Abstract: A method and apparatus for an RFID tag to facilitate the determination of its location while at the same time minimizing the energy drain on the tag's battery. At predetermined intervals, the tag transmits its identifier along with status information. If the status indicates that the tag is in a new location, the tag will then expend additional battery energy by participating in the determination of its location. The distance from an interrogator to the tag is determined by transmitting two signals from the interrogator that propagate at different velocities. By determining the difference in arrival times at the tag of the two signals, the distance from the interrogator to the tag can be determined.

Abstract: A path-based identifier is provided. An entity identifier is generated at an entity of a supply chain and the entity identifier is based on a reliability of the entity of the supply chain at which the entity identifier is generated. In addition, an updated path-based identifier is stored based on a predetermined function, where the entity identifier is an input to the predetermined function.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a source point of a supply chain secures shipment of an object by devising an encryption key and encrypting a message using the encryption key to produce an encrypted message. A portion or portions of the encryption key and the encrypted message are included or incorporated within the object to be shipped, packaging surrounding the object, and/or labels affixed to the object or packaging, prior to shipping the object to a destination point within the supply chain. Upon receipt of the object from the supply chain, the destination point can extract the portion or portions of the encryption key and the encrypted message from the object, packaging surrounding the object, and/or labels affixed to the object or packaging, obtain the remaining portion of the encryption key directly from the source point, reassemble the encryption key, and decrypt the encrypted message to produce a computed message.

Abstract: Information from a package is read. An encryption key is generated from the information read from the package. A text unit is encrypted using the encryption key. The encrypted text unit is affixed to the package.

Abstract: A computing node is connected to a sensor and an actuator. The computing node receives a module which is used to program the computing node to perform a function associated with the sensor and the actuator.

Abstract: A device for limiting access to information corresponding to a context. The device has context logic configured to determine context and a trusted computing platform coupled to the context logic. The trusted computing has a computer readable medium and a filter coupled to the computer readable medium. The filter is configured to receive context from the context logic and retrieve context information from the computer readable medium associated with the context. Thus, the trusted platform limits access to the context information in the database unless context associated with the context information is received.

Abstract: A data structure disposed in a computer readable memory provides information corresponding to a location. The data structure includes a first data field for identifying the location and a second data field associated with the first data field containing information corresponding to the location.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention describe a method of tracking an item, comprising. The items is associated with a tag and capable of responding to a query from a tag reader and tag combination. The tag reader and tag combination capable of identifying the item associated with the tag using a tag reader. In operation, a tag reader makes a request to at least one tag reader and tag combination for the identity of an item associated with a tag. The tag reader and tag combination identifies the item associated with the tag and provides the identity of the item and tag to the tag reader.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a source point in a supply chain generates a secret and devises a secret sharing scheme that parcels the secret into a number of secret shares. The source point retains at least one secret share, and distributes the remaining secret shares to trusted, intermediate points in the supply chain. The source point then ships a shipment comprising are least one object, and frequently including at least one level of packaging, to a destination point in the supply chain, labeling the object or objects and/or packaging enclosing the object or objects with the retained secret share. Each intermediate point incorporates the secret share obtained by the intermediate point from the source point into the object, packaging enclosing the object, or a label on the object or packaging.

Abstract: Methods and systems of the present invention are directed to clustering RFID-tag readers of a multi-RFID-tag-reader network in order to obtain a set of RFID-tag readers with high probability of detecting an event, but with low probability of collisions and with an acceptable cost. The cost may be determined by any of numerous cost functions of the RFID-tag readers in the set of RFID-tag readers, and may represent a cost in power, long-term reliability, and other such metrics that may be applied to an RFID-tag network.

Abstract: Methods and systems of the present invention employ perturbation techniques for configuring RFID-tag-reader networks in order to achieve increased overall efficiency of a network of RFID-tag readers. According to described embodiments of the present invention, individual RFID-tag readers within a multi-RFID-tag-reader network may be removed or shut down, or RFID-tag readers may be displaced relative to one another, in order to remove interferences between RFID-tag readers and to increase the interrogation efficiency of the multi-RFID-tag-reader network. A method embodiment of the present invention schedules a multi-RFID-tag-reader network as a cycle of power-on/power-off intervals.

Abstract: A package identifier for a package having at least one sub-package is generated. A package identifier generating function is performed on at least one sub-package identifier of the at least one sub-package to generate the package identifier. In addition, the generated package identifier is stored for use in authentication.

Abstract: Methods and systems of the present invention employ perturbation techniques for configuring RFID-tag-reader networks in order to achieve increased overall efficiency of a network of RFID-tag readers. According to described embodiments of the present invention, individual RFID-tag readers within a multi-RFID-tag-reader network may be removed or shut down, or RFID-tag readers may be displaced relative to one another, in order to remove interferences between RFID-tag readers and to increase the interrogation efficiency of the multi-RFID-tag-reader network.

Abstract: Data from a data source is received. A location in a spreadsheet is determined for placing at least a portion of the data from the data source based on location information for the data source.

Abstract: A localization method for setting the locale of a configurable device is presented. The first portion of the localization transmits localization selections for a target locale to a configurable device. Localization selections are initially set on an interrogator device and then transmitted wirelessly using RFID or other technologies from the interrogator device to a tag coupled to the configurable device. A second portion of the localization receives localization selections for a target locale on the configurable device. A tag receives from an interrogator device one or more localization selections for the target locale on the configurable device. These localization selections are stored on the tag until the configurable device is powered-on. Device initialization causes another portion of the localization to set a target locale on a configurable device. Firmware accesses localization selections previously stored on the tag and then sets the default localization selections in the firmware for the device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a storage medium. The processor is operable to collect device data associated with the apparatus and transmit at least some of the device data to a tag.

Abstract: A secure token includes a processor for protecting a first cryptographic key against unauthorized access, and creating a second cryptographic key from the first key and a message unique to an insecure device. The second key is usable for file decryption by the insecure device.

Abstract: A system and method for managing electrically isolated fuel cell powered devices within an equipment rack is disclosed. The system discloses: an equipment rack; fuel cell devices; a fluid bus; a fluid manifold, coupling the fluid bus to each of the fuel cell devices; and an external fuel cell manager, for controlling a flow of fuel cell fluids to each of the fuel cell devices. The method discloses: generating electrical power on an electrical bus internal to each of a set of fuel cell devices, which are located in an equipment rack having an external electrical bus; transporting fuel cell fluids from a fluid bus to the fuel cell devices through a fluid manifold; adjusting the electrical power generated by each of the fuel cell devices; and electrically isolating the internal electrical bus of each of the fuel cell devices from the external electrical bus.

Abstract: In a method of authenticating a package, an origin noise level of the package is determined based upon one or more identifying characteristics, where the origin noise level is a deviation from a normal condition caused by the one or more identifying characteristics. In addition, the package is authenticated based upon the origin noise level of the package.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a source point, or security management entity, within a supply chain labels a shipment to be shipped through the supply chain with numbers, text strings, or other type of label information. Different label information may be placed at each of multiple levels of packaging as well as on objects within the packaging. The source point devises an encryption-key chain via a one-way function, and encrypts combinations of the label information incorporated within the packaging and objects using encryption keys from the encryption-key chain to produce one or more encrypted label tags. The one or more encrypted label tags are affixed to the shipment by the source point, and the shipment is sent into the supply chain for eventual delivery to a destination point. At pre-selected intervals of time, the source point reveals encryption keys within the encryption-key chain.