System and method for mobile monitoring of non-associated tags

Abstract

A system for monitoring at least one tag device has at least one mobile cellular telephone. The mobile cellular telephone is capable of communicating on a WiFi network, wherein the at least one tag device transmits wireless data messages in a non-associating mode.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8  A system comprising:
 at least one tag; and 
 at least one portable mobile device, the at least one portable mobile device able to perform wireless data communication and voice communication, the at least one portable mobile device able to receive and decode data messages from said at least one tag, said tag transmitting said data messages in a non-associating mode. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tag device comprises: a tag controller; and
 a Wi-Fi transceiver coupled to the tag controller.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tag device comprises:
 a low frequency receiver and antenna coupled to the tag controller; and   at least one monitoring sensor coupled to the tag controller.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one tag device further comprises a push button coupled to the tag controller, pressing the push button allowing the at least one tag device to transmit the data messages in a non-associating mode. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tag device transmits the data messages in a non-associating mode using Clear Channel Assessment (CCA). 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tag device transmits the data messages with a format according to one of IEEE 802.11 standards. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein information transmitted in the data messages by the at least one tag device is one of shown on a display screen of the at least one portable mobile device or stored in the at least one portable mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device measures signal strength of the data messages received, wherein the signal strength is used to estimate at least one of a location of the at least one tag device and the distance of the at least one tag device to the portable mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device may perform a search of at least one tag based on said estimated at least one of a location of the at least one tag device and the distance of the at least one tag device to the portable mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the data messages comprises at least one of: tag identification data, status of the at least one tag device, location, and transmission channel data. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one mobile portable mobile device functions as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server for the at least one tag device and as a router for forwarding the data messages. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a low frequency transmitter, the low frequency transmitter transmitting data messages to the at least one tag device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tag device is a bi-directional wireless communication tag device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device transmits data for programming the at least on tag device. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one mobile portable device communicates the decoded data messages. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one mobile uses an encrypted communications protocol (VPN) to communicate the decoded data messages. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device uses a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) for positioning information. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device can record barcode data of the at least one tag device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device receives the data messages from the at least one tag device and communicates information in the data messages over a cellular network in at least one of an email, Short Message Service (SMS), pre-recorded voice message, and synthesized voice message. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device uses a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) for positioning information and said positioning information is further communicated over said cellular network. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device detects the at last one tag device when in a predetermined range of the at least on tag device and the at least one tag device is active. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device detects the at last one tag device when in a predetermined range of the at least on tag device and the at least one tag device is active, wherein the at least one portable mobile device one of vibrates or rings in response to the data messages received. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device receives and decodes data messages defined by the Cisco CCX specifications. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the data messages are encrypted data messages, wherein the at least one portable mobile device can receive and decode encrypted. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the data message triggers the at least one portable mobile device to perform a designated action. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the designated action may be at least one of: post a message on a designated website, send a pre-recorded message, send a synthesized voice message, send a text message, record a video, transmit a video, take a photograph, record a sound, play a sound, initiate a short-range wireless connection with another device, and start an Internet application. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device can one of accept or reject the designated action. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tag transmits the data messages on a plurality of channels. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tag device transmits data messages when activated by at least one of: normal blink, sensor alert, trigger signal from an infrared transmitter, trigger signal from an ultrasound transmitter, trigger signal from a LF transmitter or and pushbutton on the at least one tag device. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the decode data messages from said at least one tag includes a telephone number, the at least one portable mobile device performing one of: sending a text message or calling the telephone number. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the decode data messages from said at least one tag is stored in the at least one portable mobile device, the decoded data messages stored in a formatted document to be transmitted by the at least one portable mobile device. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one portable mobile device sends a message to at least one of: activate, deactivate, trigger and program the at least one tag device. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said sent message by the at least one portable mobile device is triggered by a Short Message Service (SMS) received at said at least one portable mobile device. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of portable mobile devices, the plurality of portable mobile devices using RSSI triangulation to locate the at least one tag device. 
     
     
         42 - 63 . (canceled)