Patent ID: 7538658

Claim:
A method in a radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor for communicating sensor data to a wireless sensor reader for transmission over a communications network, wherein the RF addressable sensor includes one or more sensor elements, comprising: (a) receiving signals from the wireless sensor reader; (b) obtaining analog sensor data from at least one sensor element; (c) converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data; (d) communicating the digital sensor data to the wireless sensor reader for transmission over the communications network; and (e) communicating additional information to the wireless sensor reader; (f) wherein steps (a) and (d) comprise common designation network communications; (g) wherein the RF addressable sensor is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and (h) wherein the RF addressable sensor comprises, (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the radio frequency addressable sensor, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.