Methods for optimizing communications between an RFID reader and a tag population using non-sequential masking
First Claim
1. A method in a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for interrogating an RFID tag population having a plurality of tags, comprising the steps of:
- (a) transmitting an interrogation mask corresponding to a tag identification sequence to the RFID tag population, wherein the interrogation mask has a plurality of sub-masks that are non-sequentially positioned in the mask and wherein each sub-mask covers at least one bit position; and
(b) performing an abbreviated collection of unmasked bits of the identification sequence from one or more tags in the tag population.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and methods for optimizing communications between an RFID reader and a population of tags are described. To minimize the amount of data exchanges, the reader and tags use non-sequential bit string or byte masking. In non-sequential bit string masking, the reader transmits an interrogation mask having a plurality of non-sequential sub-masks to the tags. During subsequent collection of the identification sequence, the reader and tags only exchange the non-masked bit positions. The interrogation mask can be determined using superposition processing, historical tendencies, or known identification and/or subset of identification ranges. During superposition processing, the reader determines whether a bit position contains a single value or multiple values for tags in the tag population. If the bit position contains a single value, the bit position is designated as masked. If the bit position contains multiple values, the bit position is designated as non-masked.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method in a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for interrogating an RFID tag population having a plurality of tags, comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting an interrogation mask corresponding to a tag identification sequence to the RFID tag population, wherein the interrogation mask has a plurality of sub-masks that are non-sequentially positioned in the mask and wherein each sub-mask covers at least one bit position; and (b) performing an abbreviated collection of unmasked bits of the identification sequence from one or more tags in the tag population. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for communicating with a reader, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving an interrogation mask corresponding to a tag identification sequence to the RFID tag population, wherein the interrogation mask has a plurality of non-sequential sub-masks that are non-sequentially positioned in the mask and wherein each sub-mask covers at least one bit position; and (b) performing an abbreviated collection of unmasked bits of the identification sequence. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method in a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for interrogating an RFID tag population, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an interrogation mask, wherein the interrogation mask has a plurality of non-sequential sub-masks that are non-sequentially positioned in the mask and wherein each sub-mask covers at least one bit position; (b) transmitting symbols that direct the tag population to transition to a state for receiving reader commands; (c) transmitting a non-sequential mask command followed by the interrogation mask; (d) transmitting symbols that direct the tag population to a state for engaging in a binary tree traversal interrogation; and (e) performing binary tree traversal to read the non-masked bit positions, wherein the non-masked bit positions are not covered by the sub-masks of the mask. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification