Data encoding in radio frequency identification transponders

• US 7,190,257 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Ackley, H. Sprague, Maltseff, Paul August
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III; Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/876,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20040257203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.6, 340/10.51, 340/10.31, 340/568.1, 340/10.52, 367/2, 235/494, 235/492, 714/773, 714/774
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/18 by transferring data from one type of record carrier on to another type of record carrier, e.g. from magnetic tape to punched card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• 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: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for efficiently encoding source data in radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. The encoded source data may also provide additional functionality such as data error detection and correction. A source data encoding and decoding method for a RFID system having a RFID transponder comprises the steps of obtaining the source data, encoding to provide more efficient data encodation that may also include data error detection and error correction, writing the encoded source data to a RFID transponder, reading the encoded source data from the RFID transponder, and decoding the encoded source data to recover the original source data. The encoding may utilize bar code symbology algorithms or a non-Full ASCII enhanced functionality character set. A source data encoding device and a decoding device for a RFID system may comprise a memory, a processor for running a program stored in the memory, a bar code printer for printing a bar code, a RFID transponder programmer for writing the data to the RFID transponder, a RFID interrogator for interrogating the RFID transponder, and a bar code reader to read a bar code. The data may be provided encoded or the device may encode/decode the data using coding algorithms. The RFID transponder stores the encoded source data, that may utilize a non-Full ASCII enhanced functionality character set, and the encoded data may be retrieved to recover the original source data.

Claims

1. A system for optically reading bar code symbology and interrogating an RFID transponder comprising:

a bar code reader for optically reading bar code symbology;

an RF interrogator for obtaining encoded data from an RFID transponder;

a memory device for storing at least one program, said at least one program being adapted to decode both said bar code symbology and said encoded data and to perform data error detection and correction, wherein said function of performing said data error detection and correction comprises (i) obtaining source data, (ii) obtaining a size of an available unused memory in said RFID transponder, (iii) selecting an optimal degree of error correction performance based on said size of said available unused memory and a size of said source data; and

(v) encoding said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the selected degree of error correction; and

a processor for running said program.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said program is further adapted to decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data using a bar code symobology coding algorithm comprising a non-Full ASCII format.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said program is further adapted to produce said bar code symbology and said encoded data by encoding said source data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said program is further adapted to (i) obtain said encoded data from said available unused memory, (ii) determine whether said encoded data is corrupted, (iii) modify said optimal degree of error correction performance based on said determination, and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the modified degree of error correction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said program is further adapted to (i) obtain said source data, (ii) define a set of numeric values, said set containing a number of members equal to a prime number or a power of a prime number, (iii) map said source data to a string of numeric values from said set, (iv) perform a mathematical algorithm on the string of numeric values to produce at least three additional numeric values;

(v) combine the string of numeric values with the at least three additional numeric values; and

(vi) write the resulting string of numeric values to said RFID transponder.

6. A system for printing bar code symbology and interrogating an RFID transponder comprising:

a bar code printer for printing bar code symbology;

an RF interrogator for writing encoded data to an RFID transponder;

a memory device for storing at least one program, said at least one program being adapted to encode source data to generate said bar code symbology and said encoded data and to perform data error detection and correction, wherein said function of performing data error detection and correction comprises (i) obtaining said source data, (ii) obtaining a size of an available unused memory in said RFID transponder, (iii) selecting an optimal degree of error correction performance based on said size of said available unused memory and a size of said sourde data, and (v) encoding said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the selected degree of error correction; and

a processor for running said program.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said program is further adapted to decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said program is further adapted to decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data using a bar code symbology coding algorithm comprising a non-Full ASCII format.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said program is further adapted to (i) obtain said encoded data from said available unused memory, (ii) determine whether said encoded data is corrupted, (iii) modify said optimal degree of error correction performance based on said determination, and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the modified degree of error correction.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said program is further adapted to (i) obtain said source data, (ii) define a set of numeric values, said set containing a number of members equal to a prime number or a power of a prime number, (iii) map said source data to a string of numeric values from said set, (iv) perform a mathematical algorithm on the string of numeric values to produce at least three additional numeric values;

(v) combine the string of numeric values with the at least three additional numeric values; and

(vi) write the resulting string of numeric values to said RFID transponder.

11. A system for optically reading bar code symbology, printing bar code symbology and interrogating an RFID transponder comprising:

a bar code reader for optically reading bar code symbology;

a bar code printer for printing bar code symbology;

an RF interrogator for writing encoded data to an RFID transponder and reading encoded data from an RFID transponder;

a memory device for storing at least one program, said at least one program being adapted to decode both said bar code symbology and said encoded data and to perform data error detection and correction, wherein said function of performing data error detection and correction comprises (i) obtaining source data, (ii) obtaining a size of an available unused memory in said RFID transponder, (iii) selecting an optimal degree of error correction performance based on said size of said available unused memory and a size of said source data, and (v) encoding said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the selected degree of error correction; and

a processor for running said program.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said program is further adapted to decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data using a bar code symbology coding algorithm comprising a non-Full ASCII format.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said program is further adapted to produce said bar code symbology and said encoded data by encoding said source data.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said program is further adapted to (i) obtain said encoded data from said available unused memory, (ii) determine whether said encoded data is corrupted, (iii) modify said optimal degree of error correction performance based on said determination, and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the modified degree of error correction.