During hand-held operation, configuration of an NFC/RFID Reader/Writer peripheral device in a predefined mode named Mobile Mode with Auto-Collection, enables recognition of a long duration (e.g. 5 second) trigger press (AKA a Long Press) as an enabling event prompting a change of scan behavior between single-shot scan operation and continuous scan operation. In other defined Modes of the peripheral device, other predetermined enabling events, such as the presence or absence of a predetermined external power source, prompt the change between single-shot and continuous scan operations. The Long Press and the other intuitive features enable the general user to be able to switch between various modes and to do so without requiring acquisition or use of an additional dedicated scanner with its requisite expense or inconvenience, and without requiring advanced knowledge, special access, or special resources.

A card reader which reads information recorded on a card may include a plurality of units having overlapping operation periods; and a control unit structured to operate each of the plurality of units by a plurality of drive powers. The control unit may be configured to control the plurality of units so that periods in which the drive powers of each of the plurality of units are maximum do not overlap.

According to one embodiment, a wireless tag reading apparatus includes a first communication interface configured to communicate with a first external device, a second communication interface configured to communicate with a second external device, an antenna configured to emit a radio wave to read a wireless tag, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify either (a) the first communication interface as being in communication with the first external device or (b) the second communication interface as being in communication with the second external device. The controller is configured to change a power level of the radio wave emitted by the antenna based on which of the first communication interface or the second communication interface is identified. The controller is configured to read the wireless tag by controlling the antenna to emit the radio wave with the changed power level.

Energy remains a critical challenge for continuous sensing: with low-capacity batteries, wearable devices require frequent charging. In contrast, installing sensors in everyday smart objects, such as kitchen cabinets, household appliances and office equipment, supports ADL detection via indirect observations on human interaction with such objects, but cannot provide individual-specific insights in multi-tenanted environments. The embodiments herein provide a method and system for energy efficient activity recognition and behavior analysis. Architecture disclosed utilizes a hybrid mode of inexpensive, battery-free sensing of physical activities performed by a subject been monitored during his Activities for Daily Living (ADLs). The sensing combines object interaction sensing with person-specific wearable sensing to recognize individual activities in smart spaces. The method and system disclosed quantifies a probabilistic approach that uses longitudinal observations of user-item interactions, over each individual episode, to compute the anomalous behavior of the subject.

A wireless power system includes a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device includes a power conversion unit, a function module, and a transceiver. The peripheral device includes a wireless power receiver circuit, a peripheral transceiver, and a peripheral unit. The power conversion unit converts a power source into an electromagnetic signal. The functional module executes a function regarding peripheral information. The transceiver communicates information regarding the electromagnetic signal and the peripheral information. The wireless power receiver circuit converts the electromagnetic signal into a voltage. The peripheral transceiver communicates the information regarding the electromagnetic signal and the peripheral information. The peripheral unit processes the peripheral information.

A wireless card reader system includes: a card reader terminal that is battery-driven and obtains card data for verification; a high-order host apparatus that verifies the card data, changes an operating state of a target device when a verification result is successful, and sends the verification result; and an interface apparatus that relays communication between the card reader terminal and the high-order host apparatus. The card reader terminal is operable in a normal mode or in a sleep mode. The card reader terminal switches to the sleep mode after sending the card data in the normal mode. The card reader terminal temporarily returns from the sleep mode to the normal mode to perform polling to the interface apparatus, and obtains the verification result. The polling is performed less frequently in a period before a state change than in a period after the state change.

A system includes a plurality of lighting devices connected in a network to communicate in a service area, and a smart tag configured to communicate with one or more of the lighting devices. Each respective lighting device is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal including a device identifier of the respective lighting device. In response to expiration of a time period or an occurrence of an event, the smart tag is configured to transition from a low power consumption sleep mode to an awake mode. During the awake mode, the smart tag is configured to provide information that enables a processor or other computing device to determine a position of the smart tag or any asset associated with the smart tag in the service area. Upon transmission of the information, the smart tag is transitioned from the awake mode back to the low power consumption sleep mode.

A tag is configured to provide information that enables a processor or other computing device to locate the tag and any asset associated with the tag in an area. The tag incorporates a motion sensor responsive to movements of the tag above a predetermined rate and a predetermined magnitude. In response to the movements above the predetermined rate and magnitude, the motion sensor generates a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold. An energy-saving process exploits the tag's microcontroller's transitions between a sleep state and an awake state. While asleep, the microcontroller maintains a clock and data in memory, and monitors an input from the motion sensor. In response to voltages at the input over the predetermine threshold, the microcontroller receives signals from one or more nearby beacon nodes in a network operating in the area, process the signals and transmit information based on the processed signals, for a position determination.

A method of communicating with one or more RFID sensor tags within a predetermined area. The method comprises: providing an RFID sensor tag interrogation apparatus comprising an RF transceiver configured to enable control of a transmitted RF power level; setting the transmitted RF power level to provide an RF signal detectable by RFID sensor tags located within a corresponding region of the predetermined area; transmitting, by the RFID sensor tag interrogation apparatus, an RFID sensor tag interrogation signal; and receiving, by the RFID sensor tag interrogation apparatus, one or more responses transmitted by the RFID sensor tags located within the predetermined area. In some embodiments the transmitted RF power level is adjusted to increase or decrease the size of the corresponding region of the predetermined area, based upon responses received from RFID sensor tags located within the region.

During hand-held operation, configuration of an NFC/RFID Reader/Writer peripheral device in a predefined mode named Mobile Mode with Auto-Collection, enables recognition of a long duration (e.g. 5 second) trigger press (AKA a Long Press) as an enabling event prompting a change of scan behavior between single-shot scan operation and continuous scan operation. In other defined Modes of the peripheral device, other predetermined enabling events, such as the presence or absence of a predetermined external power source, prompt the change between single-shot and continuous scan operations. The Long Press and the other intuitive features enable the general user to be able to switch between various modes and to do so without requiring acquisition or use of an additional dedicated scanner with its requisite expense or inconvenience, and without requiring advanced knowledge, special access, or special resources.