Radio frequency identification based sensor reader

• US 7,535,339 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/930,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20080142592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1033- 1034, 340/10.1, 340 732- 737, 4553431-343
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10108 interrogating only those RFIDs that fulfill a predetermined requirement, e.g. selecting all RFIDs having the same speed and moving in a cloud like fashion, e.g. on the same train; interrogating only RFIDs having a certain predetermined temperature, e.g. in the same fridge, another possibility being the active ignoring of a group of tags that fulfill a predetermined requirement, equivalent to the Boolean NOT operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless sensor reader includes at least one antenna configured for communication with one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors; a controller; a network communications module coupled to the controller, the network communications module having an interface for coupling to a communications network; a logic module coupled to the controller; and a user interface. The logic module includes a sensor communications module for receiving sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors. The wireless sensor reader is configured for common designation network communications. The wireless sensor reader is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal. The wireless sensor reader includes (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless sensor reader.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor reader comprising:

at least one antenna configured for communication with one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors;

a controller;

a network communications module coupled to the controller, the network communications module having an interface for coupling to a communications network;

a logic module coupled to the controller; and

a user interface;

wherein the logic module includes a sensor communications module for receiving sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors;

wherein the wireless sensor reader is configured for common designation network communications;

wherein the wireless sensor reader is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

wherein the wireless sensor reader comprises,

(i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and

(ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless sensor reader, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

2. The wireless sensor reader of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a wireless communications network.

3. The wireless sensor reader of claim 2, wherein the at least one antenna is configured for communication with the communications network.

4. The wireless sensor reader of claim 2, further comprising a network antenna configured for communication with the communications network.

5. The wireless sensor reader of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a public data network.

6. The wireless sensor reader of claim 5, wherein the interface for coupling to the communications network comprises a data communications interface.

7. The wireless sensor reader of claim 1, wherein the logic module is a reader component.

8. The wireless sensor reader of claim 1, wherein the sensor communications module is a sensor interface.

9. The wireless sensor reader of claim 1, wherein the sensor communications module is a reader component.

10. A wireless two-way data communication device comprising:

at least one antenna configured for communication with one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors;

a controller;

a network card component coupled to the controller, the network card component having an interface for coupling to a communications network;

a logic module coupled to the controller; and

a user interface;

wherein the logic module includes a sensor communications module for receiving sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors; and

wherein the wireless two-way data communication device is configured for common designation network communications;

wherein the wireless two-way data communication device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

wherein the wireless two-way data communication device comprises,

(i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and

(ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless two-way data communication device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

11. The wireless two-way data communication device of claim 10, wherein the communications network is a wireless communications network.

12. The wireless two-way data communication device of claim 11, wherein the at least one antenna is configured for communication with the communications network.

13. The wireless two-way data communication device of claim 11, further comprising a network antenna configured for communication with the communications network.

14. The wireless two-way data communication device of claim 10, wherein the communications network is a public data network.

15. The wireless two-way data communication device of claim 14, wherein the interface for coupling to the communications network comprises a data communications interface.

16. A wireless two-way data communication device comprising:

at least one antenna configured for communication with one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor interfaces;

a digital processor;

a network card component coupled to the digital processor, the network card component having an interface for coupling to an external network;

software coupled to the digital processor; and

a user interface;

wherein the software includes logic for receiving sensor derived information from the one or more RF addressable sensor interfaces; and

wherein the wireless two-way data communication device is configured for common designation network communications;

wherein the wireless two-way data communication device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

wherein the wireless two-way data communication device comprises,

(i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and

(ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal in order to power up the wireless two-way data communication device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

17. The wireless two-way data communication device of claim 16, wherein the external network is a wireless network, and wherein the at least one antenna is configured for communication with the external network.

18. The wireless two-way data communication device of claim 16, wherein the external network is a public data network.

19. The wireless two-way data communication device of claim 16, further comprising a sensor interface for receiving sensor data.