System and method for a RFID transponder file system

• US 20070082613A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psion PLC (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Psion PLC (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cox, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method for representing on a user interface a plurality of transponders in a file system of a computing device, the user interface provided by the device, the device configured for communicating with the transponders when present in an electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device. The communication between the transponders and the device uses radio frequency signals to obtain information of the transponders. The system and method comprises a first memory location configured for storing the transponder information as a plurality of corresponding transponder files in the file system. The system and method also have a driver for coordinating the transfer of the transponder information between the transponder and the first memory location according to an access command, the access command configured for directing the computing device to obtain the transponder information for the transponders when in communication range of the device. The system and method also have a file processor for manipulating the transponder information present in the transponder files, wherein the transponder information contents of the transponder files represents at least a portion of the transponder information available in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

Claims

1. A system for representing on a user interface a plurality of transponders in a file system of a computing device, the user interface provided by the device, the device configured for communicating with the transponders when present in an electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device, the communication between the transponders and the device using radio frequency signals to obtain information of the transponders, the system comprising:

a first memory location configured for storing the transponder information as a plurality of corresponding transponder files in the file system;

a driver for coordinating the transfer of the transponder information between the transponder and the first memory location according to an access command, the access command configured for directing the computing device to obtain the transponder information for the transponders when in communication range of the device; and

a file processor for manipulating the transponder information present in the transponder files;

wherein the transponder information contents of the transponder files represents at least a portion of the transponder information available in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver is configured to indicate when an accessed transponder is no longer present in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the driver is configured to remove the transponder files from the first memory location of any accessed transponders indicated as no longer present in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second memory location for persisting the transponder files in a file system data structure, the persisted transponder files accessible by the driver irrespective of whether the corresponding transponders remain present in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second memory location is a storage device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the transponder information is selected from the group comprising:

a transponder ID;

a transponder type; and

data describing an object associated with the transponder.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the transponder information is stored in the transponder according to a structured definition language format.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the format of the transponder files are in accordance with the structured definition language format.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the structured definition language format is XML.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control module for providing configuration settings for the access command.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured for providing configuration setting for presentation of the transponder files on the user interface of the device.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising the control module as a selection of a control panel displayable on the user interface.

19. The method of claim 4, wherein the second memory location is a storage device.

13. A method for representing on a user interface a plurality of transponders in a file system of a computing device, the user interface provided by the device, the device configured for communicating with the transponders when present in an electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device, the communication between the transponders and the device using radio frequency signals to obtain information of the transponders, the method comprising the steps of:

transferring the transponder information between the transponder and a first memory location according to an access command, the access command configured for directing the computing device to obtain the transponder information for the transponders when in communication range of the device;

storing the transponder information in the first memory location as a plurality of corresponding transponder files in the file system; and

manipulating the transponder information present in the transponder files;

wherein the transponder information contents of the transponder files represents at least a portion of the transponder information available in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of accessing the plurality of transponders using the access command configured to communicate with the transponders according to a structured definition language format.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the access command is selected from the group comprising:

a read access and a write access.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of indicating when an accessed transponder is no longer present in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of removing the transponder files from the first memory location of any accessed transponders indicated as no longer present in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of transferring the contents of the transponder files to a second memory location for persisting the transponder files in a file system data structure, the persisted transponder files accessible by the driver irrespective of whether the corresponding transponders remain present in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the transponder information is selected from the group comprising:

a transponder ID;

a transponder type; and

data describing an object associated with the transponder.