Method and system for automatic adjustment and diagnosis of radio frequency identification systems using programmable checktags

• US 6,486,769 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: McLean, Charles Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/470,159
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.32, 340/10.6, 340/7.46, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 342/42, 342/125, 342/450, 342/457
• US Class Current: 340/10.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• 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 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10465 the interrogation device being capable of self-diagnosis, e.g. in addition to or as part of the actual interrogation process testing of electrical circuits in general G01R31/28

Abstract

A method and system is provided for automatically adjusting a radio frequency communication system to define the spatial dimensions of a read zone and no-read zone using programmable checktags. The system comprises a controller adapted to send and receive data from two subsets of a plurality of transponders. The first subset of transponders is located in a spatial read zone, and the second subset of transponders is located in a spatial no-read zone. The system automatically adjusts transmission parameters to ensure that only the first subset of transponders is able to be read.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a controller and a plurality of transponders, said method comprising:

disposing a first subset of said plurality of transponders in a desired read zone of said controller;

disposing a second subset of said plurality of transponders in a desired no-read zone of said controller;

transmitting a first signal from said controller to said first subset of said plurality of transponders;

attempting to receive a first responsive signal from said first subset of said plurality of transponders by said controller in response to said first signal;

transmitting a second signal from said controller to said second subset of said plurality of transponders;

attempting to receive a second responsive signal from said second subset of said plurality of transponders by said controller in response to said second signal; and

adjusting transmitting parameters of said controller to permit communications with said first subset of said plurality of transponders and to preclude communications with said second subset of said plurality of transponders.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating said first and second subsets of said plurality of transponders prior to said transmitting steps.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether said first responsive signal from said first subset of said plurality of transponders is received, and wherein said adjusting step further comprises adjusting said transmitting parameters to increase a read range of said controller if said first responsive signal is not received.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether said second responsive signal from said second subset of said plurality of transponders is received, and wherein said adjusting step further comprises adjusting said transmitting parameters to decrease a read range of said controller if said second responsive signal is received.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing said adjusted transmitting parameters.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising comparing said stored adjusted transmitting parameters with predetermined transmitting parameters.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether said stored adjusted transmitting parameters are within a desired range.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said transponders further comprise RF transponders, and said transmitting steps further comprise transmitting first and second RF signals, respectively.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjusted transmitting parameters of said controller permit communications of said controller with an application transponder within said desired read zone of said controller and not with an application transponder within said desired no-read zone.

10. A system for automatically adjusting communication parameters comprising:

a controller adapted to send and receive data from a plurality of transponders, said controller further comprising a processor having stored instructions that are executed to adjust communication parameters, and a radio coupled to said processor and having a receiver and a transmitter, said communication parameters determining operation of said radio, and

a plurality of transponders spaced from said controller and being adapted to receive signals from and transmit signals to said controller, said plurality of transponders further comprising a first subset of said plurality of transponders disposed within a spatial read zone and a second subset of said plurality of transponders disposed outside said spatial read zone;

wherein said communication parameters are adjusted by operation of said processor in conjunction with said stored instructions to permit communication with said first subset of said plurality of transponders and preclude communication with said second subset of said plurality of transponders.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said controller further comprises a memory coupled to said processor and containing said stored instructions.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said communication parameters further comprise a gain of signals transmitted by said controller to said plurality of transponders.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said stored instructions further comprise:

transmitting a first signal to said first subset of said plurality of transponders;

attempting to receive a first responsive signal from said first subset of said plurality of transponders in response to said first signal;

transmitting a second signal to a second subset of said plurality of transponders;

attempting to receive a second responsive signal from said second subset of said plurality of transponders in response to said second signal; and

adjusting said communication parameters to permit communications with said first subset of said plurality of transponders and to preclude communications with said second subset of said plurality of transponders.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said stored instructions further comprise activating said first and second subsets of said plurality of transponders prior to executing said transmitting instructions.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said stored instructions further comprise determining whether said first responsive signal from said first subset of said plurality of transponders is received, and wherein said adjusting instruction further comprises adjusting said transmitting parameters to increase a read range of said controller if said first responsive signal is not received.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said stored instructions further comprise determining whether said second responsive signal from said second subset of said plurality of transponders is received, and wherein said adjusting instruction further comprises adjusting said transmitting parameters to decrease a read range of said controller if said second responsive signal is received.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said stored instructions further comprise storing said adjusted transmitting parameters.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said stored instructions further comprise comparing said stored adjusted transmitting parameters with predetermined transmitting parameters.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said stored instructions further comprise determining whether said stored adjusted transmitting parameters are within a desired range.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said stored instructions further comprise disposing said first subset of said plurality of transponders in a desired read zone of said controller.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein said stored instructions further comprise disposing said second subset of said plurality of transponders in a desired no-read zone of said controller.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein said plurality of transponders further comprise RF transponders.

23. The system of claim 10, wherein said adjusted communication parameters of said controller permit communication of said controller with an application transponder within a spatial read zone and not with an application transponder outside said spatial read zone.