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 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active identification device located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first passive identification tag;   providing information identifying said at least a first passive identification tag from said first communication device to a location server;   determining from an identity of said at least a first passive identification tag provided by said first active identification device a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first passive identification tag has a known location, wherein said known location of said first passive identification tag is a fixed location, and wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active identification device located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first passive identification tag; and   using a second active identification device in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second passive identification tag located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second passive identification tag from the second active identification device to said location server;   determining from an identity of said second passive identification tag provided by said second active identification device a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active identification device has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communication device is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second passive identification tag located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communication device, wherein said first active identification device and said first passive identification tag comprise a first communication pair, wherein said second active identification device and said second passive identification tag comprise a second communication pair, and wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         3 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first passive identification tag;   providing information identifying said at least a first passive identification tag from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first passive identification tag provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first passive identification tag has a known location, wherein said known location of said first passive identification tag is a fixed location, and wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first passive identification tag; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second passive identification tag located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second passive identification tag from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second passive identification tag provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communications component is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second passive identification tag located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component, wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         4 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first passive identification tag;   providing information identifying said at least a first passive identification tag from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first passive identification tag provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first passive identification tag has a known location, wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first passive identification tag; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second passive identification tag located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second passive identification tag from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second passive identification tag provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communications component is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second passive identification tag located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component, wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         5 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first passive identification tag;   providing information identifying said at least a first passive identification tag from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first passive identification tag provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first passive identification tag has a known location, wherein said known location of said first passive identification tag is a fixed location, and wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first passive identification tag; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second passive identification tag located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second passive identification tag from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second passive identification tag provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second passive identification tag located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component, wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         6 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first passive identification tag;   providing information identifying said at least a first passive identification tag from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first passive identification tag provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first passive identification tag has a known location, wherein said known location of said first passive identification tag is a fixed location, and wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first passive identification tag; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second passive identification tag located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second passive identification tag from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second passive identification tag provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communications component is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second passive identification tag located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component.   
     
     
         7 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first passive identification tag;   providing information identifying said at least a first passive identification tag from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first passive identification tag provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first passive identification tag has a known location, wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first passive identification tag; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second passive identification tag located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second passive identification tag from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second passive identification tag provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communications component is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second passive identification tag located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component.   
     
     
         8 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first passive identification tag;   providing information identifying said at least a first passive identification tag from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first passive identification tag provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first passive identification tag has a known location, wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first passive identification tag; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second passive identification tag located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second passive identification tag from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second passive identification tag provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second passive identification tag located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component, wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         9 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first passive identification tag;   providing information identifying said at least a first passive identification tag from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first passive identification tag provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first passive identification tag has a known location, wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first passive identification tag; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second passive identification tag located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second passive identification tag from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second passive identification tag provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second passive identification tag located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component.   
     
     
         10 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first identification device;   providing information identifying said at least a first identification device from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first identification device provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first identification device has a known location, wherein said known location of said first identification device is a fixed location, and wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first identification device; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second identification device located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second identification device from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second identification device provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communications component is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second identification device located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component, wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         11 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first identification device;   providing information identifying said at least a first identification device from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first identification device provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first identification device has a known location, wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first identification device; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second identification device located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second identification device from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second identification device provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communications component is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second identification device located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component, wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         12 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first identification device;   providing information identifying said at least a first identification device from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first identification device provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first identification device has a known location, wherein said known location of said first identification device is a fixed location, and wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first identification device; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second identification device located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second identification device from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second identification device provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second identification device located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component, wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         13 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first identification device;   providing information identifying said at least a first identification device from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first identification device provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first identification device has a known location, wherein said known location of said first identification device is a fixed location, and wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first identification device; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second identification device located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second identification device from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second identification device provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communications component is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second identification device located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component.   
     
     
         14 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first identification device;   providing information identifying said at least a first identification device from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first identification device provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first identification device has a known location, wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first identification device; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second identification device located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second identification device from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second identification device provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said known location of said second active communications component is a fixed location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second identification device located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component.   
     
     
         15 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first identification device;   providing information identifying said at least a first identification device from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first identification device provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first identification device has a known location, wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first identification device; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second identification device located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second identification device from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second identification device provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second identification device located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component, wherein said first vicinity of said first communication device overlaps said second vicinity of said first communication device.   
     
     
         16 . A method for locating a communication device, comprising:
 using a first active communications component located within a first communication device, identifying at least a first identification device;   providing information identifying said at least a first identification device from said first communication device to a server;   determining from an identifier of said at least a first identification device provided by said first active communications component a first vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said first identification device has a known location, wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first communication device includes determining that said first active communications component located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the location of the first identification device; and   using a second active communications component in a vicinity of said first communication device, identifying a second identification device located within said first communication device;   providing information identifying said second identification device from the second active communications component to said server;   determining from an identifier of said second identification device provided by said second active communications component a second vicinity of said first communication device, wherein said second active communications component has a known location, wherein said determining a second vicinity of said first communication device further includes determining that said second identification device located within said first communication device is in the vicinity of the second active communications component.   
     
     
         17 . A method for locating a WRT, comprising:
 using a first wireless reader tag (WRT), identifying at least a first other WRT;   providing a WRT ID identifying said at least a first other WRT from said first WRT to a server; and   determining from the WRT ID of said at least a first other WRT provided by said first WRT a first vicinity of said first WRT, wherein said first other WRT has a known location, wherein said known location of said first other WRT is a fixed location, and wherein said determining a first vicinity of said first WRT includes determining that said first WRT is in the vicinity of the location of the first other WRT.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of identifying at least a first passive identification tag comprises receiving an identifier of the first passive identification tag. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first vicinity and said second vicinity are determined based on a class identifier. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said active identification device comprises an active radio frequency identification device and wherein said passive identification tag comprises a passive radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each said active communications component comprises an active radio frequency identification device and wherein each said passive identification tag comprises a passive radio frequency identification tag.