The Canadian Patent Office has issued a Notice of Patent Allowance for iCE (I Communicate Effectively) technology, from Syscan International Inc. iCE technology is a market first in lowpower dynamic wireless communication networks. Syscan’s allowed patent application consists of 20 claims covering all aspects of iCE technology.
Mr. Axel Striefler, President and CEO of Syscan, expressed “Patent allowance for iCE is an extremely satisfying achievement for our Company. It has taken over a year for the patent allowance to come through since we unveiled our RFID breakthrough. In our opinion it has
become abundantly clear that iCE delivers efficiencies and capabilities not found in other RFID systems. It is therefore our intention to begin licensing iCE to other RFID solution providers as soon as possible. Sharing iCE with other providers, under a strong license and royalty
arrangement opens up another avenue for increasing revenues and enhancing shareholder value.”
Syscan believes that iCE is a significant leap forward in the evolution of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification); not only for the Company’s selected verticals in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the military but throughout the entire spectrum of RFID. With iCE, the real-time desktop monitoring of remote assets can be significantly enhanced and the much predicted “internet of
things” made more functional.
In the world of RFID, traditional systems use direct communication between Readers and Tags, provided they are within the Reader’s coverage zone. In reality, there are many day-to-day problems that can interfere with the proper transmission of signals between Tags and Readers
that either block communications altogether or render them intermittent and, consequently, ineffective. One of the greatest commercial challenges has been the higher costs related to the increased power consumption required to overcome typical communication problems.
Syscan’s iCE invention was developed using an energy-efficient dynamic bi-directional communications protocol that employs transmission windows to dramatically reduce the power consumption of Tag batteries, which comprise a major portion of the per-Tag cost. iCE Readers can access Tags that would normally be out of range by substituting other Tags that are within reach to temporarily act as communication bridges to relay data to the Reader. The architecture of the iCE RFID network can be defined by the Reader or the Tags according to their positions and characteristics. Once configured, the system is equipped with enough intelligence and is sufficiently dynamic to enable it to operate by itself without human intervention, regardless of whether or not there is a change in the position of the Tags or in their environment.
Syscan has already begun the process for international patent protection covering all of the International Patent Office's member countries including the United States, European Union, most of Asia and Australia.