Thermal radio frequency identification system and method
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorKen R. McTigue
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved solution for radio frequency identification (RFID) systems is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, the RFID tag includes: a power source; a data storage repository; a radio frequency (RF) transmitting element configured to transmit data from the data storage repository, and electrically attached to the power source; and a thermal to electrical energy converter electrically attached to the power source.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- an information technology asset;
- and
- an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:
- a power source;
- a data storage repository;
- a radio frequency (RF) transmitting element configured to transmit data from the data storage repository, and electrically attached to the power source;
- a thermal to electrical energy converter electrically attached to the power source, wherein the thermal to electrical energy converter receives thermal energy from the information technology asset and is a second power source for the RFID tag;
- and
- a capacitor electrically connected to one of the power source or the thermal to electrical energy converter, wherein the RF transmitting element transmits the data upon the capacitor being recharged to a threshold.
A method of managing an asset with an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:
- placing the active RFID tag in proximity to the asset, wherein the asset is an information technology asset, the active RFID tag comprising:
- a power source;
- a data storage repository;
- a radio frequency (RF) transmitting element configured to transmit data from the data storage repository, and electrically attached to the power source;
- a thermal to electrical energy converter electrically attached to the power source, wherein the thermal to electrical energy converter receives thermal energy from the asset and is a second power source for the RFID tag;
- and
- a capacitor electrically connected to one of the power source or the thermal to electrical energy converter, wherein the RF transmitting element transmits the data upon the capacitor being recharged to a threshold.
A computer program comprising program code stored on a computer-readable storage medium, which when executed, enables a computer system to implement a method of managing an asset with an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:
- receiving data transmitted from the active RFID tag, wherein the data includes a detected temperature change of the asset obtained from the active RFID tag wherein the active RFID tag includes a thermal to electrical energy converter, wherein the asset is an information technology asset, wherein the thermal to electrical energy converter receives thermal energy from the asset and is a power source for the RFID tag, and wherein the active RFID tag includes a capacitor electrically connected to one of the power source or the thermal to electrical energy converter, wherein the RF transmitting element transmits the data upon the capacitor being recharged to a threshold;
- and
- processing the data.
A radio frequency (RF) system, the system comprising:
- an information technology asset;
- an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, wherein the active RFID tag is associated with the information technology asset, comprising:
- a power source;
- a data storage repository;
- an RF transmitting element configured to transmit data from the data storage repository, and electrically attached to the power source;
- a thermal to electrical energy converter electrically attached to the power source, wherein the thermal to electrical energy converter receives thermal energy from the information technology asset and is a second power source for the RFID tag;
- and
- a capacitor electrically connected to one of the power source or the thermal to electrical energy converter, wherein the RF transmitting element transmits the data upon the capacitor being recharged to a threshold;
- and
- a computer system configured to manage the information technology asset using the transmitted data, wherein the computer system determines an operating status of the information technology asset using the transmitted data.
A method of generating a system for managing an asset with an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:
- providing a computer system operable to:
- receive data transmitted from the active RFID tag, wherein the data includes a detected temperature change of the asset obtained from the active RFID tag;
- and
- process the data;
- and
- providing an active RFID tag, wherein the active RFID tag is placed in proximity to the asset, the active RFID tag comprising:
- a power source;
- a data storage repository;
- a radio frequency (RF) transmitting element configured to transmit data from the data storage repository, and electrically attached to the power source;
- a thermal to electrical energy converter electrically attached to the power source, wherein the thermal to electrical energy converter receives thermal energy from the information technology asset and is a second power source for the RFID tag;
- and
- a capacitor electrically connected to one of the power source or the thermal to electrical energy converter, wherein the RF transmitting element transmits the data upon the capacitor being recharged to a threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.