Wireless communications devices, wireless communications systems, and methods of performing wireless communications with a portable device

• US 20070273473A1
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Bates, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.700
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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. A secure cargo transportation system comprises a vehicle including an enclosure having an opening; a door movable relative to the opening between a closed position, wherein the door restricts access to the enclosure, and an open position; an electronically actuable lock configured to selectively lock or unlock the door relative to the enclosure; a memory supported by the vehicle and configured to store a location coordinate; and a global positioning system supported by the vehicle and coupled to the memory and to the lock, and configured to enable the lock to unlock the door if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinate.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

a first antenna;

a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the first antenna, the cellular receiver configured to receive wireless communications via the first antenna using a first protocol;

a second antenna; and

a backscattering device communicatively coupled to the second antenna and the processing unit, the backscattering device configured to perform wireless communications via the second antenna by backscattering a received signal using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol.

42. The wireless communications device of claim 41, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) communicatively coupled to the processing unit.

43. The wireless communications device of claim 41, wherein the backscattering device is configured to communicate identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.

44. The wireless communications device of claim 43, wherein the backscattering device communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from an interrogator.

45. The wireless communications device of claim 41, wherein the wireless communications device is portable.

46. The wireless communications device of claim 41, further comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to a locking mechanism.

47. The wireless communications device of claim 46, wherein the interface is configured to communicate to the locking mechanism via wireless communications.

48. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processing unit;

memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

a location-determining system communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the location-determining system being configured to determine a current location of the wireless communications device;

a first antenna; and

a backscattering device communicatively coupled to the first antenna and the processing unit, the backscattering device configured to perform wireless communications via the first antenna by backscattering a received signal.

49. The wireless communications device of claim 48, further comprising a cellular receiver communicatively coupled to the processing unit.

50. The wireless communications device of claim 48, wherein the location-determining system comprises a global positioning system.

51. The wireless communications device of claim 48, wherein the backscattering device is configured to communicate identifying information associated with the wireless communications device.

52. The wireless communications device of claim 51, wherein the backscattering device communicates the identifying information upon receipt of a request from an interrogator.

53. The wireless communications device of claim 48, wherein the wireless communications device is portable.

54. The wireless communications device of claim 48, further comprising an interface for communicatively coupling to a locking mechanism.

55. The wireless communications device of claim 54, wherein the interface is configured to communicate to the locking mechanism via wireless communications.

56. A wireless communications system comprising:

an interrogator having one or more antennas, the interrogator configured to transmit one or more commands using a first protocol;

a first wireless communications device configured to transmit wireless communications using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol; and

a portable identification device having one or more antennas, the portable identification device having a first unit and a second unit, the first unit and the second unit being communicatively coupled to a processing unit, the first unit being configured to backscatter a reply to the one or more commands received from the interrogator, the second unit being configured to receive information transmitted by the first wireless communications device using the second protocol.

57. The wireless communications system of claim 56, wherein the portable identification device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

58. The wireless communications system of claim 56, wherein the second unit comprises a cellular receiver.

59. The wireless communications system of claim 56, wherein the first wireless communications device comprises a paging transmitter and the second protocol comprises a paging protocol.

60. The wireless communications system of claim 56, wherein the second unit comprises a paging receiver and the second protocol comprises a paging protocol.

61. The wireless communications system of claim 56, further comprising a location-determining system communicatively coupled to the portable identification device.

62. The wireless communications system of claim 61, wherein the location-determining system comprises a global positioning system.

63. A method of performing wireless communications with a portable device, the method comprising:

communicating between an interrogator and the portable device via wireless communications using a first protocol, the communicating being performed at least in part by the portable device backscattering identification information to the interrogator; and

communicating between a first wireless communications device and the portable device, the portable device including a wireless receiver and communicating to the first wireless communications device via wireless communications using a second protocol, the second protocol being different than the first protocol.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the portable device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the portable device comprises a cellular receiver.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the first wireless communications device comprises a paging transmitter and the second protocol comprises a paging protocol.

67. The method of claim 63, further comprising determining a current location of the portable device, the determining being performed at least in part by a global positioning system.