Technology used by RespectRFID

We want to clear up some misunderstandings: www.RespectRFID.com  does NOT make use of WiFi, UWB, nor microwave backscatter.  RespectRFID however uses existing technologies that are newer and more powerful than the technologies currently used by WiFi, cellphone, and other RFID systems. The following are some technology details we can describe without giving away elements of the patent.

Each active RespectRFID tag reports its unique ID number and status about every 5 seconds without signal collision problems. The battery lasts for several years (20 nanoamps average current consumption). The tag including antenna is tiny – approximately ½ the length of a toothpick.

Each RespectRFID tag has a unique ID number. The tag does not infringe privacy as it does not have information about the item, the store, or the person. The unique ID is 100 bits long, which is large enough to allow as many as 10 billion people to buy 30 billion unique items during every second of their lives. Data to provide error correction and status are added prior to transmission. Multiple tags, including those of different types, can be attached to a single item.

The RespectRFID system can track more than 1,000,000 tags in a store concurrently. RespectRFID tags are similar to other RFID tags in that they cannot communicate when they are deep inside of a shelf or otherwise hidden from the transceivers.

The communications frequency used in the RespectRFID system is 2.45 GHz. RespectRFID is not using any of the over 100 conflicting RFID standards around the world. RespectRFID does not use WiFi modulation – which is restricted to about 100 transmissions per second. However, the 2.45 GHz frequency allows exploitation of the low-cost electronics and antennas developed for WiFi, Bluetooth, and wireless phones. The short wavelength allows use of small antennas on the tags and good location accuracy (approx 3 feet horizontal) for transceivers spaced about every 150 feet. Additional transceivers are designed for close range (hand held) and long range (vehicle) applications. The 2.45 GHz frequency allows operation of RespectRFID almost anywhere in the world – any country that uses microwave ovens - it is one of the Industrial, Scientific, Medical = ISM bands.

The ceiling-mounted RespectRFID transceivers each have two video cameras, and there are two transceivers per aisle. The transceivers are not “off the shelf”, but are and integral part of the patented design. The video cameras in the transceivers record shoplifting and theft automatically. Anti-theft features of the system are described at http://www.respectrfid.com/Ref/anti-theft%20features.htm