Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
340100320 | Group call | 12 |
20080316001 | Detecting a blocker RFID tag - For detecting a blocker RFID tag, the following steps are conducted. First, a random identifier of a given bit length is created. Alternatively, an identifier is selected out of a probing set, which is stored on a data storage device. The probing set comprises of identifiers, which are not being used as identifiers for a given set of RFID tags. In a second step, a response from all RFID tags is requested having an identifier matching the random identifier or, respectively, the selected identifier. In a third step, it is determined, depending on receiving or not receiving a response, whether the blocker RFID tag is present. | 12-25-2008 |
20090160622 | DIVIDING TAGGED ITEMS INTO SUBSETS - A method and system for dividing a set of tagged items into subsets. Each tagged item is tagged with a passive RFID tag. A RFID reader is instructed to poll the RFID tags of all tagged items in a specified region having fixed boundaries to generate information including, for each tagged item, a spatial location of each tagged item and a list of all other tagged items in the region which are adjacent to each tagged item. The region is split into a plurality of subregions. For each subregion, a central tagged item having more adjacent tagged items in each subregion than any other tagged item in each subregion is determined, utilizing the generated information. A virtual boundary is outlined around the central tagged item to enclose the central tagged item and a portion of the tagged items in each subregion which are adjacent to the central tagged item. | 06-25-2009 |
20100109850 | DUAL CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A controller for a device transmitting commands across one or more communication channels. Each such channel may employ a separate medium, such as radio waves and infrared light. The controller may transmit two separate signals to a device, where one signal is sent via radio waves and the other by infrared light. One signal may correspond to a group identifier and the other to an operating command to be carried out by the device. The device may receive both signals and, if the device belongs to a group corresponding to the group identifier, it may execute the operating command. Alternatively, the group identifier may be replaced by a wake command and the device may execute the operating command only if the wake command is received. | 05-06-2010 |
20100176933 | REMOTELY MONITORING FIELD ASSETS - Disclosed methods, systems, and apparatuses remotely monitor a plurality of field assets. Device discovery is conducted to find a communication path through a master controller to an operations center. A plurality of states are monitored for individual field assets of the plurality of field assets. In response to trigger events, monitored states are selectively included in data sets that may be parsed, compressed, encrypted, and forwarded through a mesh network to an operations center. | 07-15-2010 |
20110057777 | Method for efficiently querying an identifying multiple items on a communication channel - Systems and methods for efficiently querying and identifying multiple items on a communication channel are disclosed. The inventions preferably uses radio frequency identification with interrogation devices and systems that identify radio frequency identification transponders. A depth-first tree traversal protocol algorithm, including commands and symbols, is used to more efficiently interrogate a plurality of transponders in a short amount of time. | 03-10-2011 |
20110084814 | SECURITY TAG UTILIZING RFID REFLECTIVITY MODE POWER RATIONING - An RFID security tag which changes its reflectivity after receiving an interrogation signal is provided. The RFID security tag changes its reflectivity so that it becomes transparent to RF power of the RFID reader interrogation signal once the RFID security tag responds, thereby permitting surrounding RFID security tags to absorb the interrogation signal and to respond thereto. These surrounding RFID security tags then, in turn, change their reflectivity so that RFID security tags surrounding that second set of RFID security tags can absorb the interrogation signal and can also respond thereto. In this manner, a large plurality of RFID security tags, such as those associated with merchandise loaded on a palette, can be interrogated accurately. | 04-14-2011 |
20110148599 | RFID READER, RFID TAG, AND METHOD OF RECOGNIZING PLURALITY OF RFID TAGS - The RFID reader of an RFID system includes a processor for processing a command for the RFID tag and a response from the RFID tag, a modem for modulating the command from the processor or demodulating the response from the RFID, and an RF unit for transmitting the modulated command transferred from the modem to the RFID tag or receiving the response from the RFID tag and transferring the response to the modem. The RFID tag of the RFID system includes a power supply unit for generating energy using a radio wave received from the RFID reader, a receiver for demodulating a signal received from the RFID reader, a data processor for performing operation according to the signal demodulated by the receiver, and a transmitter for backscattering a signal from the data processor. | 06-23-2011 |
20110169617 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IDENTIFYING STACKED SETS AND LOCATING AND TRACKING STACKED SETS - One embodiment of the present invention is a method for determining when a set of RFID tags on a set of stacked objects belongs to a same defined subset of stacked objects (“set identification”). This method includes the steps of: (1) detecting the set of RFID tags on the set of stacked objects, said RFID tags comprising integrated devices capable of sending signals that can be received by a receptor device and interpreted to determine a motion state of each RFID tag and stacked object; (2) receiving said signals from the set of RFID tags; (3) interpreting said signals to determine the motion state of each RFID tag and stacked object within the set, wherein said signals indicate whether the motion state of each RFID tag and object is in a state of stationary, starting in motion, stopping in motion, or continuing in motion; (4) determining which RFID tags and objects are in a same motion state within a predetermined time of each other; and (5) identifying the RFID tags that are in the same motion state, within the predetermined time, as belonging to the same defined subset of stacked objects, wherein said motion state is used to determine when said set of stacked objects forms a new stack. | 07-14-2011 |
20140111312 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR COORDINATED QUERY AND RESPONSE SERVICE DISCOVERY - Apparatus and methods for, among other things, a grouped based reactive service discovery protocol are discussed. In an example, a method can include broadcasting a first group beacon at a group interval using a first station belonging to a first group of stations and broadcasting a service request to the second group during a query interval of the second group. In an example, the first group beacon can include a service update alert configured to alert other members of the first group of an anticipated service request and response event to learn services available from a second group. | 04-24-2014 |
20150015375 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES TO IDENTIFY DEVICES - An apparatus and method to identify devices including a first set of commands to identify devices in a first state and a second set of commands to identify devices in a second state, wherein devices identified in the first state are placed in the second state and devices identified in the second state are placed in the first state. | 01-15-2015 |
20150084746 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Facilitating the Reading of RFID Tags - These teachings generally comprise interrogating RFID tags and receiving corresponding responses from various ones of these RFID tags while also receiving, from a remote source, surrogate response corresponding to at least some of the plurality of RFID tags that are not responding to the current interrogation. A corresponding plurality of end user-perceivable indications as correspond to both the responses from various ones of the plurality of RFID tags and the aforementioned surrogate responses are then provided to thereby ultimately inform an end user of the RFID tag reader with respect to a corresponding reading state as regards the plurality of RFID tags. | 03-26-2015 |
20160162776 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONIZING A PLURALITY OF RFID INTERROGATORS IN A THEATRE OF OPERATION - RFID tags are used for many purpose including tracking. RFID interrogators are used to retrieve information from tags. In many applications, a plurality of RFID interrogators are required. Synchronization between interrogators in the same theatre of operation is critical to ensure that their broadcasts do not interfere with each other. In fixed RFID interrogator applications, RFID interrogators can be wired together allowing a channel to synchronize the transmissions of the RFID interrogators. Methods described herein can ensure that synchronization is maintained in the event of the failure of a synchronizing master. Furthermore, additional methods for synchronizing RFID interrogators in wireless applications are described allowing synchronization in the absence of wired connections between interrogators. | 06-09-2016 |