RFID NETWORK SYSTEM

• US 20090261956A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RFID Mexico SA de CV
• Original Assignee: RFID Mexico SA de CV
• Inventors: Elizondo, Rafael Guillermo Ramos, OJEDA, Antonio Vidaurri
• Granted Patent: US 8,410,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.510
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/20 using a distributed architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/845 where the measuring is synchronized between sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A RFID network system which allows the use of simple and low cost, reduced functionality RFID readers/writers thanks to the use of a plurality of concentrators which allow to distribute the processing work related to the reading, writing and verification of each reader, thus optimizing the use of each system component and achieving high processing velocities.

Claims

1. A RFID readers/writers network system, comprising:

an external computer;

a plurality of RFID readers/writers, the RFID readers/writers divided into sets of RFID readers/writers;

each RFID reader/writer comprising elements having only components for writing to a RFID tag, identifying the RFID tag, and getting the information in a RFID tag, and;

at least one concentrator connected to the computer,

each concentrator for controlling reading, writing, and verification of a related one of the sets of RFID readers/writers;

wherein a hub is comprised of one concentrator and the related one set of RFID readers/writers.

2. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each RFID reader/writer comprising:

Electronics to generate an rfid signal;

Electronics to demodulate a return signal;

RFID signal decoding;

Analog to digital converter;

Oscillator or time pulse source;

Processing unit;

One or more antennas;

Antenna selector;

Low level bus interface.

3. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at last one concentrator is connected to a hub by means of a low level high velocity bus

4. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at last one concentrator is connected to the C.P.U. by means by means of a long range low noise bus.

5. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external computer communicates with each concentrator using a high level protocol interface comprised by a reduced set of macro-commands.

6. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each concentrator comprising:

a concentrator processor running a control and automation program for controlling the reading, writing and verification operations of a correspondent plurality of RFID readers/writers connected to the concentrator;

concentrator processor support circuitry, for supporting the concentrator processor with low level processes;

a RFID readers/writers interface controller connected to the concentrator processor, for controlling the communication between the concentrator processor and each RFID reader;

an external computer interface controller, for controlling the communication between the concentrator processor and the external computer.

7. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the low level high velocity bus connecting each concentrator with a correspondent hub comprise a I2C high velocity bus.

8. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the long range low noise bus connecting each concentrator with the external computer comprises a RS485 double channel bus.

9. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 6, wherein each concentrator processor support circuitry comprising:

power conditioning circuits which helps to convert the power in the hub to a correct level to operate the rest of the hub and cleans the signal to eliminate interference in the power lines;

power control circuitry;

for cutting the energy to the respective hub of RFID readers/writers, when there are not in use for saving energy;

microcontroller support circuits;

oscillator circuits and other circuits required for the operation of the concentrator processor;

high level communications circuitry;

converts the concentrator processor level signals to a system that allows for longer distances and higher interference tolerance.

10. A RFID readers/writers network system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the RFID readers/writers interface controller is connected to the concentrator processor by means of a level converter.

11. A RFID readers/writers network system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the high level protocol interface macro-commands comprise:

Pass through;

this command allows the external computer to communicate directly with a specific RFID reader/writer with minimal formatting and only the necessary validation.

Hub Ping;

request the concentrators to send a message back to the external computer, this helps to know if all of the concentrators are working and connected.

Hub address set;

sets the address for the external computer to reach a concentrator.

Hub Ping Broadcast;

all concentrators send a response with a delay calculated to eliminate collisions. This helps the external computer to Identify all concentrators available.

Hub Get all readers/writers;

request the concentrators to send ping commands to the RFID readers/writers and gets a list of all readers/writers available for said concentrator. The concentrator sends this list to the external computer;

MACRO Reader test;

test a set of RFID readers/writers by request of the external computer and send the results back.

MACRO Get TAG Header data;

obtains the RFID tag header data (all the identification data stored in the tag) of a set of readers/writers by request of the external computer by means of the RFID readers/writers, and send the results back. If no RFID tag is found on the range of a reader a NO TAG message is sent in its place.

MACRO Get TAG Id code;

obtains the RFID TAG Id code (the id alphanumeric string that identifies the tag) of a set of readers/writers by means of the RFID readers/writers by request of the external computer, and send the results back. If no tag is found on the range of a reader a NO TAG message is sent in its place.

MACRO Add event data;

adds an event or data packet to the RFID tag memory on a set of readers/writers by means of the RFID readers/writers by request of the external computer If no tag is found on the range of a reader a NO TAG message is sent in its place.

MACRO Write TAG data;

Writes general data to the tag memory on a set of readers/writers by means of the RFID reader by request of the external computer If no tag is found on the range of a reader a NO TAG message is sent in its place.

12. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 11, wherein all macro commands have a reader set associated in the command structure, for allowing the external computer to access all or only a portion of the readers/writers of a hub at a time in parallel to its normal operations.

13. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external computer can send the following set of commands to all concentrators in parallel:

set hub address;

sets the address for the external computer to reach each concentrator;

ping;

sends a message back to the external computer;

this helps to know if each concentrator is working and connected;

ping broadcast;

all concentrators send a response with a delay calculated to eliminate collisions, this helps the external computer Identify all concentrators available.

17. A RFID reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of RFID reader/writers is switchably associated to different concentrators.

18. A RFID reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein different concentrators are in periodic or continuous communication with one another to provide status and functionality information.

19. A RFID reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one concentrator is capable of delegating or receiving authority for communication with the RFID reader/writers from at least one other concentrator in the network.

20. A RFID reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one concentrator is enabled to take over responsibility from another concentrator should a fault be detected in that concentrator.

21. A RFID reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein different concentrators are equipped with different functionalities, wherein said functionalities may be accessed and utilized by other concentrators in the network.

22. A RFID reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each concentrator contains local memory such that a history of status and operating changes can be stored.

26. A wireless reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of RFID reader/writers is switchably associated to different concentrators.

27. A wireless reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein different concentrators are in periodic or continuous communication with one another to provide status and functionality information.

28. A wireless reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one concentrator is capable of delegating or receiving authority for communication with the reader/writers from at least one other concentrator in the network.

29. A wireless reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one concentrator is enabled to take over responsibility from another concentrator should a fault be detected in that concentrator.

30. A wireless reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein different concentrators are equipped with different functionalities, wherein said functionalities may be accessed and utilized by other concentrators in the network.

31. A wireless reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each concentrator contains local memory such that a history of status and operating changes can be stored.

14. A RFID reader for identifying a RFID tag, communicating by means of a high velocity low level interface.

15. A RFID reader as claimed in claim 14, wherein the high velocity low level interface comprises i2c or spi direct microcontroller interfaces.

16. A method for reading/writing a plurality of RFID readers/writers comprising:

providing one or more sets of low cost, reduced functionality RFID readers/writers having only components for writing to a RFID tag, identifying the RFID tag, and getting the information in the RFID tag;

controlling the reading, writing, and verification of each set of a plurality of low cost, reduced functionality RFID readers/writers by means of a concentrator;

providing a central computer for controlling the plurality of concentrators;

wherein the external computer communicates with each concentrator using a high level protocol interface comprised by a reduced set of macro-commands.

wherein each concentrator is connected to a set of low cost, reduced functionality RFID readers/writers by means of a low level high velocity bus; and

wherein the at last one concentrator is connected to the central computer by means by means of a long range low noise bus.

23. A wireless reader/writer network system which is connected to an external C.P.U. comprising:

a plurality of readers/writers having means for writing a tag, identifying a tag and getting the information in it only;

at least one concentrator each one connected to a hub comprised by a plurality of readers/writers for controlling the reading, writing and verification of said plurality of readers/writers, and connected to the C.P.U.

24. A wireless reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the readers/writers and at least one concentrator utilise HP Memory Spot chip technology.

25. A wireless reader/writer network system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the readers/writers and at least one concentrator comprise a WiFi-based solution such as, but not limited to, UWB, Wi-Max, and Rubee (IEEE 1901.1).