Lprf device wake up using wireless tag

Abstract

A wireless transceiver includes: (a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and (b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component. The second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 a wireless communication component of the apparatus for communicating wirelessly with a wireless RFID tag;   an information acquisition component of the apparatus for acquiring the information concerning a situation where said apparatus is placed;   a control component of the apparatus for writing the information acquired by said information acquisition component into at least one storage component, said at least one storage component configured to maintain a plurality of information being acquired by said information acquisition component at different times; and   a portable power source component for supplying an electric power to each of said components.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said information acquisition component includes a positional information acquisition component for acquiring the current positional information. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said positional information acquisition component is configured to acquiring the current positional information from a global positioning system. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said information acquisition component includes an environmental information acquisition component for acquiring the current environmental information. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one storage component includes a first storage component provided in said wireless RFID tag and a second storage component provided in said apparatus, and wherein said control component writes the information acquired by said information acquisition component into the first storage component of said wireless RFID tag, and writes the information concerning said wireless RFID tag and the information acquired by said information acquisition component into the second storage component of said apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising: a time recognition component for recognizing the time. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising: a time recognition component for recognizing the time, wherein said wireless communication component communicates with the wireless RFID tag in accordance with the preset time settings. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising: an external apparatus communication component for communicating with an external apparatus through a communication line, apart from said wireless communication component, wherein when there is an access from said external apparatus, said apparatus performs a predetermined process based on an instruction signal received from said external apparatus, and enables said external apparatus communication component to transmit the result of executing said process to said external apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the ID information is read from the wireless RFID tag, and said ID information is written into said storage component. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said apparatus is a conveyance pallet or container. 
     
     
         12 . A physical distribution management system comprising:
 a communication line for enabling the communications;   an external apparatus having a communication component for communicating via said communication line; and   an apparatus having an external apparatus communication component for communicating with said external apparatus via said communication line, a wireless communication component for communicating wirelessly with a wireless RFID tag, a control component for performing-various control processes, and a portable power source component for supplying an electric power to each of said components;   wherein when there is an access from said external apparatus, said apparatus performs a prescribed process based on an instruction signal received from said external apparatus, and enables said external apparatus communication component to transmit a tag information concerning said wireless RFID tag as the result of executing said process to said external apparatus; and   wherein the apparatus comprises a portable network device comprising a wireless transceiver; a digital information processor in communication with the wireless transceiver; a power source for providing electrical power to the wireless transceiver and the digital information processor; a memory unit in communication with the digital information processor, the memory unit adapted to store a class designation; and a network organization routine operable on the digital information processor to form a network link selectively with one of other multiple peer devices that include the same class designation, the network organization routine operable to send network organization messages including the class designation and to receive network organization requests from the peer devices, to thereby selectively propagate a class-based hierarchical ad hoc network among the network device and the peer devices for asset tracking purposes.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a wireless communication component for communicating wirelessly with a wireless RFID tag;   a time information component for acquiring time information;   an information acquisition component for acquiring the information concerning a situation where it is placed;   a control component for writing the information acquired by said information acquisition component into at least one storage component, said at least one storage component configured to maintain a plurality of information being acquired by said information acquisition component at different times, said control component configured to request said information concerning a situation in response to an event; and   a portable power source component for supplying an electric power to each of said components.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said control component is configured to periodically request said information concerning a situation. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said control component is configured in response to a request from an external communication device to provide at least some of said information stored in said at least one component to an external communication device, said control component for writing information about said request from said external communication device into said at least one storage component. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said control component is configured in response to a request from an external communication device to request said information concerning a situation and provide said information concerning a situation to said external communication device, said control component for writing information about said request from said external communication device into said at least one storage component. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said apparatus is a conveyance pallet or container. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable power source component comprises a battery. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication component, said control component, and said at least one storage component of the apparatus form part of a wireless reader tag (WRT) that is attached to a pallet, the pallet and WRT constituting part of the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the WRT further comprises said information acquisition component in the form of a sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the sensor comprises a GPS receiver, thermometer, humidity sensor, thermistor, vibration sensor, digital camera, or motion detector. 
     
     
         22 . A control apparatus, comprising: a first control device, wherein the first control device is capable of controlling one or more of a plurality of at least one of a vehicle system, a vehicle equipment system, a vehicle component, a vehicle device, a vehicle equipment, and a vehicle appliance, of a vehicle, wherein the first control device at least one of generates a first signal and transmits a first signal for controlling the at least one of a vehicle system, a vehicle equipment system, a vehicle component, a vehicle device, a vehicle equipment, and a vehicle appliance, wherein the first control device is located at the vehicle, wherein the first control device at least one of generates the first signal and transmits the first signal in response to a second signal, wherein the second signal is at least one of generated by a second control device and transmitted from a second control device, wherein the second control device is located at a location which is remote from the vehicle, wherein the second signal is transmitted from the second control device to the first control device, and further wherein the second signal is automatically received by the first control device, wherein the second control device at least one of generates the second signal and transmits the second signal in response to a third signal, wherein the third signal is at least one of generated by a third control device and transmitted from a third control device, wherein the third control device is located at a location which is remote from the vehicle and remote from the second control device, wherein the third signal is transmitted from the third control device to the second control device, and further wherein the third signal is automatically received by the second control device. 
     
     
         23 . A control apparatus, comprising: a first control device, wherein the first control device at least one of generates a first signal and transmits a first signal for controlling at least one of a vehicle system, a vehicle equipment system, a vehicle component, a vehicle device, a vehicle equipment, and a vehicle appliance, of a vehicle, wherein the first control device is located at a location remote from the vehicle, wherein the first control device at least one of generates the first signal and transmits the first signal in response to a second signal, wherein the second signal is at least one of generated by a second control device and transmitted from a second control device, wherein the second control device is located at a location which is remote from the first control device and remote from the vehicle, wherein the second signal is transmitted from the second control device to the first control device, and further wherein the second signal is automatically received by the first control device, wherein the first signal controls a third control device, wherein the third control device is capable of controlling one or more of a plurality of the at least one of a vehicle system, a vehicle equipment system, a vehicle component, a vehicle device, a vehicle equipment, and a vehicle appliance, wherein the first signal is transmitted from the first control device to the third control device, and further wherein the first signal is automatically received by the third control device, wherein the third control device is located at the vehicle, and further wherein the third control device at least one of generates a third signal and transmits a third signal for controlling the at least one of a vehicle system, a vehicle equipment system, a vehicle component, a vehicle device, a vehicle equipment, and a vehicle appliance. 
     
     
         24 . A control apparatus, comprising: a first control device, wherein the first control device is capable of controlling one or more of a plurality of at least one of a premises system, a premises equipment system, a premises component, a premises device, a premises equipment, and a premises appliance, of a premises, wherein the first control device at least one of generates a first signal and transmits a first signal for controlling the at least one of a premises system, a premises equipment system, a premises component, a premises device, a premises equipment, and a premises appliance, wherein the first control device is located at the premises wherein the first control device at least one of generates the first signal and transmits the first signal in response to a second signal, wherein the second signal is at least one of generated by a second control device and transmitted from a second control device, wherein the second control device is located at a location which is remote from the premises, wherein the second signal is transmitted from the second control device to the first control device, and further wherein the second signal is automatically received by the first control device, wherein the second control device at least one of generates the second signal and transmits the second signal in response to a third signal, wherein the third signal is at least one of generated by a third control device and transmitted from a third control device, wherein the third control device is located at a location which is remote from the premises and remote from the second control device, wherein the third signal is transmitted from the third control device to the second control device, and further wherein the third signal is automatically received by the second control device.