Patent · US Active

Virtual group maintenance and security

US9060000B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 28, 2012
Grant dateJun 16, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 28, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L67/12
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for providing security and maintenance of a group of devices using a group of tags. Each of the tags is attached to a device and includes a radio frequency transceiver for intercommunicating using ultra-wide band signals. Using the intercommunication, distance between two of the tags is determined and an alarm is triggered when the distance is greater than a threshold distance. The distance is preferably determined by measuring a round trip delay time between the transmission of a transmitted unicast signal to the other tag and reception of a unicast response signal in response to the transmitted signal. A configuration mechanism is typically used for configuring the group and removed upon completing the configuration, and the tags maintain the group and provide security by the intercommunication between the tags. The tags are preferably synchronized to transmit and receive solely during a previously determined periodic sequence of time intervals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.