Asset tracking system for rack-based enclosures

Abstract

A system includes a beacon device including a communication strip having a plurality of directed light emitters distributed along the communication strip. The beacon device can transmit a directed light signal via the directed light emitters. The system further includes a tag including a processor, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the processor, a directed light receiver coupled to the processor, and a lens having first and second major surfaces and a side surface, the tag to receive the directed light signal via the side surface and to transmit a radio frequency tag message via the radio frequency transmitter. The system also includes a radio frequency reader to receive the radio frequency tag message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An identification tag comprising:
 a processor;   a transmitter coupled to the processor;   a directed light receiver coupled to the processor; and   a lens having first and second major surfaces and a side surface, the lens including an internal reflection surface to reflect a directed light signal received through the side surface to the directed light receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The identification tag of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is to direct the transmitter to transmit a tag message based at least in part on the directed light signal. 
     
     
         3 . The identification tag of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter. 
     
     
         4 . The identification tag of  claim 1 , wherein the directed light signal is an infrared signal. 
     
     
         5 . The identification tag of  claim 1 , wherein the lens has a disc shape. 
     
     
         6 . The identification tag of  claim 5 , wherein the disc shape has a circular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The identification tag of  claim 5 , wherein the disc shape has a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         8 . The identification tag of  claim 1 , wherein the directed light receiver includes a variable gain filter. 
     
     
         9 . The identification tag of  claim 1 , wherein the lens has a major surface attenuation of at least 30%. 
     
     
         10 . The identification tag of  claim 9 , wherein the major surface attenuation is at least 50%. 
     
     
         11 . The identification tag of  claim 1 , wherein the lens has a side surface transmission of at least 35%. 
     
     
         12 . The identification tag of  claim 11 , wherein the side surface transmission is at least 50%. 
     
     
         13 . The identification tag of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible substrate, the lens coupled to the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The identification tag of  claim 13 , further comprising an adhesive disposed on one surface of the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         15 . An identification tag comprising:
 a processor;   a transmitter coupled to the processor;   a directed light receiver coupled to the processor; and   a lens having first and second major surfaces and a side surface, the lens including a conical internal reflection surface to reflect a directed light signal received through the side surface to the directed light receiver, the conical internal reflective surface having a central axis aligned with the directed light receiver.   
     
     
         16 . The identification tag of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is to direct the transmitter to transmit a tag message based at least in part on the directed light signal. 
     
     
         17 . The identification tag of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter. 
     
     
         18 . The identification tag of  claim 15 , wherein the directed light signal is an infrared signal. 
     
     
         19 . The identification tag of  claim 15 , wherein the lens has a disc shape. 
     
     
         20 . The identification tag of  claim 15 , wherein the directed light receiver includes a variable gain filter.