Method and apparatus for integrating wireless communication and asset location

A method for identifying tags comprising:

• providing at least one tag adapted to transmit a wireless signal;
• providing a wireless tag identification system adapted to receive a wireless signal from the at least one tag and identify the tag;
• using a first technique to determine the likelihood that the tag is within acceptable communication range, the first technique including using a subset of tag sensors in the wireless tag identification system to identify the presence of a tag;
• and
• using a second technique to collect data from the tag if the tag is determined likely to be within an acceptable communication range, the second technique including using at least one tag sensor not in the subset to collect data from the tag.

A method for identifying tags comprising:

• providing at least one tag adapted to transmit a wireless signal;
• providing a wireless tag identification system adapted to receive a wireless signal from the at least one tag and identify the tag;
• using a first technique to determine the likelihood that the tag is within acceptable communication range, the first technique including aborting a full tag search procedure that includes a plurality of sequences if a correlated magnitude of a signal received in a first sequence is below a threshold;
• and
• using a second technique to collect data from the tag if the tag is determined likely to be within an acceptable communication range.

A method for identifying tags comprising:

• providing at least one tag adapted to transmit a wireless signal;
• providing a wireless tag identification system adapted to receive a wireless signal from the at least one tag and identify the tag;
• using a first technique to determine the likelihood that the tag is within acceptable communication range, the first technique including using one type of signal used to search for tags;
• and
• using a second technique to collect data from the tag if the tag is determined likely to be within an acceptable communication range, the second technique including using another type of signal to collect data from the tag.

A wireless tag identification system, comprising:

• a plurality of tags each associated with an asset;
• at least one tag sensor adapted to communicate by wireless signals with at least one tag, the at least one tag sensor having a coverage area within which the tag sensor can communicate with tags;
• and
• means for controlling wireless signals produced by the at least one tag sensor to minimize interference of the wireless signals with wireless communication of a wireless communication system taking place within the coverage area of the at least one tag sensors,
• wherein the means for controlling adjusts a duty cycle of at least one tag sensor in the wireless tag identification system from a first duty cycle setting to a second duty cycle setting based on previously received signals from tags to provide an adjusted percentage time during which the wireless communication system is permitted to communicate using wireless signals.

A wireless tag identification system, comprising:

• a plurality of tags each associated with an asset;
• at least one tag sensor adapted to communicate by wireless signals with at least one tag, the at least one tag sensor having a coverage area within which the tag sensor can communicate with tags;
• and
• means for controlling wireless signals produced by the at least one tag sensor to minimize interference of the wireless signals with wireless communication of a wireless communication system taking place within the coverage area of the at least one tag sensor;
• wherein the means for controlling the wireless signals synchronizes duty cycles of at least two tag sensors in the wireless tag identification system, and a first tag sensor is a master tag sensor and other tag sensors are notified when the other tag sensors are permitted to transmit wireless signals.

A wireless tag identification system, comprising:

• a plurality of tags each associated with an asset;
• at least one tag sensor adapted to communicate by wireless signals with at least one tag, the at least one tag sensor having a coverage area within which the tag sensor can communicate with tags;
• and
• means for controlling wireless signals produced by the at least one tag sensor to minimize interference of the wireless signals with wireless communication of a wireless communication system taking place within the coverage area of the at least one tag sensor;
• wherein the means for controlling determines if wireless signals related to the wireless communications network are likely being transmitted by detecting a change in energy in at least one communication channel and determines if energy in a communication channel that is indicative of wireless signals related to the wireless communications network is absent for a period longer than a threshold;
• and
• permits wireless signals to be produced by a tag sensor approximately while wireless signals related to the wireless communication system are not being transmitted.

A wireless tag identification system for identifying tags comprising:

• at least one tag adapted to produce a wireless signal;
• at least one tag sensor that receives a wireless signal from the at least one tag;
• means for determining an identity of the tag based on the wireless signal received from the tag;
• and
• means for controlling how wireless signals are generated by the tag sensor, the means for controlling using a first technique to determine the likelihood that the tag is within acceptable communication range, and using a second technique to collect data from the tag if the tag is determined likely to be within an acceptable communication range;
• wherein the first technique comprises adjusting a tag search procedure based on at least one signal received from tags.

A wireless tag identification system for identifying tags comprising:

• at least one tag adapted to produce a wireless signal;
• at least one tag sensor that receives a wireless signal from the at least one tag;
• means for determining an identity of the tag based on the wireless signal received from the tag;
• and
• means for controlling how wireless signals are generated by the tag sensor, the means for controlling using a first technique to determine the likelihood that the tag is within acceptable communication range, and using a second technique to collect data from the tag if the tag is determined likely to be within an acceptable communication range;
• wherein the first technique comprises:
• using a first type of signal used to search for tags;
• and
• the step of using the second technique comprises:
• using a second type of signal to collect data from the tag.

A method for controlling operations of a wireless communication system and a wireless tag identification system having at least partially overlapping coverage areas, comprising:

• providing a wireless communication system having at least two wireless communication devices adapted to communicate by wireless signals;
• providing a wireless tag identification system adapted to communicate by wireless signals with at least one tag associated with an asset;
• controlling the wireless signals produced by the wireless tag identification system to minimize interference of the wireless signals with wireless communication of the wireless communication system;
• providing a host system adapted to communicate with the wireless tag identification system and the wireless communication system;
• and
• sending a signal between the wireless tag identification system and the wireless communication system that indicates a control of the timing at which wireless signals are permitted to be produced by the wireless tag identification system;
• wherein the step of sending a signal comprises sending a signal from the host system to at least one of the wireless tag identification system and the wireless communication system representative of whether the wireless tag identification system or the wireless communication system may use a wireless communication channel.