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

• US 20060220876A1
• 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 7,750,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• 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 method of transporting signals to an RFID reader antenna, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a first communication route for transporting at least one RF signal from an RFID reader to at least one RFID antenna;

selecting a second communication route for transporting at least one digital signal from a first controller to a second controller;

transporting the at least one RF signal to the RFID antenna along the first communication route; and

transporting the at least one digital signal to the second controller along the second communication route.

2. The method of transporting of claim 1, the method further comprising the step of performing a system diagnostic.

3. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic is performed by a combination router.

4. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending a switch notification indicating when an external switch on the combination router is activated.

5. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending a critical voltage notification indicating the combination router power supply exceeds minimum or maximum limits.

6. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending an external power supply error notification if the combination router external power supply malfunctions.

7. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending a peripheral power supply error notification if the power supplied to a device connected to the combination router exceeds a current draw or voltage threshold.

8. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending a temperature alarm if the maximum allowed temperature of the combination router has been reached.

9. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending an RF output fault notification if there is an RF signal problem with the combination router.

10. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending an output port disconnected notification when an output port state of the combination router is changed from a connected state to a disconnected state.

11. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending a Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) limit notification when an RF port on the combination router has exceeded the high or low VSWR limit.

12. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending a neighbor device output port change notification to the first or second controller when the RF output port neighbor has changed.

13. The method of transporting of claim 2, wherein said step of performing a system diagnostic comprises sending a neighbor device input port change notification to the network when the RF input port neighbor has changed.

14. The method of transporting of claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining at least one adjacent second node to which it has a direct RF communication path; and

relaying the identity of the adjacent second node to the primary controller;

wherein the step of selecting a first communication route comprises selecting a communication route in accordance with a routing method.

15. The method of transporting of claim 14, wherein the routing method is selected from the group consisting of:

operational readiness, RIP, IGRP, OSPF, and EIGRP.

16. The method of transporting of claim 14, wherein the step of selecting a first communication route is based on selection of a second communication route in accordance with a routing method.

17. The method of transporting of claim 16, wherein the routing method is selected from the group consisting of RIP, IGRP, OSPF, and EIGRP.

18. The method of transporting of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a first communication route comprises an automated determination of available RF communication routes.

19. The method of transporting of claim 18, wherein the automated determination of available RF communication routes comprises a first node on the communication route determining at least one adjacent second node to which it has a direct RF communication path, and relaying the identity of the adjacent second node to the primary controller.

20. The method of transporting of claim 19, wherein the step of determining an adjacent second node comprises sending identifying information over the direct RF communication path between the first node and the adjacent second node.

21. The method of transporting of claim 20, wherein identifying information is the media access control (MAC) address of a node selected from the group consisting of:

of the first node, the adjacent second node, or both nodes.

22. The method of transporting of claim 21, wherein the identifying information is transmitted by digital signals over the RF direct communication path.

23. The method of transporting of claim 21, wherein the identifying information is transmitted by RF signals over the RF direct communication path.

24. The method of transporting of claim 19, further comprising additional nodes relaying the identities of their adjacent nodes to the primary controller.

25. The method of transporting of claim 24, further comprising a step of the primary controller determining an RF communication path between an RFID reader connected to a node on the communication path and an RFID antenna connected to a node on the communication path.

26. The method of transporting of claim 25, wherein the primary controller directs the nodes along the determined communication path to activate switches at the nodes to complete the determined RF communication path.

27. The method of transporting of claim 19, further comprising after a predetermined period of time, a redetermination of adjacent devices by one or more nodes, and again relaying this adjacency information to the primary controller, whereby the primary controller is capable of making a revised automatic determination of RF communication paths.

28. The method of transporting of claim 19, further comprising, measuring characteristics of an RF signal at at least one of the nodes using a sensor.

29. The method of transporting of claim 28, wherein the sensor measures a characteristic of at least part of an RF signal.

30. The method of transporting of claim 28, wherein the RF signal is generated by an RFID reader connected to an RF communication route.

31. The method of transporting of claim 28, wherein the RF signal is generated by a device within the node.

32. The method of transporting of claim 31, wherein the RF generating device is a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO).

33. The method of transporting of claim 32, wherein the VCO generates RF at one or more frequencies, or a range of frequencies.

34. The method of transporting of claim 28, wherein the sensor measures transmitted or reflected RF power.

35. The method of transporting of claim 34, wherein the sensor measures VSWR.

36. The method of transporting of claim 35, wherein an alert is generated based on the sensor measurement.

37. The method of transporting of claim 34, wherein the primary controller adjusts the reader power based on the sensor measurement.

38. The method of transporting of claim 34, wherein the primary controller or the node adjusts the tuning of an antenna based on the VSWR measurement.

39. The method of transporting of claim 34, wherein the antenna tuning adjustment is made using a voltage controlled capacitor.

40. The method of transporting of claim 34, wherein the primary controller determines whether to use a communication path or portion thereof based on the sensor measurement.

41. The method of transporting of claim 34, wherein the primary controller determines whether to read an antenna based on the sensor measurement.

42. The method of transporting of claim 34, wherein the primary controller determines whether to select an alternate communication path or portion thereof based on the sensor measurement.

43. The method of transporting of claim 18, the method further comprising mapping an RFID antenna onto a physical location selected from the group:

a shelf, a fixture, an aisle, a department, and a building.

44. The method of transporting of claim 43, the method further comprising automatically relating received data received from the mapped antenna to the physical location, wherein the received data includes information from the group:

item identification, item quantity, antenna status, and antenna fault.

45. The method of transporting of claim 43, wherein the facility is a retail store, pharmacy, storeroom, warehouse, distribution center, or factory.