MULTI-COMMUNICATION-INTERFACE SYSTEM FOR FINE LOCATIONING
A multi-communication-interface system methods implement fine locationing while conserving battery power. A first wireless-communication interface of a first multi-communication-interface tape node located at a first location in an area detect a first wireless signal from a second tape node at a first time. A first receiver of a second wireless-communication interface of the first multi-communication-interface tape node is activated in response to detecting the first wireless signal and used to receive a first response signal from a first wireless tag in response to an interrogation signal. The first receiver is deactivated to conserve power within an internal battery of the at least one second multi-communication-interface tape node and a location of the first wireless tag at the first time is determined as the first location.
1 . A multi-communication-interface tape node, comprising:
a wireless transducing circuit;
a passive wireless tag; and
a wake circuit electrically coupled to the passive wireless tag and the wireless transducing circuit;
wherein the wake circuit is configured to activate the wireless transducing circuit in response to an electrical input from the passive wireless tag.
2 . The multi-communication-interface tape node of claim 1 , the wireless transducing circuit comprising:
a processor;
memory; and
at least one wireless communication interface.
3 . The multi-communication-interface tape node of claim 2 , further comprising an internal energy source, wherein the wake circuit delivers power from the internal energy source to the wireless transducing circuit in response to the electrical input.
4 . The multi-communication-interface tape node of claim 2 , the at least one wireless communication interface implementing Bluetooth.
5 . The multi-communication-interface tape node of claim 1 , wherein the passive wireless tag comprises a passive RFID tag.
6 . The multi-communication-interface tape node of claim 5 , wherein the passive wireless tag is activated by an RFID interrogation signal.
7 . The multi-communication-interface tape node of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transducing circuit is configured to deactivate after completing a predetermined function to conserve power.
8 . The multi-communication-interface tape node of claim 1 , wherein the passive wireless tag is embedded within the multi-communication-interface tape node.
9 . The multi-communication-interface tape node of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer for attaching the multi-communication-interface tape node to an asset or a surface.
10 . A method for activating a wireless transducing circuit of a multi-communication-interface tape node, comprising:
receiving an interrogation signal by a passive wireless tag embedded in the multi-communication-interface tape node;
inputting an electrical signal from the passive wireless tag to a wake circuit of the multi-communication-interface tape node in response to the interrogation signal; and
activating the wireless transducing circuit by the wake circuit.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the wake circuit connects power to the wireless transducing circuit from an internal energy source of the multi-communication-interface tape node in response to an electrical input from the wake circuit.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the wake circuit provides an interrupt signal to a processor of the wireless transducing circuit.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising tracking an asset using a wireless communication interface of the wireless transducing circuit when activated via the passive wireless tag.
14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising deactivating the wireless transducing circuit after completion of a predetermined operation.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the wireless transducing circuit is deactivated by powering down until reactivated by the passive wireless tag.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the wireless transducing circuit is deactivated by transitioning to a low power state.
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the interrogation signal is generated by an external RFID reader.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the multi-communication-interface tape node is deployed on an asset in a storage area and the interrogation signal is periodically transmitted by a fixed reader of the storage area.