Method and system of using active RFID tags to provide a reliable and secure RFID system
First Claim
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1. A RFID system comprising:
- at least one small-zone RFID reader to cover an area;
a large-zone RFID reader to cover gaps among the at least one small-zone RFID reader within the area, andat least one active RFID tag,wherein the at least one active RFID tag first try to become associated with the at least one small-zone RFID reader and if the at least one active RFID tag cannot become associated with one of the at least one small-zone RFID reader, the at least one active RFID tag that cannot become associated with the small-zone RFID reader is associated with the large-zone RFID reader.
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Abstract
The system of the present invention includes a large-zone RFID reader, a plurality of small-zone RFID readers, and a plurality of RFID tags. The large-zone RFID reader covers areas which are not covered by the small-zone RFID readers. The output power of the small-zone RFID readers is controlled by the large-zone RFID reader based on RFID tag operation patterns of the small-zone RFID readers. The system reliability is improved by a method that uses reliable RFID tags, RFID reader beacon signals, and RFID tag'"'"'s repetitive transmitting signals to detect tag failures. The system security is provided by a method that uses integrated crypto engines in both the RFID tags and RFID readers.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A RFID system comprising:
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at least one small-zone RFID reader to cover an area; a large-zone RFID reader to cover gaps among the at least one small-zone RFID reader within the area, and at least one active RFID tag, wherein the at least one active RFID tag first try to become associated with the at least one small-zone RFID reader and if the at least one active RFID tag cannot become associated with one of the at least one small-zone RFID reader, the at least one active RFID tag that cannot become associated with the small-zone RFID reader is associated with the large-zone RFID reader. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A RFID system comprising:
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at least one small-zone RFID reader using multiple-frequencies to cover an area; a large-zone RFID reader to cover gaps among the at least one small-zone RFID reader within the area, and at least one active RFID tag, wherein the at least one active RFID tag first try to become associated with the at least one small-zone RFID reader and if the at least one active RFID tag cannot become associated with one of the at least one small-zone RFID reader, the at least one active RFID tag that cannot become associated with the small-zone RFID reader is associated with the large-zone RFID reader.
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24. A RFID system comprising:
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at least one small-zone RFID reader using a single frequency to cover an area; a large-zone RFID reader to cover gaps among the at least one small-zone RFID reader within the area, and at least one active RFID tag, wherein the at least one active RFID tag first try to become associated with the at least one small-zone RFID reader and if the at least one active RFID tag cannot become associated with one of the at least one small-zone RFID reader, the at least one active RFID tag that cannot become associated with the small-zone RFID reader is associated with the large-zone RFID reader.
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25. A RFID system comprising:
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at least one RFID reader, and at least one active RFID tag, said active RFID tag comprising; a transmitter section operable to transmit packets to a RFID reader using a transmitter antenna; a receiver section operable to receive packets from said RFID reader using a receiver antenna; and a transmitting fault indicator generating audible or visible alarms depending on a condition of said transmission section or said receiver section. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of operating a RFID system comprising the steps of:
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operating at least one small-zone RFID reader to cover an area; operating a large-zone RFID reader to cover gaps among the at least one small-zone RFID reader within the area, and operating at least one active RFID tag, wherein the at least one active RFID tag first try to become associated with the at least one small-zone RFID reader and if the at least one active RFID tag cannot become associated with one of the at least one small-zone RFID reader, the at least one active RFID tag that cannot become associated with the small-zone RFID reader is associated with the large-zone RFID reader. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for improving RFID tag security in a RFID system comprising the following steps:
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sending a read/write request from a RFID reader to a RFID tag; sending a response from said RFID tag including a challenge packet to tag authority; sending a response from said RFID reader including session key; decoding the session key at said RFID tag; and using the session key at the RFID reader and RFID tag to encrypt and decrypt data sent between them.
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Specification