Patent ID: 7532119
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: G06K,H04L

Abstract:
1. A multi-tiered network for gathering detected condition information, said network comprising: a first tier composed of a plurality of first tier nodes, wherein said plurality of first tier nodes comprises a radio frequency identification device (RFID) circuit and a sensor for detecting a condition; a second tier composed of at least one second tier node operable to receive the detected condition information from at least one of the plurality of first tier nodes in a substantially autonomous manner, said at least one second tier node comprising an RFID circuit, a power source, and circuitry for at least one of storing, processing, and transmitting the detected condition information; a hybrid node operable to function in multiple operating states, wherein one of said operating states includes functioning as a first tier node and another of said operating states includes functioning as second tier node; and a third tier composed of a third tier node, wherein the third tier node is configured to receive the detected condition information from at least one second tier node, and wherein the third tier node comprises an RFID receiver and circuitry for at least one of storing and processing the detected condition information.