Abstract: An example communication device is disclosed herein. The communication device includes a magnetic-field interface; a near-field radio frequency (RF) interface; a far-field RF interface; and a controller. The controller is configured to place the communication device in a deep sleep mode, and in response to receiving a wake-up signal at the near-field RF interface, transition the communication device from the deep sleep mode to an awake mode for a period of time. If an activation signal is received during the period of time, the controller can transition the communication device from the awake mode to a fully functional mode, and if the activation signal is not received during the period of time, the controller can transition the communication device from the awake mode to the deep sleep mode.

Abstract: An example disclosed method includes, in response to receiving a first signal at a communication device when the communication device is in a deep sleep mode, changing the tag from the deep sleep mode to an awake mode for a period of time, wherein the communication device consumes a first amount of power in the deep sleep mode, and the communication device consumes a second amount of power in the awake mode, and the second amount of power is greater than the first amount of power; in response to receiving a second signal during the period of time when in the awake mode, changing the communication device from the awake mode to a fully functional mode, wherein the communication device consumes a third amount of power in the fully functional mode, and the third amount of power is greater than the second amount of power; and, in response to not receiving the second signal during the period of time, changing the communication device from the awake mode to the deep sleep mode.

Abstract: Methods and devices for determining movement associated with an antenna of a receiver are disclosed herein. An example method includes generating a first acceleration signal associated with the antenna, wherein the first acceleration signal includes one or more substantially non-zero axial components. The method may further include establishing an acceleration signature corresponding to the antenna based on the first acceleration signal, and generating a second acceleration signal associated with the antenna, wherein the second acceleration signal includes one or more substantially non-zero axial components. The method may further include determining a signal difference between the acceleration signature and the second acceleration signal, wherein the signal difference is attributable to a movement of the antenna. The method may further include generating an alert signal indicating the movement.

Abstract: Methods and devices for determining movement associated with an antenna of a receiver are disclosed herein. An example method includes generating a first acceleration signal associated with the antenna, wherein the first acceleration signal includes one or more substantially non-zero axial components. The method may further include establishing an acceleration signature corresponding to the antenna based on the first acceleration signal, and generating a second acceleration signal associated with the antenna, wherein the second acceleration signal includes one or more substantially non-zero axial components. The method may further include determining a signal difference between the acceleration signature and the second acceleration signal, wherein the signal difference is attributable to a movement of the antenna. The method may further include generating an alert signal indicating the movement.

Abstract: An example disclosed method includes, in response to receiving a first signal at a communication device when the communication device is in a deep sleep mode, changing the tag from the deep sleep mode to an awake mode for a period of time, wherein the communication device consumes a first amount of power in the deep sleep mode, and the communication device consumes a second amount of power in the awake mode, and the second amount of power is greater than the first amount of power; in response to receiving a second signal during the period of time when in the awake mode, changing the communication device from the awake mode to a fully functional mode, wherein the communication device consumes a third amount of power in the fully functional mode, and the third amount of power is greater than the second amount of power; and, in response to not receiving the second signal during the period of time, changing the communication device from the awake mode to the deep sleep mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reference regeneration in real time location systems are disclosed. An example disclosed method includes obtaining reference phase offsets from a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) receivers; transmitting a first synchronization signal via a wireline link to obtain differential wireline coarse sync measurements; determining a residual offset table based at least in part on the differential wireline coarse sync measurements and the reference phase offsets; transmitting a second synchronization signal via the wireline link to obtain revised differential wireline coarse sync measurements; generating revised reference phase offsets by combining the revised differential wireline coarse sync offsets with the residual offset table; and determining a physical location of a RFID tag based at least in part on i) the revised reference phase offsets and ii) RFID receiver clock measurements corresponding to a time-of-arrival of over-the-air data transmitted from the RFID tag.

Abstract: An example disclosed method includes generating, by a microcontroller of a controller, a data packet; and causing the transmission of the data packet on blink data pulses from two or more individual transmit modules, wherein each individual transmit module is in comprises an antenna and a pulse generator configured to transmit the data packet and is in data communications with the controller, wherein the controller causes substantially simultaneous transmission of the blink data pulses from the respective transmit modules to encourage reliable receipt of the blink data pulses at one or more of a plurality of receivers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reference regeneration in real time location systems are disclosed. An example disclosed method includes obtaining reference phase offsets from a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) receivers; transmitting a first synchronization signal via a wireline link to obtain differential wireline coarse sync measurements; determining a residual offset table based at least in part on the differential wireline coarse sync measurements and the reference phase offsets; transmitting a second synchronization signal via the wireline link to obtain revised differential wireline coarse sync measurements; generating revised reference phase offsets by combining the revised differential wireline coarse sync offsets with the residual offset table; and determining a physical location of a RFID tag based at least in part on i) the revised reference phase offsets and ii) RFID receiver clock measurements corresponding to a time-of-arrival of over-the-air data transmitted from the RFID tag.

Abstract: An example disclosed method includes generating, by a microcontroller of a controller, a data packet; and causing the transmission of the data packet on blink data pulses from two or more individual transmit modules, wherein each individual transmit module is in comprises an antenna and a pulse generator configured to transmit the data packet and is in data communications with the controller, wherein the controller causes substantially simultaneous transmission of the blink data pulses from the respective transmit modules to encourage reliable receipt of the blink data pulses at one or more of a plurality of receivers.

Abstract: A modular location tag, method of manufacture, and method of use thereof are provided. The modular location tag including a controller including a microcontroller configured to generate a data packet and a two or more individual transmit modules in data communication with the controller such that each individual transmit module is configured to transmit the data packet, each individual transmit module including an antenna and a pulse generator configured to transmit the data packet on ultra-wideband (UWB) blink data pulses. The controller causes substantially simultaneous transmission of the UWB blink data pulses from the respective transmit modules encourage reliable receipt of the UWB blink data pulses at one or more of a plurality of receivers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.