Abstract: A system comprising an RFID Reader and an array of RFID Tags, where the tags have the ability to measure physical signal properties such as FM deviation and Received Signal Strength as examples and use these measurements to create a means to refrain from responding to the Reader, unless the measured values fall inside a range determined by a built in algorithm or decision tree or by the Reader and transmitted to the array of Tags in an outbound message. The system may also use non-physical parameters, including tokens sent by the Interrogator/Reader to the Tag field. Moreover, physical parameters may be divided into maskable and unmaskable parameters. Signal frequency is not maskable by the environment, for example, but signal amplitude and phase are maskable by the environment during propagation. Additionally, the number, the nature and the range of each Multidimensional Variable are set by the Interrogator at the start of a session.

Abstract: A method is presented for taking an unknown field of transponders and converting them to a slotted Aloha architecture and increasing the throughput allowed by the slotted Aloha architecture by using several different techniques including shortening the time of empty and collided timeslots, implementing a unique random number generator that creates random numbers that are uniquely based on an individual tags location, and on an ability to estimate the total number of transponders and control the offered rate such that throughput is always maximum. While these techniques work well together and produce the most benefit when used together, they are independent techniques and any one may be used alone without the others. Thus a system might use the estimated total number of transponders technique and the timeslot shortening technique, but use a standard random number generator rather one based on transponder location with only a small decrease in overall performance.

Abstract: A method and system for reading RFID tags in a high-density environment using a directional scanning antenna system is provided. The directional scanning antenna system consists of transmit and receive antennas having highly directional antenna patterns which work together to read and locate the tags. In operation both types of antennas are stepped in a circular fashion with respect to each other wherein the transmit antenna's antenna pattern pauses during rotation while the receive antenna pattern sweeps across the radiating antenna's path produced by the transmit antenna such that the antenna patterns produced from each isolate and determine the location of the tags.

Abstract: A method is presented for taking an unknown field of transponders and converting them to a slotted Aloha architecture and increasing the throughput allowed by the slotted Aloha architecture by using several different techniques including shortening the time of empty and collided timeslots, implementing a unique random number generator that creates random numbers that are uniquely based on an individual tags location, and on an ability to estimate the total number of transponders and control the offered rate such that throughput is always maximum. While these techniques work well together and produce the most benefit when used together, they are independent techniques and any one may be used alone without the others. Thus a system might use the estimated total number of transponders technique and the timeslot shortening technique, but use a standard random number generator rather one based on transponder location with only a small decrease in overall performance.

Abstract: A system comprising an RFID Reader and an array of RFID Tags, where the tags have the ability to measure physical signal properties such as FM deviation and Received Signal Strength as examples and use these measurements to create a means to refrain from responding to the Reader, unless the measured values fall inside a range determined by a built in algorithm or decision tree or by the Reader and transmitted to the array of Tags in an outbound message. The system may also use non-physical parameters, including tokens sent by the Interrogator/Reader to the Tag field. Moreover, physical parameters may be divided into maskable and unmaskable parameters. Signal frequency is not maskable by the environment, for example, but signal amplitude and phase are maskable by the environment during propagation. Additionally, the number, the nature and the range of each Multidimensional Variable are set by the Interrogator at the start of a session.

Abstract: A method and system for reading RFID tags in a high-density environment using a directional scanning antenna system is provided. The directional scanning antenna system consists of transmit and receive antennas having highly directional antenna patterns which work together to read and locate the tags. In operation both types of antennas are stepped in a circular fashion with respect to each other wherein the transmit antenna's antenna pattern pauses during rotation while the receive antenna pattern sweeps across the radiating antenna's path produced by the transmit antenna such that the antenna patterns produced from each isolate and determine the location of the tags.

Abstract: A system and method is provided which allows for instant recognition of contents of a closed container by providing descriptive information in the form of a picture, and/or an audio description, and/or text of the contents of the closed container taken at the time of packing the container. The system keeps track of the contents of an individual container by storing information describing the contents of the container that is then related to a unique identification number stored in a radio frequency identification tag affixed to the container. This information is then stored in a digital database for later reference.

Abstract: A display portal page in a web-based environment. This display portlet presents the message communication information between the portlets that are currently running on that portal page. The displayed message communication information indicates the portlet that is the source of a transmitted message and displays one or more portlets that receive the message. The visual representations can be of various formats such as a spacial display or a tree representation. Each communicated message has a stored record identifying the transmitting portlet and any portlet that receives the message.

Abstract: A display portlet is incorporated into a portal page in a web-based environment. This display portlet presents the launch sequence of the portlets that are currently running on that portal page. The displayed launch sequence indicates the source of a launched portlet and displays any portlets that are launched by a portlet running on that portal page. The visual representations can be of various formats such as a spacial display or a tree representation. Each launched portlet has a stored record containing information about the portlet, the portlet that launched it and any portlets launched by the particular portlet.

Abstract: The idea of the present invention is to define a set of rules that: determine the set of actions that apply based on the context of a selected object and UI operating system environment (known hereafter as Filter Rules), determine for a selected action it's input values, again based on the above context (known hereafter as Input Rules) and determine the set of backend tasks to run in order to perform that action (known here after as Task Rules). A software engine is postulated that will consume these rules, performing the operations described above. The advantages of such an implementation are a system that can be adapted to changing conditions by altering or augmenting the rules in its database.

Abstract: A task-like user interface is provided for Web-based applications. Preferred embodiments enable users to initiate multiple instances of tasks within a single Web application, where independent state information is retained for each instance. Each user-initiated task also has a prescribed life cycle with a definite start and end. Resources allocated to perform various activities can therefore be released when the activity ends. Optionally, contextual information can be passed to a task upon invocation. Support for persisting a currently-viewable work unit as a user-selectable favorite may optionally be provided.