Patent classifications
G06K19/0717
Time-Temperature Tracking Label
A time-temperature tracking and indicator system including a laminated label and a computer application. The laminated label is capable of tracking and recording information associated with a product having a time-temperature threshold. If the time-temperature threshold is exceeded, the product is considered unsuited for its intended purpose. The information recorded by the label is wirelessly communicated from the label to the computer application for manipulation. One or more of the label and the computer application provides indication as to whether the time-temperature threshold of the product has been exceeded.
WIRELESS ASSET LOCATION TRACKING SYSTEM AND RELATED TECHNIQUES
A wireless asset location tracking system and related techniques are disclosed. The system may include one or more beacon tags and one or more micro-zone (mZone) transmitters disposed at designated locations. A given mZone transmitter may transmit an mZone signal including data pertaining to its identity, and thus location. A given beacon tag receiving the mZone signal may pull mZone identification data therefrom and relay it in its own beacon signal, along with other data. In this manner, a given mZone transmitter may provide information pertaining to the location within the host space of a given beacon tag within its transmission range. The beacon signal may be received by any gateway or reader device within range, and information therefrom may be delivered through the internet to a server database. The information stored at the server database may be accessed to monitor and track tagged assets and control overall system operation.
RFID device wtih control logic, and method
A radio frequency identification (RFID) device has controllable features that allow for modification of its interaction with external devices, such as RFID readers. The RFID device may have multiple antennas, coupled to multiple contacts of a chip of the device. The chip may include a real or virtual switch for selectively coupling the chip to either of the antennas. The switch may be activated by an external signal sent to the RFID device. The RFID device also may be controlled by adjusting an adjustable modulator within the RFID device. The modulator may adjust outgoing signals from the RFID device to an appropriate level of signal strength, or to have other suitable characteristics. By control of the antenna couplings and/or the modulator settings of the RFID device, adjustments in performance of the RFID device may be made for suitable operation in a variety of situations and environments.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND COMMUNICATING DATA ASSOCIATED WITH A PRODUCT/ITEM
A condition monitoring system includes a radio frequency transponder module including an RFID chip having a first memory, and an antenna; at least one sensor module that monitors data related to the condition of an item and includes a second memory for storing the monitored data; and a communication interface that couples the at least one sensor module to the RFID chip of the radio frequency transponder module so that the sensor module is operative to communicate with the RFID chip by way of the communication interface and the RFID chip first memory is operative to store data related to the item.
Intelligent routing code for improved product distribution
A system is disclosed that comprises a processor, and logic executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the processor to perform a method comprising receiving at least one attribute of a condition of a good, and using the at least one attribute to calculate an actual Intelligent Routing (IR) code for the good. Further, the method comprises calculating and storing a target IR code for each of at least two receivers, and comparing the actual IR code for the good to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers. Finally, the method comprises determining, based on the comparison of the actual IR code for the good to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers, which receiver of the at least two receivers will receive the good.
Radio tag
A radio tag capable of indicating to a reader, via a wireless link, that a variation in energy has crossed a predetermined threshold, this variation in energy being chosen from the group made up of a variation in the temperature of the radio tag and a variation in the magnetic field in which the radio tag is immersed. This radio tag includes transducer material chosen from a group made up of a thermal shape-memory material, a magnetostrictive material and a magnetic shape-memory material. This transducer material is deposited and affixed without any degree of freedom onto a substrate or an antenna of the radio tag to form, with the substrate or the antenna, a multilayer structure which flexurally deforms the antenna between a bent conformation and a less bent conformation when the energy variation crosses the predetermined threshold.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION DURING FREQUENCY HOPPING
A method includes receiving a series of radio frequency (RF) signals, where, from RF signal to RF signal of the series of RF signals, a carrier frequency is changed in accordance with a frequency hopping pattern. The method further includes, while receiving the series of RF signals, sensing an environmental condition by, for a frequency hop of at least some frequency hops of the frequency hopping pattern, adjusting a characteristic of a wireless sensor to maintain proximal alignment of a resonant frequency of the wireless sensor with the carrier frequency corresponding to a present frequency of the at least some frequency hops and generating a value to represent the adjustment of the characteristic, where a set of values is generated for the at least some frequency hops and where the set of values is used to determine a sensed value of the environmental condition.
SMARTCARD AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SMARTCARD
A smart card 102 may include a processor for controlling operation of the smartcard, a biometric sensor for identification of an authorised user, and an accelerometer for sensing movements of the smartcard. The processor may be arranged to permit access to one or more secure feature(s) of the smartcard based on the movements sensed by the accelerometer and authentication of the user's identity via the biometric sensor.
Method and Apparatus for Presenting Supply Chain Information to a Consumer
A smart tracking device, such as a cellular M2M device, is attached to a plastic pallet for monitoring, recording and reporting the location, condition and manifest record of the pallet as it moves through a supply chain for shipment of products from a manufacturer to a consumer. The cellular M2M device has a subscriber identification module (SIM) to uniquely identify the pallet with which it is associated in a cellular network. The M2M device receives and transmits data about the products on the pallet, as the pallet moves through the supply chain. Actionable data allows supply chain managers to mitigate risks and losses in the supply chain. The supply chain data is also used to provide an electronic supply chain pedigree for a product shipped on the pallet. The product supply chain pedigree is made available to a consumer in a structured format, in order to influence the consumer's purchasing decisions.
GYPSUM PANELS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
Gypsum panels, methods for their manufacture, and systems and methods for monitoring environmental conditions with such panels are provided herein. The panels include a gypsum core having a first surface and an opposed second surface, a first facer material associated with the first surface of the gypsum core, and an environmental sensor assembly associated with the gypsum panel and configured to detect an environmental condition of the gypsum panel and wirelessly communicate data on the environmental condition to a reader.