LPRF device wake up using wireless tag

• US 8,301,082 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• 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:
  US12/411,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20090181625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/39, 455/73, 455/91, 455/130, 340/10.4, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/572.1, 340/572.2
• 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 radio frequency communications system comprising:

a radio frequency data communications device; and

a radio frequency device comprising;

a processor;

a receiver coupled to the processor;

a transmitter coupled to the processor;

a sensor coupled to the processor;

an active transmitter coupled to the processor, the active transmitter being configured to transmit an RF signal containing sensor data from the sensor to the radio frequency data communications device, in response to a trigger signal, the trigger signal being generated in response to a condition sensed by the sensor;

wherein the radio frequency data communications device is configured to contact the radio frequency device in response to receiving the RF signal transmitted by the active transmitter;

wherein the radio frequency communications device includes a profile stored in a memory thereof, the profile including

(i) a common designation for purposes of filtering received data signals, and

(ii) a list of attributes or personalities that invoke operating system functions of the radio frequency communications device; and

wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured to dynamically and automatically change its common designation in accordance with the profile.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the trigger signal is not communicated by the radio frequency data communications device and the radio frequency device is configured to transmit the RF signal when the radio frequency device is not concurrently receiving incident RF energy from the radio frequency data communications device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to sense a condition with respect to the radio frequency device and to generate the trigger signal responsive to the sensing.

4. A radio frequency communications device, for use with a radio frequency data communications device, comprising:

a battery;

a semi-passive radio frequency device, coupled to the battery, for use with a radio frequency data communications device, including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including;

a processor;

a receiver coupled to the processor; and

a transmitter coupled to the processor; and

a sensor coupled to the processor;

an active transmitter coupled to the processor and to the battery, the active transmitter being configured to transmit a communication containing sensor data from the sensor, in response to a trigger signal, the sensor being configured to sense a condition with respect to the radio frequency communications device and to generate the trigger signal responsive to the sensing and independent of communications of the radio frequency data communications device;

wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured to

(i) maintain at least one common designation for purposes of filtering received data signals, the at least one maintained common designation comprising at least one maintained class designation, and

(ii) determine whether specific data in a received data signal corresponds to at least one maintained common designation, wherein the specific data is found to correspond to at least one maintained common designation when the identified specific data matches an abstracted class of a maintained class designation of that WRT.

5. A radio frequency communications device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the sensor is a temperature threshold sensor.

6. A radio frequency communications device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the sensor is a vibration sensor.

8. A radio frequency communications device in accordance with claim 4 wherein

(a) the radio frequency communications device includes a profile stored in a memory thereof, the profile including

(i) a common designation for purposes of filtering received data signals, and

(ii) a list of attributes or personalities that invoke operating system functions of the radio frequency communications device;

and

(b) the radio frequency communications device is configured to dynamically and automatically change its common designation in accordance with the profile.

9. A radio frequency communications device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured to detect a change in its location, and is configured to migrate from a current class to a new class in response to a change in location.

10. A radio frequency communications device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the new class has a duty cycle and a revolving communication schedule that are different from the duty cycle and revolving communication schedule of the prior class, and wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured to be in a power-savings mode between duty cycles.

14. A radio frequency communications device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the new class has a duty cycle and a revolving communication schedule that are different from the duty cycle and revolving communication schedule of the prior class, and wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured to be in a power-savings mode between duty cycles.

7. A method involving a radio frequency device for use with a radio frequency data communications device, wherein the radio frequency device includes a processor, a receiver, a transmitter, an active transmitter, and a sensor, the method comprising loading a profile into memory of the radio frequency device, the profile including

(i) a common designation for purposes of filtering received data signals, and

(ii) a list of attributes or personalities that invoke operating system functions of the radio frequency device, and

(iii) wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured to dynamically and automatically change its common designation in accordance with the profile;

transmitting, by the active transmitter, an RF signal containing sensor data from the sensor, in response to a trigger signal, the trigger signal being generated in response to a condition sensed by the sensor.

11. A radio frequency communications device comprising:

a battery;

a semi-passive radio frequency device, coupled to the battery, for use with a radio frequency data communications device, including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including;

a processor;

a receiver coupled to the processor; and

a transmitter coupled to the processor; and

a sensor coupled to the processor;

an active transmitter coupled to the processor and to the battery, the sensor being configured to sense a condition with respect to the radio frequency communications device and to generate the trigger signal responsive to the sensing and independent of communications of the radio frequency data communications device;

wherein the radio frequency communications device includes a profile stored in a memory thereof, the profile including

(i) a common designation for purposes of filtering received data signals, and

(ii) a list of attributes or personalities that invoke operating system functions of the radio frequency communications device; and

wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured to dynamically and automatically change its common designation in accordance with the profile.

12. A radio frequency communications device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the radio frequency communications device includes a profile stored in a memory thereof, the profile including an identifier, and wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured for network communications with other radio frequency communications devices that share the same identifier.

13. A radio frequency communications device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the radio frequency communications device is configured to detect a change in its location, and is configured to migrate from a current class to a new class in response to a change in location.