Visual RFID tags and interactive visual RFID networks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An edge reader network comprising:
- a plurality of edge readers, one or more of the edge readers comprising;
an RFID tag reader including an antenna wherein the RFID tag reader is a read-only tag reader;
a short range wireless communications device that communicates with at least one second edge reader;
a microcontroller; and
a power source wherein the edge reader includes a unique identifier that allows the location of the edge reader to be ascertained by a central control station;
at least one base station reader the base station reader further comprising an RFID tag reader having an antenna, a first wireless communications device for communicating wirelessly with the one or more edge controllers and a second communications device for communicating with a central control station; and
a plurality of items that are individually tagged with an RFID tag wherein at least a portion of the individually tagged items lie outside of the read range of the base station RFID tag reader but within the range of the RFID reader of one or more of the edge readers wherein one or more of the plurality of edge readers acquire and transmit RFID tag information of items that lie outside the read range of the base station RFID tag reader to the base station and wherein the first communications device demodulates incoming RFID tag data and transmits the demodulated RFID tag data to the second communications device.
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Abstract
RFID driven display system components such as wireless displays (visual RFID tags) and multi-antenna wireless RFID readers that monitor/control the RFID driven displays in order to provide visual real-time information to display viewers and/or provide useful information to a central processing station that monitors the status of and/or updates the RFID driven displays, networks including one or more of the components, and methods for using the RFID driven display system components to monitor assets in applications such as inventory control and manufacturing.
33 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An edge reader network comprising:
a plurality of edge readers, one or more of the edge readers comprising; an RFID tag reader including an antenna wherein the RFID tag reader is a read-only tag reader; a short range wireless communications device that communicates with at least one second edge reader; a microcontroller; and a power source wherein the edge reader includes a unique identifier that allows the location of the edge reader to be ascertained by a central control station; at least one base station reader the base station reader further comprising an RFID tag reader having an antenna, a first wireless communications device for communicating wirelessly with the one or more edge controllers and a second communications device for communicating with a central control station; and a plurality of items that are individually tagged with an RFID tag wherein at least a portion of the individually tagged items lie outside of the read range of the base station RFID tag reader but within the range of the RFID reader of one or more of the edge readers wherein one or more of the plurality of edge readers acquire and transmit RFID tag information of items that lie outside the read range of the base station RFID tag reader to the base station and wherein the first communications device demodulates incoming RFID tag data and transmits the demodulated RFID tag data to the second communications device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification