Abstract: A system and method for postage payment utilizes passive RFID tags as postage “stamps”, with the amount of the postage automatically billed to a previously-established customer account. The tags are stored in a separate stamp database and are “enabled” by linking the individual tag to a customer account. The use of the RFID stamps eliminates the need for the customer to know the proper postage beforehand. The existence of a customer account with a proper return address reduces the likelihood of a dead letter. Also, a special category of stamps may be used for automatic reply mail. By virtue of using an RFID tag, the mailed item's progress through the postal delivery system may be tracked from dispatch to delivery.

Abstract: A power tool data collection system includes a memory in a housing of a power tool that stores data corresponding to at least one operational parameter of the power tool, a wireless data transceiver communicatively connected to the memory, and a controller operatively connect to the memory. The wireless data transceiver transmits the data corresponding to the at least one operational parameter of the power tool to an external wireless transceiver in response to receiving a signal from the external wireless transceiver. The controller identifies the at least one operational parameter of the power tool during operation of the power tool and stores the data corresponding to the at least one operational parameter in the memory to enable the wireless data transceiver to transmit the data.

Abstract: A wireless control system is configured to be trainable to control any number of remotely controlled devices. The system can be configured to gather and learn information relating to a signal transmitted by the original transmitter in a manner that is blind to a user of the system. The system can be designed to learn signals automatically such that fewer steps are necessary for a user to train the system to control a particular remotely controlled device. The system can train to remotely controlled devices in this manner with little or no user action required.

Abstract: Devices and methods for tracking the status of a print job using electronic devices on a print service provider (PSP) production floor are provided. One such method includes reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) code from an RFID badge assigned to, attached to, and traveling with a print job through production using an electronic device and sending an indication of the RFID code a PSP controller. In response, workflow instructions may be received from the PSP controller. The electronic device may display a representation of the workflow instructions and a user-selectable representation of job status information. When the representation of the job status information is selected, the electronic device may send an indication of the job status information to the print service provider controller.

Abstract: A battery includes one or more rechargeable cells, a wireless power coil, a battery charger circuit, and may further include an RFID module. The wireless power coil is operable to generate an AC voltage from a wireless power electromagnetic field. The battery charger circuit is operable to generate a battery charge voltage from the AC voltage in accordance with a battery charge control signal and, when enabled, to charge the one or more rechargeable cells via the battery charge voltage. If the battery further includes the RFID module, it is operable to generate the battery charge control signal and communicate with a wireless power transmitter device.

Abstract: A method for extending a reception range of a vehicle remote control system includes: receiving, at a repeater, a first radio frequency (RF) signal having inbound data packets indicating a vehicle function to be performed from a remote transmitter; generating, at the repeater, a second RF signal by placing outbound data packets indicating the vehicle function to be performed between the inbound data packets until reception of the first RF signal is complete; and transmitting, from the repeater, the second RF signal to a reception module of a vehicle remote control system.

Abstract: In order to flexibly identify the current operating state of control elements which are used to control a process installation, the invention provides a method for identifying the operating state of at least one control element, which is designed for an active and a passive operating state, for a control apparatus, wherein, in the active operating state, the control element controls a process function of an area of a process installation, comprising the following steps: the control apparatus is connected to the process installation, the control element is functionally associated with the process function, and the operating state of the control element is identified as active on the basis of successful functional association of the control element with the process function.

Abstract: A method of protection of a near-field contactless communication system against malicious attacks. The method includes exchange of information between a reader and a contactless card of duration T, measured with respect to a starting instant t0 seen from the reader, decoding of this information by the card, sending by the card a return signal temporally set with respect to an instant t?0+T, where t?0 is the starting instant as seen by the card taking into account delays in propagation or processing of signals received from the reader, detection of the return signal by the reader, determination of the temporal setting of the return signal with respect to the starting instant t0, and interruption of communication by the reader if the temporal setting of the return signal detected is not equal to the instant t0+T with a predetermined margin of error. The return signal is a pseudo-random sequence.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an RFID tag comprises a memory module and one or more processing units. The memory module stores a subscriber identification number shared by the tag and one or more other tags for accessing a WWAN. Each tag is operable to access the WWAN using the subscriber identification number at a corresponding unique timeslot, the corresponding unique timeslot for a tag being distinct from the timeslots at which the other tags can access the WWAN using the subscriber identification number. The one or more processing units access the WWAN using the subscriber identification number to initiate a tag session at the corresponding unique timeslot for the tag. The corresponding unique timeslot for the tag is distinct from timeslots at which the other tags may access the WWAN using the subscriber identification number. The one or more processing units are operable to communicate tag information during the tag session at the corresponding unique timeslot for the tag.

Abstract: An authenticated RFID system is provided that uses elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) to reduce the signature size and read/write times when compared to traditional public key implementations such as RSA. Either ECDSA or ECPVS can be used to reduce the signature size and ECPVS can be used to hide a portion of the RFID tag that contains sensitive product identifying information. As a result, smaller tags can be used or multiple signatures can be written at different stages in a manufacturing or supply chain. A key management system is used to distribute the verification keys and aggregate signature schemes are also provided for adding multiple signatures to the RFID tags, for example in a supply chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor network for determining the position of devices and gear in an aircraft. The sensor network exhibits several sensor nodes, which have an autonomous power supply. The sensor nodes can communicate wirelessly with each other and with a central processing unit. The position of each individual sensor node can be determined by evaluating high-frequency signal parameters.

Abstract: A RFID transponder includes a resonant circuit for providing a clock signal at a predetermined clock frequency, a self-calibration stage for calibrating the resonant circuit's current clock frequency towards the predetermined clock frequency. The self-calibration stage is adapted to compare a first clock frequency of the resonant circuit determined during an interrogation period, during which the resonant circuit is excited by an external RF signal, with a second clock frequency determined during a frequency maintenance period, during which the resonant circuit is excited internally through an oscillation maintenance circuit of the RFID transponder and to calibrate the resonant circuit towards the predetermined clock frequency based on the comparison result.

Abstract: An authenticated RFID system is provided that uses elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) to reduce the signature size and read/write times when compared to traditional public key implementations such as RSA. Either ECDSA or ECPVS can be used to reduce the signature size and ECPVS can be used to hide a portion of the RFID tag that contains sensitive product identifying information. As a result, smaller tags can be used or multiple signatures can be written at different stages in a manufacturing or supply chain. A key management system is used to distribute the verification keys and aggregate signature schemes are also provided for adding multiple signatures to the RFID tags, for example in a supply chain.

Abstract: A system and method of passive approach detection is provided. The method comprises: transmitting a plurality of data signals corresponding to multiple power levels respectively from a fob device based on motion detected in the fob device; each of the plurality of data signals includes initial bytes encoded with a power level and transmitter identification (ID); receiving one or more of the plurality of data signals at a receiver based on the distance between the fob device and the receiver; filtering out signals at a secondary processor by comparing one or more of the plurality of data signals received to a predetermined list of signals valid for reception; and transmitting a wake-up signal to a primary processor based on the comparison, the wake-up signal enabling the primary processor to transition from a sleep mode to a wake-up mode.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for allowing the sharing of one or more system resources between multiple devices. In one embodiment, a requesting device transmits a resource access request to a target device using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol. The target device responds by using the NFC connection to return a listing of resources available for sharing to the requesting device. The requesting device may select one or more of the available resources and establish an appropriate connection to access the selected resource or resources. In one embodiment, the requesting device may lack external network connectivity capabilities while the target device includes wi-fi connectivity as a shared resource. Accordingly, the requesting device may access external network of the target device via the target as a conduit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to initiate a pairing process and a de-pairing process between a controlled device and a radio frequency (RF) remote control. An exemplary embodiment detects presence of a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag in an interrogation zone established by an RFID tag reader, automatically initiates a pairing process in response to detecting the presence of the RFID tag in the interrogation zone, and completes the pairing process between the RF remote control and the controlled device, wherein the pairing process identifies a unique identifier associated with the RF remote control. A subsequently received RF signal emitted by the RF remote control includes at least one command configured to control operation of the controlled device and includes the unique identifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coupling/uncoupling between a transmitter (1) and a receiver (2) capable of communicating with one another via a wireless link, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: transmission of a first signal by the transmitter (1), transmission of a second signal by said transmitter (1), amplitude processing by the receiver (2) of the first signal (30, 32) and of the second signal (31, 33) received and storage or deletion by the receiver of an identification code (C1, C2, Cn) of the transmitter (1) according to the processing carried out.

Abstract: A system is operated to transmit signals from a transmitter to a receiver. The transmitter is muted. A receiver transfer function for the receiver is adjusted so that an output signal of the receiver is minimized. A transmitter transfer function of the transmitter is set to be inverse to the adjusted receiver transfer function.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag may have a non-responsive mode, triggered by a command from an RFID reader, that temporarily prevents the RFID tag from responding to a query from any RFID reader for a period of time. In some embodiments this non-responsive mode may automatically end after a certain period of time without further action by the RFID reader. In other embodiments this non-responsive mode may end when directed to by another command addressed specifically to the RFID tag.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring forestry products are provided in the present invention, wherein at least one active communicating device is disposed on a forestry product, and reading and transmitting devices are also disposed in specific locations for building a monitoring and management mechanism to protect the forestry products from stealing. By means the method and system of the present invention, it is capable of providing real-time monitoring information and collecting evidence of illegal actions immediately so that the management staff can control the situation and status of the forestry products, which is useful for improving the efficiency of forestry management. Meanwhile, the present invention may also help to find those lawless persons who steal and fell illegally the forestry resources so as to ensure the safety of working environment for forest managing staff and sustainable management of forest and natural resources.

Abstract: System for the remote control of at least one electrical household appliance with a first transmitter/receiver and an auxiliary receiver incorporated into the electrical household appliance, and a second transmitter/receiver and an auxiliary transmitter incorporated into a remote control device that includes a screen for displaying information received by and/or transmitted from the remote control device. The system of remote control may use a primary system of short-range communication between the auxiliary transmitter and the auxiliary receiver and a secondary system of long-range communication between the first transmitter/receiver and the second transmitter/receiver, enabling a critical-parameter control command to be sent from the remote control device to the electrical household appliance via the secondary system only once the secondary system is activated, the secondary system then being bidirectional.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system of communicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder microchip (IC) for the purpose of accessing pre-programmed data. Such system involves direct electrical contact between the system reading the data from the memory in the transponder IC and the IC itself via two mechanical contact points. This system provides an interface with a transponder IC in order to energize the IC. Once the presence of the transponder IC is detected, the host system can read or write to and process preprogrammed data stored in the IC.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fuel-cell-based cogeneration system with radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors. The fuel-cell-based cogeneration system with RFID sensors includes the fuel-cell-based cogeneration system and an RFID data processing system. The RFID data processing system captures data of the temperature and flow rate from the RFID sensors, while the system data are in turn converted into RFID signals. The RFID data processing system transmits a control signal generated from the RFID signal to control the operation of the fuel-cell-based cogeneration system. Since the RFID transmission technology, the sensor error caused by wires is consequently reduced. Furthermore, overall sensitivity and accuracy of the RFID sensors are increased, which leads to an accompanying increase in the stability of the operating system.

Abstract: An object is to increase the reliability of a semiconductor device which is capable of wireless communication. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of functional circuits as redundant circuits, and each of the plurality of functional circuits includes an antenna and a semiconductor integrated circuit. The plurality of functional circuits is covered with one sealing layer in which a fibrous body is impregnated with resin. Further, the semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with a transmission/reception circuit electrically connected to the antenna, a power supply circuit electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit, and a logic circuit electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit and the power supply circuit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel wireless barcode MEMS canary which can be embedded in electronic systems and periodically monitored to measure degradation over a period of time. The material used to print the bars of the barcode is selected such that it is capable of changing one or more of its properties in response to a change in ambient conditions. Means are provided for reading out said change in properties such that when an interrogator is brought into proximity to the sensor, the change in properties can be detected. By establishing the relationship between the healthy state of the barcode and its degradation to that of the electronic system and the components, the residual life of the system can be established and preventive measures taken before failure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying the read zone of an RFID reader. The apparatus includes a supporting sheet, a reader-position mark on the supporting sheet to indicate a recommended location to position an RFID reader, and a zone-boundary mark on the supporting sheet to indicate a read zone of the RFID reader with a predetermined field strength.

Abstract: A real-time method and system for locating a mobile object or person in a tracking environment while conserving electrical energy in a battery-operated tracking tag associated with the object or person are provided. The method includes modulating a first carrier signal with a first packet including a first set of identification data having a first length to obtain a first modulated signal. The first set of data identifies the tag associated with the object or person. The method also includes transmitting the first modulated signal containing the first packet. Transmission of the first modulated signal consumes a first amount of electrical energy. The first modulated signal has a first precision and a first range within the environment. The method further includes modulating a second carrier signal with a second packet including a second set of identification data reduced in length from and based on the first set of identification data.

Abstract: A radiofrequency circuit embedded onboard a satellite, data being transmitted on several channels by radiofrequency signals, includes a channel corresponding to a frequency band, and a succession of gains being able to be associated with a channel so as to generate the radiofrequency signal to be transmitted on the latter. The succession includes at least one variable-gain amplifier, the radiofrequency signals thus generated being multiplexed by a multiplexer composed of bandpass filters. The successions of gains comprise a power load arranged so as to dissipate the power of signals which is reflected by the filters of the multiplexer, said load including means for generating an alarm signal representative of the power level of the reflected signals, the alarm signal being used to control the gain of the variable-gain amplifier. The subject of the invention is also a power load.

Abstract: A battery includes one or more rechargeable cells, a wireless power coil, a battery charger circuit, and may further include an RFID module. The wireless power coil is operable to generate an AC voltage from a wireless power electromagnetic field. The battery charger circuit is operable to generate a battery charge voltage from the AC voltage in accordance with a battery charge control signal and, when enabled, to charge the one or more rechargeable cells via the battery charge voltage. If the battery further includes the RFID module, it is operable to generate the battery charge control signal and communicate with a wireless power transmitter device.

Abstract: RFID readers, reader systems, and methods are provided that utilize double conversion for received tag response signals. A digitized signal is derived from the tag response signal by first shifting the response signal to about DC. The components of the digitized signal are then up converted and down converted and filtered such that only components around DC remain. The up converted and down converted signals may then be compared and one selected or the two combined after weighting to enhance demodulation and reduce circuit complexity.

Abstract: A device for locking a movable component of an aircraft. The device includes an electronic tag adapted for receiving a polling signal and returning an identification signal. An on-board system allows detection of such locking devices.

Abstract: An antenna assembly is operative for receiving interrogating radiation at a variable frequency tag and generating a corresponding received signal, and for receiving a signature signal and radiating corresponding response radiation. A logic unit is operative for receiving the received signal and outputting the signature signal in response, the signature signal including a signature code for use in identifying the tag. A voltage controlled oscillator is operative for controlling a rate at which the signature code is output; and a power supply is operative for providing an electrical potential difference for energizing the tag. The voltage controlled oscillator is operable to output the signature code at a rate which is governed by the magnitude of the received signal.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a remote device via wireless communication. The remote device includes resources for communication via at least two different short-range wireless mediums with different operational ranges. The sensing of a scanning communication signal from a first wireless medium may trigger the disconnection of the remote device from an already established connection, through a second wireless communication medium, to the scanning device. The remote device may provide a remote device ID to the scanning device. As a result of this transaction, one or both devices may experience a mode change, which may be signaled by a audible, visual or tactile confirmation to a user.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a method of memory mapping disparate memories on a composite radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, where the RFID tag includes a plurality of individual RFID devices each having a memory store with a physical memory address range and mounted to a common substrate, where at least one of the individual RFID devices comprises memory configuration information, and where a memory addressing facility maps the physical memory address ranges of each of the individual RFID devices to a single logical addressing space and presents the address space as a single memory, where the memory addressing facility is included on a computing facility separate from the composite RFID tag.

Abstract: RFID tags are commanded to generate a pilot tone in their backscatter. When the backscattered pilot tone is received in the reader, the pilot tone is used to estimate the tag period/frequency. Then, the estimate is used to seed and lock a symbol timing recovery loop, which provides a detected signal to one or more correlators for detecting the tag preamble. A delayed version of the received tag signal is compared against a baseline signal threshold established from the received signal to detect the pilot tone.

Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a signal processing circuit, an antenna circuit that is connected to the signal processing circuit, and a storage means that supplies electric power to the signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit receives and transmits information through the antenna circuit, generates a direct current voltage from signals received by the antenna circuit, and stores the direct current voltage in the storage means. Furthermore, the antenna circuit has an antenna portion that receives signals by an electromagnetic induction method and an antenna portion that receives signals by a microwave method so that signals of frequencies from a wide band can be received. Because signals from a wide band can be received, the environment in which the storage means can be charged is widened.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a powerless electronic notepad and a powerless wireless transmission system using the same, and more particularly, to a powerless electronic notepad that stores data recorded on an electronic notepad using piezoelectric elements and transmits the stored data using a passive RFID tag without the use of a power source, and a powerless wireless transmission system using the same.

Abstract: The integration of surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, microfabricated transmission lines, and sensors onto polymer substrates in order to enable a passive wireless sensor platform is described herein. Incident microwave pulses on an integrated antenna are converted to an acoustic wave via a SAW filter and transmitted to an impedance based sensor, which for this work is a photodiode. Changes in the sensor state induce a corresponding change in the impedance of the sensor resulting in a reflectance profile. Data collected at a calibrated receiver is used to infer the state of the sensor. Based on this principal, light levels were passively and wirelessly demonstrated to be sensed at distances of up to about 12 feet.

Abstract: A response system and method of receiving remotely entered user input selections at a central location includes providing at least one base unit and a plurality of response units. A user input selection is received with each of the response units. The user input selection is communicated to the at least one base unit utilizing wireless communication. Personality data is received at each of the response units. The at least one base unit communicates with each of the response units according to the personality data of the particular one of the response units to receive a user input selection. The personality data is received by an individual one of the response units communicating with the at least one base unit at close proximity to provide personality data to that response unit.

Abstract: An organic light emitting display device having RFID includes a substrate including a pixel region having at least one organic light emitting device and a non-pixel region formed on the outer circumference of the pixel region, a sealing substrate that seals at least the pixel region of the substrate, an RFID antenna pattern on the sealing substrate, and an RFID chip electrically coupled to the RFID antenna pattern.

Abstract: An ultra low power, low complexity, low collision, deterministic modulation method that also works as a massive medium access mechanism for communication systems is based on positioning data in a communication resource space, such as time and frequency, such that the position of a symbol in that space determines its value and its access to the medium. The number base of the symbol is determined by the size of the subset of the resource space it is positioning itself in and, thereby, a few sparsely located symbols can convey a large value, while the remainder of the space can be simultaneously and massively used by other sparsely resource using members of the network.

Abstract: A system for the audio lead through of a visually impaired user of a self-service terminal employs near field communication techniques to transfer connection data required for the establishment of a Bluetooth connection between the self-service terminal and a remote audio output device. Once a Bluetooth connection is established audio files containing instructions on how to execute a transaction on the self-service terminal are transferred from the self-service terminal to the audio output device such that the user can hear audio files when played.

Abstract: A large manipulator, especially a truck-mounted concrete pump, has a boom base that can be arranged on a frame so as to be pivoted about a substantially vertical axis of rotation. The large manipulator has a pendular element, that hangs down as an articulated boom and a control device for controlling the drive units of the axes of articulation and rotation of the articulated boom. The remote control has at least one inclination sensor which is housed in a housing that is detachably fastened on the pendular element. Two inclination sensors are housed in the housing and are bent at an angle of 90° with respect to each other and with respect to an axis that is parallel to the pendular element axis. The housing has a mark indicating the orientation of at least one of the inclination sensors inside the housing.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for bumping a mobile device, such as a smart phone, against a fixed poster board display at a store to initiate a download of coupons, advertisements, or other benefits to the mobile device. Products can be rated by a user's up/down bump or other bump patterns. Using accelerometer-based inertial measurements, multiple users can control multiple mouse cursors on a large display with their mobile devices in order to select information to be downloaded to their mobile devices.

Abstract: RFID tags, tag circuits, and methods are provided that reduce at least in part the distortion to received wireless signals, which is caused by interference in the environment. Two or more thresholds are used to digitize the received signal implemented by two or more demodulators. Multiple low pass and digital filters may be implemented with the demodulators, allowing removal of narrow pulses caused by the interference and reduction of beat tone amplitude.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for storing, securing, identifying, authenticating and retrieving multimedia messages using low-cost barcode or RFID tags are disclosed. Additionally, a set of software features facilitate the easy and intuitive storage and retrieval of multimedia information using a mobile telephone acting on the media tags. Such tags can be attached or affixed to physical, real-world objects thus allowing multimedia messages associated with the tags to be retrieved with the real-world objects in a time-shifted and space-shifted manner from when and where they were recorded. The present invention uses low-cost (metal, paper or plastic) tags—encoded using barcodes or RFID—as virtual message storage units and commercially-available terminals equipped with appropriate software and sensors, such as mobile telephones, as recording and reading devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wireless service purchasing system used for getting a service provided by a service provider. In one embodiment, the system comprises a mobile device including a SIM card, wherein a RFID tag is integrated, the user being identified by the same identification number in both SIM card and RFID tag. The RFID tag is adapted to communicate with a service controller booth so that the user of the mobile device be authorized to get the service. The system comprises a service provider server adapted to receive a request when it has received the identification number from the RFID tag to verify whether an account associated with the user has enough credit to gain access to the requested service and to send back a reply to the service controller booth authorizing or denying the user access to the service according to whether there is enough credit in the account.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to method and apparatus for efficient wireless adaptive uplink protocols for communication networks.

Abstract: A mobile tag tracking system for providing mobile security monitoring is provided. The system includes a communications facility, a communications network coupled to the communications facility, and a mobile tag. The mobile tag is coupled to an item to be monitored. The mobile tag has a processor having a memory and for controlling operation of the mobile tag, a radio communications component coupled to the processor for communicating with the communications facility over the communications network for reporting status messages related to the item, a power supply coupled to the processor for providing power to the mobile tag, security sequence generator coupled to the processor for generating binary sequences, a location tracking component coupled to the processor for determining the location of the mobile tag and providing a location signal to the processor, and a clock coupled to the processor.

Abstract: In certain embodiments consistent with the invention, a method of associating a controlled device with a remote controller device involves providing a controlled device with a near field communication (NFC) module; providing a remote controller device with a near field communication (NFC) module; bringing the remote controller device into close enough proximity to the controlled device to establish an NFC communication link; communicating secret data between the remote controller device and the controlled device to establish an association between the remote controller device and the controlled device so that commands from the remote controller device to the controlled device will be accepted. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.