Data encoding in radio frequency identification transponders

• US 20040257203A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ackley H. Sprague, Pavel A. Maltsev
• Original Assignee: Ackley H. Sprague, Pavel A. Maltsev
• Inventors: Maltsev, Pavel A., Ackley, H. Sprague
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/18 by transferring data from one type of record carrier on to another type of record carrier, e.g. from magnetic tape to punched card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for efficiently encoding source data in radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. The encoded source data may also provide additional functionality such as data error detection and correction. A source data encoding and decoding method for a RFID system having a RFID transponder comprises the steps of obtaining the source data, encoding to provide more efficient data encodation that may also include data error detection and error correction, writing the encoded source data to a RFID transponder, reading the encoded source data from the RFID transponder, and decoding the encoded source data to recover the original source data. The encoding may utilize bar code symbology algorithms or a non-Full ASCII enhanced functionality character set. A source data encoding device and a decoding device for a RFID system may comprise a memory, a processor for running a program stored in the memory, a bar code printer for printing a bar code, a RFID transponder programmer for writing the data to the RFID transponder, a RFID interrogator for interrogating the RFID transponder, and a bar code reader to read a bar code. The data may be provided encoded or the device may encode/decode the data using coding algorithms. The RFID transponder stores the encoded source data, that may utilize a non-Full ASCII enhanced functionality character set, and the encoded data may be retrieved to recover the original source data.

Claims

1-34. -34. (Canceled)

35. A source data encoding and decoding method for a radio frequency identification (RFID) system having a RFID transponder, said method comprising the steps of:

a first step of obtaining said source data;

a second step of encoding said source data using a bar code symbology algorithm to provide efficient data encodation with error detection and correction, said bar code symbology algorithm including a non-Full ASCII character set; and

a third step of writing said encoded source data to said RFID transponder for storage in an electronic memory of said RFID transponder.

44. An RFID transponder having a memory containing data encoded in accordance with a bar code symbology algorithm to provide efficient data encodation with error detection and correction.

45. A source data encoding device for a RFID system having a RFID transponder, said device comprising a memory and a processor that runs a program stored in said memory, said program comprising the steps of:

obtaining source data; and

encoding said source data for storage in an electronic memory of said RFID transponder using a bar code symbology coding algorithm comprising a non-Full ASCII format.

53. A source data decoding device for a RFID system having a RFID transponder, said device comprising a memory and a processor that runs a program stored in said memory, said program comprising the steps of:

obtaining encoded source data from an electronic memory of an RFID transponder; and

decoding said encoded source data using a bar code symbology coding algorithm comprising a non-Full ASCII format.