SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN RFID SYSTEM WITH HEAD TRACKING

• US 20110102149A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Lang, White, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 8,890,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

A method of transmitting radiofrequency identification (RFID) interrogation signals is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a first movement of a user in a first direction, determining a command from the first movement, and transmitting a RFID interrogation signal in response to the command.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting radiofrequency identification (RFID) interrogation signals, the method comprising:

detecting a first movement of a user in a first direction;

determining a command from the first movement; and

transmitting a RFID interrogation signal in response to the command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first movement is a first head movement and the command is a gesture command.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a RFID response signal in response to transmitting the RFID interrogation signal.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising adjusting the RFID interrogation signal in response to the gesture command.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting a second head movement of the user in a second direction; and

adjusting the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting the second head movement.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting the second head movement comprises detecting movement of a head of the user in a vertical direction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the RFID interrogation signal comprises adjusting a strength of the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting movement of the head in the vertical direction.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting the RFID interrogation signal comprises increasing the strength of the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting an upward movement of the head.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting the RFID interrogation signal comprises decreasing the strength of the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting a downward movement of the head.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the RFID interrogation signal comprises adjusting the direction of the interrogation field in response to detecting the second head movement.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second head movement comprises movement of the head of the user to a side, and adjusting the direction of the interrogation field comprises increasing a strength of the interrogation field in the second direction.

12. A radiofrequency identification (RFID) communication system comprising:

a wireless transceiver comprising a first wireless antenna adapted to transmit RFID interrogation signals; and

a sensor assembly comprising;

a sensor adapted to detect movements made by a user of the RFID communication system and to transmit a first signal conveying information indicating a first movement made by the user; and

a processing architecture adapted to receive the first signal and to instruct the first wireless antenna to transmit a RFID interrogation signal in response to receiving the first signal.

13. The RFID communication system of claim 12, wherein the first head movement is a first head movement.

14. The RFID communication system of claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver and the sensor assembly are integrally formed.

15. The RFID communication system of claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver and the sensor assembly are separate components.

16. The RFID communication system of claim 15, wherein the wireless transceiver is adapted to be coupled to a stationary object.

17. The RFID communication system of claim 15, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a mobile device.

18. The RFID communication system of claim 17, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a second wireless antenna adapted to the first signal to the wireless transceiver.

19. A method of transmitting radiofrequency identification (RFID) interrogation signals, the method comprising:

detecting a head movement of a user that is indicative of a direction;

transmitting a RFID interrogation signal in the direction;

receiving a RFID response signal conveying identification information;

determining contextual information associated with the identification information; and

presenting the contextual information to the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein determining contextual information comprises retrieving information from a remote system.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein detecting the head movement comprises detecting the head movement with a mobile device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting the RFID interrogation signal comprises transmitting the RFID interrogation signal from a fixed RFID reader.

23. A method of displaying radiofrequency identification (RFID) response information, the method comprising:

transmitting a first RFID interrogation signal at a first signal strength;

receiving a first RFID response signal conveying first identification information;

transmitting a second RFID interrogation signal at a second signal strength, the second signal strength greater than the first signal strength;

receiving the first RFID response signal and a second RFID response signal, the second RFID response signal conveying second identification information;

presenting the first and second identification information to a user;

detecting a head movement by the user;

determining a gesture command from the head movement; and

adjusting the presented first and second identification information in response to the gesture command.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein adjusting the presented first and second identification information comprises not displaying at least one of the first and second identification information in response to the gesture command.