Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided, the circuit arrangement including a processor; a memory circuit connected to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to access the memory circuit; a blocking circuit configured to generate one or more random wait state signals which prevent the processor from accessing the memory circuit; and an integrity checking circuit configured to check the memory circuit during a wait state period of the one or more random wait state signals.

Abstract: The presence or absence of objects is determined by interrogating or exciting transponders coupled to the objects using pulsed wide band frequency signals. Interrogation is broken down into a number of subsample scan cycles each having interrogation cycles a start time forward in time by a fraction of a period of an expected transponder response signal. Ambient or background noise is evaluated and a threshold adjusted based on the level of noise. Adjustment may be based on multiple noise measurements or samples. Noise detection may be limited, with emphasis placed on interrogation to increase the signal to noise ratio. Matched filtering may be employed. Presence/absence determination may take into account frequency and/or Q value to limit false detections. Appropriate acts may be taken if detected noise is out of defined limits of operation, for example shutting down interrogation and/or providing an appropriate indication.

Abstract: A method for authenticating an RFID tag with the aid of an RFID reader via a radio interface, wherein a user-specific key is stored in the RFID reader and a tag-specific identifier and a password generated from the identifier and the key in accordance with a known derivative function are stored in the RFID tag, comprising the following steps performed in the RFID reader: receiving via the radio interface the identifier of an RFID tag to be authenticated, generating the correct password from the received identifier and the stored key according to the known derivative function, and generating at least one incorrect password differing from the correct password, sending a series of at least two passwords, at least one being correct and at least one being incorrect, via the radio interface to the RFID tag, and authenticating the RFID tag if no confirmation response is received to any incorrect password.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems with Readers and Tags in which a Reader queries the Tags with a parameter that includes a level of probability of reply according to which the Tags individually and randomly decide whether or not to reply. In one embodiment, the Tags can switch between two states: A and B. The query command also specifies a state (A or B) so that only the Tags in the specified state can reply. After successfully sending the Tag identification data from a Tag to the Reader, the Tag switches to the other state from the specified state. In one embodiment, the operations about the two states are symmetric. In one embodiment, the Tags can remember the parameters used in a query so that a short form of query command can be used to repeat the query with the same query parameters.

Abstract: A reader (112) for reading a plurality of data, wherein each data in the plurality of data is associated with a respective source (16) and is carried by a respective data signal originating from the respective source (16), the reader (112) comprising processing means (118) and a storage means, the storage means having instructions stored thereon, whereby the processing means (118) is operable, under control of the instructions, to: receive and store in the storage means a representation of a combination of the respective data signals; process the representation to determine one or more data signals of the combination of the respective data signals of the representation; and to read the data of the determined one or more data signals.

Abstract: A method for controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes establishing communication connections, via a communication unit of the mobile terminal, with a plurality of reference devices, for a location-based service to calculate a current location of the mobile terminal; displaying a list of controllable devices on a display unit of the mobile terminal based on the calculated current location of the mobile terminal; receiving, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a selection of a specific device from displayed list of controllable devices; storing location information about the selected device in an internal or external memory of the mobile terminal; and displaying a first graphic image for controlling a first device corresponding to the calculated current location and a direction of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A tag controller is configured to interface with a tag on a product in a monitoring environment that includes first and second monitoring zones. The first monitoring zone includes first locator devices, and the second monitoring zone includes second locator devices. The tag controller includes processing circuitry configured to facilitate operation of the tag in a first mode to employ wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices to generate position information usable for locating the tag in the monitoring environment. The first mode defines communication parameters associated with the wireless communication. The processing circuitry may also be configured to determine whether mode switch criteria are met, and direct the tag to switch to operation in a second mode to employ different communication parameters relative to wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices responsive to the mode switch criteria being met.

Abstract: A processor, memory, first transceiver, second transceiver, plurality of wired and wireless ports, and a power system storing excess energy. Multiple similar systems may mesh communication via first transceiver. Unencrypted data from ports are packaged into unencrypted data structures and forwarded to the second transceiver for transmission according to the telecommunications standard of the second transceiver. A method may include determining if either a predefined time to sample data was reached or if an interrupt was received, and then sampling ports associated with the predefined time or interrupt, to collect data from remote sensors or equipment coupled to the ports, process the sampled data, store the processed data in memory, and evaluate the stored data against a set of rules. If no rules are violated, the sampling continues, and the processed data is packaged and transmitted to a server at a prescheduled time. Actions are taken if rules are violated.

Abstract: An AC-coupled RFID system is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention statistically correlate the transmit data from a baseband transmit signal and the receive data in a receive signal after the signal has passed through a baseband receive filter. By using a receive bandpass or high-pass filter at baseband, the receiver can be AC-coupled in the baseband. This AC coupling significantly reduces cost and complexity by eliminating high-power reflected signals at and near DC. The high-pass corner frequency of the receive filter passes enough of the receive signal to still be measurable. The correlation is used to estimate the reflected carrier, which in turn enables cancellation of the carrier, improving RFID reader sensitivity.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a radio frequency (RF) computing tag comprising mounting an antenna and an RF computing device that is enabled for RF communication and for computing on a single substrate, the RF computing device comprising: (i) an RF and analog block for receiving and transmitting an RF signal through the antenna, wherein the energy from a received RF signal provides power to the RF computing device, (ii) a power management block for managing power requirements of the RF computing device, and (iii) a processor-based data processing and controller block for digital information management, comprising an operating system, a programmable memory, a programmable memory, and a data store, wherein the programmable memory stores an operating system for operation of the RF computing device wherein the operating system is an extension of a second operating system on a second computing system.

Abstract: The invention achieves high Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) data rates over long wireless links by employing large ground relay MIMO antenna arrays and conformal airborne MIMO antenna arrays. Antenna transceiving element layouts and polarizations are optimized for enhanced channel capacity.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the functioning of an RFID-based radio communication network in a spatially extensive area, wherein a plurality of RFID tags carry out a radio communication with a reader, wherein in the area of coverage of the RFID system at least one fixed reference RFID tag is arranged that carries out a periodic radio communication with a reader and the data from which is compared in a control center with previously transmitted data.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing two RFID readers. The system includes a modulation detector to detect a modulated signal produced by a first of the two reader and produces a synchronization signal. The second of the two readers initiates transmission of a signal in response to the synchronization signal.

Abstract: Synthesized-beam RFID readers may be used to manage and provide information about RFID tag populations. In one embodiment, two or more synthesized-beam readers synthesize respective RF beams towards a tag location. The synthesized-beam readers may coordinate their pointing by means of a controller, a peer-to-peer network, or by using a master-slave arrangement. The synthesized-beam readers may coordinate their transmissions to increase the RF energy available to a tag at the pointing location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying and authenticating a radio tag by a radio reader. The tag forms part of a set of tags in a radio range of the reader and has selected a time slot from a set of available time slots. The method includes: a step of the reader sending a query message during the selected time slot; and a step of the reader receiving a reply message from the tag that selected the time slot. The reply message includes a random value selected by the tag. The tag stores authentication coupons and the reply from the tag received by the reader during the time slot contains, as a random value selected by the tag, a value that is a function of one of the coupons.

Abstract: A reader may broadcast a refresh command to a population or subpopulation of tags and thereby refresh and extend the persistence time of a tag flag, such as an inventoried flag. The characteristics, timing, and other details of this broadcast refresh command may be determined based on the state of a reader, environmental, tag-population, and/or tag-capability conditions and parameters. The refresh command may be a Select command of the Gen2 Specification, in which case parameters of the Select command specify the refresh operation.

Abstract: A unique ID generation apparatus that may generate a unique ID of a radio frequency (RE) card includes a card recognition unit that recognizes an RF card; a command transmission unit that transmits, to the recognized RF card, a plurality of commands which respectively correspond to a plurality of RF protocols; a response reception unit that receives, from the RF card, responses to one or more of the plurality of commands; and a unique ID generation unit that generates a unique ID of the RF card based on the received responses.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for commissioning and programming a network of wireless devices are disclosed herein. These can include utilizing a commissioning tool having a directional radio frequency antenna, a microprocessor, and memory. The commissioning tool can function with a Smartphone, or be a stand-alone device. The commissioning tool can program wireless devices without direct physical access or direct line-of-sight from the commissioning tool to the device. The commissioning tool can establish network connections with a “query,” “wink,” “ping” protocol, connecting devices that control HVAC, water heating, and lighting systems wirelessly with a border router that can be for upload data collected by devices to the Internet. The method can also include collection, analysis, and illustrations of building system performance data on web-based software.

Abstract: The present invention relates in the field of power saving battery-operated radio frequency identification (RFID) and near field communication (NFC) devices and provides a method to operate a multifunctional NFC/RFID device that supports two or more data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards. The method of the invention comprises obtaining context information about the context of said multifunctional near-field communication device, and selecting an operation mode for the multifunctional near-field communication device for communicating with external devices on the basis of said obtained context information. In the method said selected operation mode defines proportionality values for communicating according to said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards.

Abstract: A rule server detects a condition pertaining to a switch of a user device to a preferred wireless carrier, and sends a message to the user device indicating a switch to the preferred wireless carrier.

Abstract: A tag of an apparatus for simultaneously identifying massive tags according to the present invention may include an analog circuit unit to communicate with a reader through an analog signal and to receive energy via magnetic coupling with the reader. Further, the tag may include a digital circuit unit to be supplied with power from the analog circuit unit. The digital circuit unit may support a sleep mode for the tag to stand by in a low power state after transmitting an identifier (ID) to the reader and a wait mode for controlling random access to the reader.

Abstract: A method and device for selecting one or more transponders, in particular backscatter-based transponders, from a plurality of transponders by a base station, which method is based on a slotted ALOHA method, in which the base station defines numbered time slots and a random number generated in a given transponder determines a time slot when the transponder transmits its transponder-specific identification to the base station.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer device including: a power transmitter 1 including a power transmission resonator composed of a power transmission coil and a resonant capacitance; and a power receiver including a power receiving resonator composed of a power receiving coil and a resonant capacitance. The wireless power transfer device further includes a power-transmission auxiliary device including an auxiliary resonator composed of an auxiliary coil and a resonant capacitance. The power-transmission auxiliary device and the power transmitter are configured to be disposed so as to face each other, forming a power receiving space for disposing the power receiving coil between the power transmission coil and the auxiliary coil. An efficient power transfer can be performed without providing an adjusting circuit in the power receiver even when the power receiving coil is not appropriately disposed with respect to the power transmission coil.

Abstract: A method for tracking events using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag may include reserving a bit window in a memory on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the bit window having multiple bits, randomly marking one of the bits in the bit window each time a RFID event occurs, counting a number of marked bits in the bit window, and determining a number of the RFID events using the counted number of the marked bits and a size of the bit window.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for a vehicle achieves reduction in size and cost of a portable unit by making unnecessary an oscillation circuit and a battery in the portable unit. The apparatus is provided with an on-board unit installed on the vehicle and a portable unit carried by a user of the vehicle. A response signal is sent from the portable unit to the on-board unit in response to a signal transmitted from the on-board unit. The portable unit includes a power generation circuit for supplying electric power to circuits in the portable unit by a power generation radio wave sent from the on-board unit, and the on-board unit sends a communication signal after sending the power generation radio wave.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a reading of a machine readable element associated with a consumable product, may include storing, by a computer, in a memory in communication with the computer, a record of apparatus identification information associated with an apparatus having a reader for reading the machine readable element. The method may also include obtaining usage information based on a reading of the machine readable element by the reader, wherein the usage information comprises identity information indicative of an identity of a supplier of the consumable product and applying, by the computer, a debit to the supplier of the consumable product based on the usage information and the apparatus identification information.

Abstract: A communication apparatus connectable to a communication network notifies the presence of the communication apparatus using a communication channel assigned to the communication apparatus, then sets one communication channel different from the assigned communication channel of those available in the communication network, and searches for a communication partner apparatus which functions as a providing apparatus that provides communication parameters using the set communication channel. The communication apparatus repetitively executes the notification processing and the search processing, and changes a communication channel used in the search processing every time the repetition is executed one or a plurality of number of times.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and a method of controlling the RFID reader are provided. The RFID reader includes a link frequency calculator which calculates a link frequency by using a signal transmitted from a tag and a sampling signal; a first decoder which converts the signal transmitted from the tag into a first signal or a second signal having a different value from the first signal; a decoding controller which outputs a mode signal representing a format used to decode the signal converted in the first decoder; and a second decoder which decodes the converted signal according to the mode signal.

Abstract: A medical system and method to operating the medical system is presented. A patient storage element is assigned to a patient comprising identification information identifying the patient. A medical device has a contaminating patient application. A medical device storage element on the medical device comprises use information. A clearing device receives the identification information from the patient storage element and the use information from the medical device storage element and analyzes the use information. If in analyzing the use information it is found that application of the medical device to the patient is allowed, a clearance signal is outputted. If in analyzing the use information it is found that application of the medical device to the patient is not allowed, the identification information is analyzed. If in analyzing the identification information it is found that application of the medical device to the patient is allowed, a clearance signal is outputted.

Abstract: A communication system includes a portable machine having an identification code registered in a controlled object, the portable machine being capable of conducting wireless communications with the controlled object, and a portable terminal being capable of conducting noncontact wireless communications with the portable machine, wherein after noncontact wireless communications start between the portable machine and the portable terminal, the noncontact wireless communications are inhibited when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and then do not resume unless a specified instruction is given.

Abstract: A method for communication between near field communication (NFC) devices includes generating a transmission signal, an in-phase local oscillator signal, and a quadrature local oscillator signal from edges of an input clock signal. The method further includes mixing a load modulated signal with the in-phase local oscillator signal to generate an in-phase baseband signal. The method further includes mixing the load modulated signal with the quadrature local oscillator signal to generate a quadrature baseband signal. The method further includes adjusting a phase delay of at least one of the in-phase local oscillator signal or the quadrature local oscillator signal in response to a first signal strength of the in-phase baseband signal and a second signal strength of the quadrature baseband signal.

Abstract: A radio (102) in a sensor network and powered by electricity includes a data communicating unit (114) performing data communication; and a pulse interval demodulating unit (111) configured to (i) detect, from a signal (11c) with signals for corresponding frequency channels overlapped, a frequency channel indicated by a time interval between two pulses in a wake-up signal (1R) included in one of the frequency channels and (ii) cause the data communicating unit (114) to perform the data communication over the detected frequency channel.

Abstract: Described herein is a seal, having a tape-like shape, for doors of transport vehicles, attachable to the doors to indicate closure. The door includes a first area to be positioned onto the door and a second area to be positioned onto an area-around the door. The seal also includes an indicator suitable to be activated after attaching the seal to the transport vehicle—and suitable to send-out a warning signal-in case the seal is detached or damaged after activation of the indicator. A portable logging device for sealing doors of transport vehicles includes a data insert unit to insert a specific type of transport vehicle and to insert the executed attachment of a seal to a certain door, to record sealing the door.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip (1, 91) for a transponder (3, 93) comprises a chip substrate (4) with a surface (5), chip terminals (6, 7) arranged on the surface (5), and a passivation layer (22) covering the surface (5) and completely covering the chip terminals (6, 7), so that an antenna (2, 30) with antenna terminals (24, 25) can be attached to the chip (1, 91) above the chip terminals (6, 7), so that the chip terminals (6, 7), the passivation layer (22) and the antenna terminal (24, 25) form first capacitors.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for resolving values of parameters of tags. A map is created which includes the number of times each parameter is referenced by the tags in a web page requested by a client device. The parameters in the map are then sorted in a list in descending order based on the number of times referenced by the tags. The value for the parameter listed at the top of the list is looked up. If the value cannot be located, then those tags that are associated with this parameter are added to a list of tags to be ignored. By ignoring such tags in this list, the resolving of tag values for tags to be syndicated can occur more quickly and efficiently, including syndicating the tag data before the web page is completely loaded.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for resolving values of parameters of tags. A map is created which includes the number of times each parameter is referenced by the tags in a web page requested by a client device. The parameters in the map are then sorted in a list in descending order based on the number of times referenced by the tags. The value for the parameter listed at the top of the list is looked up. If the value cannot be located, then those tags that are associated with this parameter are added to a list of tags to be ignored. By ignoring such tags in this list, the resolving of tag values for tags to be syndicated can occur more quickly and efficiently, including syndicating the tag data before the web page is completely loaded.

Abstract: A tag includes an integrated circuit thereon, including memory, antenna means for RF transmission of data acquired by the integrated circuit, a sensor sensing environmental conditions to which the sensor is subjected, the sensor providing signals based on the environmental conditions to the integrated circuit, a thermistor device of increasing the accuracy of the tag by confining on-board calculation data to a resistance domain and leaving conversion of the data to a temperature domain for an external device once the data is retrieved from the tag's memory.

Abstract: The subject disclosure provides a system and method for remote monitoring of a subject wearing a sports helmet. In one aspect, the system includes a safety helmet and a sensor integrated with the helmet for continuously gathering head acceleration force data, the head acceleration force data associated with the head movements of a subject. The system also includes a wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor for transmitting the head acceleration force data and a mobile device for receiving the head acceleration force data from the wireless transceiver. The system further includes a database engine for displaying the head acceleration force data to a user.

Abstract: An AC-coupled RFID system is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention statistically correlate the transmit data from a baseband transmit signal and the receive data in a receive signal after the signal has passed through a baseband receive filter. By using a receive bandpass or high-pass filter at baseband, the receiver can be AC-coupled in the baseband. This AC coupling significantly reduces cost and complexity by eliminating high-power reflected signals at and near DC. The high-pass corner frequency of the receive filter passes enough of the receive signal to still be measureable. The correlation is used to estimate the reflected carrier, which in turn enables cancellation of the carrier, improving RFID reader sensitivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a RFID system comprising at least one reader (1) and a plurality of wireless data carriers (2), each of which comprise at least one data processing element with slow response (5), wherein the method controls the at least one reader (1) to continuously communicate with one of the plurality of wireless data carriers (2), while at least another one of the plurality of wireless data carriers (2) is processing data with its at least one slow response element (5). The invention further relates to a RFID system comprising at least one reader (1) and a plurality of wireless data carriers (2), each of which comprises at least one slow response element (5), wherein the system is capable to continuously communicate with at least one of the plurality of wireless data carriers (2), while at least another one of the plurality of wireless data carriers (2) is processing data with its at least one slow response element (5).

Abstract: RFID readers transmit a Quiet Technology (QT) command to RFID tags causing at least one of the tags to transition between a private profile and a public profile. When a tag is inventoried in the private profile, it replies to the reader with contents from its private memory. When a tag is inventoried in the public profile, it replies to the reader with contents from its public memory, where the contents of the public memory may be a subset and/or modified version of the private memory contents, or entirely different altogether. The tag's profile can be switched again by another QT command from the reader, or following a loss of power at the tag. An access password and/or a short-range mechanism may be employed to allow only authorized readers to transition tag profiles or interrogate the private memory contents of tags in the public profile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and tracking surgical objects is disclosed. More specifically, a method and apparatus for identifying and tracking surgical objects such as needles, scalpels, blades, sponges and instruments in a medical industry using an identifier encoded on a fluorescent paint attached to the surgical object combined with detectors and software capable of retrieving the identifying information on the identifier.

Abstract: A method for interleaving time slots in a multi-antenna system for communication with RFID tags is disclosed. An example is shown for an eight antenna system. A first four antennas arranged side-by-side are sequentially energized to interrogate RFID transponders. A second set of four antennas arranged side-by-side, the first of which is adjacent to the last of the first set of antennas. A four-antenna sequence is performed for the first four antennas and a second four antenna sequence is performed for the second set of antennas. The first and second four antenna sequences are offset by only a marginal amount, sufficient to ensure that a transponder signal received four antennas away from an active antenna is not acknowledged because the receive window for the non-active antenna is delayed.

Abstract: Defining a radio frequency identification read area includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operable to read RFID tags within a specified read area. An RFID transmitter is coupled with the RFID reader and is operable to radiating a modulated carrier in an area adjacent to the specified read area. The RFID reader controls the RFID transmitter to transmit the modulated carrier during a preamble transmission of the RFID reader to prevent any RFID tags in the adjacent area from recognizing an interrogation signal from the RFID reader.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a portable electronic apparatus which generates random number and makes response at timing associated with the generated random number, including, a reception unit which receives initial response request from external device, recognition unit which recognizes total time frame number set in external device based on initial response request received by reception unit, random number generation unit which generates random number, communication detection unit which detects communication performed in another portable electronic apparatus, determination unit which monitors one time frame by using communication detection unit based on total time frame number recognized by recognition unit and random number generated by random number generation unit, and determines whether response to initial response request is to be transmitted to external device based on detection result obtained by communication detecting unit, and transmission unit which transmits response to external device based on

Abstract: Provided are an anti-collision system and method which address the mobility of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. An RFID reader may transmit an identification start command to identify a plurality of RFID tags in an identification area of the RFID reader. The RFID tags compare the number of collisions of each RFID tag receiving the identification start command with a collision threshold Cth and attempt to be identified in a binary tree section of a frame or in a framed slotted ALOHA (FSA) section of the frame based on the comparison.

Abstract: Provided are a terminal having a radio frequency identification (RFID) function and a method of processing information of the terminal for allowing intuitive interaction between a screen manipulation and an RFID manipulation with respect to using an RFID related service. The method of processing the information of the terminal including a screen and an RFID recognition unit, includes detecting a screen area corresponding to a position of the RFID recognition unit disposed at a predetermined position of the screen; displaying an RFID icon at a position of the detected screen area; recording information in an RFID tag based on the RFID tag contacting the RFID icon, and recognizing the information from the RFID tag the RFID tag contacting the RFID icon.

Abstract: A RFID tag includes an RF transceiver; logic to operate the RF transceiver to respond to a received signal with a unique radio frequency id; logic to compare information in the received signal with conditional response criteria; and logic to determine if data has been received and written into a writable memory area by the RFID tag, and to respond to the received signal only if the data has been received and stored in the writable memory area and matches the conditional response criteria.

Abstract: A method of processing RFID data packets at an RFID receiver includes performing channel estimation and data detection on a first received RFID data packet in a single-user reception mode, the first RFID data packet being transmitted by a first RFID tag and in response to detection of a second received RFID data packet from a second RFID tag while the first RFID data packet is being processed in the single-user reception mode, performing channel estimation and data detection in a multi-user reception mode to recover data transmitted from both the first and second RFID tags in a collision-less manner.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow for dynamic selection and query of different types of RFID tags into a session. Embodiments of the present invention also allow for dynamic activation of different types of RFID tags. In certain embodiments of the invention, an inclusive operation is performed on the RFID tags and in other embodiments an exclusive operation is performed.