Attested Location Vectors for Accurate RFID Asset Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RFID tags, particularly passive and semi-passive tags, lack advanced signal processing capabilities and computational capacity, limiting their ability to provide accurate asset tracking and provenance information.

Innovation Solution

A reader device generates an attested location vector (ALV) that includes an attestation identifier, timestamp, reader device location, three- or six-degrees-of-freedom state, and distance to the tag, providing a digital fingerprint for asset tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If passive or semi-passive RFID tags are used, then operating expense and maintenance cost are reduced, but computational capacity and signal processing ability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating expenseVSAvoidcomputational capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (reader device with sensors and processing circuitry) that compensates for the limited computational capacity of passive RFID tags. The reader device performs the complex signal processing and data generation, while the simple RFID tag only provides basic identification, thus resolving the contradiction between low cost and high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If passive RFID tags are used, then maintenance cost is reduced, but ability to provide accurate asset tracking and provenance information is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance costVSAvoidasset tracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single system: the RFID tag provides identification, while the reader device integrates sensor data (location, orientation, temperature, humidity) and combines these with tag data to create comprehensive asset tracking information. This merging allows accurate tracking without requiring complex tags.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The reader device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both an RFID reader and a sensor hub that collects environmental data, location information, and asset provenance data. This universal approach enables accurate asset tracking while keeping individual components simple and inexpensive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If advanced signal processing capabilities are added to RFID tags, then asset tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasset tracking accuracyVSAvoidtag complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional architecture by placing the complex signal processing and data generation capabilities in the reader device rather than in the RFID tag. The simple tag provides raw identification data, while the sophisticated processing occurs externally, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12462125B2Attested location vector generation system

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a reader device reads a first tag at a first read time, wherein the first tag is attached to an asset, and generates a first attested location vector (ALV) corresponding to the first tag, wherein the first ALV comprises a first attestation identifier, a first timestamp corresponding to the first read time, a first location of the reader device at the first read time, a first three- or six-degrees-of-freedom state of the reader device at the first read time, and a first distance between the reader device and the first tag at the first read time.