Location-Based Power Management in RFID Applications

• US 20080191845A1
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: STRZELCZYK, Martin
• Application Number:
  US12/029,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20080191845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder

Abstract

A method of managing power consumption of a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is provided. The method includes determining a location of a mobile RFID reader, retrieving scanning characteristics for location, updating scanning settings of the mobile RFID reader.

Claims

1. A method of managing power consumption in a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, comprising:

determining a present location of the RFID reader;

retrieving scanning characteristics for the determined location; and

updating scanning settings of the RFID reader based on the retrieved scanning characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location comprises:

interrogating a fixed RFID tag; and

determining the location of the mobile reader based at least on an identification code received during the interrogating step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location comprises:

determining the location of the RFID reader based on a Global Positioning System (GPS) data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location comprises:

determining the location of the RFID reader based information available in the wireless protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting the scanning characteristics for the location based on data gathered from prior interrogations of the location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein data gathered includes at least one of a density of RFID tags of the location, a frequency of historical visits to the location, and a number of past visits to the location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting the scanning characteristics for the location based on an importance of the location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the scanning characteristics in real-time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating step comprises:

adjusting a scanning frequency of the RFID reader.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating step comprises:

adjusting a scanning intensity of the RFID reader.

11. The method of claim 1, whereby interference with other readers is reduced.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including control logic stored therein, said control logic when executed enabling a processor to manage power consumption in a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, said control logic comprising:

determining means for enabling a processor to determine a present location of the RFID reader;

retrieving means for enabling a processor to retrieve scanning characteristics for the determined location; and

updating means for enabling a processor to update scanning settings of the RFID reader based on the retrieved scanning characteristics.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the determining means comprises:

interrogating means for enabling a processor to interrogate a fixed RFID tag; and

determining means for enabling a processor to determine the location of the mobile reader based at least on an identification code received during an interrogation of the fixed RFID tag.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the determining means comprises:

determining means for enabling a processor to determine the location based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data or information available in the wireless protocol.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

setting means for enabling a processor to set the scanning characteristics for the location based on data gathered from prior interrogations of the location or an importance of the location.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the updating means comprises:

adjusting means for enabling a processor to adjust a scanning frequency or intensity of the RFID reader.

17. A mobile radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, comprising:

means for determining a present location of the RFID reader;

means for retrieving scanning characteristics for the determined location; and

means for updating scanning settings of the RFID reader based on the retrieved scanning characteristics.

18. The mobile RFID reader of claim 17, wherein means for determining comprises:

means for interrogating a fixed RFID tag; and

means for determining the location of the mobile reader based at least on an identification code received through an interrogation of the fixed RFID tag.

19. The mobile RFID reader of claim 17, wherein means for determining comprises:

means for determining the location based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data or information available in the wireless protocol.

20. The mobile RFID reader of claim 17, further comprising:

means for setting the scanning characteristics based on data gathered from prior interrogations of the location or an importance of the location.

21. The mobile RFID reader of claim 17, wherein means for updating comprises:

means for adjusting a scanning frequency or intensity of the RFID reader.