stress.

99-103. -103. (canceled)