Synchronized Relayed Transmissions in RFID Networks

• US 20090058652A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virtual Extension Limited
• Original Assignee: Virtual Extension Limited
• Inventors: Hardy, Leor, Oren, Yariv
• Granted Patent: US 7,907,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15557 Selecting relay station operation mode, e.g. between amplify and forward mode, decode and forward mode or FDD - and TDD mode

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention relate to a circuit for allowing an RFID transponder to relay transmissions. According to some embodiments of the invention, a circuit for allowing a first RFID transponder to relay transmissions may include a logic module and a synchronization module. The logic module may be configured to operate in a relay mode. While in the relay mode, the logic module may be adapted to cause the first RFID transponder to relay a communication received at the transponder. The synchronization module may be adapted to synchronize the first RFID transponder with at least a second RFID transponder, such that the relay communication is synchronized with a communication relayed by the second RFID transponder.

Claims

1. A circuit for allowing a RFID transponder to relay transmissions, comprising:

a logic module configured to operate in a relay mode, during which said logic module is adapted to cause a first RFID transponder to relay a communication received at the first RFID transponder; and

a synchronization module adapted to synchronize the first RFID transponder with at least a second RFID transponder, such that the relay communication is synchronized with a communication relayed by the second RFID transponder.

2. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the communication is received from a third RFID transponder.

3. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said synchronization module is adapted to synchronize the first RFID transponder with at least a second RFID transponder in a manner to enable the RFID transponder to transmit the relay communication substantially simultaneously with a communication relayed by the second RFID transponder.

4. The circuit according to claim 2, wherein said synchronization module is adapted to synchronize the first RFID transponder with at least the second RFID transponder in a manner to enable at least two substantially simultaneous communication paths for a communication received from a third RFID transponder.

5. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said logic module is adapted to cause the RFID transponder to relay a communication received at the RFID transponder without changing its content.

6. The circuit according to claim 5, wherein while in the relay mode, said logic module is adapted to prevent the first RFID transponder from changing the communication received at the transponder, such that the communication appears to a reader to be associated with another RFID transponder.

7. The circuit according to claim 5, wherein said logic module is adapted to cause the first RFID transponder to relay a communication received at the transponder, such that the transponder is transparent to a receiver of the communication.

8. The circuit according to claim 5, wherein the communication is received at the first RFID transponder from another RFID transponder which generated the communication, and wherein the logic module is adapted to prevent the RFID transponder from modifying the received communication, such that the relay communication appears to a receiver to be associated with the other RFID transponder.

9. The circuit according to claim 8, wherein said logic module is configured to cause the first RFID transponder to repeat the communication received at the transponder while the logic module is in the relay mode.

10. The circuit according to claim 9, wherein said logic module is configured to cause the first RFID transponder to repeat the communication received at the transponder after predefined time intervals.

11. The circuit according to claim 10, wherein said logic module is configured to cause the first RFID transponder to repeat the communication received at the transponder during a response window created by a reader.

12. The circuit according to claim 11, wherein said logic module is configured to cause the first RFID transponder to continue repeating the communication received at the transponder in response to a further communication from the reader in connection with the other RFID transponder.

13. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said logic module is configured to switch the first RFID transponder to a relay mode in response to a receipt of an acknowledgment from a reader that a transmission from the transponder was received at the reader.

14. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said logic module is configured to switch the first RFID to a reply mode in response to a receipt of a query from a reader which is directed at the transponder.

15. A network of RFID transponders, comprising:

at least a first and a second RFID transponders, each of which comprising;

a logic module configured to operate in a relay mode during which, said logic module is adapted to cause the RFID transponder to relay transmissions received at the transponder; and

a synchronization module adapted to synchronize at least the first and the second RFID transponders with one another, such that relay transmissions by said first and a second RFID transponders are synchronized.

16. The network according to claim 15, wherein the synchronization module of each of said first and second RFID transponders is adapted to enable synchronization of said first and second RFID transponders in a manner to enable the transponders to transmit a relay transmission substantially simultaneously with one another.

17. The network according to claim 16, wherein the synchronization module of each of said first and second RFID transponders is adapted to enable synchronization of said first and second RFID transponders in a manner to enable at least two simultaneous communication paths for the relayed transmission.

18. The network according to claim 15, wherein the logic module of each of said first and second RFID transponders is adapted to cause the RFID transponder to relay a communication received at the transponder from a third RFID transponder.

19. A method of allowing an RFID transponder to relay transmissions, comprising:

switching a first RFID transponder to a relay mode during which the first RFID transponder is configured to relay a communication received at the transponder; and

synchronizing the first RFID transponder with at least a second RFID transponder, such that the relay communication is synchronized with a communication relayed by the second RFID transponder.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said synchronizing comprises synchronizing the first RFID transponder in a manner to enable the transponder to transmit a communication substantially simultaneously with at least the second RFID transponder.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said synchronizing comprises synchronizing the first RFID transponder with at least the second RFID transponder in a manner to enable at least two simultaneous communication paths for the relayed communication.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising configuring the first RFID transponder to relay a communication received at the transponder from another RFID transponder, while the logic module is in the relay mode.

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising configuring the first RFID transponder to relay a communication received at the transponder without changing its content, while the logic module is in the relay mode.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein said switching further comprises switching the first RFID transponder to a relay mode in response to a receipt of an acknowledgment from a reader that a transmission from the first RFID transponder was received at the reader.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein said switching further comprises switching the first RFID transponder to a reply mode in response to a receipt of a query directed at the first RFID transponder from a reader.

26. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to allow an RFID transponder to relay transmissions, comprising:

switching a first RFID transponder to a relay mode during which the first RFID transponder is configured to relay a communication received at the transponder; and

synchronizing the first RFID transponder with at least a second RFID transponder, such that the relay communication is synchronized with a communication relayed by the second RFID transponder.