Inventorying RFID tags by employing a query parameter Q that is adjusted for improving
First Claim
1. An RFID reader to communicate with a plurality of RFID tags, each of which can choose randomly one of a plurality of slots in response to a communicated value of a Q parameter and reply according to its chosen slot, the reader comprising:
- a transceiver arranged to transmit and receive a modulated wave; and
a processing block arranged to;
communicate to the tags a Q1 value for the Q parameter;
receive first replies from the tags as derived from communicating the Q1 value;
generate first contents from the first replies;
compute a first merit statistic based on the first contents;
determine a Q2 value for the Q parameter which, if communicated to the tags would result in prospective replies that would result in an expected second merit statistic computed similarly to the first merit statistic, and which would meet a preset fairway condition in a more desirable manner than the first merit statistic according to a preset criterion; and
communicate to at least a portion of the tags the Q2 value for the Q parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RFID reader inventories a population of tags. The reader evaluates responses from tags by categorizing them in slots. As tags are inventoried, the number of slots based on a Q-parameter is reduced. The reader addresses the tags by communicating a Q1 value for the Q parameter, generates first contents from replies received from the tags, and computes a first merit statistic based on the first contents. Next, the reader determines a Q2 value for the Q parameter, which if used in the same way would meet a preset fairway condition better than the first merit statistic. After determining the Q2 value, the reader addresses a portion of the tags by communicating the Q2 value for the Q parameter.
32 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An RFID reader to communicate with a plurality of RFID tags, each of which can choose randomly one of a plurality of slots in response to a communicated value of a Q parameter and reply according to its chosen slot, the reader comprising:
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a transceiver arranged to transmit and receive a modulated wave; and
a processing block arranged to;
communicate to the tags a Q1 value for the Q parameter;
receive first replies from the tags as derived from communicating the Q1 value;
generate first contents from the first replies;
compute a first merit statistic based on the first contents;
determine a Q2 value for the Q parameter which, if communicated to the tags would result in prospective replies that would result in an expected second merit statistic computed similarly to the first merit statistic, and which would meet a preset fairway condition in a more desirable manner than the first merit statistic according to a preset criterion; and
communicate to at least a portion of the tags the Q2 value for the Q parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An RFID reader to communicate with a plurality of RFID tags, each of which can choose randomly one of a plurality of slots in response to a communicated value of a Q parameter and reply according to its chosen slot, the reader comprising:
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a means for communicating to the tags a Q1 value for the Q parameter;
a means for receiving first replies from the tags as derived from communicating the Q1 value;
a means for generating first contents from the first replies;
a means for computing a first merit statistic based on the first contents;
a means for determining a Q2 value for the Q parameter which, if communicated to the tags would result in prospective replies that would result in an expected second merit statistic computed similarly to the first merit statistic, and which would meet a preset fairway condition in a more desirable manner than the first merit statistic according to a preset criterion, wherein the first merit statistic is a value of a merit function associated with processing tags whose replies are received; and
a means for communicating to at least a portion of the tags the Q2 value for the Q parameter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for an RFID reader to communicate with a plurality of RFID tags, each of which can choose randomly one of a plurality of slots in response to a communicated value of a Q parameter and reply according to its chosen slot, the method comprising:
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communicating to the tags a Q1 value for the Q parameter;
receiving first replies from the tags as derived from communicating the Q1 value;
generating first contents from the first replies;
computing a first merit statistic based on the first contents;
determining a Q2 value for the Q parameter which, if communicated to the tags would result in prospective replies that would result in an expected second merit statistic computed similarly to the first merit statistic, and which would meet a preset fairway condition in a more desirable manner than the first merit statistic according to a preset criterion; and
communicating to at least a portion of the tags the Q2 value for the Q parameter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification