Wireless communication systems, interfacing devices, communication methods, methods of interfacing with an interrogator, and methods of operating an interrogator

• US 6,420,961 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Bates, Benjamin G., Hahn, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIMIZU, MATSUICHIRO
• Application Number:
  US09/079,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 235/384, 235/361, 141/94, 141/98, 141/231, 700/302
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention includes wireless communication systems, interfacing devices, communication methods, methods of interfacing with an interrogator, and methods of operating an interrogator. According to one embodiment, a wireless communication system includes a remote communication device; an interrogator configured to output a forward link wireless communication and receive a reply link wireless communication from the remote communication device responsive to the forward link wireless communication; and an interface device configured to interface with the interrogator using a wireless medium, the interrogator being configured to be controlled by the interface device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an interrogator capable of operating in a normal mode and a maintenance mode;

wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless signals including at least one of outputting data to the interrogator and receiving data from the interrogator; and

a command control coupled with the wireless communication circuitry and being configured to output control signals to control the selection of operation of the interrogator between the normal mode and the maintenance mode.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the wireless communication circuitry and command control are implemented within an interface device.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising memory coupled with the wireless communication circuitry and configured to store at least one of data to be outputted and received data.

4. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a display device coupled with the wireless communication circuitry and configured to display data.

5. The system according to claim 1 further comprising an RF power meter configured to monitor the power of wireless communications of the wireless communication circuitry.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the interrogator is operable to receive data from the RF power meter and adjust communications responsive to the received data.

7. A wireless communication system comprising:

at least one remote communication device;

an interrogator configured to output a forward link wireless communication and receive a reply link wireless communication from the remote communication device responsive to the forward link wireless communication; and

a maintenance device configured to interface with the interrogator using a wireless medium, the interrogator configured to detect the presence of the maintenance device and output data to the maintenance device responsive to the detection.

8. A communication method comprising:

providing an interrogator and at least one remote communication device;

communicating intermediate the interrogator and the remote communication device;

providing an interface device;

detecting the presence of the interface device using the interrogator;

reading control information from the interface device using the interrogator; and

communicating data between the interrogator and the interface device responsive to the control information.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising displaying data using the interface device.

10. The method ac cording to claim 8 further comprising communicating information from the interrogator to the interface device responsive to the detecting.

11. The method according to claim 8 further comprising establishing communications intermediate the interrogator and the interface device responsive to the detecting.

12. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:

monitoring RF power of communications intermediate the interface device and the interrogator; and

adjusting communication power of the interrogator responsive to the monitoring.

13. The method according to claim 8 further comprising storing data corresponding to at least one of the interrogator and the remote communication device using the interrogator.

14. The method according to claim 8 wherein the communicating intermediate the interrogator and interface device comprises communicating using a wireless medium.

15. The method according to claim 8 wherein the communicating with the remote communication device comprises communicating before and after the communicating with the interface device.

16. The method according to claim 8 wherein the communicating data with the interface device comprises reading data regarding the communications of the interrogator and the remote communication device from the interrogator.

17. The method according to claim 8 wherein the communicating data with the interface device comprises writing data configured to control communications with the remote communication devices to the interrogator.

18. The method according to claim 8 wherein the communicatings comprise communicatings using backscatter communications.

19. The method according to claim 8 wherein the communicating data comprises at least one of writing data to the interrogator and reading data from the interrogator.

20. The method according to claim 8 wherein the communicating data comprises reading interrogator status information from the interrogator.

21. The method according to claim 8 wherein the providing the interface device comprises coupling a processing device with a remote communication device.

22. A communication method comprising:

providing an interrogator and at least one remote communication device;

communicating intermediate the interrogator and the remote communication device;

providing an interface device;

detecting the presence of the interface device using the interrogator; and

communicating data intermediate the interrogator and the interface device responsive to the detecting.