Reading apparatus for objects each bearing at least one RFID tag, said objects being placed in a cassette that can also be furnished with an RFID tag, said system comprising at least one element in the form of a tunnel in which said cassette can be placed, said element comprising at least one antenna and one RFID reader, said antenna comprising at least two coils composed of several turns, said coils being distributed along and around said tunnel.

Embodiments are discussed herein related to radio frequency identification (“RFID”) and, more particularly, to systems, methods, apparatuses, computer readable media products and other means for integrating two transponders into a tag, where each transponder functions independent from and does not couple with the other transponder. In some embodiments, one of the transponders can be a near field RFID transponder and the other a far field transponder. The near field RFID transponder can be used to, among other things, authenticate the far field RFID transponder. In some embodiments, the far field RFID transponder can be encoded to transmit generic information, while the near field RFID transmits more detailed or user-specific information. Additionally, in some embodiments, the near field and far field RFID transponders can operate in accordance with the same wireless protocol and include their own circuitry and antenna.

A Near Field Communication method performed by a tag reader detects whether a tag is present. The method includes stimulating the tag reader's transmitter to generate an impulse response, evaluating the impulse response generated by the transmitter to obtain an evaluated impulse response, and assessing whether a tag is present based on the evaluated impulse response.

A system for dispensing, receiving, and tracking towels or other items includes a cabinet structure having first and second interior spaces. An access door provides access to the first interior space, and a return door permits items to be returned to the second interior space. An RFID system conducts read operations to determine how many items having RFID tags are disposed in the first and second interior spaces. The system determines what items have been removed from the first interior space, and associates removed items with specific users. The RFID system conducts read operations as items are returned to the second interior space and credits the user.

An article management system according to the present invention includes: a reader antenna (102) including an open-type transmission line terminated in an impedance matched state; an RF tag (104) that is placed at a location that is electromagnetically coupled to the reader antenna (102) and is visible from the reader antenna (102) in a state where a management target article (105) is placed in the vicinity of the RF tag; a management target article arrangement region in which the management target article (105) is placed, the management target article arrangement region being set in a location where the management target article (105) is electromagnetically coupled to a tag antenna of the RF tag (104); and an RFID reader (103) that sends a transmitted signal to the reader antenna (102) and receives a response signal output from the tag antenna via the reader antenna (102).

Systems and methods for a material handling vehicle include a controller and a near field communication reader adapted to communicate with the controller. The controller is configured to activate at least one of a software option and a hardware option when a near field communication device encoded with option information is placed within an operable range to the near field communication reader.

An Internet-of-Things (IoT) system for public transportation service and a method of operating the same are disclosed. The IoT system includes on-vehicle devices, a management server, a plurality of bus stop access points (APs), and a wired/wireless bus stop access point (AP) communication network. The on-vehicle devices are mounted within a bus, i.e., a public transportation means. The management server is connected to the bus over an Internet, i.e., a wireless communication means. The plurality of bus stop APs are short distance communication APs, and are each provided in each bus stop at which the bus stops and configured to enable information to be exchanged between the bus stop and the bus. The wired/wireless bus stop AP communication network connects the plurality of bus stop APs. The management server performs Internet access processing to connect the bus stop AP communication network and an external terminal.

Configuration technologies for cost-effectively monitoring indicia of regimen compliance or noncompliance in response to one or more indications of symptoms or actions or other data on data-bearing media or in wireless transmissions, such as implementing techniques for providing or preventing access or otherwise acting on or communicating incremental or definitive indicia of compliance or noncompliance.

An apparatus that identifies an object includes a frequency detector (112) that detects a frequency over which an RFID tag (102) communicates, and an object identifier (120) that identifies the object based at least in part upon the detected frequency. The frequency detector may detect a plurality of frequencies over which a plurality of RFID tags transmit information. The apparatus also optionally includes a frequency pattern generator that generates a frequency pattern that is indicative of an identity of the object, wherein the object identifier compares the generated frequency pattern with known frequency patterns to determine the identity of the object.

Systems and methods for collecting and/or managing data are provided. The system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags attached to a plurality of machines. Each of the plurality of RFID tags includes a tag ID. The system also includes a mobile data collector configured to take a measurement of one or more operating conditions of the plurality of machines and to read the tag ID from a proximal one of the plurality of RFID tags. The system also includes a computing device including a processor and a memory storing a database, the database associating the tag ID of each of the plurality of RFID tags with the one of the plurality of machines to which it is attached. Further, the computing device is configured to receive the measurement and the tag ID from the mobile data collector and analyze the one or more operating conditions.