Patent ID: 7155264

Claim:
A method of forming a wireless data communication network among wireless transceivers, each wireless transceiver used to read one or more wireless tags (WTs) that are disposed externally to and in proximity thereof, each wireless transceiver including a designation with a first plurality of wireless transceivers having a first common designation and a second plurality of wireless transceivers having a second common designation different from the first common designation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) forming an ad hoc hierarchical network for each of the first plurality and second plurality of wireless transceivers; and (b) communicating to an external network from each wireless transceiver of each ad hoc hierarchical network by, (i) establishing a communication link between each wireless transceiver in a level of the ad hoc hierarchical network, other than the highest level, with a wireless transceiver in the next higher level of the ad hoc hierarchical network such that wireless transceivers pass communications upward in the ad hoc hierarchical network; and (ii) establishing a communication link between a wireless transceiver in the highest level of the ad hoc hierarchical network and an external network access transceiver, such that communications from wireless transceivers in the ad hoc hierarchical network are passed through the wireless transceiver in the highest level of the ad hoc hierarchical network to the external network access transceiver; (c) wherein each wireless transceiver comprises, (i) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver providing in response to receipt by the second receiver of a radio frequency broadcast the electronic signal in order to power up the LPRF communications component.