Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes a server and receiver, which includes a radio frequency (RF) front-end circuit that receives wireless signals from the mobile nodes within the WLAN and detects baseband signals. A signal waveform detector edge detects a signal waveform and generates a trigger signal indicative of the modulation type, data format and time-of-arrival (TOA) information of a desired signal to be captured. A baseband processor receives the trigger signal from the signal waveform detector and captures the desired signal. A system controller is connected to the baseband processor and configures the baseband processor for processing the desired signal and obtaining message data and signal metrics that are transferred to the system controller to be communicated outbound from the receiver as a client to the server.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for associating a radio frequency identification tag with a participant. In one embodiment, a method is provided for associating an unassociated RF location tag with a participant. The method may include determining an unassociated RF location tag to be associated with the participant, receiving sensor derived data from one or more sensors, determining an identity of the particular participant using the sensor derived data, and associating the identity of the particular participant with the unassociated RF location tag.

Abstract: Provided are architectures, systems, methods, and computer program products for real-time object locating and position determination using frequency channel diversity for transmitting and receiving position determination signals including bursts of location signals. Channelized frequency diversity of a short burst of small location signals that “hop” across multiple frequency channels is used to collectively produce a quasi-wideband position determination signal. Object tags operating with frequency channel diversity for transmitting location signals of position determination signals require low power consumption, but can still efficiently provide adequate position determination signals for reliable position determination.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a printing assembly that includes an image transfer station and a blower configured to intermittently provide a cooling stream of air to a product being printed upon. The blower may include a centrifugal fan and may have a single plenum providing air to two nozzles. The nozzles may be positioned such that the air targets the edges of the product to facilitate removal of the intermediate transfer media from the targeted areas and reduce the occurrence of flash. The blower may be configured to provide air when the product is expelled from the transfer assembly or while the intermediate transfer media is peeled from the product, but not to provide air when the product is being received by the transfer assembly. The printing assembly may include sensors and control circuitry for detecting the position of the product and controlling the blower accordingly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for calibration of a media processing device are provided. The method may include providing a calibration sub-routine where the calibration sub-routine includes a plurality of calibration operations to be performed in sequence. The method may further include associating an audible note with each calibration operation and generating the audible note for each calibration operation as each respective calibration operation is performed, where the audible note is generated by a frequency of operation of a motor. The audible note associated with one calibration operation may be different from the audible note associated with another calibration operation.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for an active bandwidth management system for a tag target location system. A method is provided including determining a buffer fullness level for a receive buffer in a receiver in a set of one or more receivers, determining, by the processor hub, a set of buffer elements to be removed from the receive buffer in at least one of the receivers based on the buffer fullness level, and communicating to the one or more receivers to remove from the receive buffers the set of receive buffer elements identified by a sequence number.

Abstract: An example media processing device includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position, wherein a cavity is defined between the base and the lid; a printhead assembly attached to the lid; and a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises: at least one cartridge channel configured to receive therein a ribbon cartridge; and at least one printhead assembly channel configured to guide the printhead assembly along the printhead assembly channel in response to the lid being moved between the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: One set of instructions is generated in part by compiling application-specific source code. When natively executed on a platform provided by a device, the set of instructions provides an application. Another set of instructions is generated in part by compiling the same business logic source code. When natively executed on another platform provided by another device, the other set of instructions provides the same application. The business logic source code is substantially free of code specific to any platform. Moreover, the business logic source code defines substantially all application-specific functionality of the application.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing interference rejection in ultra-wideband real time locating systems. In one embodiment, an ultra-wideband (UWB) receiver is configured to: receive an interference signal from a source positioned outside a monitored region; receive a composite signal transmitted from a tagged object moving about a playing field within the monitored region, wherein the composite signal comprises a location signal and a component of the interference signal; detect whether the component of the interference signal exceeds a threshold value; and adjust, via a processor, filtering of the composite signal to attenuate the component of the interference signal based on whether the component of the interference signal exceeds the threshold value. Some embodiments provide for filtering of the composite signal using a combiner while others employ a tunable notch filter.

Abstract: A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a printer, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor printer which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the printer. A printer may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The printer may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for improving, in some examples, reference in a location system. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising: receiving reference tag blink data from a plurality of receivers; calculating, using a processor, a reference phase offset between the plurality of receivers; and generating a suspended reference phase offset table, wherein a suspended reference phase offset table is generated by causing the reference phase offset to be stored in a memory for later tag location calculations.

Abstract: A near-field coupling device that may facilitate communications with a transponder is provided. The near-field coupling device may include a ground plane, a dielectric substrate, one or more conductive strips and a terminating load. The conductive strips together with the ground planes form coupling elements. The near-field coupling device further includes one or more switching elements for selectively connecting and disconnecting the coupling elements with a transceiver. The connected coupling elements define a total characteristic impedance. Using the switching element, the ratio between the total characteristic impedance of the connected coupling elements and the terminating load may be changed in order to adjust the distribution of an electromagnetic field along the coupling elements according to the type and position of the transponder to be processed.

Abstract: An encoding module and related systems and components are provided. The encoding module includes a plurality of encoding elements arranged in an array of columns and rows and one or more switching elements configured to selectively connect the encoding elements to a reader. The connection of the encoding elements may be based on the location of a targeted transponder disposed among multiple adjacent transponders to ensure the selective communication with the targeted transponder only. The module is configured for various types and locations transponders to be used within a system, such as a printer-encoder. Each encoding element may include a loaded conductive strip comprising a loop shape portion and a shield that corresponds to the loop shape portion. In another embodiment, an access control system having an encoding module with the plurality of couplers and an access card having a plurality of transponders corresponding to the couplers is provided.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device including a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, and a beam shaping NFC device. The beam shaping NFC device may include: a ferromagnetic component including a core portion, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity and the spindle is inserted within the core cavity; and a wire coil disposed around the core portion. The ferromagnetic component may be configured to concentrate near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from the mounting surface, or other components capable of causing interference or degradation of the near field interrogation signals.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for an electrical-mechanical interface associated with a miniature RTLS tag, wherein a mechanical shock absorption comprises a protective antenna enclosure and a potting material to secure the electronics to printed circuit boards. A polyester cup seal prevents the potting material from interacting electrically with an RF antenna. A signal processor is electrically isolated from the antenna by a RF shield or metal can. The cup seal is vacuum-sealed about the RF shield. Flexibility in radiation patterns for the antenna is made possible by eliminating the electrical interactions of the dielectric materials associated with mechanical shock absorption and the antenna. The antenna is approximately circular, with a coaxial center feed through the antenna aperture, and is perturbed by purposeful metal and dielectric adjustments to generate nearly omni-directional radiation patterns in elevation and azimuth.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are described herein. An example embodiment may include a cradle including a cradle body configured to support a printing device, the cradle body defining an extended battery cavity, first and second printer capture flanges extending from the cradle body and disposed proximate a first side of the extended battery cavity, first and second biased latches extending from the cradle body and disposed proximate a second side of the extended battery cavity, each of the first and second biased latches defining a printer drive surface and a lock surface, and a communication port extending from the cradle body proximate the second side of the extended battery cavity between the first and second biased latches.

Abstract: A system having a UHF RFID transceiver is adapted to communicate exclusively with a single electro-magnetically coupled transponder located in a predetermined confined transponder operating region. The system includes a near field coupling device comprising a plurality of lines connected in parallel with an unmatched load. The near field coupling device may be formed, for example on a printed circuit board with a plurality of electrically interconnected traces and a ground plane. The system establishes, at predetermined transceiver power levels, a mutual electro-magnetic coupling which is selective exclusively for a single transponder located in a defined transponder operating region. Also included are methods for selective communication with the transponder in an apparatus such as a printer-encoder.

Abstract: A method and an identification system used for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders are disclosed. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognises a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.

Abstract: Provided is thermally imagable media in which selected areas may be thermally activated to change color. The thermally imagable media includes a substrate having a first and second surface, the first surface supporting a thermally imagable coating, an extender coating, and a top coating such that when activated the thermally imagable coating produces a visible color. The thermally imagable media is activated in a direct thermal printer.