Networking applications for automated data collection

• US 6,853,294 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Martinez, Rene D., Ramamurthy, Shashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, CLARA I
• Application Number:
  US09/625,647
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.5, 340/572.6, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 709/219
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

An RFID reader directly controls computer network applications on the basis of information collected from an RFID tag. The RFID tag includes certain designated fields that identify a destination computer system and/or application program for data recovered from the RFID tag. The RFID reader can then distribute the collected information in a format and to a destination that is determined by the RFID tag, thereby eliminating the need for intermediary software programs or human operators to make such decisions about the distribution of information. This capability permits RFID tag information to be automatically collected and distributed to network applications for ultimate data processing and collection.

Claims

1. A computer network comprising:

a server having a plurality of application programs operating thereon;

a plurality of client computers connected to said server; and

an RFID reader connected to said server and being adapted to communicate with a plurality of RFID tags each having a memory containing plural data fields for storage of data, said RFID reader comprising;

a radio module and a processor connected to said radio module, said radio module being responsive to commands provided by said processor to perform transmit and receive operations with said plurality of RFID tags; and

a memory coupled to said processor and having program instructions stored therein, said processor being operable with said memory to execute said program instructions, said program instructions including;

detecting data loaded in said plural data fields of said memory of at least one of said plurality of RFID tags, wherein said plural fields include at least a first data field defining an address corresponding to either said server or one of said plurality of client computers, and a second data field identifying one of said plurality of application programs;

generating a data packet based on at least one of said first and second data fields; and

transmitting said data packet to said address;

wherein at least one of said plurality of application programs comprises an e-mail application program and said first data field defines an address corresponding to one of said plurality of client computers, said e-mail application program sending an e-mail message to said one of said plurality of client computers; and

wherein said e-mail message identifies at least one of time and date of communication by said RFID reader with said at least one of said plurality of RFID tags.

2. A computer network comprising:

a server having a plurality of application programs operating thereon;

a plurality of client computers connected to said server; and

an RFID reader connected to said server and being adapted to communicate with a plurality of RFID tags each having a memory containing plural data fields for storage of data, said RFID reader comprising;

a radio module and a processor connected to said radio module, said radio module being responsive to commands provided by said processor to perform transmit and receive operations with said plurality of RFID tags; and

a memory coupled to said processor and having program instructions stored therein, said processor being operable with said memory to execute said program instructions, said program instructions including;

detecting data loaded in said plural data fields of said memory of at least one of said plurality of RFID tags, wherein said plural fields include at least a first data field defining an address corresponding to either said server or one of said plurality of client computers, and a second data field identifying one of said plurality of application programs;

generating a data packet based on at least one of said first and second data fields; and

transmitting said data packet to said address

wherein at least one of said plurality of application programs comprises a website hosting program, said website hosting program posting information on a website regarding said at least one of said plurality of RFID tags.

3. The computer network of claim 2, wherein said program instructions further comprise periodically transmitting an interrogating field to communicate with said plurality of RFID tags.

4. The computer network of claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of application programs comprises an e-mail application program and said first data field defines an address corresponding to one of said plurality of client computers, said e-mail application program sending an e-mail message to said one of said plurality of client computers.

5. The computer network of claim 2, wherein said information regarding said RFID tag is only accessible from said website by one of said plurality of client computers identified by said first data field.

6. The computer network of claim 2, wherein said first data field further defines an IP address.

7. The computer network of claim 2, wherein said second data field further defines a Port Number.