Patent ID: 7907941

Claim:
A radio frequency communication device, comprising: (a) a receiver configured to receive radio frequency transmissions; (b) a transmitter configured to make radio frequency transmissions; (c) an interface for receiving one or more signals from a sensor; and (d) electronic components arranged and configured such that, (i) the radio frequency communication device operates in at least two states comprising, (A) a first state of operation, in which the radio frequency communication device responds to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and (B) a second state of operation, in which the radio frequency communication device does not respond to a radio frequency transmission that is received by the receiver, and that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, by making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and (ii) the radio frequency communication device enters the second state of operation from the first state of operation upon, (A) receiving by the receiver a radio frequency transmission that includes data representative of an inquiry as to the presence of radio frequency communication devices within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices, and (B) making a radio frequency transmission with the transmitter that includes an identification of the radio frequency communication device, and (iii) the radio frequency communication device enters the first state of operation from the second state of operation upon, (A) receiving, through the interface, one or more sensor signals based on sensor-acquired data that is indicative of a predetermined condition, (B) wherein the predetermined condition is movement of the radio frequency communication device; (e) wherein the radio frequency communication device is physically associated with an asset that is tracked in an asset tracking system, whereby the presence of the asset is determinable within a service area of a gateway configured for providing network communications to radio frequency communication devices.