Patent ID: 7742745

Claim:
A communications method comprising: placing a first detectable RFID device having memory onto a pallet, providing a first identification code in the memory to uniquely identify the pallet, using the pallet to transport an object, identifying the object with a second detectable RFID device, producing a second identification code with the second detectable RFID device, copying the second identification code into the memory to indicate a condition of the pallet, transmitting, by the first detectable RFID device, a communication at a first power level such that only a first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, the communication including a command causing each of the first group of transceivers not to respond to a subsequent broadcast; and subsequent thereto, and transmitting, by the first detectable RFID device, a communication at a second power level greater than the first power level such that a second group of transceivers greater than and including the first group of transceivers receive the broadcast, but such that only a limited number of transceivers of the second group respond to the broadcast, the limited number of transceivers excluding the first group of transceivers; wherein the plurality of transceivers each are associated with a respective sensor for acquiring data and transmitting the data to the first detectable RFID device.