Determining presence of radio frequency communication device
A RF data communication device operates in at least two states. In a first state, the device transmits a response to an RF transmission if specific data therein represents an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and if specific data therein corresponds to a class maintained by the device. The device does not transmit a response if specific data in the RF transmission is not representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices, or if specific data therein does not correspond to at least one maintained class. In a second state, the device does not transmit a response when specific data is included therein that is representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and specific data therein corresponds to at least one maintained class.
1. A radio frequency communication device, comprising:
(a) a receiver configured to receive radio frequency transmissions;
(b) a transmitter configured to make radio frequency transmissions;
(c) an interface for receiving one or more signals from a sensor; and
(d) electronic components arranged and configured such that,
(i) the radio frequency communication device operates in at least two states comprising,
(A) a first state, in which the radio frequency communication device responds to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within an area, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and
(B) a second state, in which the radio frequency communication device does not respond to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and
(ii) the radio frequency communication device enters the second state from the first state upon,
(A) receiving by the receiver a radio frequency transmission that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices, and
(B) making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and
(iii) the radio frequency communication device enters the first state from the second state upon,
(A) expiration of a predetermined period of time as indicated by a timer of the radio frequency communication device.
2. The radio frequency communication device of 1 , further comprising a computer processor that processes received radio frequency transmissions.
3. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic components are further arranged and configured such that the radio frequency communication device enters the first state upon receiving, via the receiver, a radio frequency transmission including an instruction to enter the first state.
4. The radio frequency communication device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic components are further arranged and configured such that the radio frequency communication device enters the first state upon receiving, through an interface of the radio frequency communication device, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition.
5. The radio frequency communication device of 4 , further comprising a computer processor that processes received radio frequency transmissions and received sensor signals.
6. The radio frequency communication device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more sensor signals includes the sensor-acquired data.
7. The radio frequency communication device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more sensor signals is representative of the sensor-acquired data.
8. The radio frequency communication device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more sensor signals is representative of a state of a sensor.
9. The radio frequency communication device of claim 4 , wherein the computer processor effects state changes of the radio frequency communication device as a function of received radio frequency transmissions and one or more received sensor signals.
10. A radio frequency communication device, comprising:
(a) a receiver configured to receive radio frequency transmissions;
(b) a transmitter configured to make radio frequency transmissions;
(c) an interface for receiving one or more signals from a sensor; and
(d) electronic components arranged and configured such that,
(i) the radio frequency communication device operates in at least two states comprising,
(A) a first state, in which the radio frequency communication device responds to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within an area, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and
(B) a second state, in which the radio frequency communication device does not respond to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and
(ii) the radio frequency communication device enters the second state from the first state upon,
(A) receiving by the receiver a radio frequency transmission that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices, and
(B) making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and
(iii) the radio frequency communication device enters the first state from the second state upon,
(A) receiving, through the receiver, a radio frequency transmission including an instruction to enter the first state.
11. The radio frequency communication device of 10 , further comprising a computer processor that processes received radio frequency transmissions.
12. The radio frequency communication device of claim 10 , wherein the computer processor effects state changes of the radio frequency communication device as a function of received radio frequency transmissions.
13. The radio frequency communication device of claim 10 , wherein the electronic components are further arranged and configured such that the radio frequency communication device enters the first state upon expiration of predetermined period of time as indicated by a timer of the radio frequency communication device.
14. The radio frequency communication device of claim 10 , wherein the electronic components are further arranged and configured such that the radio frequency communication device enters the first state upon receiving, through an interface of the radio frequency communication device, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition.
15. The radio frequency communication device of 14 , further comprising a computer processor that processes received radio frequency transmissions and received sensor signals.
16. The radio frequency communication device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensor signals includes the sensor-acquired data.
17. The radio frequency communication device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensor signals is representative of the sensor-acquired data.
18. The radio frequency communication device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensor signals is representative of a state of a sensor.
19. The radio frequency communication device of claim 14 , wherein the computer processor effects state changes of the radio frequency communication device as a function of received radio frequency transmissions and one or more received sensor signals.
20. A radio frequency communication device, comprising:
(a) a receiver configured to receive radio frequency transmissions;
(b) a transmitter configured to make radio frequency transmissions;
(c) an interface for receiving one or more signals from a sensor; and
(d) electronic components arranged and configured such that,
(i) the radio frequency communication device operates in at least two states comprising,
(A) a first state, in which the radio frequency communication device responds to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within an area, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and
(B) a second state, in which the radio frequency communication device does not respond to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and
(ii) the radio frequency communication device enters the second state from the first state upon,
(A) receiving by the receiver a radio frequency transmission that includes an instruction to enter the second state, and
(iii) the radio frequency communication device enters the first state from the second state upon,
(A) receiving, through the interface, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition.