Apparatus for and method of using an intelligent network and RFID signal router

• US 20060220862A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: von Kaenel, Tim, Campero, Richard J., Trivelpiece, Steve, Cocotis, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,656,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems for, and methods of transporting digital signals and radio-frequency (“RF”) signals are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an intelligent network (e.g., a combination router) and corresponding method are provided for transporting RF signals to, for example, an RFID antenna and transporting digital signals to, for example, a controller. In a preferred embodiment, the intelligent network is implemented with a manager unit for controlling a plurality of network devices to facilitate the efficient management of RFID-enabled devices. The network devices may include a combination router/switch, which has the capability of switching both digital data and RF data, RFID readers, RFID reader/writer pads, and other devices. In accordance with preferred embodiments, the intelligent network allows enhanced flexibility in controlling systems for interrogation of RFID antennae.

Claims

1. A network for transporting signals to an antenna, the network comprising:

a plurality of network devices for receiving and communicating signals over the network, wherein each network device has a unique address; and

a manager unit for controlling the network and for coordinating identification and notification of the plurality of network devices;

wherein activated ones of the plurality of network devices notify the manager unit upon activation on the network.

2. The network of claim 1, further comprising:

a protocol server for assigning protocol addresses to activated ones of the plurality of network devices.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein the manager unit queries each activated network device to determine a network topology and maps the network topology to a site layout to recognize network devices.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the signals comprise a type selected from the group consisting of:

RF for RFID applications, RF for non-RFID applications, DC pulse communications, or voltage-level based communications.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the manager unit comprises:

a configuration manager for controlling activation/deactivation of RFID reader devices in the network;

a route manager for determining and selecting RF routes between RFID reader devices and RFID antennae in the network, wherein the route manager tears down selected routes after use; and

an object manager for discovering new network devices on the network, and for maintaining status and configuration of such network devices.

6. The network of claim 5, wherein the manager unit provides fault notification.

7. The network of claim 6, wherein the fault notification comprises a fail-over recognition.

8. The network claim of 7, wherein upon receiving the fail-over recognition the configuration manager automatically redirects requests from a failed or down device or system to other available devices or systems.

9. The network of claim 1, wherein each activated one of the plurality of network devices identifies neighboring active network devices and provides information of such neighboring devices to the manager unit.

10. The network of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of network devices is a combination digital data/RF signal router for routing digital data as network data packets to a selected RFID reader, wherein the combination router exchanges protocol address information with a neighboring network device and sends the information of such neighboring device to the manager unit.

11. The network of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of network devices is a routing switch for bypassing a received RF signal on to another network device or connecting RF power to one of several RFID antennae connected to the routing switch.

12. The network of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of network devices is an RFID pad for reading and writing RFID tags.

13. The network of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of network devices includes sensors for at least one of:

determining RF power;

allowing remote control of RF power of the network device; and

measuring RF forward and RF reverse power for determining system connectivity, performance and tuning measurements.

14. The network of claim 1, wherein the manager unit provides measuring and reporting of inventory based on performance of the network.