Communication apparatus for use with electronic communication element, electronic communication element and uses thereof

Abstract

To describe a communication system (1) comprising a central unit (3) and a communication element (20).SOLUTION: A central unit (3) comprises at least one antenna (4), a transmitter (6) configured to transmit an RF signal, and a receiver (8) configured to receive a backscattered RF signal. A communication element (20) comprises an RF antenna (22) and a modulator (23) configured to backscatter the RF signal. The communication element (20) comprises means for modulating the backscattered RF signal into a spread spectrum backscattered RF signal, and means for supplying power.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication system including electronic communication elements, such as labels or tags, based on backscatter technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and communication elements, such as labels or tags, based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology attached to consumables for use in identifying, recognizing, and registering consumables in a home environment. [Background technology]

[0002] Connecting inexpensive, disposable devices to the cloud is gaining significant interest. Finally, patient compliance in the home environment is being remotely monitored and treatment administered by connecting, for example, medication packaging or medication delivery devices such as auto-injectors to improve desirable patient outcomes. To enable many of these applications, communication solutions need to operate seamlessly without requiring further action to be taken on the part of the patient.

[0003] RFID tag technology is an attractive technology for enabling such systems because the tag hardware is simple and therefore inexpensive, and easily integrated into packaging or labels. This simplicity, compared to other two-way wireless communication systems, is made possible by using an incident RF signal transmitted from a "reader" to both power the tag and have the tag transmit its data by backscatter modulation of this incident signal. This eliminates the need to include a full radio transmitter and power source within the tag, compared to traditional two-way radio systems.

[0004] Applications are also beginning to evolve where sensors and interfaces are being added to RFID tags to specifically enable device monitoring. However, their application is limited due to the short range between RFID readers and tags. This requires the user to perform a specific action to read the device by being in close proximity to the reader, and therefore the system is not seamless and therefore only meets one of the needs mentioned above.

[0005] Examples of widely used schemes include EPC-Gen2 tags, which operate in the UHF band, typically having a range of less than 10m in one direction of the reader, and HF-RFID or NFC devices, which operate using near-field coupling, with a range of less than 1m, depending on the size of the antenna.

[0006] Conventional UHF-RFID systems are well known and typically include: a) a reader including at least one RF antenna, a transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal, a reader configured to receive a backscattered RF signal, and a processing system for controlling operation and managing protocols; b) a tag (or communication element) including an RF antenna, an energy harvesting circuit for powering the tag from incident RF, a reader for decoding data on the RF signal transmitted by the reader, a modulator configured to backscatter the RF signal received from the central unit and thereby transmit the data, and processing logic for processing the protocol; It has.

[0007] However, the range of conventional UHF-RFID tags is limited by several characteristics of their communication systems. These include: i. The transmission power from the hub / reader is limited by law to a maximum value, and most readers use this maximum power, so the communication range cannot be increased by further increasing the transmitted power; ii. Powering the communicating element (tag or label) from RF transmitted by the hub / reader means that a minimum amount of energy must be present within the communicating element in order for it to operate. The amount of power that can be received from the hub / reader signal decreases with distance from the hub / reader. Therefore, there is a maximum operable range, and iii. The sensitivity at the hub / reader is sufficient to accurately receive the backscattered signal from the communicating element (tag or label); A particular challenge here is that the backscattered signal that the hub / reader needs to receive is much weaker than the outgoing signal sent to the communicating element (tag or label), while both the outgoing signal and the backscattered signal have the same frequency. As a result, the transmitter "deafens" the receiver.

[0008] Thus, while conventional RFID tags work well in certain applications and are economical to incorporate in consumables, the operating range of such conventional RFID tag systems is too limited to cover an entire home with a non-mobile reader. In addition, the RFID information of each such tag is static and cannot change over time, and therefore any parameters (e.g., operating status, etc.) of the corresponding product cannot be dynamically contained within a conventional passive RFID tag. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In view of all the above, there exists a need for improved communication systems and elements based on backscatter technology that are not only capable of dynamically defining changing information, such as operational status, about their associated products, but that importantly may extend the operational range of conventional RFID tag and reader systems while keeping such communication systems economical for use in conjunction with tracking of consumables within the home environment, and at the same time simplify use, for example, through a seamless experience for a user to connect a consumable to the communication system and have it communicate with the communication system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] Described herein is a backscatter-based communication system with features for increasing the operating range to provide a solution to the above-mentioned shortcomings of conventional RFID technologies and methods of using communication systems in the identification, recognition, and registration of consumables in a home environment. Such a communication system described herein comprises a central unit (transmitter / reader) and one or more communication elements.

[0011] In one aspect, the present invention describes a system that is simple through the use of backscatter communication, similar to conventional UHF-RFID, but with increased range so that a single reader (hereafter referred to as a "hub" or "central unit") can communicate with consumables and associated communication elements within a typical sized home. In addition, the present invention also enables a relatively seamless user experience.

[0012] In one embodiment, a modified RFID communication system, such as a modified UHF-RFID communication system, is described, where: the communication elements are powered by an energy source that is substantially independent of the RF signal transmitted from the hub; The sensitivity of the hub or central unit to signals from the communication elements Dual antennas in the hub or central unit to minimize crosstalk between the transmit and receive paths; Carrier self-cancellation techniques in the hub or central unit to actively cancel crosstalk between the transmit and receive paths; binary phase shift keying in the communication elements to allow maximum power in the backscattered signal compared to amplitude modulation; Direct sequence spread spectrum modulation in the communicating elements and corresponding despreading in the hub or central unit, which increases the bandwidth of the backscattered signals from the communicating elements, thereby spectrally separating the backscattered signals from the carrier transmitted by the hub or central unit, thereby allowing the backspread signals to be relatively easily separated and decoded by the hub or central unit. The use of a low phase noise signal source in the hub central unit to minimize the bandwidth of the transmitted carrier from the hub or central unit, thereby allowing the benefits of spreading the backscattered signal to be maximized; Use of very low bandwidth communication data rates, which consequently increases receiver sensitivity and therefore range, The invention is augmented through a combination of two or more features, including:

[0013] The object of the invention is achieved by a communication system according to the claims (comprising communication elements and a hub or central unit as described and claimed herein).

[0014] To further enable the communication system for a seamless connectivity solution for sensors on packaging, the communication system in further embodiments includes the following additional features. - an isotropic antenna at the hub or central unit to allow the hub or central unit to cover the entire home from any position; - on-board processing and memory on the communication elements to enable intelligent applications; The addition of sensors, such as humidity sensors, temperature sensors, integrity sensors, and light intensity sensors, operably connected to the communication elements; -Adding a user interface, for example consisting of buttons, LEDs, and / or displays

[0015] Furthermore, to enable reduced cost and small form factors in consumables, some or all of the components in the communication element can be manufactured using printed electronic circuit technology to produce a communication element having, for example, the form of a label.

[0016] Further, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, disclosed herein is a communication system having: a) a central unit having at least one RF antenna, a transmitter configured to transmit RF signals, and a receiver configured to receive backscattered signals, and b) a communication element having a modulator configured to backscatter RF signals received from the RF antenna and central unit, the communication element having the modulator for modulating the backscattered RF signals to obtain a spread spectrum backscattered RF signal, and including means for providing power to the modulator.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the means for supplying power to the communication elements are independent of the energy of the RS signal transmitted from the hub or central unit to the communication elements.

[0018] In one embodiment, the transmitter further comprises a low phase noise signal.

[0019] In one embodiment, the central unit further comprises means for carrier cancellation self-interference mitigation selected from the presence of at least two RF antennas at the central unit, analog carrier cancellation, digital carrier cancellation, and the use of high pass filters.

[0020] In one embodiment, the spread spectrum backscatter RF signal is a direct sequence spread spectrum backscatter RF signal.

[0021] In one embodiment, the central unit comprises means for despreading the spread spectrum backscattered RF signal.

[0022] In one embodiment, the despreading means uses a very low data bandwidth rate.

[0023] In one embodiment, the RF antenna is an isotropic antenna.

[0024] In one embodiment, the maximum operable range between the central unit and the communication elements is at least up to 50m, advantageously at least up to 65m, and even more advantageously at least up to 100m.

[0025] In one embodiment, the communication element does not include a high precision frequency reference, such as, for example, a crystal oscillator.

[0026] In one embodiment, the communication element further comprises a processing unit.

[0027] In one embodiment, the communication element further comprises memory means.

[0028] In one embodiment, the communication element comprises memory means selected from printed memory and silicon semiconductor based memory, for example a memory chip or integrated memory on the communication element.

[0029] In one embodiment, the communication element comprises a printed electronic circuit.

[0030] In one embodiment, the powering means within the communication element comprises a single battery or energy harvesting means.

[0031] In one embodiment, the single battery is a printed battery.

[0032] In one embodiment, the communication element comprises means for binary phase shift keying or binary amplitude shift keying of the RF signal.

[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, the communication element is configured for two-way communication between itself and the central unit.

[0034] In one embodiment, the communication element further comprises one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an integrity sensor, and a light intensity sensor operably connected to the communication element, and optionally such sensors are integrated into the communication element.

[0035] In one embodiment, the communication system further comprises a user interface, which is optionally connected or integrated with the communication element.

[0036] In one embodiment, the user interface is selected from a button, an LED, and a display.

[0037] The object of the invention is achieved by a communication element according to the claims.

[0038] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, disclosed herein is a communications element having an RF antenna, a receiver configured to backscatter an RF signal, a means for providing power, and a modulator configured to modulate the backscattered RF signal to obtain a spread spectrum backscattered RF signal.

[0039] In one embodiment, the communication element further comprises memory means.

[0040] In one embodiment, the memory means is selected from printed memory and silicon semiconductor based memory, for example memory chips or integrated memory on the communication element.

[0041] In one embodiment, the communication element further comprises a processing unit.

[0042] In one embodiment, the communication element comprises a printed electronic circuit.

[0043] In one embodiment, the means for providing power is a (single) battery or an energy harvesting means.

[0044] In one embodiment, the (single) battery is a printed battery.

[0045] In one embodiment, the modulator is configured to modulate the RF signal to obtain a spread spectrum backscattered RF signal, and is a direct sequence spread spectrum modulator.

[0046] In one embodiment, the memory means comprises means for storing and / or reading / writing data on the communication element through the communication interface.

[0047] In one embodiment, the communication element further comprises one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the communication element and selected from the group consisting of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an integrity sensor, and a light intensity sensor.

[0048] In one embodiment, the communication element further comprises a timer mechanism.

[0049] In one embodiment, the communication element further comprises a user interface.

[0050] In one embodiment, the user interface is selected from a button, an LED, and a display.

[0051] In one embodiment, the communication element is an integral part of the consumable or pharmaceutical packaging. As used herein, the term "integral" means that the communication element is wholly or partially a part of the package, as opposed to being a separate communication element that may be attached to the package. For example, if such a communication element is an integral part of the package, such communication element may be wholly or partially contained within such package or consumable, or alternatively, may be printed directly on the package.

[0052] In one embodiment, the central unit or hub has means for connecting to other devices or cloud services, which may be any gateway capable of establishing such connections.

[0053] Also disclosed herein, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, is a method for transmitting information between a central unit and a consumable or drug container by using the above-described communication system.

[0054] In one advantageous embodiment, such a method is used in the identification, recognition, and registration of consumables, such as, for example, medicine containers, in a home environment.

[0055] In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical container is selected from a vial, a blister pack, a syringe, a cartridge, and a drug delivery device.

[0056] The above and other advantages and objects of the present invention will become more apparent, and the invention itself may be more fully understood, by referring to the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0057] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 shows a schematic diagram of a central unit of the communication system of FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 2 shows a schematic diagram of communication elements of the communication system of FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0058] Hereinafter, embodiments of the inventive concept will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate. These embodiments are presented as teaching examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the inventive concept.

[0059] A communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is specifically adapted for monitoring a patient's medication usage in a home environment to assist the patient for optimal therapeutic benefit.

[0060] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 , the communication system 1 is preferably part of a cloud-based service for the patient. The cloud service may be, for example, a medical professional who may provide medical feedback based on the information transmitted by the communication system 1. In this regard, the communication system 1 is configured to communicate with the cloud service 2 and with one or more communication elements 20. The communication elements 20 may have the form of an electronic label, tag, or module operatively connected to a medication container or medication delivery device and, optionally, connected to one or more sensors. Such operatively connected communication elements may be attached to or form an integral part of the medication container or medication delivery device and may register any changes to such medication container or medication delivery device, which changes are related to the usage of the medication container or medication delivery device.

[0061] In one embodiment, the communicating element 20 may be an integral part of the medication container and may be attached, for example, to a vial or cartridge containing a liquid medication or to a blister pack. The medication container may be provided with sensors operatively connected to or directly integrated within the communicating element 20 to dynamically change the information contained within the communicating element 20 as a function of the medication available to one or more patients. In one embodiment, the communicating element 20 may be attached to the medication delivery device to dynamically store information within the communicating element 20 based on the operational state of the medication delivery device.

[0062] Other sensors may be operatively or directly integrated within the communication element 20. For example, one or more of these sensors may be selected from the group consisting of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an ambient pressure sensor, and a light intensity sensor, for example, to provide information to a medical professional regarding whether the medication has been properly stored to avoid possible changes to the medication.

[0063] Information relating to medications available to the patient or to the operational status of the medication delivery device contained within the communication element is dynamically transmitted to medical personnel through backscatter communication based techniques.

[0064] In this respect, the communication system 1 comprises a central unit 3, for example in the form of a hub or central unit, installed within the patient's location. According to the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 2, the central unit 3 comprises at least one antenna 4, a transmitter 6 configured to transmit RF signals to the communication elements 20 (Fig. 1) via the antenna 4, and a receiver 8 configured to receive RF signals backscattered from the communication elements 20. To mitigate interference between the transmitted and received signals at the central unit 3, means for self-interference mitigation are further included, selected from the presence of at least two RF antennas at the central unit, analog carrier cancellation, digital carrier cancellation, and the use of high-pass filters. The central unit 3 also comprises, inter alia, a processing unit 10 for demodulation, processing, and protocol processing of received signals, and a gateway 12 for communication with the cloud service 2. If the signals received from the communication elements are modulated by a direct sequence spread spectrum modulator, the demodulation may be a despreader.

[0065] The communication system 1 relies on backscatter technology for communication from the communication elements 20 to the hub 3 ("uplink"), which requires a relatively simple set of hardware for the communication elements 20 and only limited power draw. This is made possible by the fact that there are no RF transmitters within the communication elements, because signals are transmitted back to the central unit 3 using only reflections of incident power. This has the advantage of providing communication elements that can be manufactured at minimal cost, and of providing a communication system with a range large enough to cover an entire house, for example, up to at least 50 m, advantageously up to at least 65 m, and in some cases even more advantageously up to at least 100 m.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 3 , the communication element 20 comprises an RF antenna 22, optionally a receiver 23 for receiving data transmitted by the central unit ("downlink"), a modulator for modulating the incoming RF signal and for modulating data using backscatter onto the RF signal transmitted by the central unit 3, and a processing unit 24 for interpreting the data received from the central unit and generating a signal to modulate back to the central unit 3. The processing unit 24, in one embodiment, may comprise a direct sequence spread spectrum modulator for modulating the data transmitted back to the central unit 3 as a backscattered RF signal. The communication element 20 may also comprise a power supply 28 used to power the communication and processing system. The communication element may also comprise a memory 26 configured to store sensor data measurements from the different sensors mentioned above and to provide connections for the sensors and indicators. The memory 26 may take the form of printed memory and / or silicon semiconductor-based memory, for example, a memory chip or integrated memory on the communication element.

[0067] In one embodiment, the communication elements 20 may be powered from incident RF signals transmitted by the central unit 3, resulting in a communication element with low energy consumption. More specifically, the backscatter communication elements may operate by harvesting and storing incident RF energy emitted by the central unit 3, which is rectified to generate a DC voltage to power the communication elements 20. The RF signals received by the receiver 23 of the communication elements 20 are processed to generate an internal clock signal that drives internal logic within the communication elements 20 to transmit an ID code to the central unit 3 along with sensor data stored in the memory 26 of the communication elements 20.

[0068] The communication system 1 between the central unit 3 and the communication elements 20 can be realized through an air interface protocol that uses a continuous wave (CW) burst at the beginning of a transmission from the central unit 3 to simulate the generation of an internal clock signal within the communication elements as well as the power supply of the communication elements 20. The CW burst is followed by a command code transmitted by the central unit 3 as AM (amplitude modulation) on a carrier wave. The communication elements 20 process the commands and responses by load modulating the antenna by applying ASK (amplitude shift keying) or PSK (phase shift keying) to the incoming CW signal from the central unit 3 to generate a return signal. In an advantageous embodiment, the communication elements 20 can further comprise a binary amplitude phase shift keying phase modulator or a binary phase shift keying phase modulator for phase modulation of the RF signal.

[0069] In one embodiment, the power source 28 takes the form of a battery, such as a printed battery. Such powered communication elements using RFID (e.g., UHF-RFID) technology eliminate the function for converting incident RF to DC (as in conventional UHF-RFID tags) and use the power source to power the digital functions and, if appropriate, the sensor system. This has the advantage that the range of the system is no longer limited by the need to transmit enough power to power the communication elements. Alternatively, the power source can be an energy scavenger other than or in addition to the central unit 3 (hub), such as an RF scavenger from a source, such as solar energy, heat, or motion. Additionally, the power source can have such an energy scavenger combined with a power storage element to conserve small amounts of energy as needed.

[0070] The processing unit 10 of the central unit 3 of the communication system 1 comprises a demodulator with a low data bandwidth for despreading the spread spectrum backscattered RF signals received from the communication elements 20. The central unit 3 also comprises a low phase noise signal source 14 and a self-interference cancellation device which may comprise two antennas (not shown), i.e., a first and a second antenna, coupled to the transmitter 6 and the receiver 8 of the central unit 3, respectively. The dual antennas provide a relatively large isolation between the signal transmitted by the central unit 3 and the backscattered RF signals emitted by the communication elements 20. Advantageously, one or more other self-interference cancellation means may be implemented, such as analog carrier cancellation, digital carrier cancellation, or the use of high-pass filters.

[0071] While this invention has been illustrated and described as having preferred designs and features, the invention can be modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

Claims

1. 1. A communication system comprising: a. a central unit having at least one RF antenna, a transmitter configured to transmit RF signals, and a receiver configured to receive backscattered RF signals; b. a communication element having an RF antenna and configured to transmit data to the central unit by backscattering the RF signal emitted from the central unit; and the communication element has a modulator for modulating the backscattered RF signal into a spread spectrum backscattered RF signal, and the central unit has means for despreading the spread spectrum backscattered RF signal, and the communication element has means for providing power.

2. 2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter of the central unit comprises a low phase noise signal source.

3. 3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the central unit further comprises one or more of a two-antenna configuration, a high-pass filter, and carrier cancellation and self-interference mitigation selected from analog and digital.

4. 4. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the spread spectrum backscatter RF signal is a direct sequence spread spectrum backscatter RF signal.

5. 5. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication system uses a low data bandwidth.

6. 6. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the RF antenna of the central unit is an isotropic antenna.

7. 7. A communication system according to any preceding claim, wherein the RF antenna on the communication element is anisotropic.

8. 8. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the operating range between the central unit and the communication elements is at least 50m, optionally at least 65m, or optionally at least 100m.

9. 9. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the communication element has an oscillator implemented as part of a conventional integrated circuit without the use of an additional high precision oscillator, such as a crystal oscillator.

10. 10. A communication system according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication element further comprises a processing unit.

11. A communication system according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication element further comprises memory means.

12. 12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein said memory means is selected from printed memories and silicon semiconductor based memories, for example memory chips or integrated memories on said communication elements.

13. 13. A communication system according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication element or part thereof is manufactured using printing techniques, e.g. the communication element comprises a printed electronic circuit.

14. 14. A communication system according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for providing power within the communication element comprises one or more of a battery, a supercapacitor, and an energy harvesting means.

15. 15. A communication system according to claim 14, wherein the means for supplying power is a printed means, for example a printed battery.

16. 16. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication element further comprises a modulator configured to modulate the reflected backscattered RF signal using binary phase shift keying or binary amplitude shift keying modulation.

17. 17. A communication system according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication elements further comprise receivers, and the transmitted signals from the central unit further comprise data, which data is received by the receivers in the communication elements.

18. 18. A communication system according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more sensors operatively connected to the communication element.

19. 20. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an integrity sensor, and a light intensity sensor.

20. 20. A communication system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a user interface.

21. 21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the user interface is selected from a button, a touch sensor, an LED, and a display.

22. a communication element, a. an RF antenna; b. means configured to transmit data to a central unit by backscattering of RF signals incident on said antenna; c. means for supplying power; d. a modulator for modulating the backscattered RF signal to obtain a spread spectrum backscattered RF signal; An element having

23. 23. The communication element of claim 22 further comprising memory means.

24. 24. The communication element of claim 23, wherein said memory means is selected from printed memory and silicon semiconductor based memory, for example a memory chip or integrated memory on said communication element.

25. 25. A communication element according to any one of claims 22 to 24, further comprising a processing unit.

26. 26. A communication element according to any one of claims 22 to 25, comprising a printed electronic circuit.

27. 27. A communications element according to any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein the means for providing power within the communications element comprises one or more of a battery, a supercapacitor, and an energy harvesting means.

28. 28. A communication element according to claim 27, wherein the means for supplying power is a printed means, for example a printed battery.

29. 29. A communications element according to any one of claims 22 to 28, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate the backscattered RF signal with direct sequence spread spectrum modulation.

30. 30. A communication element according to any one of claims 22 to 29, wherein said memory means comprises means for storing and reading / writing data on said communication label through a communication interface.

31. 31. A communication element according to any one of claims 22 to 30, further comprising one or more sensors operatively connected to the communication element.

32. 32. The communications element of claim 31, wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an integrity sensor, and a light intensity sensor.

33. 33. A communications element according to any one of claims 22 to 32, further comprising a timer mechanism.

34. 34. A communication element according to any one of claims 22 to 33, further comprising a user interface.

35. 35. The communication element of claim 34, wherein the user interface is selected from a button, a touch sensor, an LED, and a display.

36. 36. The communication element of any one of claims 22 to 35, wherein the communication element is an integral part of a consumable or pharmaceutical package.

37. a central unit, a. at least one RF antenna; b. a transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal; c. a receiver configured to receive the backscattered RF signal; d. means for despreading the spread spectrum modulated backscattered RF signal; A unit having:

38. 38. The central unit of claim 37, wherein said means for despreading is configured to despread a direct sequence spread spectrum modulated backscattered RF signal.

39. 39. A central unit according to claim 37 or 38, further comprising means for demodulating backscattered RF signals modulated by binary phase shift keying or binary amplitude shift keying.

40. 40. A central unit according to any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein the transmitter of the central unit comprises a low phase noise signal source.

41. 41. The central unit of any one of claims 37 to 40, further comprising one or more of a two antenna configuration, a high pass filter, and carrier cancellation and self interference mitigation selected from analogue and digital.

42. 42. A central unit according to any one of claims 37 to 41, wherein the communication element further comprises a processing unit.

43. 43. A central unit according to any one of claims 37 to 42, further comprising a modulator configured to modulate the transmitted RF signal.

44. 44. The central unit of claim 43, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate the transmitted RF signal with binary amplitude shift keying.

45. 45. A central unit according to any one of claims 37 to 44, further comprising a user interface.

46. 46. ​​The central unit of claim 45, wherein the user interface is selected from a button, a touch sensor, an LED, and a display.

47. 47. The central unit of any one of claims 37 to 46, further comprising means for operatively connecting to other local devices and / or cloud services.

48. 22. A method for transmitting information between a central unit and a consumable or medicine container using a communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

49. 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the pharmaceutical container is selected from a vial, a blister pack, a syringe, a cartridge, and a drug delivery device.

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