Patent ID: 6967564

Claim:
A method for interrogating objects to be identified over a communication medium, wherein the objects provide predetermined responses indicative of object identification numbers and further include push-counters, the method comprising the steps of: sending interrogation signals to and receiving responses from the objects over the communication medium, the interrogation signals operating to interrogate a single digit from the objects to be identified; recording incomplete identification numbers whenever two or more predetermined responses are received from the objects; retrieving incomplete identification numbers whenever two or more predetermined responses are received from the objects; sending a signal to the objects to cause the objects to selectively add a number to their push-counters, wherein the number is determined by each object and is dependent upon one or more previous responses of the object to interrogation signals; sending a signal to the objects to cause the objects to selectively subtract a number from their push-counters, wherein the number is determined by each object and is dependent upon one or more previous responses of the object to the interrogation signals; and recording complete identification numbers as they are determined.