Sat Corporation

Safetrac Control Systems, Inc.

Donald J Frieden

John Meyo

William Clay Weston

Methods are disclosed for using an RFID tag associated with a component, and for organizing and storing data on the RFID tag in a user selected format. The selected data format may be recorded or stored remote to the tag, with a data format name. The data format name may be stored on the RFID tag, such that a tag interrogator retrieving the data format name from the tag may thereafter retrieve and/or load the corresponding data format to properly parse and interpret the data stored on the tag, in that format. Thereby, a customized data format may be used, while the data format need not be provided on the tag. The methods also include providing more than one data format on a particular tag, such as where each data format is defined by a corresponding user of a particular portion of the tag. Thereby, a tag may include multiple formats to meet the data storage needs of multiple users of a tag. Methods are also included to improve or maximize effective utilization of the available memory on an RFID tag.

Radio frequency identification tag formatting method

An electronic tracking tag 10 may be attached to various types of physical assets to assist in asset identification. The plastic material tag body 12 includes a receiving cavity 60 therein so that a drawer 14 and an RFID transponder 16 may be slid into the receiving cavity and mechanically locked in the inserted position within the receiving cavity. A visual display cavity 54 is provided on the tag body, and a display label 56 may be selectively positioned on the tag body. The tag body with the electronic transponder therein may be secured to the physical asset by screws or other conventional securing members 46 positioned in respective securing holes 42, 44 provided in the tag body. Alternatively, one or more flexible straps 18, 19 may extend through a respective tie down hole 46, 48 in the tag body for strapping the tag body to the physical asset. A substantially universal tracking tag 10 of the present invention may be easily and economically read by an RFID reader unit to assist in asset identification, tracking, and equipment safety. Significant benefits are realized by providing a tagging system wherein an electronic transponder may be selected and secured within the tag body shortly before the tag body is attached to the physical asset.

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Friendswood, TX, United States of America

Donald J Frieden