IP Library Granted Patent US 7,116,677
Granted Patent B2
US 7,116,677 · App. 10/294,995 · Granted Oct 3, 2006

Data carrier including a circuit with time slot determination means and time slot fixation means

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,116,677
App. No.
10/294,995
Granted
Oct 3, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

Each data carrier of multiple data carriers is assigned a time slot within which to communicate with a base station. The base station allocates the time slots by acknowledging receipt of a data carrier's unique identifier during the assigned time slot. Each data carrier stores its assigned time slot, and communicates only when a time-slot counter indicates the occurrence of the assigned time slot.

Claims (58)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a circuit that is configured to:

receive and transmit data blocks;

receive a selection data block (SDB);

produce and transmit an identification data block (IDB); and

time slot fix an n th time slot of a plurality of time slot sequences; and

a controller that is configured to enable communication from the circuit during the nth time slot.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the IDB is transmitted during a duration of the n th time slot of the plurality of time slot sequences (TSS).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the controller includes a comparator and a sequencer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein

the comparator is configured to enable the communication based on a comparison of a time slot register and a time slot counter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the circuit is configured to:

receive an acknowledge data block (QDB)

set the circuit to a selected state based on receipt of the QDB.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the controller is configured to enable conununication from the circuit only during the n th time slot.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the circuit is configured to determine each time slot of the plurality of time slot sequences.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wberein

the circuit is configured to receive the QDB in response to the transmission of the IDB.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a circuit that is configured to:

receive data blocks;

receive a selection data block (SDB); and

time slot fix an n th time slot of a plurality of time slot sequences; and

controller that is configured to enable communication from the circuit only during the nth time slot of the plurality of time slot sequences.

10. A receiving and transmission device comprising:

a means for receiving a selection data block (SDB);

a means for producing an identification data block (IDB) and transmitting the IDB;

a means for fixing an n th time slot of a plurality of time slot sequences; and

a means for enabling communication during the nth time slot of the plurality of time slot sequences.

11. The receiving and transmission device of claim 10 , wherein

the means for enabling communication enables communication only during the n th time slot of the plurality of time slot sequences.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a selection data block (SDB);

transmitting an identification data block (IDB) in response to receipt of the SDB;

fixing an n th time slot of a plurality of time slot sequences; and

enabling communication from the circuit during the nth time slot.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

comparing an output of a time slot register with an output of a time slot counter to enable the communication from the circuit.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

enabling communication from the circuit only during the n th time slot.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving an acknowledge data block (QDB), and

setting the circuit to a selected state upon receipt of the QDB.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a selection data block at a data carrier;

recognizing the data carrier as being selected from amongst a plurality of data carriers;

outputting from the data carrier an identification data block during a duration of an n th time slot of a time sequence; and

controlling subsequent communication from the data carrier to occur only during the n th time slot.

17. A method comprising:

receiving a selection data block at a data carrier;

in response to receiving the selection data block, recognizing the data carrier as being selected from amongst a plurality of data carriers;

in response to the recognizing, outputting from the data carrier an identification data block during a duration of an nth time slot of a time sequence; and

controlling communication from the data carrier to occur only during the nth time slot.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST - 364 - DAY Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056036/0590 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053841/0212 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050315/0785 →
NOTICE OF TRANSFER OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049675/0049 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 29, 2019
From: ZIH CORP.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048884/0618 →
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 25, 2017
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS THE EXISTING AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 044791/0842 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 31, 2014
From: ZIH CORP.; LASER BAND, LLC; ZEBRA ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS CORP.; SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034114/0270 →
RELEASE DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 Recorded Sep 24, 2014
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 033813/0317 →