Control tag with environmentally selected conditional response
View Patent ↗Systems ( 100 ) and methods ( 300 ) for selective device responsiveness using a plurality of control tags ( 132 ) affixed to a plurality of objects ( 102 ). The methods involve: receiving, by a plurality of control tags, a reporting command signal sent from an interrogation device via a communications link; and communicating a response to the reporting command signal from only those of the plurality of control tags which are (1) currently being moved, (2) have been moved within a first specified period of time, and/or (3) have a surrounding environment with at least one characteristic that has recently changed.
1. A method for selective device responsiveness using a control tag attachable to an object, comprising:
receiving, by the control tag, a reporting command signal sent from an interrogation device via a communication link;
obtaining information indicating whether the control tag should respond to the reporting command signal, where the information indicates that at least one of the following conditions does or does not exist based on sensor data acquired from sensing operations performed by the control tag or sensors coupled to the control tag: (1) the control tag is currently being moved; (2) the control tag has been moved within a first specified period of time; and (3) a characteristic of a surrounding environment has changed within a second specified period of time;
communicating a response signal from the control tag to the interrogation device when the information indicates that at least one of the conditions (1), (2) and (3) does exist; and
ignoring the reporting command signal such that the response signal is not sent from the control tag to the interrogation device when the information indicates that the conditions (1), (2) and (3) do not exist.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reporting command signal comprises information indicating that it is a special reporting command signal to which only certain ones of a plurality of receiving control tags should respond.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising performing the sensing operations by a sensor of the control tag to detect motion of the control tag or a change in the characteristic of the surrounding environment.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the sensing operations are performed prior to or subsequent to the reception of the reporting command signal at the control tag.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control tag comprises an Radio Frequency Identifier device with a motion sensor.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising setting the protocol session parameter to a first value when at least one sensor detects at least one of movement of the control tag or a change in the characteristic of the surrounding environment.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising re-setting the protocol session parameter to a second value in response to the communication of the response signal from the control tag to the external device.
8. A control tag, comprising:
an electronic circuit comprising electronic components arranged to
receive a reporting command signal sent from an interrogation device via a communications link,
obtain information indicating whether the control tag should respond to the reporting command signal, where the information indicates that at least one of the following conditions does or does not exist based on sensor data acquired from sensing operations performed by the control tag or sensors coupled to the control tag: (1) the control tag is currently being moved; (2) the control tag has been moved within a first specified period of time; and (3) a characteristic of a surrounding environment has changed with a second specified period of time,
communicate a response signal to the interrogation device when the information indicates that at least one of the conditions (1), (2) and (3) does exist, and
ignore the reporting command signal such that the response signal is not sent from the control tag to the interrogation device when the information indicates that the conditions (1), (2) and (3) do not exist.
9. The control tag according to claim 8 , wherein the reporting command signal comprises information indicating that it is a special reporting command signal to which only certain ones of a plurality of receiving control tags should respond.
10. The control tag according to claim 8 , wherein the electronic components are further arranged to perform the sensing operations to detect motion thereof or a change in the characteristic of the surrounding environment.
11. The control tag according to claim 10 , wherein the sensing operations are performed prior to or subsequent to the reception of the reporting command signal by the control tag.
12. The control tag according to claim 8 , wherein the control tag comprises a Radio Frequency Identifier device with a motion sensor.
13. The control tag according to claim 12 , wherein the electronic components are further arranged to set the protocol session parameter to a first value when a detection is made that the control tag is moving, the control tag has been moved within the first specified period of time, or a characteristic of the surrounding environment has changed.
14. The control tag according to claim 13 , wherein the electronic components are further arranged to re-set the protocol session parameter to a second value in response to the communication of the response signal to the external device.
15. A control tag, comprising:
a motion sensor; and
a Radio Frequency Identifier (“RFID”) device programmed to
receive a reporting command signal sent from an interrogation device via a communications link,
obtain information indicating whether the control tag should respond to the reporting command signal, where the information indicates that at least one of the following conditions does or does not exist based on sensor data acquired from sensing operations performed by the RFID device or sensors coupled to the RFID device: (1) the control tag is or is not currently being moved as sensed by the motion sensor; (2) the control tag has or has not been moved within a first specified period of time as sensed by the motion sensor; and (3) a characteristic of a surrounding environment has or has not changed with a second specified period of time,
communicate a response signal to an interrogation device when the information indicates that at least one of the conditions (1), (2) and (3) does exist, and
ignore the reporting command signal such that the response signal is not sent from the control tag to the interrogation device when the information indicates that the conditions (1), (2) and (3) do not exist.