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

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.

Claim 2

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.

Claim 6

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.

Claim 7

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.

Claim 13

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.

Claim 14

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.

Claim 17

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 a plurality of memory devices having encoded into 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 from 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 identity 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 when said comparison is true; and transmitting said uplink information package to the optical locator system.

Claim 18

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 a plurality of memory devices having encoded into 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 from 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 identity 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 when said comparison is true; and transmitting said uplink information package to the optical locator system.