VARIABLY SPACED MULTI-POINT RFID TAG READER SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A timing system for determining a time of a passing at a reference line of a tracked RFID tag traveling along a route, the system comprising:
- a first tag reader system having a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag, and one or more antennas coupled to the radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a first monitored position at a first offset distance from the reference line, the first tag reader system transmitting a first tag read request and receiving one or more first tag reads from the RFID tag, and transmitting over the communication interface a first tag read message including at least a portion of the received first tag reads;
a second tag reader system having a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag, and one or more second antennas coupled to the second radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a second monitored position at a second offset distance from the reference line and spaced apart from the first monitored position along the route traveled by the RFID tag, the second tag reader system transmitting a second tag read request and receiving one or more second tag reads from the RFID tag and transmitting over its communication interface a second tag read message including at least a portion of the received second tag reads; and
a timing system having a processor, a memory including storing of a tag reader normalization parameter, and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the communication interfaces of the first and second tag reader systems for receiving the transmitted first and second tag read messages, the timing system determining the time of passing of the RFID tag at the reference line responsive to the received first and second tag reads and the stored tag reader normalization parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining a time of a passing at a reference line of an RFID tag traveling along a route and a time of lapsing of the tracked RFID tag on the route, the system have a plurality of spaced apart tag reader systems for wirelessly obtaining tag reads, wherein at least one of the tag reader systems is space apart from the reference line. The timing system receives a plurality of tag reads and determines the time of passing of the RFID at the reference ID line responsive to the plurality of received tag read messages received from the plurality of tag reader systems.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A timing system for determining a time of a passing at a reference line of a tracked RFID tag traveling along a route, the system comprising:
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a first tag reader system having a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag, and one or more antennas coupled to the radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a first monitored position at a first offset distance from the reference line, the first tag reader system transmitting a first tag read request and receiving one or more first tag reads from the RFID tag, and transmitting over the communication interface a first tag read message including at least a portion of the received first tag reads; a second tag reader system having a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag, and one or more second antennas coupled to the second radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a second monitored position at a second offset distance from the reference line and spaced apart from the first monitored position along the route traveled by the RFID tag, the second tag reader system transmitting a second tag read request and receiving one or more second tag reads from the RFID tag and transmitting over its communication interface a second tag read message including at least a portion of the received second tag reads; and a timing system having a processor, a memory including storing of a tag reader normalization parameter, and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the communication interfaces of the first and second tag reader systems for receiving the transmitted first and second tag read messages, the timing system determining the time of passing of the RFID tag at the reference line responsive to the received first and second tag reads and the stored tag reader normalization parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A timing system for determining a time of a passing at a reference line of a tracked RFID tag traveling along a route, the system comprising:
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means for wirelessly transmitting one or more first tag read requests to the RFID tag at a first tag reader system having one or more antennas positioned at a first monitored position at a first offset distance from the reference line along the route traveled by the RFID tag; means for receiving one or more first tag reads responsive to the first tag requests wherein the first tag read includes an RFID identification number from the RFID tag responsive to the first tag read requests; means for recording a time stamp for each received first tag read that includes a time of receipt of each first tag read; means for transmitting one or more first tag read messages containing the RFID identification number, the time stamp, and a tag reader system identifier; means for wireles sly transmitting one or more second tag read requests to the RFID tag at a second tag reader system having one or more antennas positioned at a second monitored position spaced apart from the first monitored position and at a second offset distance from the reference line along the route traveled by the RFID tag; means for receiving one or more second tag reads responsive to the second tag requests wherein the second tag read include the RFID identification number from the RFID tag responsive to the second tag read requests; means for recording a time stamp for each received second tag read that includes a time of receipt of each second tag read; means for transmitting one or more second tag read messages containing the RFID identification number, the time stamp, and a tag reader system identifier; means for storing a tag reader normalization parameter at a timing system; means for receiving the transmitted first and second tag read messages; means for calculating an average delta time for each of the first and second tag read messages based in part on the stored tag reader normalization parameter; means for determining the time of passing of the RFID tag at the reference line responsive to the calculated average delta times for the first and second tag reads within the first and second tag read messages.
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19. A timing system for determining an elapsed time of a tracked RFID tag traveling between a first and a second monitored position on a route, the system comprising:
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a) for each of the first and second monitored positions; means for wirelessly transmitting one or more first tag read requests to the RFID tag at a first tag reader system having one or more antennas positioned at a first monitored position at a first offset distance from the reference line along the route traveled by the RFID tag; means for receiving one or more first tag reads responsive to the first tag requests wherein the first tag read include an RFID identification number from the RFID tag responsive to the first tag read requests; means for recording a time stamp for each received first tag read that includes a time of receipt of each first tag read; means for transmitting one or more first tag read messages containing the RFID identification number, the time stamp, and a tag reader system identifier; means for wireles sly transmitting one or more second tag read requests to the RFID tag at a second tag reader system having one or more antennas positioned at a second monitored position spaced apart from the first monitored position and at a second offset distance from the reference line along the route traveled by the RFID tag; means for receiving one or more second tag reads responsive to the second tag requests wherein the second tag read include the RFID identification number from the RFID tag responsive to the second tag read requests; means for recording a time stamp for each received second tag read that includes a time of receipt of each second tag read; means for transmitting one or more second tag read messages containing the RFID identification number, the time stamp, and a tag reader system identifier; b) at a timing system; means for storing a tag reader normalization parameter at a timing system; means for receiving the transmitted first and second tag read messages; means for calculating an average delta time for each of the first and second tag read messages based in part on the stored tag reader normalization parameter; means for determining the time of passing of the RFID tag at the reference line responsive to the calculated average delta times for the first and second tag reads within the first and second tag read messages, wherein the determined time of passing of the first monitored position is the start of the elapsed time and the determined time of passing of the second monitored position is the end of the elapsed time; and means for determining the elapsed time for the RFID tag traveling between the first and second monitored positions as the difference between determined time of passing of the second monitored position and determined time of passing of the first monitored position.
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20. A method for determining a time of a passing at a reference line of a tracked RFID tag traveling along a route, the method comprising:
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a. at a first tag reader system having one or more antennas positioned at a first monitored position at a first offset distance from the reference line along the route traveled by the RFID tag; wirelessly transmitting one or more first tag read requests to the RFID tag; receiving one or more first tag reads including an RFID identification number from the RFID tag responsive to the one or more of the first tag read requests; recording a time stamp for each received first tag read that includes a time of receipt of each first tag read; transmitting one or more first tag read messages containing the RFID identification number, the time stamp, and a tag reader system identifier; b. second tag reader system having one or more antennas positioned at a second monitored position at a second offset distance from the reference line and spaced apart from the first monitored position along the route traveled by the RFID tag; wirelessly transmitting one or more second tag read requests to the RFID tag; receiving one or more second tag reads including the RFID identification number from the RFID tag responsive the at least one of the second tag read requests; recording a time stamp for each received second tag read that includes a time of receipt of each second tag read; transmitting one or more second tag read messages containing the RFID identification number, the time stamp, and a tag reader system identifier; c. at a timing system; storing a tag reader normalization parameter; receiving the transmitted first and second tag read messages; calculating an average delta time for each of the first and second tag read messages based in part on the stored tag reader normalization parameter; determining the time of passing of the RFID tag at the reference line responsive to the calculated average delta times for the first and second tag reads within the first and second tag read messages. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification