Various embodiments employ multiple readers and tags in fixed locations in different geographical areas and/or along different storage units. This allows for more granular or precise location sensing. Particular embodiments employ multiple environment tags in various geographical locations and within multiple storage units. Using this new infrastructure setup, some embodiments can perform new functionality by predicting whether a target asset is in a particular geographical location, predict whether the asset is within a particular storage unit based on the proportion of readers mapped to that shelf which are actually reading the tag on the asset, and/or can predict where an asset's exact location in the located storage unit is based on comparing indications of signal strength values between each reader and tag in the storage unit with other indications of signal strength values between each reader and the tag that is attached to the asset.

An information processing apparatus operable to specify identification information of a communication object that a moving object that carries a reader apparatus holds: receives, from the reader apparatus, identification information read from a communication object near the reader apparatus, and a reading time thereof; stores, in a memory unit, association information that includes association of the received identification information and the reading time; and specifies the identification information of the communication object that the moving object holds based on the association information stored in the memory unit.

A RFID signal repeater system includes a RFID repeater circuit and a housing body. The repeater circuit has a first RFID antenna and a second RFID antenna being connected by an electrical path. A RFID signal captured at one of the antennas is repeated at the other antenna. The housing body includes a first housing portion housing the first antenna and supporting a RFID reader device, whereby the RFID device is in RFID communication with the first antenna when supported by the first housing portion. The body also includes a second housing portion mechanically connected to the first housing portion and configured to support the second antenna and a programmable RFID device, whereby the programmable RFID device is in RFID communication with the second antenna when supported by the second housing portion. The housing body can have various form factors. A power repeater enabling wireless charging can also be provided.

Provided is a method for tracking items using tag-to-tag communication. The method comprises receiving, from a tag, a list of nearby tags. The list of nearby tags was generated by the tag communicating with neighboring tags. The method further comprises comparing the list of nearby tags to a reference list that includes all expected tags. The method further comprises determining whether the list of nearby tags matches the reference list.

An information processing apparatus operable to specify identification information of a communication object that a moving object that carries a reader apparatus holds: receives, from the reader apparatus, identification information read from a communication object near the reader apparatus, and a reading time thereof; stores, in a memory unit, association information that includes association of the received identification information and the reading time; and specifies the identification information of the communication object that the moving object holds based on the association information stored in the memory unit.

A system includes a network of a plurality of sensing/control/identification devices distributed throughout a machine, each of the sensing/control/identification devices associated with at least one sub-system component of the machine and operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals. Shielding surrounds at least one of the sensing/control/identification devices to contain the electromagnetic signals proximate to the at least one sub-system component. A communication path is integrally formed in a component of the machine to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals through the component and a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the sensing/control/identification devices through the electromagnetic signals, wherein at least a portion of the sensing/control/identification devices comprise a wide band gap semiconductor device and wherein at least a portion of the sensing/control/identification devices comprise an on-chip antenna.

An intelligent tracking system generally includes one or more tracking devices, some of which may be passive tracking devices. Each passive tracking device includes one or more transceivers and is energized by an energizing signal. Some of these passive tracking devices may operate in a first communication mode or a second communication mode based on the energizing signal. Some tracking devices may include encryption modules or authentication modules. Some of these devices may incorporate a bulk acoustic wave oscillator.

An intelligent tracking system generally includes one or more tracking devices, some of which may be passive tracking devices. Each passive tracking device includes one or more transceivers and is energized by an energizing signal. Some of these passive tracking devices may operate in a first communication mode or a second communication mode based on the energizing signal. Some tracking devices may include encryption modules or authentication modules. Some of these devices may incorporate a bulk acoustic wave oscillator.

An intelligent tracking system generally includes one or more tracking devices, some of which may be passive tracking devices. Each passive tracking device includes one or more transceivers and is energized by an energizing signal. Some of these passive tracking devices may operate in a first communication mode or a second communication mode based on the energizing signal. Some tracking devices may include encryption modules or authentication modules. Some of these devices may incorporate a bulk acoustic wave oscillator.

An intelligent tracking system generally includes one or more tracking devices, some of which may be passive tracking devices. Each passive tracking device includes one or more transceivers and is energized by an energizing signal. Some of these passive tracking devices may operate in a first communication mode or a second communication mode based on the energizing signal. Some tracking devices may include encryption modules or authentication modules. Some of these devices may incorporate a bulk acoustic wave oscillator.