Systems and methods for managing coverage area of wireless communication devices

• US 10,037,445 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiofy, LLC
• Original Assignee: Radiofy, LLC
• Inventors: Shoarinejad, Kambiz
• Primary Examiner(s): Scheibel, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US15/399,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a wireless access point that acquires and processes radio frequency identification (RFID) information. The wireless access point may be coupled to a network of RFID readers over a wireless network. The RFID readers may read a plurality of RFID tags and transmit information to one or more readers. The readers may, in turn, transmit the RFID information to a wireless access point. The wireless access point may include a middleware layer for performing a variety of RFID data processing functions. In one embodiment, the wireless RFID reader network may be used to improve positioning of readers and tags, and may include a GPS system or position assisted GPS system at the reader and/or tag level.

Claims

1. A method for managing a set of wireless communication devices by a connection management device, each wireless communication device having a coverage area for monitoring a corresponding set of wireless electronic devices comprising data, the method comprising:

for each particular wireless communication device, determining a range of coverage of the particular wireless communication device and a distance between the particular wireless communication device and a closest wireless communication device to the particular wireless communication device;

based on said determination, grouping the wireless communication devices by the connection management device into a plurality of groups, each wireless communication device within a group having a coverage area that overlaps coverage areas of other wireless communication devices in the group, wireless communication devices from different groups not having coverage areas that overlap each other;

for each group, configuring all wireless communication devices within the group to sequentially communicate with the corresponding set of wireless electronic devices in the coverage area of each wireless communication device in order to prevent simultaneous communications with wireless electronic devices positioned in overlapping coverage areas of at least two wireless communication devices; and

configuring a plurality of wireless communication devices that do not belong to a same group to wirelessly communicate with the corresponding set of wireless electronic devices in parallel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each wireless communication device retrieves data from one or more wireless electronic devices, the method further comprising:

receiving the retrieved data from one or more wireless communication devices; and

storing the received data at the connection management device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data retrieved from each of one or more wireless electronic devices comprises an identification of the wireless electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance between each particular wireless communication device and the closest wireless communication device to the particular wireless communication device is determined based on a known fixed location of at least one wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the distance between each particular wireless communication device and the closest wireless communication device to the particular wireless communication device comprises:

determining a location of one or more wireless communication devices residing in overlapping coverage areas of the connection management device and at least one other connection management device; and

determining the distance between the particular wireless communication device and the closest wireless communication device based on the location of said one or more wireless devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the distance between each particular wireless communication device and the closest wireless communication device to the particular wireless communication device comprises using a Global Positions System (GPS) module in at least one wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless electronic devices are Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication devices are Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each communication device is one of an application specific Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader, a personal digital assistant, and a cell phone.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection management device is an access point.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of wireless communication devices and the set of wireless electronic devices are communicatively coupled through a wireless sensor network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of wireless electronic devices is configured as a sensor network, wherein wireless electronic devices in the set of wireless electronic devices provide automatic identification to the set of wireless communication devices through a wireless link.

13. A connection management device for managing a set of wireless communication devices, the connection management device having a coverage area for monitoring the set of wireless communication devices, each wireless communication device having a coverage area for monitoring a set of wireless electronic devices, the connection management device comprising:

an interface configured to communicate with the set of wireless communication devices; and

a set of circuits configured to;

determine, for each particular wireless communication device, a range of coverage of the particular wireless communication device and a distance between the particular wireless communication device and a closest wireless communication device to the particular wireless communication device;

group, based on said determination, the wireless communication devices by the connection management device into a plurality of groups, each wireless communication device within a group having a coverage area that overlaps coverage areas of other wireless communication devices in the group, wireless communication devices from different groups not having coverage areas that overlap each other;

configure for each group, all wireless communication devices within the group to sequentially communicate with the corresponding set of wireless electronic devices in the coverage area of each wireless communication device in order to prevent simultaneous communications with wireless electronic devices positioned in overlapping coverage areas of at least two wireless communication devices; and

configure a plurality of wireless communication devices that do not belong to a same group to wirelessly communicate with the corresponding set of wireless electronic devices in parallel.

14. The connection management device of claim 13, wherein each wireless communication device retrieves data from one or more wireless electronic devices, the interface further configured to receive the retrieved data from one or more wireless communication devices;

the connection management device further comprising a storage configured to store the data received from said one or more wireless communication devices.

15. The connection management device of claim 14, wherein the data retrieved from each of one or more wireless electronic devices comprises an identification of the wireless electronic device.

16. The connection management device of claim 13, wherein the set of circuits are configured to determine the distance between each particular wireless communication device and the closest wireless communication device to the particular wireless communication device based on a known fixed location of at least one wireless communication device.

17. The connection management device of claim 13, wherein the set of circuits are configured to determine the distance between each particular wireless communication device and the closest wireless communication device to the particular wireless communication device by:

determining a location of one or more wireless communication devices residing in overlapping coverage areas of the connection management device and at least one other connection management device; and

determining the distance between the particular wireless communication device and the closest wireless communication device based on the location of said one or more wireless devices.

18. The connection management device of claim 13, wherein the set of circuits comprises at least one of a processor, a controller, a micro-controller, a programmable logic device, and an integrated circuit.

19. The connection management device of claim 13, wherein the set of circuits are configured to determine the distance between each particular wireless communication device and the closest wireless communication device to the particular wireless communication device by utilizing a Global Positions System (GPS) module in at least one wireless communication device.

20. The connection management device of claim 13, wherein the connection management device is an access point.