Methods and Apparatus for Switching A Transponder To an Active State, and Asset Management Systems Employing Same

A system for tracking a plurality of assets, comprising:

• a central computer system, said central computer system maintaining a plurality of records relating to said assets;
• and
• a plurality of transponders, each of said transponders being associated with a respective one of said assets and storing an identifier identifying the particular asset with which the transponder is associated, wherein each of said transponders comprises:
• an electronic device, said electronic device being capable of being in an inactive, sleep state and an active state;
• a power source in electronic communication with said electronic device, said power source providing power to said electronic device;
• and
• a switch having an antenna for receiving at least one RF signal, said at least one RF signal being generated at the direction of said central computer system, said switch converting said at least one RF signal into at least one DC signal;
• wherein said at least one DC signal causes said electronic device to move from said inactive, sleep state to said active state, wherein when said electronic device is in said active state the transponder generates and transmits a response signal including the identifier identifying the particular asset with which the transponder is associated, and wherein said response signal is used to update a particular one of the record maintained by the central computer system relating to the asset identified by the identifier in the response signal.