Patent ID: 7538657

Claim:
A radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor comprising: one or more sensor elements; a sensor interface having an analog to digital converter coupled to the one or more sensor elements; at least one antenna; an RF power and communications interface coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface, the communications interface including a transmitter and a first receiver; a controller coupled to the RF power and communications interface and the sensor interface; and a memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface, wherein the memory is configured to store a tag identification number; wherein the RF addressable sensor communicates with a wireless device that is coupled to a communications network, the communications comprising common designation network communications, wherein the wireless device communicates with the RF addressable sensor to obtain sensor data for transmission over the communications network, wherein at least one of the one or more sensor elements is an antenna, and 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 further includes 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 RF addressable sensor, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the communications interface while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.