Methods and devices for assigning RFID device personality

• US 20050253717A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Droms, Ralph, Kreeger, Lawrence, Howarth, Arthur G., Butaney, Vikas, Saville, Roland, Singhal, Rajiv, Wiborg, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for identifying, locating and provisioning individual RFID devices in a network with “personalities” that are appropriate for the roles of the RFID devices. According to some implementations of the invention, a combination of EPC code information and existing networking standards form the basis of identifying and provisioning methods. For example, MAC address information and EPC information can be combined to identify a particular device and its location in a network. For implementations using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”), DHCP Options may be used to pass provisioning information. Some implementations employ Domain Name Service (“DNS”) and dynamic DNS (“DDNS”) to allow easy identification of RFID devices.

Claims

1. A method for uniquely provisioning a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device, the method comprising;

receiving a provisioning request on a network;

automatically identifying an RFID device according to a media access control (“

MAC”

) address and an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) included in the provisioning request;

automatically locating the RFID device according to location information included in the provisioning request; and

automatically providing the RFID device with a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, locating, identifying and providing steps are performed by a network device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing first information in the provisioning request with second information to validate the RFID device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether the RFID device has previously booted.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether provisioning information has previously been established for the RFID device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the network device is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the second information is stored in a database accessible to a network device and wherein the network device performs the receiving, identifying and comparing steps.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of provisioning the RFID device according to provisioning information that has previously been established for the RFID device.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of categorizing the RFID device as an untrusted device when it is determined that provisioning information has not previously been established for the RFID device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the provisioning step comprises providing configuration information to the RFID device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the provisioning step comprises assigning a valid Internet Protocol (“

IP”

) address to the RFID device.

50. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically initiating a reprovisioning cycle to provide the RFID device with a different functionality.

12. A method for uniquely provisioning a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device, the method comprising;

forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) of an RFID device and location information indicating a location of the RFID device;

sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server; and

receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that is specifically intended for the RFID device, the provisioning information enabling a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the forming step comprises including the EPC in Option 61 of the DHCPDISCOVER request.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the forming step comprises including information in Option 60 of the DHCPDISCOVER request that indicates that the DHCPDISCOVER request comes from an RFID device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the forming step comprises including information that indicates a name of a company that operates the RFID device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the forming step comprises including information in Option 77 of the DHCPDISCOVER request regarding a current personality of the RFID device that formed the DHCPDISCOVER request.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the RFID device includes the EPC in the DHCPDISCOVER request during a first part of the forming step and wherein a relay agent includes the location information in the DHCPDISCOVER request during a second part of the forming step.

51. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of transmitting a DHCPINFORM request to the DHCP server, the DHCPINFORM request indicating a current enabled functionality of the RFID device.

18. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) network, comprising;

means for forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) of an RFID device and location information indicating a location of the RFID device;

means for sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server and for receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID device.

19. The RFID network of claim 18, wherein the forming means comprises an RFID device for including the EPC in the DHCPDISCOVER request and a relay agent for including the location information in the DHCPDISCOVER request.

53. The RFID network of claim 18, further comprising means for transmitting a DHCPINFORM request to the DHCP server, the DHCPINFORM request indicating a current enabled functionality of the RFID device.

20. A network device, comprising:

means for receiving a provisioning request on a network; and

means for automatically identifying an RFID device according to a media access control (“

MAC”

) address and an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) included in the provisioning request and for locating the RFID device according to location information included in the provisioning request; and

means for providing the RFID device with a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID device.

21. The network device of claim 20, further comprising means for comparing first information in the provisioning request with second information stored in a database accessible to the network device, thereby validating the RFID device.

22. The network device of claim 21, wherein the comparing means is further configured to determine whether the RFID device has previously booted.

23. The network device of claim 21, wherein the comparing means is further configured to determine whether provisioning information has previously been established for the RFID device.

24. The network device of claim 23, further comprising means for provisioning the RFID device according to provisioning information that has previously been established for the RFID device.

25. The network device of claim 23, further comprising means for categorizing the RFID device as an untrusted device when it is determined that provisioning information has not previously been established for the RFID device.

54. The network device of claim 20, further comprising means for initiating a reprovisioning cycle to provide the RFID device with a different functionality.

55. The network device of claim 54, wherein the initiating means initiates the reprovisioning cycle via a DHCPFORCERENEW command.

26. A computer program embodied in a machine-readable medium, the computer program including instructions for controlling one or more elements of a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) network to perform the following steps;

form a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) of an RFID device and location information indicating a location of the RFID device;

send the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server; and

receive provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID device.

27. The computer program of claim 26, wherein the forming step comprises including the EPC in Option 61 of the DHCPDISCOVER request.

28. The computer program of claim 26, wherein the forming step comprises including information in Option 60 of the DHCPDISCOVER request that indicates that the DHCPDISCOVER request comes from an RFID device.

29. The computer program of claim 26, wherein the forming step comprises including information that indicates a name of a company that supplies the RFID device.

30. The computer program of claim 26, wherein the forming step comprises including information in Option 77 of the DHCPDISCOVER request regarding the type of RFID device that formed the DHCPDISCOVER request.

31. A computer program embodied in a machine-readable medium, the computer program including instructions for controlling a network device to perform the following steps:

receive a provisioning request on a network;

identify an RFID device according to a media access control (“

MAC”

) address and an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) included in the provisioning request;

locate the RFID device according to location information included in the provisioning request; and

provide the RFID device with a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID device.

32. The computer program of claim 31, further comprising instructions for controlling the network device to compare first information in the provisioning request with second information stored in a database accessible to the network device, thereby validating the RFID device.

33. The computer program of claim 31, further comprising instructions for controlling the network device to determine whether the RFID device has previously booted.

34. The computer program of claim 31, further comprising instructions for controlling the network device to determine whether provisioning information has previously been established for the RFID device.

35. The computer program of claim 34, further comprising instructions for controlling the network device to provision the RFID device according to provisioning information that has previously been established for the RFID device.

36. The computer program of claim 34, further comprising instructions for controlling the network device to categorize the RFID device as an untrusted device when it is determined that provisioning information has not previously been established for the RFID device.

37. A method for deploying a uniquely-provisioned radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device in a network, the method comprising;

forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) of an RFID reader and location information indicating that the RFID reader is positioned at an exit door of a retail store;

sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server;

receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that enables a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the RFID reader; and

provisioning the RFID reader according to the provisioning information, thereby enabling the RFID reader to read RFID tags passing through the exit door and to transmit RFID tag information to an RFID network.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to automatically update a database maintained by the retail store.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to cause a financial account to be debited for a cost of the products.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to automatically update a database maintained by a manufacturer of at least one of the products.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to automatically update a database maintained by a distributor of at least one of the products.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag information to update a business plan.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the RFID tag information comprises product information.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the RFID tag information comprises shopper information.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the business plan is a marketing plan.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the business plan is a manufacturing plan.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the business plan is a distribution plan.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the business plan is a sales plan.

49. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) network, comprising;

a plurality of RFID devices;

a plurality of switches connecting the RFID devices to the RFID network; and

a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“

DHCP”

) server, wherein at least some of the plurality of RFID devices comprise;

means for forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“

EPC”

) of an RFID device and current personality information that indicates a current functionality of the RFID device; and

means for sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to the DHCP server via a switch and for receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that is specifically tailored for the RFID device;

wherein the switch comprises means for including location information in the DHCPDISCOVER request indicating a location of the RFID device; and

wherein the DHCP server comprises;

means for receiving a DHCPDISCOVER request; and

means for automatically identifying an RFID device according to a media access control (“

MAC”

) address and an EPC included in the DHCPDISCOVER request and for locating the RFID device according to the location information included in the DHCPDISCOVER request; and

means for providing the RFID device with a desired functionality according to a device location and identity.