KR20070031845A - Radio frequency identification?????? based sensor networks - Google Patents

Abstract

An RF addressable sensor network architecture is disclosed. The RF addressable sensor network includes one or more RF addressable sensors, one or more wireless sensor readers coupled to the communication network, and one or more end user devices coupled to the communication network. The RF addressable sensor network also includes a sensor network processor. The RF addressable sensor includes one or more sensor elements, one or more antennas for communicating with a sensor element reader, an RF power and communication interface, an RFID control module and a sensor interface. The wireless sensor reader also includes one or more antennas, a user interface, a controller, a network communication module, and an RF addressable sensor logic module.

RF Addressable Sensors, Wireless Sensor Readers, Communication Networks, Sensor Devices

Description

Sensor network based on radio frequency identification {RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (ＲＦＩＤ) BASED SENSOR NETWORKS}

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to sensor networks, and more particularly to radio frequency identification (RFID) based sensor networks.

The ability of wireless sensors to provide remote, real-time data has many applications in the health and safety field. From an individual's point of view, the ability to see which foods contain bacteria or ingredients that are harmful to allergies is very desirable before consumption. On the community side, recent national and international events have increased the need for distributed systems to continuously monitor and detect chemicals, biologicals, radiation and other hazards in real time over a wide geographic area. have.

Because of the cost of sensors and sensor readers, it is currently not possible to use them widely or to deploy sensor networks over a wide geographic area. In addition, because sensors are inaccurate, cross validation is usually required to eliminate false positives, and the number of sensors that must be deployed for each application is added. Another problem with the wide geographic layout is that the sensor must be replaced regularly due to the wear of the sensor or sensor surface, which adds cost.

Thus, there is a need for inexpensive, compact and flexible wireless sensors. There is also a need for a sensor reader that is inexpensive and easy to obtain by the general public.

There is also a need for distributed sensor networks to monitor and detect harmful substances and / or situations in real time in a very cost effective manner.

The present invention relates to an RF addressable sensor network architecture in which a reader communicates with and powers a radio frequency addressable sensor. The present invention is also possible with RF addressable sensors that can be produced at less cost than most types of sensors currently in use.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an RF addressable sensor network includes one or more RF addressable sensors, one or more wireless sensor readers coupled to a communication network, and one or more selectable end user devices coupled to the communication network. In an aspect of the invention, the communication network is a publicly accessible communication network. In another aspect, the communication network is a dedicated network or a hybrid network with both public and dedicated units. The wireless sensor reader communicates with the RF addressable sensor via an RF signal. The wireless sensor reader also communicates with a communication network via a wireless air interface protocol or via a wired data communication protocol. In another aspect of the invention, an RF addressable sensor network comprises a sensor network processor having sensor data processing logic and geolocation processing logic.

The RF addressable sensor combines a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag function with a sensor function. The RF addressable sensor includes one or more antennas, one or more sensor elements, an RF power and communication interface, an RFID control module and a sensor interface for communicating with a wireless sensor reader. The RFID control module may include RFID logic to control RFID tag communication with a wireless sensor reader and / or a conventional RFID tag reader. The RFID control module also includes logic to process sensor data. In another aspect of the invention, the RF addressable sensor comprises one or more reference elements coupled in parallel with the sensor elements.

The present invention also deals with a wireless sensor reader. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a wireless sensor reader includes one or more antennas, a user interface, a controller, a network communication module, and an RF addressable sensor logic module. The network communication module is configured to provide communication to the communication network. The RF addressable sensor logic module controls the communication with the RF addressable sensor. Wireless sensor readers are implemented in wireless devices such as phones and PDAs. In an aspect of the present invention, the RF addressable sensor logic module is integrated into the device by design or by downloading the sensor logic to a programmable processor in the device. In another aspect of the invention, the RF addressable sensor logic module is coupled to the device via an interface.

The invention also relates to a method for transferring sensor data in an RFID based sensor network. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, reading of one or more RF addressable sensors in a wireless sensor reader is disclosed. The wireless sensor reader passes the signal to the RF addressable sensor to initialize the sensor and power the sensor. The wireless sensor reader then isolates one RF addressable sensor. In an aspect of the present invention, the wireless sensor reader signals the separate RF addressable sensor to obtain sensor data. The RF addressable sensor passes its sensor data to the wireless sensor reader. The wireless sensor reader may perform additional processing on the data or may pass the data to the network sensor processor for further processing. In some aspects of the invention, received sensor data and / or processed sensor data may be displayed on a wireless sensor reader. In another aspect of the invention, the original sensor data and / or processed sensor data is passed to an end user device and / or processor coupled to the communication network.

These and other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

1 is an exemplary block diagram of an RF addressable sensor network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

2 is an exemplary block diagram of an RF addressable sensor in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

2A is an exemplary block diagram of an RF addressable sensor with an external sensor element in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a wireless sensor reader in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

4A, 4B, and 4C are exemplary block diagrams of a wireless sensor reader configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flow diagram illustrating an operational sequence of RF addressable sensor read communication from the side of a wireless sensor reader, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for initiating sensor reading remotely over a communication network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

7A is a flow diagram illustrating a method of RF addressable sensor read communication from the side of a basic single RF addressable sensor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

7B is a flow diagram illustrating a method of RF addressable sensor read communication from the side of an RF addressable sensor with local processing capability, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a block diagram of a residential safety sensor network application with geolocation functionality, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flow chart illustrating a method for detecting the presence of harmful agents in a residential safety sensor network, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a block diagram illustrating the application of a sensor network for remotely monitoring a shipping container, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an application of a sensor network for remotely monitoring a smart card or badge with one or more RF addressable sensors, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

12 is a block diagram illustrating the application of a sensor network to remotely monitor the contents of a network household appliance, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

13A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary real-time food testing application, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

13B is a block diagram illustrating a network-based food testing application, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

14 is a block diagram of an exemplary application of a sensor network to identify possible interactions between prescribed medications, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary application of a sensor network for remote sensing of a high risk situation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

16 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary application of a sensor network for shopping, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary application of a sensor network for monitoring a structure, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, together with the description serve to illustrate the invention, to explain the principles of the invention and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals may indicate the same or functionally identical components. Further, the leftmost digits of a reference number may represent the figure in which the reference number first appears.

1. Architectural embodiments of the present invention

Various embodiments of an RF addressable sensor network, an RF addressable sensor, and an RF addressable sensor reader are described in the subsections below. It is to be understood that these embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes only and the invention should not be limited to the specific embodiments described below. Alternative embodiments for RF addressable sensor networks, RF addressable sensors, and RF addressable sensor readers, including equivalents, combinations, modifications, more components, smaller components, and the like, are based on the content herein. Will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be understood that such alternative embodiments are also within the scope and spirit of the invention.

1.1 RF Addressable Sensor Network

1 is a block diagram of an exemplary RF addressable sensor network 100 for monitoring, detecting, and geolocating an RF addressable sensor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The network 100 includes an RF addressable sensor population 102, one or more wireless addressable sensor readers 140, and a communication network 180. In an embodiment of the present invention, communication network 180 is a publicly accessible communication network. In another embodiment, communication network 180 is a dedicated network or a hybrid network including a common or dedicated unit. The communication network 180 includes a wireless communication network 170 and / or a data communication network 175. Although a communication network 180 is shown in FIG. 1 including wireless and data communication networks, those skilled in the art will recognize that other network architectures may be used in the present invention.

In an embodiment, the end user device 182 may be coupled to the communication network 180. End user device 182 includes logic for bidirectional communication with communication network 180. End user device 182 may be present to initiate a sensor data request from RF addressable sensor 102 by requesting reader 140 via network 180. In one embodiment, end user device 182 also includes logic to process the received sensor data. For example, user device 182 may include features of processor 190, which will be described below. Thus, in one embodiment, user device 182 may initiate a sensor data request, resulting in receiving and processing sensor data. End user device 182 may communicate with communication network 180 via a wireless link 184 or a wired link 186. In an alternative embodiment, the network 100 also includes a sensor network processor 190.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the RF addressable sensor cluster 102 may include any number of one or more RF addressable sensors 110. The RF addressable sensor 110 integrates RFID tag functionality and sensor functionality. The RF addressable sensor 110 may be attached to the exterior of the item, inserted into the item (eg, immersed in a liquid), or may be freestanding.

The wireless sensor reader 140 includes logic to interrogate the RF addressable sensor cluster 102 and logic to read the RFID tag data and sensor data sent by the RF addressable sensor 110. In an embodiment, the wireless sensor reader 140 also includes logic to process the received sensor data. Wireless sensor reader 140 may be any wireless device capable of communicating with RF addressable sensor cluster 102 via a wireless interface protocol. In embodiments of the present invention, wireless sensor reader 140 may be a wireless telephone, a PDA, a computer with wireless communication capabilities, or other type of mobile, handheld, and / or computing device.

In accordance with the present invention, the signal 115 is exchanged between the wireless sensor reader 140 and the RF addressable sensor cluster 102 in accordance with one or more protocols. Signal 115 is a radio signal, such as radio frequency transmission. In an embodiment of the present invention, reader 140 and sensor cluster 120 communicate over a single protocol for both RFID tag communication and sensor communication. In an alternative embodiment, reader 140 and sensor cluster 102 communicate via a first protocol for RFID tag communication and a second protocol for sensor communication. Examples of protocols used for RFID tag communication include the following pending applications, US Application No. 10 / 072,984, filed Feb. 12, 2002, entitled “Radio Frequency Identification Architecture”; US Application No. 10 / 687,690, filed Oct. 20, 2003, entitled “Method for the Efficient Reading of a Population of Radio Frequency Identification Tags with Unique Identification Numbers Over a Noisy Air Channel”; US Application No. 10 / 693,687, filed October 27, 2003 and entitled "Optimization of a Binary Tree Traversal with Secure Communications", all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. do. The invention is also applicable to any other type of communication protocol between a tag and a reader, or to a protocol known or to be developed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the signal 165 is exchanged between the wireless sensor reader 140 and the wireless communication network 170 in accordance with one or more protocols. Signal 165 is typically an RF signal. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the communication protocol used between reader 140 and wireless network 170 may be any wireless air interface protocol such as used in IS-41 or GSM wireless communication networks. .

In an alternative embodiment, the wireless sensor reader 140 may also communicate to the data communication network 175 via the interface 185. Interface 185 is a wired interface. For example, if the wireless sensor reader 140 is a computer with wireless capability, the sensor reader 140 may access the Internet through the interface 185 using TCP / IP. As those skilled in the art will understand, the communication protocol used between the reader 140 and the data communication network 175 may be any data communication protocol.

In an embodiment of the present invention, wireless network 170 is a publicly accessible network, such as a switched telephone network that supports wireless communication. In alternative embodiments, wireless network 170 may be a dedicated network. Wireless network 170 may be coupled to a publicly accessible data communication network 175. The publicly accessible data communication network 175 may be a public data network such as a public switched telephone network or the Internet. In addition, the data communication network 175 may be connected to other public or dedicated networks as understood by those skilled in the art.

The sensor network processor 190 receives sensor data through the network 180 and processes the data. In addition, in an embodiment, for example, the processor 190 sends the processed data back to the reader 140 via the network 180. The sensor network processor 190 includes a geographic location estimation processor 192 and a sensor data processor 194. Sensor network processor 190 may be a standalone system or may be distributed across multiple systems. Geographic location estimation processor 192 receives data from one or more RF addressable sensors 110 and based on the received data and / or signals GPS and / or non-GPS geographic location of RF addressable sensors 110. It includes logic to perform the estimation. In GPS-based geographical position estimation, the position is determined using signals provided to the wireless sensor reader 140 via geo-stationary satellites. The limitation of GPS-based geographic location estimation is that if the device is hidden (eg underground or inside a building), no signal is available. In non-GPS based geographic location estimation, the location is determined by triangulation based on the transmission system as a time and reference point (eg mobile base station) for signal calculation. In this manner, the cellular phone tower can estimate the geographic location of the wireless sensor reader 140 through calculations made by the processor 190. Similarly, wireless sensor reader 140 may be used as a bias to identify the exact location of each sensor 110 by synchronization and triangulation of an internal clock. Since either one of the cellular phone tower location and / or the location of the wireless sensor reader is generally known and may include GPS coordinates, accurate geographic location estimation of the sensor is achieved using either GPS, non-GPS or hybrid systems. Can be.

For more detailed information on geographic location estimation, see US Pat. No. 6,031,454, filed November 13, 1997, entitled “Worker-Specific Exposure Monitor and Method for Surveillance of Workers,” and its entirety. The contents are incorporated herein by reference.

Sensor data processor 194 receives sensor data from one or more RF addressable sensors 110, performs processing on the received data, and informs wireless reader 140 or end user device 182 based on the processing. Contains logic to pass Sensor network processor 190 is coupled to wireless communication network 170 and / or data communication network 175.

1.2 RF Addressable Sensor

2 is a block diagram of a radio frequency addressable sensor 210 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The RF addressable sensor includes RFID tag functionality integrated with sensor functionality.

The RF addressable sensor 210 includes an integrated circuit 222, a plurality of RF pads 204a through 204n, and a plurality of antennas 206a through 206n. These components are mounted on or formed on the substrate 202. The RF addressable sensor 210 also includes a plurality of sensor elements 291a through 291n, 292a through 292n and 294a through 294n.

The sensor element may be included in the integrated circuit 222, on the substrate 202, outside the substrate 202, or in any combination of the above. As shown in FIG. 2, sensor elements 291a through 291n may be included as components of integrated circuit 222. Sensor elements 292a through 292n may be included on substrate 202. Any compatible sensor element may be used in the fabrication of the RF addressable sensor 210. In embodiments of the present invention, sensor elements 292a through 292n may be thin film sensor elements that are placed on substrate 202, printed on substrate 202, or assembled directly onto substrate 202. Sensor elements 294a through 294n may be external to substrate 202. When the sensor element is located on the substrate (collectively sensor element 292) or outside the substrate (collectively sensor element 294), the sensor element is a plurality of sensor pads 208a to 208n (collectively). Will be coupled to one or more pads of the sensor pad 108.

The structure of the sensor pad 208 depends on the type of sensor element coupled to the sensor pad 208. In an embodiment of the invention, the sensor pad 208 is metal. However, some biological sensor elements consist of soft materials. When coupled to the metal sensor pad 208, there is a possibility that these sensor elements are drilled. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the at least one sensor pad is a soft sensor pad. These soft sensor pads provide a transition from a metal connection layer for coupling to an integrated circuit component to a soft connection layer for coupling to a sensor element. By using a soft transition method, all types of external sensor elements can be coupled to the substrate 202. For example, doped inks or conductive polymers may be used to couple and bond the substrate 202 to the integrated sensor as described below. Direct sensors can be fabricated using other micro or nanofabrication techniques, thus providing a means by which complex integrated wireless sensors can be produced for many different markets at very low cost.

This flexible architecture allows various types of sensor elements to be implemented in the RF addressable element 210. The RF addressable sensor 210 may include only one type of sensor element or may include a combination of other types of sensor element. Examples of sensor elements include gas sensor elements that detect the presence of chemicals, such as trace chemicals or precursors or drugs, of explosives such as Pentaerythirtol Tetranitrate (PETN) and Hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). ; A temperature sensor element for generating information indicative of the ambient temperature; An accelerometer for generating information indicative of motion or vibration; An optical sensor element for detecting the presence (or absence) of light; Pressure sensor elements for detecting various types of mechanical pressure; Tamper sensor elements for detecting attempts to remove or destroy a sensor from an affixed item; Electromagnetic sensor elements, radiation sensor elements and biochemical sensor elements. However, this list is not exhaustive. RF addressable sensor 210 may include other types of sensor elements or combinations thereof as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Sensor elements 291a through 291n are sensors that can be fabricated directly on the chip surface as part of integrated circuit 222. For example, such sensors include sensors for temperature changes, radiation, electrical changes, field effects, and movement. Sensor elements 292a through 292n may be many different sensor types, such as chemical elements, biological elements, and the like. In one embodiment, sensor element 292a may comprise a plurality of special thin film elements, such as polymers. For example, in chemical sensor devices, chemicals present in the air are absorbed differently by each of the thin film devices and produce characteristic electronic displays with varying resistances. Because many types of detectors can be added, this technique can be designed to recognize a wide range of chemicals. Note that hybrid systems are also possible. For example, embedded passives may be used to generate some of the electronic functionality on a chip and may be combined with sensor functionality.

In alternative embodiments, one or more antennas 206 may be used as sensor elements. For example, the antenna can operate as an on-off sensor. The antenna absorbs the material to be detected, causing the antenna to detune, and the tag stops working. Thus, when the tag shuts off, the substance is sensed. In this embodiment, the antenna acting as a sensor element is coupled to both the RF pad 204 and the sensor pad 208. In an alternative embodiment, the RF pad 204 is coupled to both RF power and communication interface 240 and sensor interface 250.

In an embodiment of the invention, the RF addressable sensor 210 is or includes a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS). In an embodiment, the sensor element may include mechanical and electromechanical devices “micromachined” on a common substrate or on a separate substrate along with the remaining components of the RF addressable sensor 210. In this embodiment, the remaining electronic components can be fabricated using conventional integrated circuit technology. For example, in a MEMS RF addressable sensor, one or more sensor elements may comprise a microcantilever device.

In alternative embodiments, sensor elements 294a-294n are external to substrate 202, can be fabricated using MEMS technology, and can be attached to substrate 202, while on substrate 202. The included components can be fabricated using conventional techniques. This allows all types of sensors to be coupled to RFID tags.

2A is a block diagram of an RF addressable sensor 210 with an external sensor element in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The external sensor element 294 can be coupled to an independent power supply 293. Substrate 202 may also or alternatively be coupled to a separate power supply 293. In an embodiment, the power supply 293 is a disposable battery or photovoltaic cell. Thus, sensor element 294 does not require a periodic "power" signal from the wireless reader. In an embodiment, sensor element 294 includes a memory.

The advantage of the RF addressable sensor configuration of FIG. 2A is that the wireless component and geographic location estimation features are provided by the RFID tag and cellular phone combination to reduce cost and make it suitable for the sensor network. An example of such an application is a residential safety network with sensors spread by an airplane over a given area with low cost readers. If a risk is detected, enough power is at the sensor level to send a " wake-up " signal to a nearby reader. The reader then estimates the geographic location of itself and the sensor and relays the information to the remote processor 190. Cross-validation checking of sensor events may then be performed by activating and reading other sensors of the same geographical area. A further advantage is that the present invention can be used in combination with sensors that require more power than is available in RFID tags. In addition, sensor elements requiring a very different manufacturing process than RFID tags can also be used in the present invention.

In an embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the RF addressable sensor 210 may optionally include a plurality of reference elements 295a-295n, 296a-296n, and 297a-297n. Like the sensor element, the reference element may be included in the integrated circuit 222, on the substrate 202, outside the substrate 202, or in any combination of the above. As shown in Fig. 2, reference elements 295a to 295n are included in integrated circuit 222; Reference circuits 296a-296n are included on the substrate 202; And reference circuits 297a-297n are external to substrate 202. The sensor element need not have a reference element. When the reference element is located on the substrate (collectively reference element 296) or outside the substrate (collectively reference element 297), the reference element is a plurality of reference pads 209a to 209n (collectively). May be coupled to one or more of the reference pads 209.

The reference element allows cross validation of the sensor data and establishes a baseline. This is important for chemical measurements, for biological sensors, and for any sensor situation where there are two or more variables or at least one of the variables is dependent or proportional to the other.

In an embodiment of the invention, the sensor element may have a plurality of associated reference elements. In an embodiment, the reference element provides a calibrated value and / or baseline that can be compared internally or externally with the sensor element. In an embodiment, the reference data may be sent by the RF addressable sensor to the wireless sensor reader or to the network sensor processor for measurement of the sensor element.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, integrated circuit 222 includes RF power and communication interface 230, sensor interface 250, and RFID control module 240. Sensor interface 250 includes a digitizer or analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 252. ADC 252 receives an analog signal from the sensor element and converts the analog signal into a corresponding digital signal. The ADC 252 may be directly coupled to a sensor element implemented in the integrated circuit 222, or may be coupled to other sensor elements 292 and 294 through the sensor pad 208. In an embodiment, a filter (not shown) may be used between the sensor element and the ADC 252.

In an embodiment of the present invention, sensor interface 250 optionally includes one or more thermistors 254. Thermistor 254 is a device having an electrical resistance that changes as expected with temperature. Thermistor 254 provides a correlation point for the data obtained from the sensor elements. Since temperature is a generally known variable, by including a thermistor in the RF addressable sensor 210, the sensor 210 can use the temperature as a reference for comparison or the sensor element output value can be adjusted based on the temperature. . Such adjustment may occur internally or at the wireless sensor reader 140, at the end user device 182 and / or externally at the network sensor processor 190.

In an embodiment of the invention, thermistor 254 is made of a material, such as a metal-oxide, having a resistance that changes in a linear manner with temperature. Thus, at a given temperature, the thermistor has some value that can be accurately correlated with the given temperature. Measurement of thermistor 254 may be performed in batches after the chip is microfabricated. Measurement can be accomplished by setting the chip to set temperature and programming a value corresponding to the chip. This process can be repeated at two different temperatures, providing a reference to the memory.

In an embodiment of the invention, thermistor 254 is made of a non-linear change material. In this embodiment, additional measurement points are used. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other implementations of thermistor 254 may be used in the present invention.

In an embodiment, sensor interface 250 may optionally include memory 256. The memory 256 stores information used by the RF addressable sensor 210 and processes sensor data received from the sensor element. The information may be stored permanently or temporarily. In an embodiment of the present invention, memory 256 is a programmable memory. The stored information may be used internally by the RF addressable sensor 110 or communicated for external use by the wireless sensor reader 140, the end user device 182 and / or the network sensor processor 190. Can be.

In an embodiment, memory 256 stores sensor data table 258. The sensor data table 258 is configured to store data associated with all or a subset of the sensor elements supported by the RF addressable sensor 210. For example, the sensor data table may store sensor element identification numbers, preferred read times, spacing intervals between reads, and / or sensor element specific data for all or a subset of the sensor elements.

Using this approach, by making a wireless device, such as a telephone, a "smart" sensor reader device, a general-purpose sensor platform is created based on RFID technology. In an embodiment, a wireless device such as a telephone is modified to include an RFID-sensor tag reader as described herein. In an embodiment, when sensor 110 with data table 258 is activated by wireless sensor reader 140, sensor 110 identifies itself (by providing its identification number) and sends it to cellular phone reader. It provides the information needed to analyze the sensor output. In an embodiment, sensor data table 258 also includes sensor processing information that is communicated to reader 140. For example, if sensor 110 wishes to detect a particular allergen in food, the entire step-by-step testing protocol may be provided and displayed directly on the screen of phone or reading device 140. In other embodiments, some or all of the information needed to process and analyze the sensor is retrieved from processor 190.

The software may also be downloaded directly or transparently to the cellular phone or reader 140 to "train" the wireless device to recognize and analyze certain types of RFID-sensors. This information may be stored permanently or temporarily on the wireless device 140. When the necessary processing and analysis information is downloaded from a remote location, only the ID of the RFID-sensor is needed, providing a very streamlined solution for general purpose sensor analysis to wireless devices such as cellular phones. In another embodiment, a hybrid system may be provided in which only the basic sensor analysis protocol is downloaded to the cellular phone and sensor data processing is performed remotely. This situation is particularly applicable where complex multivariate analysis of sensor data is required. The phone can also include a summary table in permanent memory with the ID needed to recognize all types of sensors. Using the above-described method, a general wireless device can be an “smart” device for all types of sensors on the fly.

Integrated circuit 222 may accommodate multiple antennas 206a through 206n. Thus, the RF addressable sensor 210 can have various antenna configurations on the substrate 202. For example, the wireless sensor reader 140 (of FIG. 1) may operate at different frequencies or may have a different directivity than conventional RFID readers. Thus, RF addressable sensor 210 may have one or more antennas configured to communicate with a conventional RFID reader or may have one or more antennas configured to communicate with wireless sensor reader 140.

The RFID control module 240 controls the RF communication between the RF addressable sensor 210 and the wireless sensor reader 140. The RFID control module includes a controller 242 and a memory 246. The controller 242 is logic to control the operational state of the RFID tag logic 244 and the RF addressable sensor's RFID tag component that responds to the RFID tag query and reads communication by the wireless sensor reader 140 or another tag reader. It includes. Further information regarding the querying of tags, and more generally on the communication between a tag reader and an RFID reader in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, is described in US Pat. No. 6,002,344, entitled "System and Method for Electronic Inventory." U.S. Application No. 09 / 323,206, filed June 1, 1999 and entitled "System and Method for Electronic Inventory", pending below; US Application No. 10 / 072,855, filed Feb. 12, 2002 and entitled "Method, System and Apparatus for Binary Traversal of a Tag Population" (Publication No. 0149481-A1); Described in US Application No. 10 / 073,000, filed Feb. 12, 2002 and entitled "Method, System and Apparatus for Communicating with a RFID Tag Population", all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Included in

Controller 242 optionally includes sensor processing logic 245 to process sensor data obtained by the sensor element. Memory 246 stores information used by the RF addressable sensor when operating as an RFID tag. Memory 246 may be integrated with or separate from memory 256 of the sensor interface. The information may be stored permanently or temporarily. Memory 246 stores tag identification numbers for RF addressable sensor 210. In an embodiment of the invention, the tag identification number indicates the type of sensor element included in the RF addressable sensor 210.

RF power and communication interface 230 includes a communication module 232 and a power generation module 236. The communication module 232 is coupled to the antenna 206 to communicate in both directions with the wireless RF addressable sensor reader. In an alternate embodiment, the communication module 232 bidirectionally communicates with a conventional RFID reader in addition to a wireless RF addressable sensor reader. In an embodiment, the power generation module 236 supplies the integrated circuit 222 with an operating voltage based on the RF energy transmitted by the wireless sensor reader 140 and received by the corresponding RF addressable sensor 110. to provide. In another embodiment, the power generation module 236 may also include a battery or other power source. Alternatively, the power generation module 236 may include only a battery or other power source. If there is a power source, the power source provides an operating voltage to the integrated circuit 222. In addition, the power generation module 236 may provide an operating voltage to the sensor elements 292a to 292n and / or 294a to 294n. For example, for information on power generation of an RFID tag, see U.S. Application No. 10 / 383,537, filed March 10, 2003, entitled "Efficient Charge Pump Apparatus," the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Included in

In an embodiment, where a power source is present, the RF addressable tag may include logic to activate the reader when certain events occur and / or when certain conditions are detected at predetermined intervals. Those skilled in the art will understand that many RFID tag communication protocols can be used to activate a reader in accordance with the present invention.

1.3 Wireless RF Addressable Sensor Reader

An exemplary embodiment for the wireless sensor reader 140 is described in this section. 3 is a block diagram of a wireless sensor reader 340 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless sensor reader 340 includes a network communication module 342, a controller 344, a user interface 346, and an RF addressable sensor logic module 350. Wireless sensor reader 340 also includes one or more antennas. Antenna 348 is configured for communication with wireless network 170. Antenna 348 is included when wireless reader 340 is integrated with a wireless communication device. In an embodiment of the invention, antenna 348 is also configured for communication with a group of RF addressable sensors. Antennas 349a through 349n are included when antenna 348 does not support communication with a bunch of RF addressable sensors. In this embodiment, the antenna 349 is configured to communicate with the RF addressable sensor 110. In alternative embodiments, network antenna 348 may be removed from reader 340 (eg, unscrewed) and replaced with RFID antenna 349 for communication with sensor cluster 102. .

The controller 344 includes logic to coordinate and coordinate the operation of the components of the wireless sensor reader 340.

User interface 346 provides a user of wireless sensor reader 340 with a mechanism to access and interact with sensor information and / or initiate reading of one or more sensors 110. User interface 346 may include a keypad (eg, a numeric keypad of a wireless telephone) and / or a display for entering data. In an alternate embodiment, the user interface 346 includes standalone buttons for initiating sensor readings and / or processing. Wireless sensor reader 340 also includes a display for displaying data obtained from RF addressable sensor 110. In an embodiment, the wireless sensor reader 340 also includes an alarm to indicate when a predetermined threshold is reached or when a predetermined condition is detected by the RF addressable sensor.

The user can also initiate sensor processing by entering a predetermined character string (eg, by entering * 2222) through the keypad. Alternatively, the user may initiate sensor processing by highlighting or activating an option provided through the display or by a predetermined voice command.

Network communication module 342 includes one or more transmitters and receivers for communication with data communication network 175 and / or wireless communication network 170. In an embodiment of the invention, the wireless sensor reader 340 communicates with the wireless network 170 via a network antenna 348. Thus, network communication module 342 includes a wireless interface coupled to antenna 348. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the wireless sensor reader 340 communicates with a data communication network 175 that is publicly accessible via a wired connection. In this embodiment, network communication module 342 includes a wired network interface. If both types of communication are supported, the network communication module 342 will include both a wireless interface and a wired interface.

The RF addressable sensor logic module 350 includes an RF addressable sensor communication module 352 and an RFID tag processor 356. The wireless sensor reader 340 communicates with the bunch of RF addressable sensors 102 via either the network antenna 348 or one or more of the one or more RFID antennas 349a through 349n. When the wireless sensor reader 340 communicates with a bunch of RF addressable sensors via one or more RFID antennas 349a through 349n, the RF communication module 352 includes one or more transmitters and receivers coupled to the antenna 349. something to do. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the RF communication module 352 may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

The RFID tag processor 356 includes logic to query and read RFID tag information from the RF addressable sensor 110. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the RFID tag processor 356 may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

The RF addressable sensor communication module 352 includes sensor data processing logic 355 and geographic location estimation processing logic 353. Sensor data processing logic 355 is configured to request reading of one or more addressable sensors 110 based on input from a user after a predetermined time interval and / or when a predetermined event occurs. Sensor data processing logic 355 is also configured to process received sensor data.

The geographic location estimation processor 353 is optional and, if present, includes algorithms to perform GPS based geographic location estimation and / or non-GPS based geographic location estimation. In an embodiment, sensor reader 340 functions as a geolocation beacon for the RFID-sensor simultaneously with other readers. In an embodiment, the antenna serves as a means for directional geographical position estimation of the RFID sensor.

4A-4C show block diagrams of example configurations for wireless sensor reader 440. Each configuration illustrates various ways in which RF addressable sensor logic module 350 and RFID antennas 349a through 349n can be implemented in device 430. Device 430 may be an existing wireless device such as a cordless phone or a PDA. In an alternative embodiment, the device 430 is a device specifically designed to support communication with the RF addressable sensor 110 and communication with a communication network such as a wireless telephone network or the Internet.

In FIG. 4A, the RF addressable sensor logic module 350 is integrated into the device 430. In this embodiment, the wireless sensor reader 440 communicates with both the RF addressable sensor tag cluster and the wireless network 170 via an antenna 448. In an embodiment of the invention, the module 350 is built into the device 430. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus 430 includes a programmable processor. Logic for module 350 is downloaded and stored in the programmable processor. The logic may be downloaded via a wireless interface, an infrared port, a data connection through an accessory port, or any other interface or link capable of sending data to the device 430.

In FIG. 4B, the RF addressable sensor logic module 350 is integrated into the apparatus 430 as described with reference to FIG. 4A. However, in this embodiment, one or more antennas 449a through 449n are already included or added to the device 430 for communication with the RF addressable sensor 102 cluster. Note that in this configuration, antenna 448 is optional and is not included if only wireless sensor reader 340 communicates with data communication network 175 via a wired connection.

In FIG. 4C, the RF addressable sensor logic module 350 is external to the device 430 and attached to the device 430 via the interface 435. For example, interface 435 can be any other interface or port capable of transmitting data to or from device 430, such as an accessory port, an infrared port, or a wireless telephone data / software interface. For example, module 350 may be a snap-on module and / or a plug-in module to device 430. Various antenna configurations are supported in this embodiment. In an embodiment, the existing antenna 448 supports communication with both network 170 and sensor cluster 102. In an alternative embodiment, an additional antenna 449 for communication with the sensor cluster 102 is attached to the external module 350. In yet another alternative embodiment, an additional antenna 449 is attached to the device 430 for communication with the flock of sensors 102. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other configurations for the wireless sensor reader 440 are possible.

2. RF Addressable Sensor Network Method

2.1 RF addressable sensor readout communication

5 is a flowchart of a method 500 for RF addressable sensor read communication as viewed from the side of the wireless sensor reader. The method 500 will be described with continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. Note that some steps shown in the flowcharts do not necessarily have to occur in the order shown.

The method begins with step 510. In step 510, reading of one or more RF addressable sensors is initiated. In an embodiment of the invention, sensor data processing logic 355 includes logic to periodically initiate sensor read communication. For example, sensor data processing logic 355 may automatically initiate sensor readings every 15 minutes. Sensor reading can also be initiated manually via the user interface 346 of the wireless sensor reader 140/340. For example, a user can initiate reading by activating a display icon or option. In an embodiment, a user may initiate reading by pressing a series of keys (eg * 2222) on the device keypad or by pressing a specially configured sensor read button. Or, if the device supports a voice activation command, the user can initiate sensor reading by saying the appropriate command.

Sensor readings may also be initiated remotely via data communication network 175 or wireless network 170. 6 illustrates a method 602 for remotely initiating sensor reading in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 602 begins with step 603. In step 603, wireless sensor reader 140/340 receives a connection signal from end user device 182. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the type and format of the connection signal depends on the implementation of the end user 182 and the wireless sensor reader 140/340. For example, if the wireless sensor reader 140/340 is also a wireless telephone device, the connection signal may be a phone call to the wireless sensor reader by the end user device. Alternatively, the end user device may be a data terminal. In this example, the connection signal can be any type of data communication connection signal.

In step 605, the wireless reader 140/340 connects to an end user device via a communication network.

In step 607, wireless reader 140/340 receives a start signal from an end user device. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the type and format of the initiation signal depends on the type and format of the access signal. Once the telephone connection is established, the initiation signal may be a series of dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signals or voice commands. Thereafter, control proceeds to step 520.

Returning to FIG. 5, at step 520, wireless sensor reader 140/340 delivers an RF signal to one or more addressable sensors 520. These RF signals serve two purposes. These signals initialize the RF addressable sensor for communication and provide operating power to the sensor.

Based on the details provided at the start of the reading, the wireless sensor reader 140/340 may perform a sensor reading of the entire group of RF addressable sensors 102 or perform a reading of a particular set of RF addressable sensors. Can be done. In step 530, the reader determines whether to read the entire bunch of RF addressable sensors 102 or one or more specific RF addressable sensors 110. If the entire herd is read, operation proceeds to step 550. If one or more specific sensors 110 are read, the process proceeds to step 540.

For example, a user may obtain (eg purchase) a group of RF addressable sensors. The user may store a tag identification number associated with each RF addressable sensor in the wireless sensor reader prior to initiating reading of the sensors. The reader can then isolate only those specific RF addressable sensors stored in the wireless sensor reader.

In step 540, the RFID tag processor 356 separates (eg, singulates) the specific RF addressable sensor 110 to be read. Processor 356 may detach sensor 110 via an inquiry protocol or other mechanism. For details on the method for detaching a particular tag, refer to the aforementioned pending US patent entitled "Radio Frequency Identification Architecture". As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other protocols and methods may be used with the present invention to read tags and isolate them.

In step 542, wireless sensor reader 140/340 instructs a particular RF addressable sensor 110 to obtain sensor data. This can be done via some command. In an alternative embodiment, the RF addressable sensor 110 automatically signals sensor data to the wireless sensor reader 140/340 as soon as it is detached. In this embodiment, step 542 is optional.

In step 544, wireless sensor reader 140/340 receives sensor data from RF addressable sensor 110. Sensor data may include sensor element output data, sensor table data, reference data and / or other data.

In step 546, wireless sensor reader 140/340 determines whether there are additional specific RF addressable sensors to be read. If there are no additional sensors to be read, operation proceeds to step 560. If there are additional sensors to be read, operation proceeds to step 540.

In step 550, the RFID tag processor 356 separates the RF addressable sensor 110 from the cluster 102 using a common conventional read protocol such as binary tree traversal.

In step 552, wireless sensor reader 140/340 instructs the identified RF addressable sensor 110 to obtain sensor data. This can be done via some command. In an alternative embodiment, the RF addressable sensor 110 automatically signals a wireless signal to the wireless sensor reader 140/340. In this embodiment, step 522 is optional.

In step 554, the wireless sensor reader 140/340 receives sensor data from the RF addressable sensor 110.

In step 556, wireless sensor reader 140/340 determines whether there are additional RF addressable sensors left to be read. If there are no additional sensors to be read out, operation proceeds to step 560. If there are additional sensors to be read out, the operation proceeds to step 550.

In step 560, the wireless sensor reader 140/340 determines whether any further processing should be performed on the received sensor data. If further processing is to be performed, operation proceeds to step 562. If there is no further processing to be performed, operation proceeds to step 570.

At step 562, wireless sensor reader 140/340 determines whether further processing is to be performed locally or remotely. If processing is to be performed locally, operation proceeds to step 568. If processing is to be performed remotely, operation proceeds to step 564. For example, some types of processing may require too much resources to perform efficiently in the wireless sensor reader 140/340 or may require data that is not possible in the wireless sensor reader 140/340. In this situation, remote sensor processing is selected for the sensor data.

In step 564, the wireless sensor reader 140/340 delivers the sensor data received to the sensor network processor 190 via the communication network 180. In an embodiment, the wireless sensor reader may also pass additional data to sensor network processor 190, such as data needed to perform geographic location estimation. Upon receipt, the sensor network processor 190 may perform further processing on the data and / or perform geographic location estimation to determine the location of the RF addressable sensor 110 that generated the sensor data.

In step 566, the wireless sensor reader 140/340 receives the processed sensor data from the sensor network processor 190.

In step 568, sensor data processing logic 355 processes the received sensor data.

In step 570, received sensor data or processed sensor data is displayed. In an embodiment of the invention, data is displayed via a user interface on the wireless sensor reader 140/340. In alternative embodiments, data may also be delivered to one or more end user devices via a communication network for display. Step 570 is optional.

FIG. 7A is a flow diagram of a method 700a for basic RF addressable sensor read communication as viewed from one RF addressable sensor 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 700a is described with continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Some steps shown in the flowcharts do not necessarily have to occur in the order shown.

The method 700a begins with step 710. In step 710, the RF addressable sensor 110 receives an RF signal from the wireless sensor reader 340. In an embodiment, step 710 includes the step where a received RF signal is used to power sensor 110. Step 710 also includes a step 710 in which the sensor 110 identifies itself to the reader 340.

In step 720, sensor 110 receives a command from reader 340 to obtain sensor data. Step 720 is optional. In an embodiment of the invention, the RF addressable sensor 110 automatically obtains sensor data each time a communication session with the reader 340 is initiated.

In step 730, analog sensor data is obtained by one or more sensor elements 291, 292 and / or 294 and passed to ADC 252.

At step 740, the ADC converts analog sensor data into digital sensor data.

In step 780, the RF addressable sensor 110 passes digital sensor data to the wireless sensor reader 140/340. The details of this communication depend on the protocol used for communication between the wireless sensor reader 140/340 and the RF addressable sensor 110. In an embodiment of the invention, the protocol used is a binary tree traversal protocol. In this embodiment, the tag identification number signaled by the RF addressable sensor 110 may include both the tag identification number stored in the memory 246 and the sensor data obtained by the sensor element. Alternatively, the reader 140/340 may put the RFID tag logic 244 in a command state. In the command state, the RFID tag logic responds to commands received from the reader. When the RFID tag logic 244 receives the obtained sensor data command signal, the RFID tag logic will signal the sensor data to the reader 140/340. In an embodiment, the sensor data passed to the reader 140/340 may include temperature data, sensor data, reference data and / or data stored in the sensor data table 258.

FIG. 7B is a flow diagram illustrating a method 700b of RF addressable sensor read communication as viewed from an RF addressable sensor with local processing capability, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 700b is described with continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Note that the steps shown in the flowcharts do not necessarily have to occur in the order shown.

Steps 710 through 740 are generally the same as steps 710 through 740 described above with respect to FIG. 7A.

At step 750, the converted digital sensor data is passed to sensor processing logic 245.

In step 760, sensor processing logic 245 processes the converted sensor data.

Step 780 is generally the same as step 780 described above with respect to FIG. 7A.

2.2 Application

Homeland Security Sensor Network

The present invention is theoretically suitable for use in residential safety applications, such as the detection of biological, radiopharmaceuticals or chemicals over a wide area, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. An example of such use is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 8 and the associated flowchart of FIG. 9. 8 shows a sensor network 800 for monitoring a geographic area 820. Sensor network 800 provides access points for a plurality of RF addressable sensors 810a, 810b, and 810c (collectively sensor element 810), one or more wireless sensor readers 840, and communication network 880. Include.

One or more of the wireless sensor readers 840 may be a permanent part of the sensor network 800. For example, multiple wireless sensor readers 840 may be attached at different locations to provide maximum coverage of the geographic area 820. In addition, the one or more wireless sensor readers 840 may be a temporary part of the sensor network 800. For example, this may be the case when an individual comes into the geographic area 820 with a wireless sensor reader 840 capable of reading the sensor 810. Each wireless sensor reader 840 has a read coverage range. All RF addressable sensors 810 within the read coverage range 845 can be read by the corresponding reader 840.

Any combination of one or more types of sensors can be used in the sensor network 800. For example, RF addressable sensor 810a may include a sensor element for detecting chemicals, sensor 810b may include a sensor element for detecting radiation chemicals, and sensor 810c may It may include a sensor element for detecting a biological agent. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other types of sensor elements can be included in this application.

The method 900 shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9 begins with step 910. In step 910, a plurality of RF addressable sensors 810 are distributed to cover the defined monitoring area. Sensor 810 may be distributed manually or by other means, such as sprayed by an aircraft to cover larger geographic area 820.

At step 920, one or more wireless sensor readers 840 initiate reading of sensor elements that are within their read coverage range 845. For example, the wireless reader 840 may initiate reading of its coverage range every 15 minutes.

In step 930, wireless sensor reader 840 receives sensor data from a sensor element within its read coverage range 845.

In step 940, wireless sensor reader 840 determines whether sensor data indicates the presence of any dangerous drug. If the data indicates the presence of a dangerous drug, operation proceeds to step 950. If the data indicates that there are no dangerous drugs, the operation ends or proceeds to step 920.

In step 950, wireless sensor reader 840 performs geographic location estimation to determine the exact location of the RF addressable sensor associated with the data indicative of the presence of a dangerous drug. Geographic location estimation processing may use GPS-based or non-GPS-based techniques.

In an alternative embodiment, after performing step 930, the wireless sensor reader 840 passes the received sensor data to the central sensor network processor 890. The sensor network processor 890 then performs steps 940 and 950. The sensor network processor 890 also receives sensor data from all wireless sensor readers 840 in the geographic area 820. The sensor network processor 890 then compiles a complete picture of the state of the geographic area 820 to quickly identify and respond to all variations of sensor data from the area within the geographic area 820. In network applications, particularly for industrial or residential safety applications, cross validation of sensor events is important. For example, individual sensor events do not necessarily yield accurate information, but may actually be false positive rates. However, by matching similar sensor data at a given geographic location at the center point, cross validation is possible. As a result, the overall data will be more accurate, such as the geographical center of the threat, the surrounding area, and the area where the threat is no longer a risk to the public.

Remote monitoring of container shipments or freight shipments

The invention may also be used to remotely monitor shipping a container or any shipping box, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. An example of such use is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 10. The remote shipping container monitoring network 1000 includes one or more shipping packages 1012, one or more shipping containers 1022, at least one transport vessel 1024, a communication network 1080 and a network monitoring processor 1090.

One or more RF addressable sensors 1010 may be attached to each shipping package 1012 or hidden within a box or wooden box. The RF addressable sensor 1010 may include a chemical sensor element, a radiation sensor element, a biological sensor element, or any combination thereof. In alternative embodiments, a plurality of RF addressable sensors 1010 may be attached inside each shipping container 1022.

Each shipping container 1022 includes at least one wireless sensor reader 1040 to obtain sensor data from the RF addressable sensor 1010. Transport ship 1024 includes at least one device 1042 capable of receiving communications from wireless sensor reader 1040. The transport vessel 1024 may also include at least one wireless sensor reader 1040. An apparatus 1042 capable of receiving reader communications is coupled to a communications network. The network monitoring processor 1090 includes logic to receive sensor data and related information such as container identification, location and transport identification. Network monitoring processor 1090 also includes inventory and risk management logic.

In an embodiment of the present invention, shipping package 1012 is loaded into one or more shipping containers 1022. The shipping container is then loaded into transport ship 1022. Although ships are shown in FIG. 10 as transport vessels, other types of vessels are possible, including trains, trucks, airplanes or other transport vehicles.

Wireless sensor reader 1040 initiates reading of the RF addressable sensor. For example, the wireless sensor reader 1040 of the shipping container 1022 will initiate reading of the RF addressable sensor stored in the shipping container. In an embodiment, the reader 1040 processes the sensor data received internally. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless sensor reader 1040 will establish a connection with the device 1042. After the connection is established, the wireless sensor reader 1040 passes the sensor data to the device. The device 1042 then communicates the data and other relevant information (eg, geographic location estimation) to the network monitoring processor 1090 via the communication network.

Upon receiving sensor data and related information, network monitoring processor 1090 performs risk assessment processing. This treatment identifies the presence of dangerous chemical, radiation or biological situations. If a high risk situation exists, the network monitoring processor 1090 takes appropriate action to resolve the situation. The network monitoring processor 1090 may also include a memory for storing the received sensor data to create a history profile for the container and / or the shipping vessel.

When monitoring the presence of explosives because the RF addressable sensor can be concealed inside the shipping box, due to the low diffusion coefficient for dangerous explosives, the proximity factor is used in airports. You can make it as sensitive or even better than the most expensive screening techniques.

In particular, the diffusion coefficient for the gas in the air is relatively low, typically between 6 × 10 ⁻⁶ and 1.5 × 10 ⁻⁵ m 2 / sec. Assuming a point source of gas at the origin of r = 0, the following three-dimensional diffusion equation solution yields concentration C from the source, t as a function of time, and distance r.

Where D is the diffusion coefficient.

The solution of this spinning equation is as follows.

The constant B depends on the amount of gas released at time t = 0, and the C (r, t) integration over all spaces is time independent, which is only B, the number of molecules released. This solution is a Gaussian with only half of its width increasing by ^half (2Dt) with time. Thus, when 1/10 of a mole of gas corresponding to about 2.2 liters at 6 × 10 ²² molecules or atmospheric pressure is released, 1 m from the source, with diffusion coefficient D = 10 ⁻⁵ m 2 / sec. After one hour at, the concentration would be 2.5%, but at 2 meters it would be just 0.023 per billion. Thus, it may be beneficial to disperse low cost sensors rather than relying on a central unit even if it is less responsive. This analysis applies to still air, which may be the case for storage areas, shipping containers, sealed shipping boxes, and the like. In open air, turbulence and winds, which may be directional, can calm the diffusion. Nevertheless, since the concentration drops more rapidly with distance from the source (at least 1 / r ² , if not exponentially), there is still the premise that more than proximity compensates for low reactivity. Similarly, the radiation tag can be hidden directly inside the wall of the box or wooden box, so that the sensor can be very close to what could be the source, thereby increasing sensitivity.

Smart card and remote diagnostic monitoring

The invention may also be used for remote diagnostic monitoring in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention. An example of such use is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 11, a remote individual-specific monitoring network 1100 includes one or more smart cards or badges 1103, a wireless sensor reader 1140 having at least one RF addressable sensor 1110. ), Communication network 1180 and end user device 1182.

The RF addressable sensor 1110 may have a sensor element for monitoring a temperature, chemical compound, biological compound, or a combination of the foregoing for an individual.

Remote monitoring can be applied in residential, industrial, commercial, safety or medical institutions. In an embodiment of the invention, the smart card or badge 1103 is attached to a person (or animal) such that the sensor element of the RF addressable sensor is adjacent to the surface of the skin. The RF addressable sensor 1110 may include a low power sensor to monitor certain conditions or characteristics, such as an individual's life support function. The smart card or badge 1103 is placed within the reading range of the wireless sensor reader 1140.

The reading of the RF addressable sensor 1110 is then remotely activated. For example, in residential applications, a person (eg, a parent) may initiate reading by connecting to a wireless sensor device through an end user device connected to the communication network 1180 (by establishing a telephone connection). Or, in a medical institution application, a healthcare provider may access a wireless sensor device via a data terminal or a telecommunication device. The medical institution may also have a central monitoring system 1190 that automatically initiates readings for the patients being cared for at the medical institution.

Upon initiating the reading, wireless sensor reader 1140 obtains sensor data from RF addressable sensor 1110 and passes it to end user device 1182 or central processor 1190 which initiates this information. The sensor data is then displayed on the requesting side. Alternatively, the central processor 1190 may generate a historical record of all sensor data received with respect to a particular patient or researcher. Based on this historical data and all newly received sensor data, the central diagnostic processor 1190 may perform various algorithms to detect changes in the patient's condition. The central diagnostic processor 1190 may notify the responsible employee when any change is detected.

In a commercial or industrial environment, a personal monitoring network 1100 may be used to monitor workers' exposure to environmental conditions or explosives. In this embodiment, each worker or subset of workers has a smart card or badge 1103 that includes one or more RF addressable sensors 1110. Sensor 1110 delivers data to reader 1140. This embodiment may also include geographic location estimation processing in the reader or network to locate the smart card or badge 1103 and / or reader 1140.

Remote monitoring of the contents of the refrigerator

The invention may also be used to remotely monitor the contents of a household appliance, such as a refrigerator, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. An example of such use is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 12. In this application, as shown in FIG. 12, the household appliance 1201 includes a wireless sensor reader 1240 coupled to the communication network 1280.

A user may place one or more items in a home appliance 1201 with an RF addressable sensor 1210. For example, a product may have an RF addressable sensor 1210 included in its product's packaging. Alternatively, the user may attach the RF addressable sensor 1210 to the item or immerse or insert the RF addressable sensor in the item (eg, immerse the sensor in a milk container).

The user may then remotely initiate reading of the RF addressable sensor 1210 inside the household appliance 1201 via the end user device 1282. Once the reading is complete, the wireless sensor reader 1240 passes the data to the end user device 1282. The reading may include a simple list of home appliance contents. In alternative embodiments, the readout may also include sensor data indicative of the freshness of the particular food.

For example, a person can remotely initiate a reading of his or her refrigerator contents to prepare a shopping list or identify all foods to be discarded.

Through the RF addressable sensor technology described herein, all appliances can be "smart" and connected to any other wireless device, such as a cellular phone. In addition, by combining with pay-as-you use wireless technology (e.g., prepaid wireless), many types of home appliances can be connected to a wireless network, because the technology This allows them to operate at lower cost and eliminates monthly bills.

Food testing

The present invention is also theoretically suitable for food testing applications. 13A shows a block diagram of an exemplary real time food inspection application in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 13B shows a block diagram of a network-based food inspection application.

In FIG. 13A, a user attaches, dips or inserts an RF addressable sensor 1310 into food. The RF addressable sensor 1310 includes a sensor element that detects any chemical compound. For example, a user may be allergic to peanuts or other food allergens. The user can select an RF addressable sensor 1310 that can detect the presence of traces of peanuts.

The user then uses the wireless sensor reader 1340 to initiate reading of the RF addressable sensor 1310. The RF addressable sensor 1310 passes sensor data to the wireless sensor reader 1340, which processes the data and displays the data or message to the user. For example, the reader may display a message indicating that item x (eg peanut) is not present.

13B shows a sensor network 1300 for monitoring food safety. This type of sensor network can be used in grocery stores or food stores (eg warehouses). In this application, an RF addressable sensor 1310 is included in the packaging 1309 of each food. For example, each package of meat includes an RF addressable sensor 1310. The sensor network 1300 includes a central network processor 1390 for monitoring food safety. The central network processor 1390 has logic to identify items to be removed by periodically initiating a reading of food. The central network processor 1390 is coupled to one or more wireless sensor readers 1340 via a communication network.

One or more of the wireless sensor readers 1340 may be a permanent part of the network. For example, a supermarket may have one or more wireless sensor readers 1340 that cover the meat storage section and / or storage of that supermarket. In addition, one or more wireless sensor readers 1340 may be a temporary part of the network. This will be the case when an individual carries a wireless sensor reader 1340 into the supermarket that can read the sensor. This gives the end user the ability to see the quality of food before making a purchase.

In addition to being able to examine the chemical quality of food, sensors may be provided that can detect the presence of bacteria such as bacteria (E coli) or salmonella present in the intestine.

Pharmaceutical interaction

14 shows a block diagram of an example application of a sensor network to identify possible interactions between prescribed medications, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The sensor network 1400 includes one or more canisters 1404, a wireless sensor reader 1440, a communication network 1480, and a central processor or server 1490. Each medication box 1404 includes a label 1405 with an RF addressable sensor 1410. The central processor 1490 includes a patient-specific record that represents the medication currently recorded for each patient. The central processor 1490 also includes a database listing known interactions between drugs.

Using this application, a user (eg, a pharmacist) initiates reading of an RF addressable sensor 1410 attached to each medication box 1404 he is taking. This attached RF addressable sensor 1410 conveys details related to the medicament and preparation, such as type, dosage, chemical compound, and the like. Wireless sensor reader 1440 communicates these details to central processor 1490. The central processor 1490 then registers the medication in the user's record and performs processing to identify any interactions that may occur with other medications registered with the user. If an interaction is identified, the central processor 1490 communicates the details of the interaction to the wireless sensor reader 1440 for display to the user (eg, a pharmacist).

In alternative embodiments, wireless sensor reader 1440 may have some of the same functionality as central processor 1490 that identifies interactions of medication that may occur.

Remote sensing

15 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary application of a sensor network 1500 to remotely detect a dangerous situation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In many circumstances, monitoring the presence of dangerous situations exists. However, due to the criticality of dangerous situations that may occur, the intervention of the person performing the monitoring is not possible. The sensor network 1500 provides the ability to provide continuous monitoring of dangerous situations or to remotely access the sensors to detect them.

In this application, the RF addressable sensor 1510 is attached to a package or container 1509 having contents (eg, toxic chemicals) with potentially dangerous properties. In addition, the RF addressable sensor 1510 may be placed throughout a geographic area in which a package or container 1509 with contents with potentially dangerous attributes is stored. The wireless sensor reader 1540 is then introduced into that area. The wireless sensor reader 1540 may be a permanent component of the network (eg located in a storage area) or may be a temporary component (eg called from a remotely controlled device). The user or remote system can remotely initiate reading of the RF addressable sensor 1510 via the communication network 1580. The wireless sensor reader 1540 obtains sensor data and passes that data to a user or remote system. In this way, people do not have to expose themselves to potentially dangerous situations.

The sensor network 1500 can also be used to remotely detect non-hazardous situations. In an embodiment, the RF addressable sensor 1510 includes a thermistor. The RF addressable sensor 1510 may be queried remotely by the low cost wireless reader 1540. For example, an RF addressable sensor 1510 can be attached to a pipe at home. A user at another location may initiate reading of the sensor 1510 to obtain temperature data using the end user device 1582. Because the user accesses data remotely, the user can check the status of his pipe anywhere in the world. Alternatively, the reader 1540 may be programmed to notify the end user device 1582 when a predetermined preset temperature is reached. By combining with the technology of paying for the use of the present invention, the cost for providing this type of remote sensor network is reduced.

shopping

16 shows an example of applying a sensor network in a retail grocery shopping, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The shopping network 1600 includes one or more items with an RF addressable sensor tag 1610, a wireless sensor reader 1640, a communication network 1680, and a remote network server 1690.

The RF addressable sensor tag 1610 may be in a package of perishable food, and may also be in a package of other food by the manufacturer. In an embodiment, the wireless sensor reader 1640 is at the checkout. In alternative embodiments, the user may have a wireless sensor reader 1640. In another embodiment, the reader 1640 may also be integrated into a shopping cart or other device used by the consumer.

When the user enters the checkout counter, a reading of the RF addressable sensor 1610 in his cart is performed. The wireless sensor reader 1640 obtains sensor data and tag identification data and passes this information to the server 1690. Server 1690 has logic to look at the expiration date associated with a product's components and a particular item. The server 1690 passes the processed results to the wireless sensor reader 1640 for display to the consumer. For example, the reader 1640 may display a warning if any item is out of date or damaged.

If the consumer is using his or her wireless sensor reader 1640, the user may store data regarding allergic or other medical conditions specific to the individual. In this embodiment, the wireless sensor reader 1640 may also display a warning if any item in the cart contains an allergen such as a trace of peanut product. In addition, the wireless sensor reader 1640 can list, calculate, and display the total price of all items in the cart.

Calibration sensing

The invention can also be used in measurement applications. For example, the application is beneficial to people who experience certain medical conditions such as allergies and / or asthma. In this application, when a user experiences an allergic reaction or an asthma outbreak, the user may initiate reading of one or more RF addressable sensors in the area. In an embodiment, the one or more RF addressable sensors can be a smart card or badge component. The wireless sensor reader can then record data about the environment in which the condition occurred. The user then repeats this each time it is in that state. In this way, the wireless sensor reader not only accumulates valuable data about dealing with the situation, but also pre-detects chemicals and the like unique to the individual that worsen the condition or cause the onset. For more information on such measurement detection in conventional sensor networks, see US Application No. 10 / 382,606, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Wide Area Surveillance of a Terrorist or Personal Threat," in its entirety. Is incorporated herein by reference.

Smart building and stress monitoring

The invention can also be used to remotely monitor the pressure of a structure, such as a building, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. An example of such use is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 17.

The monitoring network 1700 includes one or more RF addressable sensors 1710 and a wireless sensor reader 1740. Sensor 1710 is utilized in key structures such as buildings to monitor pressure in the structure in real time. In an embodiment, the sensor 1710 includes a pressure sensor element. Sensor 1710 may be placed directly within the structure beam or support of a building. In an embodiment, the RF addressable sensor 1710 may also include motion, radiation, and / or chemical sensor elements for extensively remotely monitoring buildings, bridges, homes, tunnels, and the like.

One or more wireless readers 1740 may be a permanent dedicated portion of the network 1700. In addition, one or more wireless readers 1740 may be a temporary portion of network 1700.

3. Conclusion

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that this is provided by way of example only and not of limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but may be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

The present invention enables the implementation of inexpensive, compact and flexible wireless sensors and inexpensive and easy-to-read sensor readers. In addition, a distributed sensor network is provided for monitoring and detecting in real time harmful substances and / or situations in a very cost effective manner.

Claims (103)

A radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor, One or more sensor elements; A sensor interface comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the one or more sensor elements; At least one antenna; An RF power and communication interface coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface; A controller coupled to the RF power and communication interface and the sensor interface; And A memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface, the memory configured to store a tag identification number, The RF addressable sensor is in communication with a wireless device coupled to a communication network; And And the wireless device is in communication with the RF addressable sensor to obtain sensor data for transmission over the communication network. The RF addressable sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor interface also includes a memory. The RF addressable sensor of claim 2, wherein the memory comprises a sensor data table. 4. The RF addressable sensor of claim 3 wherein the sensor data table stores a sensor identification number. 4. The RF addressable sensor of claim 3 wherein the sensor data table includes sensor processing information. The RF addressable sensor of claim 5, wherein the sensor processing information comprises software for analyzing the sensor data. The RF addressable sensor of claim 2, wherein the memory is a programmable memory. The RF addressable sensor of claim 1, further comprising one or more reference elements. The RF addressable sensor of claim 1, wherein the RF power and communication interface, memory, and sensor interface are implemented in an integrated circuit. 10. The RF addressable sensor of claim 9 wherein at least one of the one or more sensor elements is implemented in the integrated circuit. 10. The RF addressable sensor of claim 9 wherein the integrated circuit and the at least one antenna are on a substrate. The RF addressable sensor of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more sensor elements is implemented on the substrate. 12. The RF addressable sensor of claim 11 wherein at least one of the one or more sensor elements is external to the substrate. The RF addressable sensor of claim 1, wherein the RF addressable sensor is a micro-electrical-mechnical system. 15. The RF addressable sensor of claim 14 wherein at least one of the one or more sensor elements comprises a microcantilever device. The RF addressable sensor of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the sensor elements external to the substrate is a MEMS. 17. The RF addressable sensor of claim 16 wherein the MEMS comprises a microcantilever device. The RF addressable sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensor elements is an antenna. The RF addressable sensor of claim 1, further comprising a thermistor. The RF addressable sensor of claim 1, wherein the RF power and communication interface comprises a power generation module for powering the RF addressable sensor. 21. The RF addressable sensor of claim 20 wherein the power generation module comprises circuitry for obtaining RF energy. 21. The RF addressable sensor of claim 20 wherein the power generation module comprises a power supply. The RF addressable sensor of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the sensor elements external to the substrate is an accelerometer. The RF addressable sensor of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the sensor elements external to the substrate is an acoustic wave sensor. The RF addressable sensor of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the sensor elements external to the substrate is a piezoelectric sensor. The RF addressable sensor of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the sensor elements external to the substrate is a resistive sensor. The RF addressable sensor of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the sensor elements external to the substrate is a field-effect sensor. The RF addressable sensor of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the sensor elements external to the substrate is a nanosensor. The RF addressable sensor of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the sensor elements external to the substrate is coupled to an external power supply. Wireless sensor reader, At least one antenna configured to communicate with one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors; controller; A network communication module coupled to the controller, the network communication module having an interface for coupling to a communication network; A logic module coupled to the controller; And User interface Including, The logic module includes a sensor communication module for receiving sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors. 31. The wireless sensor reader of claim 30, wherein the communication network is a wireless communication network. 32. The wireless sensor reader of claim 31, wherein the at least one antenna is configured for communication with the communication network. 32. The wireless sensor reader of claim 31, further comprising a network antenna configured for communication with the communication network. 31. The wireless sensor reader of claim 30, wherein the communication network is a public data network. 35. The wireless sensor reader of claim 34, wherein the interface for coupling to the communication network comprises a data communication interface. 31. The wireless sensor reader of claim 30, wherein the user interface includes a preconfigured button for initiating reading of the RF addressable sensor. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the RF addressable sensor logic module is A sensor processor with sensor data processing logic; And Tag processor Wireless sensor reader further comprising. 38. The wireless sensor reader of claim 37, wherein the logic module further comprises a geolocation processor. 39. The wireless sensor reader of claim 38, wherein the geographic location estimation processor includes logic to perform at least one of GPS-based geographical location estimation and non-GPS-based geographical location estimation. 31. The wireless sensor reader of claim 30, further comprising means for receiving sensor processing information via the communications network. 41. The wireless sensor reader of claim 40, wherein the sensor processing information comprises software for analyzing sensor data. 31. The wireless sensor reader of claim 30, wherein the controller, network communication module, and user interface are implemented in a wireless communication device. 43. The wireless sensor reader of claim 42, wherein the logic module is implemented in the wireless communication device. 44. The wireless sensor reader of claim 43, wherein the at least one antenna capable of communicating with the one or more RF addressable sensors is coupled to the wireless communication device. 44. The wireless sensor reader of claim 43, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a programmable processor. 46. The wireless sensor reader of claim 45, wherein the logic module is software stored in the programmable processor. 47. The wireless sensor reader of claim 46, wherein the software is downloaded to the programmable processor via a data interface. 48. The wireless sensor reader of claim 47, wherein the data interface is an infrared interface. 48. The wireless sensor reader of claim 47, wherein the data interface is an air interface. 48. The wireless sensor reader of claim 47, wherein the data interface is an accessory interface. 43. The wireless sensor reader of claim 42, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a data interface. 53. The wireless sensor reader of claim 51, wherein the logic module is external to the wireless device and couples to the wireless device via the data interface. 53. The wireless sensor reader of claim 51, wherein the data interface is an infrared interface. 52. The wireless sensor reader of claim 51, wherein the data interface is an auxiliary interface. 53. The wireless sensor reader of claim 52, wherein the at least one antenna capable of communicating with the one or more RF addressable sensors is coupled to the logic module. 46. The wireless sensor reader of claim 45, wherein the wireless communication device comprises an interface. 57. The wireless sensor reader of claim 56, wherein a second logic module is external to the wireless device. In an RF addressable sensor network, One or more RF addressable sensors; One or more wireless sensor readers coupled to the communication network; And One or more end user devices coupled to the communication network, And the one or more wireless sensor readers communicate with the one or more RF addressable sensors to obtain sensor data for transmission over the communication network. 59. The RF addressable sensor network of claim 58 wherein the communication network comprises a wireless communication network and at least one of the one or more wireless sensor readers comprises a wireless communication device. 59. The RF addressable sensor network of claim 58 wherein the communication network is a data network. 61. The RF addressable sensor network of claim 60 wherein the communication network further comprises a wireless communication network coupled to the data network. 61. The RF addressable sensor network of claim 60 wherein the communication network is the Internet. 59. The RF addressable sensor network of claim 58 further comprising a sensor network processor coupled to the communication network. 64. The RF addressable sensor network of claim 63 wherein the sensor network processor comprises a geographic location estimation processor and a sensor data processor. 65. The RF addressable sensor network of claim 64 wherein the geographic location estimation processor includes logic to perform GPS based geographic location estimation and non-GPS based geographic location estimation. A method for obtaining sensor data from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors in a wireless sensor reader, and for communicating the sensor data over a communication network, the method comprising: (a) transmitting a signal initiating said at least one RF addressable sensor to said at least one RF addressable sensor; (b) querying the one or more RF addressable sensors to separate the unique RF addressable sensors; (c) receiving sensor data from the separated RF addressable sensor; (d) determining whether processing of the received sensor data is necessary; (e) if it is determined in step (d) that processing of the sensor data received is not necessary, displaying the sensor data on the wireless sensor reader; (f) if it is determined that processing of the sensor data received in step (d) is necessary, determining whether to perform the processing in the wireless sensor reader; (g) if it is determined that the processing of the sensor data received in step (f) will be performed at the wireless sensor reader, Processing the received sensor data, and Displaying the processed sensor data on the wireless sensor reader. (h) if it is determined in step (f) that the processing of the sensor data received at the wireless sensor reader is not performed, Delivering the received sensor data to a network sensor processor via the communication network; Receiving processed sensor data, and Performing the step of displaying the processed sensor data in the wireless sensor reader. Sensor data acquisition and transfer method in a wireless sensor reader comprising a. The method of claim 66, Prior to step (a), Receiving a connection signal from an end user device coupled to the communication network; Connecting to the end user device via the communication network; And Receiving one or more initiation signals from the end user device The method further comprises the step of performing. 67. The method of claim 66, wherein initiating the reading of the one or more RF addressable sensors comprises automatically initiating the reading upon the occurrence of an event. 69. The method of claim 68, wherein the event is the passage of a predetermined time period. 67. The method of claim 66, wherein the wireless sensor device comprises a user interface with a keypad and a display. 71. The method of claim 70, wherein initiating reading of the one or more RF addressable sensors includes entering a sequence of key strokes through the keypad. 73. The method of claim 70, wherein initiating reading of the one or more RF addressable sensors comprises activating an item of the display. 67. The method of claim 66, wherein the wireless sensor device includes a button preconfigured to initiate reading of the one or more sensor elements. 74. The method of claim 73, wherein initiating reading of the one or more RF addressable sensors comprises pressing the preconfigured button. The method of claim 66, Prior to step (a), Receiving one or more initiation signals from an RF addressable sensor. The method of claim 66, Prior to step (a), Receiving logic to obtain sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors. A method for delivering sensor data to a wireless sensor reader for transmission over a communication network in a radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor, the RF addressable sensor comprising one or more sensor elements, (a) receiving a signal from the wireless sensor reader; (b) acquiring analog sensor data from at least one sensor element; (c) converting the analog sensor data into digital sensor data; And (d) delivering the digital sensor data to the wireless sensor reader for transmission over the communication network. And transmitting sensor data at the radio frequency addressable sensor. 78. The method of claim 77, further comprising receiving a read sensor signal from the wireless sensor reader prior to step (b). 78. The method of claim 77, further comprising processing the digital sensor data prior to step (d). 78. The method of claim 77, further comprising communicating a stored tag identification number to the wireless sensor reader. 78. The method of claim 77, further comprising communicating reference data to the wireless sensor reader. 78. The method of claim 77, further comprising communicating sensor processing information to the wireless sensor reader. 81. The method of claim 80, wherein delivering the digital sensor data to the wireless sensor reader comprises passing the digital sensor data as a component of the tag identification number. A sensor network for monitoring the presence of harmful drugs in a geographic area, One or more RF addressable sensors comprising at least one sensor element for detecting the presence of a harmful drug; One or more wireless sensor readers coupled to a communication network for obtaining sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors; And A central sensor network processor coupled to a communication network, the central sensor network processor receiving sensor data from the one or more wireless sensor readers Sensor network comprising a. 85. The sensor network of claim 84, wherein at least one of the one or more RF addressable sensors is capable of detecting the presence of a chemical. 86. The sensor network of claim 85, wherein at least one of the one or more RF addressable sensors is capable of detecting the presence of a radiation agent. 87. The sensor network of claim 86, wherein at least one of the one or more RF addressable sensors is capable of detecting the presence of a biological agent. In a method for monitoring a geographic area for the presence of harmful drugs, (a) distributing a plurality of RF addressable sensors over a geographic area; (b) placing at least one wireless sensor reader within said geographic area to read said plurality of RF addressable sensors; (c) in each wireless sensor reader, Initiating reading of the one or more RF addressable sensors; Receiving sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors; and Forwarding the received sensor data to a central network sensor processor (d) determining whether the sensor data indicates the presence of a harmful drug; (e) if it is determined that the sensor data indicates the presence of a harmful drug, performing geographic location estimation to identify the location of the RF addressable sensor that delivered the sensor data. Method for monitoring a geographic area comprising a. A sensor network for remotely monitoring shipping containers, One or more packages, each package including one or more RF addressable sensors; One or more shipping containers, wherein the one or more packages are loaded into at least one of the one or more shipping containers for transportation; At least one transport vessel having a device for receiving sensor data from a wireless sensor reader; And A central network monitoring processor for performing risk management on the received sensor data, Each of the shipping containers includes one or more wireless sensor readers, The wireless sensor reader obtains sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors, and Each of the RF addressable sensors comprises at least one sensor element for detecting the presence of a harmful drug. 90. The sensor network of claim 89 wherein the central network monitoring processor includes logic to perform geographic location estimation. 91. The sensor network of claim 90, wherein each shipping container comprises one or more RF addressable sensors. 90. The sensor network of claim 89 further comprising one or more shipping boxes. In a sensor network for remote monitoring of one or more individuals, One or more smart cards carried by at least one individual, each smart card including one or more RF addressable sensors; At least one wireless sensor reader coupled to the communications network; And One or more end user devices for remotely initiating reading of the RF addressable sensor via the communication network, The at least one wireless sensor reader is in communication with the at least one RF addressable sensor to obtain sensor data and transmit it over the communications network, A sensor network in which an individual has at least one smart card. 95. The sensor network of claim 93, wherein the smart card is placed such that the one or more RF addressable sensors are in proximity to the skin of the at least one individual. 95. The sensor network of claim 93, further comprising a central diagnostic system for initiating reading of the RF addressable sensor and processing the received sensor data to identify a change that requires the attention of a healthcare professional. In the sensor network for monitoring the contents of home appliances, One or more items inside the home appliance; One or more RF addressable sensors coupled to each item; One or more wireless sensor readers located within a reading range of the RF addressable sensor and coupled to a communication network; And An end user device coupled to the communications network for initiating reading of the RF addressable sensor Sensor network comprising a. In the sensor network for monitoring the structure, One or more RF addressable sensors proximate the support members of the structure; One or more wireless sensor readers coupled to a communication network for obtaining sensor data from the one or more RF addressable sensors; And A central sensor network processor coupled to the communication network and receiving sensor data from the one or more wireless sensor readers over a communication network Sensor network comprising a. 99. The sensor network of claim 97, wherein the RF addressable sensor includes a sensor element for measuring the pressure of the structure. A method for obtaining sensor data from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors in a wireless sensor reader, the method comprising: Transmitting a signal to the at least one RF addressable sensor to initiate the at least one RF addressable sensor; Querying the at least one RF addressable sensor to isolate a unique RF addressable sensor; Receiving sensor data from the separated RF addressable sensor, the received sensor data including sensor identification information; Passing sensor identification information to a processor external to the wireless sensor reader; Receiving sensor data processing information; And Processing the sensor data based on the received processing information The method for obtaining sensor data in a wireless sensor reader comprising a. 84. The method of claim 83, wherein the received sensor processing information comprises software for analyzing the received sensor data. A method for obtaining sensor data from one or more radio frequency (RF) addressable sensors in a wireless sensor reader, the method comprising: Transmitting a signal to the at least one RF addressable sensor to initiate the at least one RF addressable sensor; Querying the at least one RF addressable sensor to isolate a unique RF addressable sensor; Receiving sensor data from the separated RF addressable sensor, the received sensor data including sensor processing information; And Processing the sensor data based on the received processing information The method for obtaining sensor data in a wireless sensor reader comprising a. 102. The method of claim 101, wherein the received sensor processing information comprises software for analyzing the received sensor data. A radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor, One or more sensor elements; A sensor interface having an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the one or more sensor elements; At least one antenna; An RF power and communication interface coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface; A controller coupled to the RF power and communication interface and the sensor interface; And A memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface, the memory configured to store a tag identification number, The sensor interface comprises a memory, the memory comprising a sensor data table.

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