Method and system for RF activation of RF interrogators
AssigneeSymbol Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBruce Willins, Richard Vollkommer
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Abstract
Described is a method and system for detecting a first trigger event using a trigger device, the trigger device including a trigger sensor and a trigger tag. Listening on a predetermined radio frequency band by an interrogator for an activation signal, wherein the activation signal is generated by the trigger tag, the activation signal including a unique identifier of the trigger tag and receiving the activation signal. The activation signal is then validated as being received from an associated trigger tag and the interrogator is activated into an interrogation mode upon validation of the activation signal.
Claims21
A method, comprising the steps of:
- detecting a first trigger event using a trigger device, the trigger device including a trigger sensor and a trigger tag;
- listening on a predetermined radio frequency band by an interrogator for an activation signal, wherein the activation signal is generated by the trigger tag, the activation signal including a unique identifier of the trigger tag;
- receiving the activation signal;
- validating that the activation signal was received from an associated trigger tag;
- and
- activating the interrogator into an interrogation mode upon validation of the activation signal.
A system, comprising:
- a trigger device including a trigger sensor and a trigger tag, the trigger sensor detecting a trigger event, the trigger tag transmitting an activation signal upon detection of the trigger event, the activation signal including a unique identifier of the trigger tag;
- and
- an interrogator including a radio frequency receiving circuit to receive the activation signal, the interrogator validating the unique identifier of trigger tag in the activation signal and switching from a listening mode to an interrogation mode upon validation of the unique identifier.
A method of operating an interrogation device, comprising the steps of:
- listening, in a listening mode, on a predetermined radio frequency for an activation signal;
- validating the activation signal is received from one of associated trigger tags;
- and
- switching from the listening mode to an interrogation mode, wherein the interrogation mode includes the emission of radio frequency waves to interrogate RFID tags.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.