Systems and methods for determining inventory using time-slotted tag communications

A method for determining an inventory, comprising:

• placing a tag of a plurality of tags in a first operational mode in which at least one communication operation or device of the tag is disabled or bypassed;
• performing first operations by the tag to determine when it is time to begin communications in accordance with a first time slot of a plurality of time slots of a time slotted communications scheme, the first time slot having been allotted to the tag according to a unique code of the tag, and the time slotted communications scheme allotting respective time slots of the plurality of time slots to the plurality of tags;
• transitioning an operational mode of the tag from the first operational mode to a second operational mode in which the at least one communication operation or device of the tag is enabled or no longer bypassed, in response to a determination that it is time for the tag to begin communications and the RFID tag is in motion;
• and
• transitioning the operational mode of the tag back into the first operational mode when the tag's communications with a remote tag reader are complete or the first time slot has expired.

A Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tag, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to implement a method for determining an inventory, wherein the programming instructions comprise instructions to:
• place the RFID tag in a first operational mode in which at least one communication operation or device of the RFID tag is disabled or bypassed, a plurality of RFID tags comprising the RFID tag;
• perform first operations to determine when it is time to begin communications in accordance with a first time slot of a plurality of time slots of a time slotted communications scheme, the first time slot having been allotted to the RFID tag according to a unique code of the RFID tag, and the time slotted communications scheme allotting respective time slots of the plurality of time slots to the plurality of RFID tags;
• transition an operational mode of the RFID tag from the first operational mode to a second operational mode in which the at least one communication operation or device of the RFID tag is enabled or no longer bypassed, in response to a determination that it is time for the RFID tag to begin communications and the RFID tag is in motion;
• and
• transition the operational mode of the RFID tag back into the first operational mode when the RFID tag's communications with a remote tag reader are complete or the first time slot has expired.