Multimode wireless local area network/radio frequency identification asset tag
OwnerDavid Goren, Raj Bridgelall +1inventors
InventorsDavid Goren, Raj Bridgelall, Bruce Willins
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Abstract
Asset tags for use in a WLAN/RFID system are provided. The asset tag comprises a processor, an RFID antenna coupled to the processor and configured to receive interrogations from an RFID reader and send replies to the RFID reader; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor, the wireless transceiver configured to receive information from and send information to a wireless access port of a wireless local area network.
Claims52
An asset tag for use in an WLAN/RFID system, the asset tag comprising:
- a processor;
- an RFID communication section coupled to the processor and configured to receive interrogations from an RFID reader and send replies to the RFID reader;
- and
- a wireless communication section coupled to the processor and configured to receive information from and send information to a wireless access port of a wireless local area network.
19 The tag of claim 15 wherein the sensor is a humidity sensor and the predefined event is the detection of a predetermined humidity level.
20 The tag of claim 1 wherein the tag is configured to emulate an active tag, a passive tag or a semi-passive tag.
The tag of claim 20 wherein the emulation of the tag is determined by the charge state of a battery.
The tag of claim 20 wherein the emulation of the tag is based on a command sent to a wireless transceiver of the wireless communication section.
The tag of claim 20 wherein the emulation of the tag is set to achieve an optimal balance between power efficiency, communication range and data transfer rate.
The tag of claim 20 wherein the tag is set to emulate a passive tag when the tag is idle.
A system for tracking an asset within a wireless local area network comprising:
- a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a one server computer;
- a tag attached to the asset, the tag comprising a wireless transceiver configured to send signals and to receive signals from the plurality of wireless access points;
- and
- wherein the server computer is configured to determine the location of the asset based on signals sent from the tag.
37 The system of claim 25 wherein the tag is configured to emulate an active tag, a passive tag or a semi-passive tag.
The system of claim 37 wherein the emulation of the tag is determined by the charge state of a battery.
The system of claim 37 wherein the emulation of the tag is based on a command sent to the wireless transceiver.
The system of claim 37 wherein the emulation of the tag is set to achieve an optimal balance between power efficiency, communication range and data transfer rate.
The system of claim 37 wherein the tag is set to emulate a passive tag when the tag is idle.
An asset tag for use in an WLAN/RFID system, the asset tag comprising:
- a battery;
- a processor coupled to the battery;
- an RFID antenna coupled to the processor and configured to receive interrogations from an RFID reader and send replies to the RFID reader;
- a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor, the wireless transceiver configured to receive information from and send information to a wireless access port of a wireless local area network;
- and
- wherein the tag is configured to emulate an active tag, a passive tag or a semi-passive tag.
An asset tag for use in a WLAN/RFID system, the asset tag comprising:
- a battery;
- a processor coupled to the battery;
- an RFID communication section coupled to the processor and configured to receive interrogations from an RFID reader and send replies to the RFID reader;
- and
- wherein the tag is configured to emulate an active tag, a passive tag or a semi-passive tag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.