Wireless RFID networking systems and methods
First Claim
1. A wireless access point apparatus for acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
- a first physical layer interface to a wireless link, wherein said first physical layer interface communicates first RFID data to said wireless access point from a plurality of RFID readers, wherein said plurality of RFID readers read a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein said first RFID data results from reading said plurality of RFID tags;
a second physical layer interface to a wired or wireless link, wherein said second physical layer interface communicates second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server;
wherein said wireless access point executes processing including;
receiving, from a first RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers, first tag information related to a first RFID tag of said plurality of RFID tags; and
storing said first tag information as said first RFID data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention include a wireless access point that acquires and processes radio frequency identification (RFID) information. The wireless access point may be coupled to a network of RFID readers over a wireless network. The RFID readers may read a plurality of RFID tags and transmit information to one or more readers. The readers may, in turn, transmit the RFID information to a wireless access point. The wireless access point may include a middleware layer for performing a variety of RFID data processing functions. In one embodiment, the wireless RFID reader network may be used to improve positioning of readers and tags, and may include a GPS system or position assisted GPS system at the reader and/or tag level.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A wireless access point apparatus for acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
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a first physical layer interface to a wireless link, wherein said first physical layer interface communicates first RFID data to said wireless access point from a plurality of RFID readers, wherein said plurality of RFID readers read a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein said first RFID data results from reading said plurality of RFID tags;
a second physical layer interface to a wired or wireless link, wherein said second physical layer interface communicates second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server;
wherein said wireless access point executes processing including;
receiving, from a first RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers, first tag information related to a first RFID tag of said plurality of RFID tags; and
storing said first tag information as said first RFID data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
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reading, by a first RFID reader of a plurality of RFID readers, a first RFID tag of a plurality of RFID tags;
transmitting, on a wireless network link, first tag information related to said first RFID tag from said first RFID reader to a wireless access point;
storing, on said wireless access point, said first tag information as first RFID data;
processing, by said wireless access point, said first RFID data; and
transmitting, on a wired or wireless network link, second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server, wherein said second RFID data corresponds to said first RFID data having been processed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A wireless access point apparatus for acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
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a first physical layer interface to a wireless link, wherein said first physical layer interface communicates first RFID data to said wireless access point from a plurality of RFID readers, wherein said plurality of readers read a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein said first RFID data results from reading said plurality of RFID tags;
a second physical layer interface to a wired or wireless link, wherein said second physical layer interface communicates second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server;
wherein said wireless access point executes processing including;
receiving, from more than one RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers, a plurality of first tag information related to a first RFID tag of said plurality of RFID tags;
estimating a position of said first RFID tag based on said plurality of first tag information and on a position of each of said more than one RFID reader; and
transmitting said second RFID data to said server, wherein said second RFID data includes said position of said first RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
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reading, by more than one RFID reader of a plurality of RFID readers, a first RFID tag of a plurality of RFID tags;
transmitting, on a wireless network link, a plurality of first tag information related to said first RFID tag from said more than one RFID reader to a wireless access point;
estimating, by said wireless access point, a position of said first RFID tag based on said plurality of first tag information and on a position of each of said more than one RFID reader; and
transmitting, on a wired or wireless network link, said position of said first RFID tag to a server. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A wireless access point apparatus for acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
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a first physical layer interface to a wireless link, wherein said first physical layer interface communicates first RFID data to said wireless access point from a plurality of RFID readers, wherein said plurality of readers read a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein said first RFID data results from reading said plurality of RFID tags;
a second physical layer interface to a wired or wireless link, wherein said second physical layer interface communicates second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server; and
a global positioning system (GPS) system, wherein said wireless access point executes processing including;
receiving satellite information from said GPS system;
transmitting a portion of said satellite information to said plurality of RFID readers;
receiving a plurality of position information from said plurality of RFID readers; and
transmitting said plurality of position information to said server. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
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receiving satellite information by a GPS system of a wireless access point;
transmitting a portion of said satellite information to a first RFID reader of a plurality of RFID readers on a wireless network link from said wireless access point;
computing, by said first RFID reader, a position based on said portion of said satellite information;
transmitting, on said wireless network link from said first RFID reader to said wireless access point, position information corresponding to said position; and
transmitting said position information on a wired or wireless network link from said wireless access point to a server. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification