Method for receiving and transmitting optical data and control information to and from remotely located receivers and transmitters in an optical locator system

Abstract

The method for receiving and transmitting optical data and control information to and from remotely located receivers and transmitters in an optical location system. Wherein, the locator system tracks and locates the position of a main object having an attached transceiver. This transceiver has stored in memory selected identifying information about the object to which the transceiver is attached. The selected identifying information was received by the transceiver over it's 1-wire interface from a touch memory.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of transmitting data and control information contained in a plurality of information packages to an optical receiver in an optical locator system, comprising the following steps: providing a motion detectable TAG having a memory and a serial data interface storing said data in said TAG's memory;   forming at least one information packet containing selected data and identifying information for the optical locator system;   selecting motion count defining the number of allowable motion detection;   activating a sleep mode of said TAG, thereby reducing the normal electrical power consumption of said TAG;   reactivating said sleep mode of said TAG when motion is detected by said motion detector, thereby returning the power level of said TAG to normal;   selecting an interval count defining the number of transmissions to the optical locator system;   forming an uplink information package containing said plurality of information packets, and said transmission interval count;   transmitting said uplink information package to said optical locator system;   decrementing said motion count, thereby reducing the definable number of allowable motion detection;   incrementing said transmission interval count;   forming a second uplink information package containing said plurality of information packets and said incremented transmission interval count;   retransmitting said second uplink package containing said incremented transmission interval count and said plurality of information packets when said decremented motion count is true; and   activating the sleep mode of said TAG when said decremented motion count is false, thereby reducing electrical power consumption by said TAG.   
     
     
       2. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of providing a TAG comprises, a battery operated, motion detectable and computer controlled TAG having stored in its memory a plurality of information packets containing selected identifying information for the optical locating system. 
     
     
       3. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of selecting an interval count that is wrappable to define the number of transmissions to the optical locator system. 
     
     
       4. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 1, further comprising a randomized preselected time delay for offsetting said uplink transmissions. 
     
     
       5. A method of transmitting data and control information contained in a plurality of information packages to an optical receiver in an optical locator system; comprising the following steps: providing a TAG having a memory and serial interface;   positioning in spaced relation a plurality of memory devices having encoded into their memory selected identifying information;   engaging said TAG's serial interface communicatively and operatively with an individually selected said memory device;   receiving into said TAG's memory said selected information;   forming an uplink information package containing said information packets; and   transmitting said uplink information package from said TAG to the optical locator system.   
     
     
       6. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of forming an uplink information package comprises selected information packets. 
     
     
       7. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of providing a TAG comprises, a battery operated computer controlled TAG having a serial interface. 
     
     
       8. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of receiving said plurality of information packets from said memory devices and storing received packets in said TAG's memory. 
     
     
       9. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of clicking battery life of said TAG; storing said checked battery life in said TAG's memory; and   forming an uplink information package containing said checked battery life and said information packets.   
     
     
       10. A method of transmitting data as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of engaging said TAG's serial interface further comprises: transmitting from said TAG to said memory device a protocol requesting said encoded identifying information to be transmitted along said TAG's serial interface;   transmitting from said memory device to said TAG an acknowledgment of the presence of said TAG engaging said memory device;   forming a plurality of information packets within said memory device each containing said identifying information; and   transmitting said plurality of information packets to said TAG along said TAG's serial interface.   
     
     
       11. A method of transmitting data and control information contained in a plurality of information packages to an optical receiver in an optical locator system, comprising the following steps: providing a TAG having a serial data interface for receiving data and identifying information;   forming at least one information packet from said data, said information packet containing selected identifying information for the optical locating system;   selecting a maximum number of transmissions from said TAG to the optical locator system;   selecting a time delay that restricts transmission from said TAG to said selected maximum;   activating a sleep mode of said TAG, thereby reducing the normal electrical power consumption by said TAG;   selecting a terminal time interval for said sleep mode;   reactivating said sleep mode when said selected time delay added to said sleep mode time is greater than said terminal time interval, thereby returning the power level of said TAG to normal;   forming an uplink information package containing said information packets; and   transmitting said information package to the optical locating system.   
     
     
       12. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 11, wherein the step of transmitting said information package is omni-directionally from said TAG to the optical locator system. 
     
     
       13. A method for transmitting data as recited in claim 11, wherein the step of providing a TAG comprises, a battery operated, computer controlled TAG having stored in its memory a plurality of information packets containing selected identifying information for the optical locating system. 
     
     
       14. A method of transceiving data and control information contained in a plurality of information packages to and from an optical transceiver in an optical locator system, comprising the following steps: providing a TAG having a serial interface;   positioning in spaced relation at plurality of memory devices having encoded in to their memory selected identifying information;   engaging said TAG's serial interface with an individually selected said memory device;   transmitting from said TAG to said memory device a protocol requesting said encoded identifying information to be transmitted along said TAG's serial interface;   forming a plurality of information packets within said memory device each containing said identifying information;   transmitting a polling protocol front the optical locating system to said plurality of TAGs within the optical locating system;   receiving said protocol from the optical locating system and storing said received protocol in said TAG's memory;   identifying a selected identification, code from said protocol selectively identifying said TAG;   comparing said selected identity code with said stored encoded identity unique to said TAG;   forming an uplink information package containing said information packets within said comparison is true; and   transmitting said uplink information package to the optical locator system. .Iadd.   
     
     
       15.  A method of transmitting data and control information contained in a plurality of information packages to a receiver in a locator system, comprising the following steps: providing a TAG having a memory and a serial interface;   receiving into said TAG's memory selected identifying information through said serial interface;   forming an uplink information package containing said information packages; and   transmitting said uplink information package from said TAG to the receiver in the locator system..Iaddend..Iadd.16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:   changing said selected identifying information..Iaddend..Iadd.17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving into said TAG's memory further comprises the steps of:   transmitting from said TAG to a memory device a protocol requesting encoded identifying information to be transmitted along said TAG's serial interface;   transmitting from said memory device to said TAG an acknowledgment of the presence of said TAG enraging said memory device;   forming a plurality of information packets within said memory device each containing said identifying information; and   transmitting said plurality of information packets to said TAG along said TAG's serial interface..Iaddend..Iadd.18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing a TAG further comprises the step of providing a TAG having a receiver..Iaddend..Iadd.19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting further comprises the step of optically transmitting in the infrared spectrum..Iaddend..Iadd.20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing a TAG further comprises the step of providing a TAG having a stored identity code that does not   
     
     
        change..Iaddend..Iadd.21.  The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving step further includes the step of receiving from a touch memory device..Iaddend..Iadd.22. A TAG for a location system comprising: a transmitter for transmitting identifying information;   a memory for storing programmable identity information; and   a serial interface for receiving new identity information for the memory,   wherein the transmitter transmits identifying information including the programmable identity information..Iaddend..Iadd.23. The TAG of claim 22 further comprising a stored identity code that does not change..Iaddend..Iadd.24. The TAG of claim 23, wherein the transmitter further transmits the stored identity code..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The TAG of claim 22, further comprising..Iaddend.   a receiver for receiving poll requests for information. .Iadd.26. The TAG of claim 22, wherein the transmitter is an optical transmitter..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The TAG of claim 26, wherein the optical transmitter transmits in the infrared frequency..Iaddend..Iadd.28. The TAG of claim 22, wherein the serial interface is a serial interface compatible with touch memory devices..Iaddend.