Group Call Patents (Class 340/10.32)
  • Patent number: 11676084
    Abstract: System and methods for dynamic replenishment in a facility are disclosed. A mobile inventory processing device reads a machine readable tag affixed to a perishable item and transmits an indication of the perishable item to a stock inventory processing device. The stock inventory processing device retrieves a stock inventory value corresponding to the perishable item and a historic daily sales value for the perishable item from a database. The stock inventory processing device determines a restocking value based on whether the historic daily sales value exceeds the stock inventory value. The stock inventory processing device transmits a second indication to the mobile inventory processing device. The second indication correspond to insufficient shelf stock of the perishable item. The mobile inventory processing device receives the second indication and outputs an auditory alert in response to the second indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Robert James Taylor, Leigh Ann Marie Scobey, Matthew D. Alexander, Jeffrey Scott Cruz, Lacrecia Lynn Billings, Joseph Wayne Hendricks
  • Patent number: 11301650
    Abstract: Some example embodiments described herein relates to a system for configuring a tag name of an electronic component. The system can include a processor that can obtain a dataset comprising a plurality of tags, where each tag can be associated with an electronic component. Further, the processor can identify a metadata associated with the plurality of tags. Further, the processor can recognize a set of tags from amongst the plurality of tags that exhibit a common relationship. The common relationship can be indicative of at least one of: a pattern, a behavior, a usage type, and an installation location, corresponding to the set of tags. Further, the processor can generate a tag nomenclature for the set of tags and configure a tag name of the plurality of tags based on the tag nomenclature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventor: William Alexander Leet
  • Patent number: 11037219
    Abstract: An interactive tire wall includes a vertical wall that is formed with a plurality of openings. Tires are mounted in the openings on the vertical wall, and placards are mounted on the vertical wall, in which each placard is adjacent and corresponds to a respective tire. A machine-readable code is formed on each placard and corresponds to a respective one of the tires. The code is capable of being read by an imaging device contained in a portable device that is connected to the Internet. When the machine-readable code is read by the imaging device, data in the machine-readable code directs a browser or a software application stored on the portable device to a web site containing purchasing information for the selected tire. A method of purchasing tires is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Michael Eric Dauberman, Seth Barnett Klugherz, Deborah Ruth Goff, Annelie Rode, Brenton Gentry Eveleth, Andrew Neil Shaw
  • Patent number: 10678203
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating with and controlling load control systems of respective user environments from locations that are remote from the user environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John B. Nill, Matthew Bamberger, Jason M. Swails, Christopher M. Jones
  • Patent number: 10178099
    Abstract: A controller is provided which monitors/manages information terminals' access to a network within a secured site. A controller of the present invention includes: a storage device for storing security information about at least one or more information terminals received from the information terminals before accessing a network; and a processor for determining whether to permit access of an information terminal to the network based on the security information read from the storage device and access permission criteria on the security information, and generating a control signal for permitting or blocking the access of the information terminal to the network according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Hasegawa, Toshiyasu Motoki, Yutaka Oishi, Masao Takayama
  • Patent number: 10108895
    Abstract: An operator control system includes switches, RFID transponders, and a RFID reader. Each switch has a cap support and a switch cap. The switch caps are respectively interchangeably attachable to the cap supports. The RFID transponders are respectively attached to the switch caps. Each RFID transponder stores a respective piece of information identifying a respective control function so that the switch cap to which the RFID transponder is attached is associated with the respective control function. The RFID reader is arranged on at least one of the switches for reading the piece of information of at least one of the RFID transponders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Maier, Stefan Schroeder, Christian Schirp
  • Patent number: 10073162
    Abstract: A system comprising synchronization circuitry, a first interrogator, and a second interrogator. The first interrogator includes a transmit antenna; a first receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using radio-frequency (RF) signal synthesis information received from the synchronization circuitry, a first RF signal for transmission by the transmit antenna, and generate, using the first RF signal and a second RF signal received from a target device by the first receive antenna, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The second interrogator includes a second receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using the RF signal synthesis information, a third RF signal; and generate, using the third RF signal and a fourth RF signal received from the target device by the second receive antenna, a second mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the second interrogator and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Humatics Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Charvat, David A. Mindell
  • Patent number: 10049317
    Abstract: RFID tags capable of transitioning between a private state and one or more public states are provided. In the private state, tags may participate in an inventory round without restriction. In a public state, tags may be prevented from participating in an inventory round, allowed to participate without providing actual identifying information, or allowed to participate providing an alternate identifier. Whether and how the tag responds in public state may depend on certain conditions including if one or more of the tag's flags are asserted or deasserted. Readers may select a public tag for inventorying by providing sufficient information to the tag to verify the reader's authenticity, and the tag then asserting or deasserting one or more of its flags accordingly. The asserted or deasserted flag(s) may be used to determine whether and how a tag in public state participates in an inventory round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Diorio, Joel Peshkin
  • Patent number: 10019267
    Abstract: Provided is a method for an electronic device. The method includes determining whether the electronic device is communicably connected to at least one of other electronic devices; and determining an operation mode of the electronic device depending on whether the electronic device is communicably connected to at least one of other electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hun-Cheol Oh, Yong-Joon Jeon, Doo-Suk Kang, Seung-Nyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10001008
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing broadband communication to and from locations in hostile environments, such as mines, pits, quarries, wells, boreholes, and rigs, for example, are disclosed. According to a first aspect of the present application, a system is disclosed for providing broadband communication via power cabling. The system may comprise one or more broadband communication devices for modulating, demodulating, reconditioning, repeating, transmitting, and receiving a signal via a power cable. The system may further comprise one or more broadband communication devices operatively connected to mining electrical distribution system components and mining equipment to provide broadband communication amongst the components, equipment, and other broadband communication devices within and outside the mine facility via the power cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Trinity Solutions
    Inventors: William Charles Cook, II, Christopher Scott Skaggs, Michael Charles Pritt
  • Patent number: 9915725
    Abstract: A system comprising synchronization circuitry, a first interrogator, and a second interrogator. The first interrogator includes a transmit antenna; a first receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using radio-frequency (RF) signal synthesis information received from the synchronization circuitry, a first RF signal for transmission by the transmit antenna, and generate, using the first RF signal and a second RF signal received from a target device by the first receive antenna, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The second interrogator includes a second receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using the RF signal synthesis information, a third RF signal; and generate, using the third RF signal and a fourth RF signal received from the target device by the second receive antenna, a second mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the second interrogator and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Humatics Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Charvat, David A. Mindell
  • Patent number: 9903939
    Abstract: A system comprising synchronization circuitry, a first interrogator, and a second interrogator. The first interrogator includes a transmit antenna; a first receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using radio-frequency (RF) signal synthesis information received from the synchronization circuitry, a first RF signal for transmission by the transmit antenna, and generate, using the first RF signal and a second RF signal received from a target device by the first receive antenna, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The second interrogator includes a second receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using the RF signal synthesis information, a third RF signal; and generate, using the third RF signal and a fourth RF signal received from the target device by the second receive antenna, a second mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the second interrogator and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Humatics Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Charvat, David A. Mindell
  • Patent number: 9872135
    Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium are provided. One system includes a transmit antenna, at least one receive antenna, and an imager configured to acquire one or more images in a scanning area having one or more radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags including an RFID tag of interest. The system further includes a controller configured to operate the transmit antenna and the at least one receive antenna to acquire location information from the RFID tags, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the imager to acquire the images while the location information is acquired. The system includes a processor configured to correlate the acquired location information and the one or more images to determine an image corresponding to a location of the RFID tag of interest. The system additionally includes a display configured to display the image corresponding to the location of the RFID tag of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: INTERMEC IP CORP.
    Inventors: Hunter Leland, Stephen J. Kelly, Eric Chrisman, Pavel Nikitin
  • Patent number: 9865160
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely controlling access of at least one user to one or more properties belonging to an owner in order to share the properties, wherein at least one electric interface device is connected to controlling and/or servoassisting elements associated with one property and configured to perform at least one electric, electromechanical and/or optical interaction with the property. Each electric interface device is remotely connected to a mainframe via a long-distance communication line. The identification data of the user, the property to be shared and the allowed interactions with each electric interface device associated with the property, are stored in the memory of the mainframe. A data communication is established between the electric interface device and the mainframe and temporarily assigned to the user which enables one or more interactions with the at least one electric interface device associated with a property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Mario Puppo
  • Patent number: 9830481
    Abstract: A transponder (1) comprises at least one memory (MEM1, MEM2) for storing encrypted information (E_k(EPC, PI)) that has been encrypted by use of a key (k) and for storing the key (k) associated with the encrypted information (E_k(EPC, PI)). The transponder (1) is adapted to send the key (k) slower response than the encrypted information (E_k(EPC, PI)) in response to queries of a reading device (2), which is preferably done by delaying the transmission of the key (k) or by limiting the response rate at which the key (k) is transmitted. In particular the invention is related to RFID systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Pim Tuyls, Geert Jan Schrijen, Stefan Maubach, Boris Skoric, Antoon Marie Henrie Tombeur
  • Patent number: 9814046
    Abstract: A method for controlling Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRa) apparatus includes: selecting a first transceiver and a second transceiver among a plurality of transceivers, assigning a first set of frequency bands to the first transceiver, assigning a second set of frequency bands, different from the first set of frequency bands, to the second transceiver, setting the first transceiver so that the first transceiver embeds a first flag in a first request when sending the first request to a mother node and setting the second transceiver so that the second transceiver embeds the first flag in the first request when sending the first request to the mother node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GEMTEK TECHNOLOGY, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Tsai Lee, Cory Koon-Sing Lam
  • Patent number: 9768837
    Abstract: A system comprising synchronization circuitry, a first interrogator, and a second interrogator. The first interrogator includes a transmit antenna; a first receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using radio-frequency (RF) signal synthesis information received from the synchronization circuitry, a first RF signal for transmission by the transmit antenna, and generate, using the first RF signal and a second RF signal received from a target device by the first receive antenna, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The second interrogator includes a second receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using the RF signal synthesis information, a third RF signal; and generate, using the third RF signal and a fourth RF signal received from the target device by the second receive antenna, a second mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the second interrogator and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Humatics Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Charvat, David A. Mindell
  • Patent number: 9585230
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a lighting system, the lighting system being arranged as a wireless network comprising a controller and a plurality of operating nodes arranged to communicate with each other, wherein the method comprises the steps of synchronizing the operating nodes with the controller, determining, from the plurality of operating nodes, a set of operating nodes that are located within a predetermined operating area, estimating a state-shift delay based on a maximum communication delay between the controller and the set of operating nodes located within the predetermined operating area, communicating the estimated state-shift delay to the plurality of operating nodes, and communicating a state-shift command to the plurality of operating nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Anthony Robert Andre Schoofs, Peter Fuhrmann, Marc Aoun
  • Patent number: 9559544
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, wireless chargers combined with wireless interrogators. The wireless chargers can transmit power wirelessly, while also wirelessly interrogating a nearby transponder, such as an RFID tag. The wireless chargers with wireless interrogators can also be programmable to allow user-implemented rules operable in response to an interrogation. Such rules can impose restrictions upon whether wireless charging is allowed to take place. Such rules can also be used to select a power-transmitting protocol that is particularly suited for the electronic device being charged. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Jay Marketing Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Jakubowski
  • Patent number: 9542581
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject technology provide a multi-tenant asset tracking system that disambiguates or filters RFID tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventor: Wolfgang Gehner
  • Patent number: 9443119
    Abstract: A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an RFID reading device, and a display. The portable EIR terminal can be configured, responsive to successfully reading a plurality of RFID tags attached to a plurality of items sustained by a physical structure, to group the plurality of read RFID tags into zero or more clusters, by correlating quantities of RFID tags read within several time periods to spatial positions of the coverage shapes of the RF signals transmitted by the RFID reading device during the several time periods. The EIR terminal can be further configured to determine the spatial positions of the RFID signal coverage shapes based on the spatial positions and orientations of the portable EIR terminal during the several time periods. The EIR terminal can be further configured to display a quantity of RFID tags within each cluster overlaid over an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 9406041
    Abstract: A method for monitoring inventory on a shelf and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes a method for determining the number of packages on a shelf or hanger. The number of packages on a shelf or hanger are determined by detecting the presence of a package on the shelf and adding all detections together to determine the number of product on a shelf. In another embodiment, the product is identified by an identifying device such as an SKU reader. Thus, the quantity and type of product located on a shelf or hanger is known. Such information allows a store to know the type and quantity of packages needed to restock a specific shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Allison, Kuntesh R. Chokshi, Allen Fosha
  • Patent number: 9405941
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneous programming of data to individually addressed Tags. Tags contain a being addressed indicator that allows for processing of simultaneous programming commands. Specified Tags are individually pre-addressed to receive simultaneous programming. Tag data is programmed simultaneously for all Tags in a specified group of Tags. Data is individually verified for each specified Tag in the group of Tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ruizhang Technology Limited Company
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9379784
    Abstract: A method for performing electromagnetic induction communication enables transmitting modulation data between communication devices. The method includes coupling a first antenna of a first communication device and a second antenna of a second communication device, generating a magnetic field by supplying a first current through the first antenna, and modulating the magnetic field according to the modulation data. The first current is regulated so as to be substantially constant, by introducing a regulating current, which is function of the magnetic field. The first communication device determines the modulation data from the regulating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventor: Achraf Dhayni
  • Patent number: 9147292
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting dynamic RF-link margin tests in an electronic toll collection for non-stationary vehicles travelling up to highway speed. The system maintains a list of candidate transponders and, during the course of a normal toll collection, if a transponder is on the list then the system schedules a margin test for a later handshake in the capture zone. At a location at or near the peak margin test the system conducts a margin test during one or more of the reader-transponder handshakes. The attenuation may be dynamically controlled by the system using a variable attenuator in the RF path from the reader RF module to the antenna. Distributing the margin measurement over multiple passes of a vehicle through the capture zone provides for a highway speed method of measuring link margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: KAPSCH TRAFFICCOM AG
    Inventor: Daniel Terrier
  • Patent number: 9035776
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert R. Miller, II
  • Patent number: 9035773
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ADVANCED ELECTRONIC TRACKING
    Inventors: Michael Petersen, Alan Wilson, Dean Brotzel
  • Patent number: 9030299
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Christian Scherabon, Bernhard Gruber
  • Patent number: 9007183
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-jun Han, Dae-Hyun Kim, Bo-mi Kim, Bo-hyun Kyung, Myoung-soon Choi, Kuk-hyun Han, Pil-seung Yang, Hark-joon Kim
  • Patent number: 9000883
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for system control includes inputs for an input device which may take the form of switches or sensors. Input device states are related to identification keys. The identification keys are communicated wirelessly or through hard-wired means to a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Ansaf I. Alrabady, Michael B. Ames
  • Patent number: 8994508
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
    Inventor: Farron Dacus
  • Publication number: 20150084746
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholaus A. Jones, Jarrod Lee Bourlon, Alvin Scott Taulbee, Bruce W. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8988193
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position of four tires on corresponding four wheels in a vehicle. Each wheel has an axis of rotation. Each tire has an embedded Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag. The RFID tags embedded in the four tires have respective identifiers denoted as ID1, ID2, ID3, and ID4. A position to place a reader antenna is determined and the reader antenna is subsequently placed in the determined position. The reader antenna in the determined position emitting N signals to the respective RFID tag in the four tires. A delay is measured for receiving each signal reflected from the RFID tags. Which wheel of the four wheels each tire is on is identified according to the measured delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Bauchot, Jean-Yves Clement, Gerard Marmigere, Pierre Secondo
  • Patent number: 8981909
    Abstract: The invention describes a selection and arbitration method for reading a population of RFID transponders (tags). The transponders are selected or de-selected individually, or in one or more groups, using one or more command signals from a reader. The command signals from the reader include selection or de-selection criteria for selecting or de-selecting transponders by moving them between different states by setting or resetting a command flag, such as a flip-flop, in the transponders. The different transitional states include a Ready state, an Active state, a Standby state, a Singulated state and a Quiet state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Christopher Gordon Gervase Turner, John McMurray
  • Patent number: 8981907
    Abstract: A system to multiplex antennas for radio-frequency communication uses one or more antenna shorting circuits to selectively enable RF communication via one of a plurality of antenna matching networks. The system is cost-efficient compared to alternatives. The RF communication includes read and/or read/write communication with, e.g., radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven David Lavache
  • Patent number: 8963693
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of meeting room resources. The method includes initiating, via a host information handling system, an application, creating, via the application, a plurality of preferences, and establishing, by the host information handling system, a connection with a configuration device via a first close range communication path. The method also includes transferring at least one of the plurality of preferences, via the first close range communication path to the configuration device. The configuration device transmits, via a second close range communication path, a control message based on at least one of the plurality of preferences, to control at least one of the plurality of meeting room resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Yuan-Chang Lo, Jason A. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 8963688
    Abstract: A product management system and method for reading electronic identification tags from a vertical stack of tires. Each tire has an electronic identification tag secured at a position to operative to electronically transmit data to an antenna element positioned internally within a toroidal opening of each tire in the stack. An elongate read wand is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation within the aligned toroidal openings of the tires. The antenna element is carried by the read wand and is thus positioned by the read wand to receive an electronic transmission from each electronic identification tag in the aligned tire stack. The read wand may be ceiling-mounted, floor mounted, or hand held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: John Michael Fenkanyn, Joseph Paul Batcho, Sr., Mario Vincent Orosa, Jennifer Kaye Flowers
  • Patent number: 8952787
    Abstract: An archive apparatus is provided for storing and archiving laboratory samples including radio frequency identification means. The apparatus comprises a support structure or cabinet (4), a drawer (6) translatable in a translation direction (12) into and out of the support structure (4), and sample support means comprising ribs (8) associated with the drawer (6) for supporting an array (10) of samples or slides (20) spaced along the translation direction (12) for movement with the drawer (6). A radio frequency reader antenna (14) is connected to the support structure (4) adjacent to the drawer (6) and recording means (34, 38) are adapted to operatively communicate with the reader antenna (14) to store information obtained from the radio frequency identification means of laboratory samples or slides (20) supported by the drawer (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Fergus Hughes
  • Patent number: 8941471
    Abstract: A radiofrequency identification (RFID) multiplexer, which may be in a network, interprets an RF signal from an RFED reader as RFE) tag interrogation data. A single cable directs an RF signal from the RFID reader and RF control signals and/or RF power through the multiplexer. An RF sampler may be coupled to the cable; and an RF detector detects the RF signal from the cable via the RF sampler. A data decoder decodes and interprets the RF signal as the RFID tag interrogation data and forwards the RFID tag interrogation data to a control logic circuit as a MUX channel-change command. The logic circuit and decoder may be combined in a microcontroller, and an RF backscatter modulator coupled to the cable enables reverse communication with the RFID reader to determine whether another RFID multiplexer is coupled to the RFID multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventor: Gary Mark Shafer
  • Patent number: 8937531
    Abstract: An RFID system has an active tag with one antenna inside, and one outside, an RF-blocking enclosure having a port with a selected shortest dimension. The RFID reader is located outside the enclosure and uses a selected RF read frequency range. The RFID tag simultaneously transmits on a plurality of frequencies corresponding to respective wavelengths smaller than the selected shortest dimension, so that a respective beat frequency is defined between two of the frequencies. The beat frequency is within the selected RF uplink frequency range. The tag transmits a first signal at a first one of the plurality of frequencies using the interior antenna and a second signal at a second, different one of the plurality of frequencies using the exterior antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donald Saul Rimai, Mark P. Hinman
  • Publication number: 20150015375
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Alien Technology Corporation
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 8931705
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an IC card includes a communication module, a first command processing module, a determining module, a second command processing module, a response processing module. The first command processing module performs a process corresponding to a first command received from the external device. The determining module determines whether a second command is contained in a data portion of the first command. The second command processing module performs a process corresponding to the second command if the determining module determines that the second command is contained in the data portion of the first command. The response processing module sets a processing result of the second command executed by the second command processing module in the data portion of the response indicating a processing result of the first command executed by the first command processing module and transmit the same to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Aki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8917165
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for detecting and re-personalizing are provided herein. In an embodiment, the invention operates by obtaining an ID (i.e., an identification, such as a Dynamic Unique Identifier) from a RFID tag, generating a new ID, and writing the new ID to the RFID tag. The ID read from the tag is used to lookup a subject's record in a database. If the write of the new ID to the tag is verified, then database changes are committed to link the new ID to the subject. In an alternative embodiment, the invention operates by obtaining data from a memory of a RFID tag, wherein the memory has a first partition and a second partition, generating a new ID, and writing the new ID to either of the first partition or the second partition of the RFID tag. If such write is verified, then the new ID is written to the other partition of the RFID tag. The data from the tag is used to lookup a subject's record in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: The MITRE Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph P. Marques, Steven H. Barry
  • Patent number: 8912886
    Abstract: A power management system is disclosed in which ESL labels communicate with a server through a base station. The frequency and times at which each ESL label communicates with the server is optimized for the minimum communication necessary to provide up to date pricing and related information, and to simultaneously minimize consumed battery power for the ESL labels. The base stations and servers for the system are preferably operated from hard wired power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., Opticon, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hakata, Hidetaka Fujisawa, Masao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8854190
    Abstract: Systems and methods to detect cross reads in RFID tags are disclosed. Existing RFID reading mechanisms do not have the provision of detecting cross reads and eliminating the cross reads while performing inventory of an area. As a result, the user will have to manually determine the cross reads from the data and eliminate them. The disclosed method employs a RFID reader that is equipped with a plurality of engines for performing scan on the inventories. The scanned data is processed by a processing unit. In the processing unit, normalization is performed on the scanned data, neighboring assets and spatial location maps are created. The data from the above processes is employed for detecting cross reads during the scan. The identified cross reads are eliminated based on various other parameters obtained by analyzing scanned data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: AssetPulse, LLC
    Inventors: Sujatha Bodapati, Ritesh K. Rajani, Nagarajan Ramanathan
  • Patent number: 8830065
    Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers may transmit one or more run commands specifying one or more programs for tag execution prior to tag singulation. A run command may encapsulate the program(s), in which case a tag may store or store and execute the program(s). A run command may alternatively specify programs stored on a tag. The reader may instruct a tag to execute the program(s) upon receipt, upon a trigger event, serially or in parallel, and/or may cause the tag to modify the program(s) by adjusting parameters. The reader may instruct tags to execute the program(s) via the run command or another command, which may be sent prior to tag singulation. A reader may cause a tag to determine whether to participate in a subsequent inventory round, modify a behavior during a subsequent inventory round, or store a result in a tag memory, based on the executed program(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
    Inventors: Theron Stanford, Christopher J. Diorio, Harley Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8830064
    Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags may receive one or more run commands, prior to being singulated, that specify one or more programs for the tag to execute. A run command may encapsulate the programs, in which case the tag may execute or store and execute the program(s). A run command may alternatively specify programs stored on the tag. The tag may execute the program(s) upon receipt, upon a trigger event, serially or in parallel, and/or may modify the instructions or program(s) by adjusting parameters. A reader may tell the tag to execute the instructions or program(s) via the run command or another command which, in some cases, may be sent prior to tag singulation. A tag may, based on a result of the executed program(s), determine whether to participate in a subsequent inventory round, modify a behavior during a subsequent inventory round, or store the result in tag memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Impinj Inc.
    Inventors: Theron Stanford, Christopher J. Diorio, Harley Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8816821
    Abstract: [Problems to be Solved] It is an object to provide a tag associating system that, when a plurality of RFID tags are collected to move as a tag group, associates the RFID tags belonging to the tag group with a representative RFID tag ranked as a representative of the tag group; its associating method; etc. [Means for Solving the Problems] The present system associates an RFID tag (2A) ranked as a representative of the tag group (2). A communication area (J) of a first antenna (4A) to read out data from the representative tag group (2A) is arranged to partially overlap with a communication area (K) of a second antenna (4B) to read out data from each RFID tag (2B) of the tag group (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventor: Naomasa Iwahashi
  • Patent number: 8803657
    Abstract: The RFID-mechanical dual-mode entry key includes a key blade attached to and extending away from a housing. A double-pole, double-throw (DPDT) switch is disposed on the key blade housing. A microantenna disposed in the housing is connected to the switch. An unlock passive Radio Frequency microcircuit disposed in the key blade housing is operably connected to a first pole of the DPDT switch to activate the unlock passive RF microcircuit when the switch is thrown to the first pole, exclusively connecting the unlock passive RF microcircuit to the microantenna. A lock passive Radio Frequency microcircuit disposed in the key blade housing is operably connected to a second pole of the DPDT switch to activate the lock passive RF microcircuit when the switch is thrown to the second pole, exclusively connecting the lock passive RF microcircuit to the microantenna, The key supports remote/mechanical locking/unlocking of a vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Fawzi Q. M. A. O. A. Behbehani
  • Patent number: 8797162
    Abstract: A detection unit positioned on a package includes a magnet, a first magnetic switch, a second magnetic switch, a processor, and a clock. The first magnetic switch outputs a first control signal or a second control signal according to magnetic flux density of the magnet. The second magnetic switch outputs a third control signal or a fourth control signal according to the magnetic flux density of the magnet. The first control signal is the same as the third control signal; the second control signal is the same as the fourth control signal. When the processor receives the first control signal and the third control signal at the same time, the processor reads a first real-time clock (RTC) signal from the clock. When the processor receives the second control signal and the fourth control signal at the same time, the processor reads a second RTC signal from the clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Pei Chang, Zong-Yuan Sun, Da-Hua Xiao