Wireless reader tags (WRTs) with sensor components in asset monitoring and tracking systems

• US 8,204,439 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Twitchell, Robert W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US12/349,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20090124304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/574, 455/343.5, 455/343.1, 455/500, 455/522, 455/343.2, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.34, 340/10.4, 340/10.33, 340 732- 737
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/20 using a distributed 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 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• 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 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted 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 transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

Claims

1. A wireless communications system comprising:

a reader configured to receive first wireless communication signals comprising data generated externally of the reader and to output second wireless communication signals; and

a plurality of remote communications devices comprising radio frequency identification devices comprising communications circuitry configured to output the first wireless communication signals and to receive and to process the second wireless communication signals, wherein the remote communications devices are individually configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the respective remote communications device and to communicate data corresponding to the at least one sensed condition at a plurality of moments in time responsive to criteria originating within the respective remote communications device

wherein each remote communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes 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 remote communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communications circuitry while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

2. A wireless communications system comprising:

a wireless reader tag serving as a reader (WRT reader) configured to receive first wireless communication signals comprising data generated externally of the WRT reader and to output second wireless communication signals; and

a plurality of wireless reader tags serving as wireless tags (WRT tags) comprising low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications components configured to output the first wireless communication signals and to receive and to process the second wireless communication signals, wherein the WRT tags are individually configured to sense at least one condition with respect to the respective WRT tag and to communicate data corresponding to the at least one sensed condition at a plurality of moments in time responsive to criteria originating within the respective WRT tag

wherein each WRT tag is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes 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 WRT tag, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the criteria is stored within a profile of the respective WRT tag and is a duty cycle of a class of the respective WRT tag that represents a regular interval of time.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the WRT tags are configured to detect a triggering event, and wherein the WRT tags are configured to commence the communication of the data responsive to the detection.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the WRT tags are configured to detect a triggering event, and wherein generation of the data indicative of the at least one sensed condition is commenced responsive to the detection.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the WRT tags are configured to detect a triggering event, and wherein the WRT tags are configured to communicate the data obtained according to a first rate before the triggering event and a second rate different than the first rate after the triggering event.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the WRT tags are individually configured to communicate the data at the moments in time responsive to the criteria which is independent of the second wireless communication signals of the reader.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the WRT tags are individually configured to communicate the data to the reader using the first wireless communication signals.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the remote communication devices are configured to process the second wireless communication signals responsive to identifiers of the second wireless communication signals matching identifiers of respective ones of the WRT tags.

10. A wireless communications method comprising:

sensing a condition with respect to a remote communications device at a plurality of first moments in time;

providing data regarding the sensed condition at the first moments in time;

outputting a plurality of first wireless communication signals using communications circuitry of the remote communications device;

receiving the first wireless communication signals using a reader;

outputting a plurality of second wireless communication signals using the reader;

receiving and processing the second wireless communication signals using the remote communications device; and

using the first wireless communication signals, communicating the data externally of the remote communications device at a plurality of second moments in time determined according to criteria independent of operations of the reader

wherein each remote communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes 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 remote communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communications circuitry while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

11. A wireless communications method comprising:

sensing a condition with respect to a wireless reader tag serving as a tag (WRT tag) at a plurality of first moments in time;

providing data regarding the sensed condition at the first moments in time;

outputting a plurality of first wireless communication signals using the WRT tag;

receiving the first wireless communication signals using a reader;

outputting a plurality of second wireless communication signals using the reader;

receiving and processing the second wireless communication signals using the WRT tag; and

using the first wireless communication signals, communicating the data externally of the WRT tag at a plurality of second moments in time determined according to criteria independent of operations of the reader

wherein each WRT tag is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes 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 WRT tag, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of second moments in time are determined using criteria originating using the WRT tag.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first moments in time are periodic.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the second moments in time are periodic.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the second wireless communication signals comprise an identifier of the WRT tag.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the second moments in time are determined independent of the second wireless communication signals received from the reader.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

detecting a triggering event; and

changing a rate of the sensing responsive to the detecting.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

detecting a triggering event; and

changing a rate of the communicating responsive to the detecting.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the WRT tag comprises a radio frequency identification device transponder.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the processing the second wireless communication signals comprises processing the second wireless communication signals responsive to the second wireless communication signals comprising identifiers which match an identifier of the WRT tag.

21. A wireless communications method comprising:

sensing a condition with respect to a remote communications device at a plurality of moments in time;

providing data regarding the sensed condition at the moments in time;

outputting a plurality of wireless communication signals using communications circuitry of the remote communications device;

using the wireless communication signals, outputting the data regarding the sensed condition at a plurality of moments in time; and

adjusting a number of times the condition is sensed with respect to time

wherein each remote communications device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes 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 remote communications device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communications circuitry while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

22. A wireless communications method comprising:

sensing a condition with respect to a wireless reader tag serving as a wireless tag (WRT tag) at a plurality of moments in time;

providing data regarding the sensed condition at the moments in time;

outputting a plurality of wireless communication signals using the WRT tag;

using the wireless communication signals, outputting the data regarding the sensed condition at a plurality of moments in time; and

changing a duty cycle and revolving communication schedule of the WRT tag

wherein each WRT tag is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, and further includes 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 WRT tag, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving the wireless communication signals using a wireless tag reader serving as a reader (WRT reader).

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

detecting a change and, in response, changing a class of the WRT tag; and

changing a duty cycle and revolving communication schedule of the WRT tag responsive to the change in the class of the WRT tag, between which duty cycles the WRT tag sleeps.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

detecting a change and, in response, changing a class of the WRT tag; and

changing a duty cycle and revolving communication schedule of the WRT tag responsive to the change in the class of the WRT tag, during which duty cycles the WRT tag is configured to wirelessly communicate sensor-acquired data.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the wireless communication signals comprise an identifier which uniquely identifies the WRT tag.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the outputting comprises outputting independent of communications of a reader (WRT reader).

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the wireless communication signals comprise a plurality of transmitted signals, and further comprising receiving and processing a plurality of additional wireless communication signals using the WRT tag.