Dot-Tag Visibility IP Protocol

• US 20080039126A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Waterhouse, Paul, Cramer, David, Stevens, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The system employs full transceivers, each having peer-to-peer, client/server, and IP networking capabilities, and and covering open-area ranges of up to 100 feet. The system uses Low Frequency for data communications so it can achieve both low cost (less costly than many RF-ID tags) and long battery life (10-15 years). Additionally, since these tags have batteries, static RAM maybe be added at very low cost, as well as sensors, LED'"'"'s displays etc.

Claims

1. A method for use with a system comprising a plurality of routers, each router in wireless communication with myriad tags, the routers in packet-based communication with each other according to a routing protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

moving a first tag from a location out of communication with a first router into a location in communication with the first router, said first tag associated with a first IP address, said IP address stored in volatile memory powered by a battery within said first tag;

establishing the wireless communication between the first tag and the first router, said communication taking place at a frequency below 1 megahertz;

in response thereto, propagating routing information regarding the tag from the first router to at least one other router;

at a user location communicatively coupled with the routers, presenting for resolution a human-readable address;

resolving the human-readable address to the IP address;

presenting a query at the user location regarding the IP address;

receiving from the first tag a response thereto; and

rendering information indicative of the response at the user location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the association of the first IP address with the first tag predates the moving of the first tag into the location in communication with the first router.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first tag receives the first IP address from the first router after the moving of the first tag into the location in communication with the first router.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the association of the first IP address with the first tag predates the moving of the first tag into the location in communication with the first router.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first tag receives the first IP address from the first router after the moving of the first tag into the location in communication with the first router.

4. A method for use with a system comprising a plurality of routers, each router in wireless communication with myriad tags, the routers in packet-based communication with each other according to a routing protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

moving a first tag from a location out of communication with a first router into a location in communication with the first router, said first tag associated with a first IP address and said first tag associated with a first subnet, said IP address and said first subnet stored in volatile memory powered by a battery within said first tag;

establishing the wireless communication between the first tag and the first router, said communication taking place at a frequency below 1 megahertz;

in response thereto, propagating routing information regarding the tag from the first router to at least one other router;

at a user location communicatively coupled with the routers, presenting for resolution a query indicative of the first subnet;

receiving from the first tag a response thereto; and

rendering information indicative of the response at the user location.