Savi Technology, Inc.

Nikola Cargonja

Joseph S Chan

Albert Nardelli

Timothy K Brand

Don H Ahn

Allan Michael Evans

Timothy R Redler

James G Eagleson

Igor Balabine

Arthur Eugene Anderson, Iii

Ravindra U Rajapakse

Liping Julia Zhu

Roderick E Thorne

Philip J Keleshian

Robert Zmrzli

Reiner G Mim

Devendra Shiledar

Stephen Earl Hilliker

Stephen Alan Stough

Steven J Farrell

Bruno Skracic

David Bruce Koons

Richard D Lockyer

Kent G Merritt

Neal F Herman

Gustavo Padilla

William E Blasdell

Arthur E Iii Anderson

A part can receive a communication that originates externally of the part, that conforms to a predetermined communications protocol, and that contains payload information consistent with the protocol but subject to a security provision supplemental to the protocol. The part extracts the payload information from the security provision.

Method and apparatus for providing security in a radio frequency identification system

A tag can communicate according to a cellular telephone network communication protocol, and includes one of: passive circuitry, semi-passive circuitry, or circuitry capable of communicating according to a radio frequency identification communication protocol or a satellite communication protocol. According to a different aspect, a tag can receive satellite signals containing positioning information, and can transmit according to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol. According to yet another aspect, a tag can transmit according to each of first and second communication protocols that are each one of a radio frequency identification communication protocol, a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol.

Method and apparatus for tracking and monitoring containers

A tag has a circuit portion that functions as a reader capable of wireless communication with other tags. According to a different aspect, a tag has a circuit portion with first and second modes, the circuitry consuming less power in the second mode than the first mode, and exiting the second mode only in response to an act by a human. According to yet another aspect, a tag can receive wireless communications conforming to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol. The tag responds to receipt of a predetermined wireless signal conforming to the one protocol by carrying out one of first action that includes causing the tag to enter an electronically secure state, or a second action that includes causing the tag to exit the electronically secure state.

A tag can receive first and second wireless signals respectively defining first and second transmission fields that overlap. When the tag moves from the first field to the second field through the region of overlap, the apparatus transitions only once from recognizing the tag is in the first field to recognizing the tag is in the second field. According to another aspect, first and second signposts are supported at spaced locations in the region of a crane, and respectively transmit first and second wireless signals that are different, and that respectively define first and second fields of transmission. According to yet another aspect, a signpost transmits wireless signals having a transmission field, and a system senses positional information regarding a tag movable relative to the signpost, the system using the positional information to determine a location of the tag in relation to the transmission field.

Method and apparatus for detecting container movement by a crane

An apparatus () includes a signpost (--) which transmits signpost signals () that are received by a tag (-------). The tag in turn transmits radio frequency beacon signals () which are received by a reader (-). The tag can vary the duration of the beacon signals, for example in dependence on whether it is currently receiving a signpost signal. Further, the tag can dynamically vary the transmission rate and/or transmission power of the beacon signals, for example following receipt of a signpost signal. Varying these parameters can facilitate compliance with governmental regulations.

Method and apparatus for varying signals transmitted by a tag

One aspect involves a communication that contains a portion encrypted with a selected key can be wirelessly transmitted by a part for reception and decryption by plural tags. A different aspect involves a tag receiving a first sequence of wireless communications that each contain sequencing information regarding the first sequence, while receiving a second sequence of wireless communications that each include sequencing information regarding the second sequence, and further involves monitoring the sequencing information from received communications of the first sequence while separately monitoring the sequencing information from received communications of the second sequence.

A tag detects a condition, and selectively operates a portion of its circuitry in first and second modes as a function of information regarding the selected condition, the portion consuming less power in the second mode than the first mode, and being capable of wireless communication according to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol. According to a different aspect, a tag carries out geofencing analysis, and selectively operates a portion of its circuitry in first and second modes as a function of results of the geofencing analysis, the portion consuming less power in the second mode than in the first mode, and being capable of wireless communication according to one of a cellular telephone network communication protocol, a satellite communication protocol, and a wireless computer network communication protocol.

One aspect of the invention involves: monitoring a voltage of a battery over time; evaluating whether a rate of voltage decrease of the battery is in excess of a threshold; and indicating that the battery is subject to a low voltage condition when the rate of voltage decrease exceeds the threshold. Another aspect of the invention involves: causing a circuit powered by a battery to respond to battery replacement by thereafter applying a selected load to the battery during a selected time interval. A further aspect involves: periodically sampling a voltage of a battery; and applying a load to the battery during a selected time interval before each sampling of the battery voltage.

Method and apparatus for monitoring the voltage of a battery

Spaced first and second signposts transmit wireless signals containing different signpost identifications. A first path of travel passes through the transmission range of the first signpost, and a second path of travel passes through the transmission range of the second signpost but not the transmission range of the first signpost. A different configuration includes plural hallways extending away from a common intersection in respective directions, with a respective signpost in each hallway that transmits wireless signals containing a respective different signpost identification. Another configuration includes a hallway with first and second portions of different width, a first signpost in the first portion transmitting wireless signals containing a first signpost identification, and spaced second and third signposts in the second portion each transmitting wireless signals containing a second signpost identification different from the first signpost identification, and having a transmission range less than a width of the second portion.

Method and apparatus for detecting a path of travel or direction of travel

One aspect involves receiving by a tag of wireless communications that utilize a first security provision, and wireless communications that utilize a second security provision different from the first security provision. A different aspect involves receiving by an entity of an authentication request that is based on a first digital certificate unknown to the entity, and determining by the entity, without external authentication of the first digital certificate, whether the first digital certificate is in a trust relationship with a second digital certificate that is different from the first digital certificate and that is known to the entity.

Systems and methods provide for determining a distance between a signpost and a tag and for locating a tag using multiple signposts. The system uses a signal received at a tag from a signpost, and from them measures the signal strength of the signal with respect to one or more antennas on the tag. The system calculates an RSSI using the measured signal strength, from which a distance can be determined between the signpost and the tag. The system also uses signals received from multiple signposts, to measure multiple signal strengths, resulting in multiple distance determinations corresponding to the various signposts, thereby establishing a location for the tag.

Received signal strength distance determination of low frequency tags

A tag receives wireless signpost signals that include timing data, determines time information associated with an event as a function of the timing data, and transmits a wireless tag signal that contains the time information. In a another configuration, a signpost transmits wireless signpost signals having a selected transmission range; a reader proximate to the signpost receives wireless tag signals with a reception range that is approximately the same as the selected transmission range; and a tag movable relative to the signpost and reader responds to receipt of a wireless signpost signal by transmitting a wireless tag signal containing a tag code associated with the tag.

Radio frequency identification system and a method of operating same

A tag has a receiver section, a transmitter section, and a further section, the further section being responsive to receipt by the receiver section of a wireless signpost signal from one signpost in a group of signposts for thereafter inhibiting transmission of tag signals by the transmitter section pending receipt by the receiver section of a respective signpost signal from each signpost in the group. A different configuration includes a tag having a receiver section, a transmitter section, and a further section, the further section inhibiting transmission of tag signals by the transmitter section during a time period that ends as a function of the absence of receipt by the receiver section of signpost signals, the further section responding to receipt of signpost signals by the receiver section during the time period by saving information relating to signposts that generated the signpost signals.

Method and apparatus for handling wireless transmissions from a tag

One aspect of the invention involves: maintaining a record of how long a circuit operates in each of a plurality of different operating modes thereof, starting from a point in time at which a battery that powers the circuit is replaced; calculating for each of the operating modes as a function of the record a cumulative current drain from the point in time to a current time; and determining as a function of the cumulative current drains whether the battery is subject to a low voltage condition. Another aspect involves: monitoring a voltage of a battery; periodically determining whether the voltage of the battery is subject to a low voltage condition; and maintaining a count of the number of times that the determining results in a determination that the battery is subject to a low voltage condition.

Method and apparatus for detecting a battery voltage

A support includes a base having an outwardly extending projection with a passageway therethrough, and having a tag receiving portion configured to removably support a tag on the base adjacent one end of the passageway. A different arrangement involves a tag that includes a housing having an opening therethrough and having an annular surface around the opening, an annular gasket engaging the annular surface, and circuitry within the housing having a sensor located in the region of the opening and having a transmitter that can transmit wireless signals. A method includes defining a passageway that provides fluid communication between an interior and exterior of a container, supporting a tag on the exterior of the container, and causing the tag to sense, at a location in the region of an end of the passageway, a condition within the container.

Growing community of inventors

San Carlos, CA, United States of America

Nikola Cargonja