Method and apparatus for avoiding radio frequency identification (RFID) tag response collisions
First Claim
1. A method in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for responding to an interrogation, comprising:
- (a) determining a time slot in which the tag is designated to respond to a reader;
(b) receiving signals transmitted during the interrogation;
(c) determining efficiency-characteristics of the interrogation based on the received signals; and
(d) autonomously adjusting the time slot in which the tag is designated to respond to the reader based on the efficiency-characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for obtaining data from radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in an efficient manner are described. The method includes the following steps. During the course of an interrogation of an RFID tag population, an RFID tag in the population determines a time slot in which it is designated to respond to a reader. The tag receives signals that are transmitted during the interrogation. The tag determines efficiency-characteristics of the interrogation based on the received signals. The tag autonomously adjusts (e.g., without explicit instructions from the reader) the time slot in which it is designated to respond to the reader based on the efficiency-characteristics.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for responding to an interrogation, comprising:
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(a) determining a time slot in which the tag is designated to respond to a reader;
(b) receiving signals transmitted during the interrogation;
(c) determining efficiency-characteristics of the interrogation based on the received signals; and
(d) autonomously adjusting the time slot in which the tag is designated to respond to the reader based on the efficiency-characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag device, comprising:
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a substrate;
an antenna on the substrate;
an electrical circuit on the substrate, wherein the electrical circuit is coupled to the antenna and is capable of backscatter transmitting identifying data for the RFID tag in response to a request from a reader during an interrogation; and
processor logic on the substrate coupled to the electrical circuit and configured to adjust a time slot in which the electrical circuit backscatter transmits the identifying data to the reader based on efficiency-characteristics of the interrogation, which the processor logic detects in signals transmitted from the reader. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method in a reader for reading radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:
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(a) initiating an interrogation of a population of RFID tags;
(b) receiving transmissions from RFID tags during the interrogation; and
(c) altering a duration of the interrogation in response to a subset of the RFID tags in the population autonomously adjusting their respective designated time slots. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification