Abstract: Vehicle mounted Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems and associated methods are provided. An example vehicle mounted RFID system is configured to operate an RFID system in a high-power mode. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to determine that an operating state of a vehicle switched from an active charging state to an inactive state. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to, in response to determine that the operating state of the vehicle switched from the active charging state to the inactive state, initialize a timer for a period of time. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to, in response to an elapse of the period of time, switch the RFID system to a low-power mode.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for unlocking a tracking apparatus that is affixed to an asset are disclosed herein. In one example, a method of unlocking a tracking apparatus that is affixed to an asset is provided. The tracking apparatus may comprise an electronic tag electronically coupled to a securing component comprising an actuating element. The method may comprise: receiving asset information associated with the tracking apparatus; generating and storing a secure machine-readable code in conjunction with the asset information; in response to receiving a request to unlock the tracking apparatus, determining whether a received input corresponds with the stored secure machine-readable code; and providing an indication to cause an electronic reader in electronic communication with the tracking apparatus to trigger deactivating the actuating element.

Abstract: Vehicle mounted Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems and associated methods are provided. An example vehicle mounted RFID system is configured to operate an RFID system in a high-power mode. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to determine that an operating state of a vehicle switched from an active charging state to an inactive state. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to, in response to determine that the operating state of the vehicle switched from the active charging state to the inactive state, initialize a timer for a period of time. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to, in response to an elapse of the period of time, switch the RFID system to a low-power mode.

Abstract: Vehicle mounted Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems and associated methods are provided. An example vehicle mounted RFID system is configured to operate an RFID system in a high-power mode. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to determine that an operating state of a vehicle switched from an active charging state to an inactive state. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to, in response to determine that the operating state of the vehicle switched from the active charging state to the inactive state, initialize a timer for a period of time. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to, in response to an elapse of the period of time, switch the RFID system to a low-power mode.

Abstract: A reconfigurable antenna element is controlled using a wirelessly powered and wirelessly activated switch, where the antenna element is part of an antenna or antenna array. A control signal for reconfiguring the antenna element is embedded into a wirelessly transmitted data signal for transmission by the antenna.

Abstract: In one aspect where a load or a subset of one or more tags is in motion relative to an RFID reader system, the RFID system obtains tag readings and derives tag scalar or vector motional data e.g. tag velocity, tag acceleration, and/or rate of change of tag acceleration which can be compared to known tag motional information to distinguish true tags of interest from false positives which are unavoidably also within the field of the reader system. An antenna system may also make readings during distinctive movement patterns of true tags, such as vertical or arcuate movement and utilize computed tag motional data based on the tag readings to distinguish true tags from false positives. Two components of the RFID system may communicate information on identified tags, and/or interact (e.g. by silencing tags), so as to cooperate in identifying true positive tags.

Abstract: Various corporate, industry, and regulatory guidelines, best practices and standards are used in establishing acceptable levels of accuracy for volume dimensioning systems used in commerce. A volume dimensioning system can determine at least one distortion value that is indicative of an amount of distortion present in the system and responsive to the amount of distortion, autonomously alter or adjust the units of accuracy of information reported by the system. Such alteration or adjustment of units of accuracy may be performed based on an assessment of the distortion relative to a number of distortion thresholds. Responsive to the assessment, the volume dimensioning system can adjust a unit of accuracy in a representation of volume dimensioning related information.

Abstract: A smart tag reading system is provided that has the ability to query sensor tags that have energy harvesting capability. In one embodiment, an adaptive reader system learns the state of each tag and how long the tag takes to charge. Tags that charge relatively quickly can be accessed more frequently. Others that do not charge as quickly, readings can be performed at much longer intervals allowing the tag a longer time to gather enough energy to complete the transaction. The reader query system can then adapt to the environment and state of the individual tags.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is described that comprises an antenna configured to intercept radio waves modulated with printing data; a receiver configured to recover the printing data from the intercepted radio waves; a printing module configured to generate a printed output on a printing medium based on the printing data; and a housing for the printing apparatus, wherein the housing encloses the antenna, the receiver, and the printing module, and further wherein the antenna is integrated with an interior surface of the housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for communicating private user information from a mobile device to a transaction terminal or other external device. More specifically, systems and methods are described for improving authentication through the use of mobile devices used to facilitate transactions with external devices. The authentication described herein can be adaptive, thereby providing a flexible level of automatic on-the-spot transaction security. Unlike prior art systems, the mobile device is not required to have network connectivity. Additionally, the systems and methods described herein are easily adapted to most current systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods for volume dimensioning packages are provided. A method of operating a volume dimensioning system may include the receipt of image data of an area at least a first three-dimensional object to be dimensioned from a first point of view as captured using at least one image sensor. The system can determine from the received image data a number of features in three dimensions of the first three-dimensional object. Based at least on part on the determined features of the first three-dimensional object, the system can fit a first three-dimensional packaging wireframe model about the first three-dimensional object. The system can display of an image of the first three-dimensional packaging wireframe model fitted about an image of the first three-dimensional object on a display device.

Abstract: A system, method, and/or apparatus for displaying and selecting information using a single, handheld device is provided. The handheld device includes a combined projection and selection tool that projects a user interface for selection of information by the same device. As incorporated into a single unit, the components of the handheld device generally include a camera, a light-emitting component, and a projector, with at least one of the components being stabilized relative to the movement of the handheld device. At least a part of the projected image from the handheld device is selectable based on the position of the stabilized component relative to the position of a nonstabilized component. The handheld also includes a trigger for selection of one or more of the projected items based on position of a laser indicator pointed at the projected image.

Abstract: A communication protocol and system is disclosed for network communications between a data service residing on a client that provides network communications between one or more mobile applications on a mobile computing device and a network based on a process number. The shared data service communicates with a data service plug-in on the server side associated with the process number, in order to handle requests from the mobile applications that access a plug-in associated with the process number through the data service. The communication connection between the mobile application and the data plug may be managed by a set of rules defined for that network communication.

Abstract: Various corporate, industry, and regulatory guidelines, best practices and standards are used in establishing acceptable levels of accuracy for volume dimensioning systems used in commerce. A volume dimensioning system can determine at least one distortion value that is indicative of an amount of distortion present in the system and responsive to the amount of distortion, autonomously alter or adjust the units of accuracy of information reported by the system. Such alteration or adjustment of units of accuracy may be performed based on an assessment of the distortion relative to a number of distortion thresholds. Responsive to the assessment, the volume dimensioning system can adjust a unit of accuracy in a representation of volume dimensioning related information.

Abstract: A system comprises two or more item storage bins, each item storage bin comprising: a wireless communication tag emitting a wireless signal having data identifying the item storage bin on which the wireless communication tag is positioned, and an indicator activated by receiving a feedback signal identifying the item storage bin on which the indicator is positioned; and a personal device comprising: a wireless communicator configured to communicate with the wireless communication tags, and a controller coupled to the wireless communicator and configured to identify one of the item storage bins from the wireless signal, and in response to identifying the one item storage bin, sending the feedback signal through the wireless communicator to the indicator.

Abstract: A print media holder device has first and second grip members. Permanent magnets are attached to the first and second grip members. An electromagnet is disposed between the first and second grip members, where when the electromagnet is selectively energized the permanent magnets attached to the first and second grip members are repelled in a manner that increases the outer dimension of the print media holder device to grip a media core.

Abstract: A system and method of selectively reading sensor data from a memory device is able to search the memory device for an indicator that identifies the sensor data, and read only the sensor data identified by the indicator from the memory device. In this way, interrogating devices are able to sort through sensor data stored in a network of memory devices, such as an RFID network, and report specific data of interest despite the existence of a variety of data types in the network. In some embodiments, flags are stored and associated with specific types of data, such as various sensor data, thereby allowing numerous memory devices and sensors to operate and be read efficiently in the same environment.

Abstract: Passive wireless transponders can perform transponder-to-transponder communication when illuminated by an interrogation carrier wave. The transponder-to-transponder communication permits each transponder to determine the identity of “other” proximately transponders. The transponder-to-transponder communication optionally permits each transponder to identify a “nearest neighbor” using one or more backscatter signal properties such as received signal strength or time-of-flight. Using this information and one or more externally supplied or internally stored instruction sets transponders can provide neighboring transponder data to an interrogator. Using this “neighbor” data, the interrogator can provide a system user with data indicative of the relative locations of a plurality of tags arranged in a one or two dimensional matrix.

Abstract: A non-time of flight or time of arrival position location system for accurate determination of a user's location in an enclosed, indoor, or covered environment can include a number of beacons mounted in an arrangement within the environment. Each of the beacons is mounted in a known location and transmits a broadcast signal containing a unique identifier that identifies the originating beacon. A handheld electronic device including a receiver and a communicably coupled processor can receive broadcast signals from at least some of the number of beacons, iteratively determine a vector quantity corresponding to each of the received signals, and sum the resultant vector quantities to determine an updated position. The iterative process can be repeated until consecutive iterations yield an updated position that falls within a defined threshold.