RFID reader for a security system

• US 20040160322A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LifeShield LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LifeShield LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stilp, Louis A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/24 by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2471 Antenna signal processing by receiver or emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/20 for contactless carriers, e.g. RFID carriers record carriers with integrated circuit chips including means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or to record carriers by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07318; arrangements for sensing record carriers including arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks G06K7/10257
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/32 including a particular configuration of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/222 wherein jamming detection includes detecting the absence or impossibility of intelligible communication on at least one channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/224 with countermeasures at transmission and/or reception of the jammed signal, e.g. stopping operation of transmitter or receiver, nulling or enhancing transmitted power in direction of or at frequency of jammer
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/226 Selection of non-jammed channel for communication spectrum sharing arrangements H04W16/14; selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/88 related to allowing or preventing alarm transmission

Abstract

An RFID reader for use in a security system based upon RFID techniques. The RFID reader can use power line carrier communications to communicate with the controllers in the security system. The RFID reader of the security system can be provided with multiple modulation techniques, multiple antennas, and the capability to vary its power level and carrier frequency. The controller of the security determines which RFID readers may transmit, at what times, and the parameters with which to transmit. The RFID reader can detect interference or jamming, and respond. The RFID reader can transmit RF energy useful for detecting motion or for charging the batteries in RFID transponders. The RFID reader can receive wireless communications from active transmitters or from other RFID readers.

Claims

1. A first RFID reader for use in a security system including at least a first controller, wherein the first RFID reader contains:

a power line communications interface, over which the said RFID reader may communicate with the said first controller,

a power supply,

a processor,

memory for storing program code, and

at least one antenna for use in wireless communications.

2. The RFID reader of claim 1,

Wherein the said RFID reader is mechanically mounted to a plate, and

Wherein the plate can be mechanically mounted to an outlet.

3. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the said RFID reader supports multiple modulation techniques.

4. The RFID reader of claim 3, wherein the said controller selects the modulation technique that the said RFID reader shall use in its wireless communications.

5. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the said RFID reader supports multiple transmit power levels.

6. The RFID reader of claim 5, wherein the said controller selects the transmit power level that the said RFID reader shall use in its wireless communications.

7. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the said RFID reader can vary its rate of transmitting RF energy.

8. The RFID reader of claim 7, wherein the said controller selects the rate that the said RFID reader shall use in its RF energy.

9. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader can receive wireless communications from RFID transponders.

10. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader can receive wireless communications from active transmitters.

11. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the said first RFID reader can receive wireless communications from a second RFID reader.

12. The RFID reader of claim 11, wherein the said first RFID reader passes the said communications received from the said second RFID reader to the said first controller.

13. The RFID reader of claim 11, wherein the said first RFID reader passes the said communications received from the said second RFID reader to a third RFID reader.

14. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the said first RFID reader includes means to measure interference on the power line.

15. The RFID reader of claim 14, wherein if the interference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the said RFID reader communicates with the said first controller by sending its communications using wireless communications techniques to a second RFID reader, wherein the wireless communications includes instructions to the said second RFID reader to forward said communications to the said first controller.

16. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the said first RFID reader can receive a response wireless communications sent from a first RFID transponder to a second RFID reader.

17. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the said first RFID reader further contains a battery backup.

18. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the said first RFID reader further contains algorithms for using microwave Doppler analysis to detect motion.

19. The RFID reader of claim 18, wherein the said first RFID reader applies the said algorithms for using microwave Doppler analysis to detect motion to the response wireless communications from the said RFID transponder.

20. The RFID reader of claim 18, wherein the said first RFID reader deactivates the said algorithms for using microwave Doppler analysis when the security system is in a disarmed state.