SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POLLING NFC-A DEVICES ALONGSIDE RF BARCODE DEVICES
First Claim
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1. A method of connecting a near-field communication (NFC) reader to a plurality of NFC devices including at least one NFC-A device and at least one RF barcode device, comprising:
- detecting and logging the active and sleep intervals of the RF barcode device when an RF field is switched on; and
synchronizing the transmission and reception of data to and from each NFC-A device such that transmission and reception of data to and from each NFC-A device occurs only during sleep intervals of the RF barcode device.
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Abstract
A NFC reader is connected for communication to NFC devices such as an NFC-A device and an RF barcode device. The reader detects and logs the active and sleep intervals of the RF barcode device in response to receipt of periodically received UID communications. The transmission and reception of data to and from each NFC-A device is then synchronized to occurs only when the RF barcode device is in a sleep interval between UID communications.
16 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of connecting a near-field communication (NFC) reader to a plurality of NFC devices including at least one NFC-A device and at least one RF barcode device, comprising:
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detecting and logging the active and sleep intervals of the RF barcode device when an RF field is switched on; and synchronizing the transmission and reception of data to and from each NFC-A device such that transmission and reception of data to and from each NFC-A device occurs only during sleep intervals of the RF barcode device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for connecting a near-field communication (NFC) reader to a plurality of NFC devices including at least one NFC-A device and at least one RF barcode device, comprising:
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an RF transceiver, a clock, and a processor configured to detect the RF barcode device when the RF transceiver is active and monitor the RF barcode device'"'"'s UID transmissions, wherein the clock and processor are together configured to monitor the period and duration of the RF barcode device'"'"'s UID transmissions, wherein the processor is further configured to poll for and exchange data with the NFC-A device only in the intervals between the end of a first, and the beginning of a second UID transmission by the RF barcode device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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activating an RF transceiver to energize a proximately located RF barcode device; receiving periodic UID transmissions from the energized RF barcode device; determining from the received periodic UID transmissions a sleep period of said energized RF barcode device between periodic UID transmissions; activating the RF transceiver to engage in communications with a proximately located NFC-A device only during the determined sleep period.
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17. A near-field communication (NFC) reader, comprising:
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an RF transceiver; a processor configured to control operation of the RF transceiver, wherein said processor operates to; activate the RF transceiver to energize a proximately located RF barcode device; receive periodic UID transmissions from the energized RF barcode device; determine from the received periodic UID transmissions a sleep period of said energized RF barcode device between periodic UID transmissions; activate the RF transceiver to engage in communications with a proximately located NFC-A device only during the determined sleep period.
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Specification