Patent ID: 8326226

Claim:
A wireless reader tag (WRT) comprising: a reader component for transmitting a wake-up message using a reader component to initiate communication in an ad hoc network with a gateway having a WT component for wake-up; a low-power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component for transmitting data packets to the gateway having a LPRF communications component subsequent to initiating communications by transmitting the wake-up message; and a digital processor in communication with the reader component and the LPRF communications component; wherein the WRT includes a profile identifying a class of the WRT and is synchronized to allow scheduled communications at regular intervals based on a duty cycle for the identified class of the WRT, at which times the gateway will be accepting data communications from WRTs having such identified class, the WRT being configured for determining a time at which the gateway will be accepting data communications from WRTs having the identified class based on the received profile information; causing the reader component to power up and transmit the wake-up message to the gateway at the determined time; causing the LPRF communications component to power up and transmit at least one data packet to the gateway subsequent to transmitting the wake-up message; receiving, by the WRT, updated profile information including a new class of the WRT, the new class of the WRT corresponding to a different duty cycle, thereby resulting in a changed availability of the gateway for class-based communications with the WRT.