Radio frequency identification (RFID) controller

• US 20050264401A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Haller, Stephan, Kubach, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 7,245,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• 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

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) controller within an RFID system includes an RFID interrogator interface configured to receive signals from an RFID interrogator. The RFID interrogator receives data from RFID tags. The RFID controller also includes a user interface configured to receive a selection of data processing units and an arrangement of data processing units. The RFID controller further includes a controller core configured to process the signals received from the RFID interrogator interface and configured to modify processing of the signals from RFID interrogator based on the selection and the arrangement of the data processing units.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) controller within an RFID system, comprising:

an RFID interrogator interface configured to receive signals from an RFID interrogator, the RFID interrogator receiving data from RFID tags;

a user interface configured to receive a selection of data processing units and an arrangement of data processing units; and

a controller core configured to process the signals received from the RFID interrogator interface and configured to modify processing of the signals from RFID interrogator based on the selection and the arrangement of the data processing units.

2. The controller of claim 1, further comprising:

an administrative services component to store configuration files based on the arrangement and the selection of the data processing units.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the data processing units include a data enricher configured to read data from the RFID tags and add additional data to an event.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the data processing units include a writer configured to write data to the RFID tags.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the data processing units include a buffer configured to store events for transmission to an application.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the data processing units include an aggregator configured to collect several events into one signal event.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the data processing units include a filter configured to remove specific events according to a rule.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface (GUI) connected to the controller core.

9. The controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller interface connecting the controller core to an application, the controller core being configured to provide a high-level programming interface for data processed from the RFID interrogator through the controller interface to the application.

10. The controller of a claim 9, further comprising:

a graphical user interface (GUI) connected to the application, the GUI allowing a user to generate the arrangement and the selection of the data processing units.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating the configuration input.

11. A method of processing radio frequency identification (RFID) data comprising:

receiving a configuration input from a user, the configuration input including an arrangement of data processing units to process RFID data;

receiving the RFID data from an RFID interrogator; and

processing the RFID data based on the configuration input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein processing the RFID data comprises changing the processing of RFID data from an existing process to a new process based on the configuration input.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein validating comprises validating connections between the data processing units.

15. A radio frequency identification (RFID) controller within an RFID system, comprising:

an RFID interrogator interface configured to receive signals from an RFID interrogator, the RFID interrogator receiving data from RFID tags;

a first data set indicating a selection of data processing units;

a second data set indicating an arrangement of the data processing units a user interface configured to receive the first data set and the second data set; and

a controller core configured to process the signals received from the RFID interrogator interface and configured to modify processing of the signals from RFID interrogator based on the first data set and the second data set.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an administrative services component to store configuration files based on the first data and the second data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface (GUI) connected to the controller core.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data processing units comprise a data processing unit from a group of data processing units consisting of a writer, an enricher, a buffer, an aggregator, and a filter.