System and method for identifying an RFID reader

• US 20060087406A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Vollkommer, Richard M., Willins, Bruce A.
• Application Number:
  US10/973,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.300
• 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

An RFID reader according to the invention modulates the energizing preamble section of an interrogation sequence with a reader identifier that uniquely identifies that RFID reader within the RFID system. A suitable modulation scheme (for example, phase modulation) is utilized to ensure that the RF energy in the preamble remains sufficient to initialize passive RFID tags within the system. A diagnostic probe or other compatible device is configured to receive the ID-modulated interrogation sequence, demodulate the modulated section, and extract the reader identifier to resolve the identity of the transmitting reader.

Claims

1. A method for identifying an RFID reader, said method comprising:

obtaining an RFID reader identifier;

modulating said RFID reader identifier into at least a portion of an interrogation sequence to produce an ID-modulated interrogation sequence for said RFID reader; and

transmitting said ID-modulated interrogation sequence.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said ID-modulated interrogation sequence is in compliance with a standard RFID data communication protocol; and

said transmitting step transmits said ID-modulated interrogation sequence in compliance with said standard RFID data communication protocol.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein modulating said RFID reader identifier comprises modulation that does not impact an energizing function of said interrogation sequence.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein modulating said RFID reader identifier comprises phase modulation.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said RFID reader identifier is a binary word.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modulating step modulates said RFID reader identifier into a preamble section of said interrogation sequence.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modulating step occurs during a tag energizing period of said interrogation sequence.

8. A method for identifying an RFID reader, said method comprising:

receiving an ID-modulated interrogation sequence having an RFID reader identifier modulated into at least a portion thereof;

demodulating said ID-modulated interrogation sequence to obtain an extracted RFID reader identifier; and

processing said extracted RFID reader identifier to resolve the identity of an RFID reader associated with said extracted RFID reader identifier.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said ID-modulated interrogation sequence comprises said RFID reader identifier modulated into at least a portion of an interrogation sequence, said interrogation sequence being in compliance with a standard RFID data communication protocol.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said receiving step receives said ID-modulated interrogation sequence in compliance with said standard RFID data communication protocol.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said ID-modulated interrogation sequence comprises said RFID reader identifier modulated into a preamble section of said interrogation sequence.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said receiving step occurs during a tag energizing period of said ID-modulated interrogation sequence.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein demodulating said ID-modulated interrogation sequence comprises phase demodulation.

14. A data signal for communicating information in an RFID system, said data signal being embodied in a carrier wave, said data signal comprising:

an interrogation sequence having content in compliance with a standard RFID data communication protocol; and

an RFID reader identifier modulated into at least a portion of said interrogation sequence, forming an ID-modulated interrogation sequence.

15. A data signal according to claim 14, wherein said ID-modulated interrogation sequence is in compliance with said standard RFID data communication protocol.

16. A data signal according to claim 14, wherein said RFID reader identifier is phase modulated into said at least a portion of said interrogation sequence.

17. A data signal according to claim 14, wherein said RFID reader identifier is modulated into a preamble section of said interrogation sequence.

18. A data signal according to claim 14, wherein said RFID reader identifier is modulated into a tag energizing section of said interrogation sequence.

19. An RFID reader comprising:

means for obtaining an RFID reader identifier;

means for modulating said RFID reader identifier into at least a portion of an interrogation sequence to produce an ID-modulated interrogation sequence for said RFID reader; and

means for transmitting said ID-modulated interrogation sequence.

20. An RFID reader according to claim 19, wherein:

said interrogation sequence is in compliance with a standard RFID data communication protocol; and

said means for transmitting transmits said ID-modulated interrogation sequence in compliance with said standard RFID data communication protocol.

21. An RFID reader according to claim 19, wherein said means for modulating comprises a phase modulator.

22. An RFID reader according to claim 19, wherein said means for modulating modulates said RFID reader identifier into a preamble section of said interrogation sequence.

23. An RFID reader according to claim 19, wherein said means for modulating modulates said RFID reader identifier into a tag energizing section of said interrogation sequence.

24. A diagnostic probe for an RFID system, said diagnostic probe comprising:

means for receiving an ID-modulated interrogation sequence having an RFID reader identifier modulated into at least a portion thereof;

means for demodulating said ID-modulated interrogation sequence to obtain an extracted RFID reader identifier; and

means for processing said extracted RFID reader identifier to resolve the identity of an RFID reader associated with said extracted RFID reader identifier.

25. A diagnostic probe according to claim 24, wherein said means for receiving receives said ID-modulated interrogation sequence in compliance with a standard RFID data communication protocol.

26. A diagnostic probe according to claim 24, wherein said means for demodulating comprises a phase demodulator.

27. An RFID reader comprising:

a memory for storing an RFID reader identifier that identifies said RFID reader;

processing logic configured to initiate an interrogation sequence for an RFID transponder; and

a modulator in communication with said memory and in communication with said processing logic, said modulator being configured to modulate said RFID reader identifier into at least a portion of said interrogation sequence to produce an ID-modulated interrogation sequence for said RFID reader.

28. An RFID reader according to claim 27, further comprising a transmitter in communication with said modulator, said transmitter being configured to transmit said ID-modulated interrogation sequence.

29. An RFID reader according to claim 28, wherein:

said processing logic generates said interrogation sequence in compliance with a standard RFID data communication protocol; and

said transmitter transmits said ID-modulated interrogation sequence in compliance with said standard RFID data communication protocol.

30. An RFID reader according to claim 27, wherein said modulator modulates said RFID reader identifier into a preamble section of said interrogation sequence.

31. An RFID reader according to claim 27, wherein said modulator modulates said RFID reader identifier into a tag energizing section of said interrogation sequence.

32. An RFID reader according to claim 27, wherein said modulator performs modulation that does not impact an energizing function of said interrogation sequence.

33. A diagnostic probe for an RFID system, said diagnostic probe comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an ID-modulated interrogation sequence having an RFID reader identifier modulated into at least a portion thereof;

a demodulator in communication with said receiver, said demodulator being configured to demodulate said ID-modulated interrogation sequence to obtain an extracted RFID reader identifier; and

processing logic in communication with said demodulator, said processing logic being configured to determine, in response to said extracted RFID reader identifier, the source of said ID-modulated interrogation sequence.

34. A diagnostic probe according to claim 33, wherein said receiver is configured to receive said ID-modulated interrogation sequence in compliance with a standard RFID data communication protocol.

35. A diagnostic probe according to claim 33, wherein:

said ID-modulated interrogation sequence comprises said RFID reader identifier modulated into a preamble section of said interrogation sequence; and

said demodulator is configured to demodulate said preamble section.

36. A diagnostic probe according to claim 33, wherein:

said ID-modulated interrogation sequence comprises said RFID reader identifier modulated into a tag energizing section of said interrogation sequence; and

said demodulator is configured to demodulate said energizing section.