Abstract: Merchandising and marketing data collection systems (100, 400, 500, 700, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500) collect data on shopper's (816) interaction with merchandise samples (106, 414, 1212, 1400, 1502), page store personnel, output promotional vouchers and use the merchandise samples to access information about the capabilities of the merchandise being sold.

Abstract: A tray (201) comprises electrically conductive material and has at least one hand-graspable fixture (203). This hand-graspable fixture comprises an electrical conductor (301) disposed in a location that is likely to be operably interacted with by a human who grasps the hand-graspable fixture. A capacitively-coupled RFID tag is then disposed on the hand-graspable fixture with a first antenna plate (303) being electrically coupled to the tray and a second antenna plate (304) that electrically couples to the electrical conductor. A corresponding tray receiving compartment (400) has a front lip (401) over which the tray must pass and upon which the tray will rest when properly disposed within the tray receiving compartment. One or more capacitively-coupled RFID tag reader antennas (402) are disposed proximal to the front lip. These antennas may be positioned to facilitate reading the capacitively-coupled RFID tag when the tray is properly disposed within the tray receiving compartment.

Abstract: An identifier of choice is correlated (102) with a predetermined task that potentially comprises a plurality of discrete human-enabled events. At least some of these discrete human-enabled events are then associated (104) with a corresponding capacitively-coupled radio frequency identification tag and the identifier then used (105) to monitor effectuation of the predetermined task. By one approach this monitoring comprises, at least in part, monitoring human-based task effectuation events via the capacitively-coupled radio frequency identification tags.

Abstract: A passive repeater includes: a connecting transmission circuit having first and second opposing ends and made of a flexible material for substantially conforming to a portion of a structure, the structure having first and second opposing sides; first and second antenna elements respectively coupled to the first and second opposing ends of the connecting transmission element; and first and second affixing elements respectively coupled to the first and second antenna elements for attaching the first and second antenna elements to the first and second opposing sides of the structure, wherein the first and second antenna elements are operable to transfer a signal from the first opposing side of the structure to the second opposing side of the structure via the connecting transmission circuit.

Abstract: Merchandising and marketing data collection systems (100, 400, 500, 700, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500) collect data on shopper's (816) interaction with merchandise samples (106, 414, 1212, 1400, 1502), page store personnel, output promotional vouchers and use the merchandise samples to access information about the capabilities of the merchandise being sold.

Abstract: The presence of the non-television transmission within a channel is used to indicate that secondary non-licensed usage of the channel is permitted. Specifically, if secondary users incorporate the means to identify the unique modulation signature of the secondary user, decoding of a beacon signal may not be necessary. With the above in mind, a radio will be prevented from transmitting within a frequency band when no transmission within the licensed spectrum is currently taking place; the licensee is currently transmitting on the spectrum (e.g., television transmissions are taking place utilizing the spectrum, or the radio cannot sense the presence of a data channel (beacon).

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-band, multi-mode RFID tag that uses a single antenna structure and integrated circuit to provide asset location information at any stage of a supply chain. The unified tag design operates at multiple frequencies (or bands) using the antenna structure, for example, 125 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 915 MHz, and 2.45 GHz, and preferably operates electrostatically (at lower frequencies) and electromagnetically (ay higher frequencies). An on-chip frequency monitor in the integrated circuit automatically determines which frequency is present and derives a local clock for the tag's integrated circuit, which can vary in accordance with the frequency or which can be constant. Alternatively, a phase locked loop circuit can be used to derive a local clock signal modulated into the interrogation signal. On-chip matching and power extraction circuits derive power for the tag from the interrogation signal, which is preferably passive.