Article-identification-and-location device systems and methods of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12557889-B2
Application number	US-202418743897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2024
Priority date	Jun 4, 2019
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

A luggage tag includes an electronic ink display screen affixed to a surface of the luggage tag. Tag memory of the tag stores a unique identifier. An antenna receives an electromagnetic signal. Circuitry of the tag captures energy and acquires data from the electromagnetic signal received by the antenna and powers the electronic ink display with the captured energy. A processor receives the data acquired by the circuitry from the electromagnetic signal and produces an image on the electronic ink display using the acquired data if the acquired data includes a match to the unique identifier stored in the memory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic tag, comprising:
a transceiver adapted to listen for electromagnetic signals including user information transmitted by a transmitter of a remote device; an indicator that is activated in response to receipt of the user information; an altimeter that monitors a current altitude of the electronic tag; a memory that stores a unique identifier associated with a user of the electronic tag; and a processor in communication with the transceiver, indicator, altimeter, and memory, the processor configured to: compare the current altitude to a first threshold and disable the transceiver and indicator when the altitude exceeds the first threshold; re-enable the transceiver and indicator when the altitude falls below a second threshold; and activate the indicator if the received user information matches the unique identifier stored in the memory.

2 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic ink display screen for displaying the received user information.

3 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , wherein in a power-saving operation, the altimeter operates to monitor altitudes of the electronic tag.

4 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , wherein in a power-saving operation, the altimeter stops listening for the electromagnetic signals.

5 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , wherein the electronic tag includes a coupling mechanism for attaching to an object, and wherein the altimeter monitors the current altitude of both the electronic tag and the object.

6 . The electronic tag of claim 5 , wherein the memory stores the unique identifier that pairs the object to the user.

7 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes a display or a light or a speaker.

8 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , wherein in response to the transceiver receiving the user information upon receiving a radiofrequency (RF) signal of the electromagnetic signals including the user information with this information, activates the indicator.

9 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that performs inertial measurements, which in combination with the current altitude determined by the altimeter is processed by the processor to determine whether to activate or inactivate the transceiver.

10 . The electronic tag of claim 2 , wherein the electronic ink display screen is updated only upon receipt of the electromagnetic signal containing data matching the unique identifier stored in the memory.

11 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , further comprising a multi-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), wherein the processor fuses data from the IMU and the altimeter to detect motion patterns indicative of aircraft boarding or disembarkation, and selectively activates or inactivates the transceiver based on the detected pattern.

12 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to maintain the transceiver in a disabled state until both the current altitude falls below the second threshold and a valid user identifier is received.

13 . The electronic tag of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to enter a reduced power mode in response to the altitude exceeding the first threshold, and to resume full operational mode only after receiving a valid user identifier.

14 . A method for controlling an operation of an electronic tag coupled to an object, comprising:
listening, by a transceiver of the electronic tag, for radiofrequency (RF) signals including information about a relationship between the object and a user of the object; monitoring, by an altimeter of the electronic tag, a current altitude of the electronic tag and object; and comparing the current altitude to a first threshold and inactivating the transceiver when the current altitude is greater than the first threshold; and re-enabling the transceiver when the altitude falls below a second threshold.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
disabling an indicator of the electronic tag when the altitude exceeds the first threshold; re-enabling the indicator when the altitude falls below the second threshold; and activating the indicator if received user information matches a unique identifier stored in memory.

16 . A method for controlling operation of an electronic tag coupled to an object, comprising:
receiving, by a transceiver of the electronic tag, electromagnetic signals including user information;
monitoring, by an altimeter, a current altitude of the electronic tag;
comparing, by a processor, the current altitude to a first threshold;
disabling the transceiver when the current altitude exceeds the first threshold;
re-enabling the transceiver when the current altitude falls below a second threshold; and
activating an indicator only if the received user information matches a unique identifier stored in memory of the electronic tag.

Assignees

• Position Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Hill Edward L
• Liu John
• Chakravarty Narasimhachary Nallana
• Martel Brian
• Bujold Marc
• Bilbrey Brett

Classifications

• G06K19/07786

  the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole · CPC title

• G06K19/0705

  the battery being connected to a power saving arrangement · CPC title

• G06K19/0708

  the source being electromagnetic or magnetic · CPC title

• G06K19/0717

  the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure · CPC title

• G06K19/07707

  the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink · CPC title