Rich object model for diverse Auto-ID tags

• US 7,455,218 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shafer, Steven Arthur Nolan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Seung H
• Application Number:
  US11/156,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20060283930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 235/492, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A system and method allowing one application to implement diverse AutoID tags interchangeably, by unifying all AutoID technologies into a single object model. The single object model interacts with all AutoID technologies, with only a lowest level device tailored to the specific AutoID technology, the single object model thereby persisting through the middleware, up to an application, carrying all necessary information from any AutoID technology. The single object model can interact with a tag many times, as necessary to complete an operation. A reader interface allows an application to communicate with multiple readers of diverse AutoID tags, and to communicate with individual servers communicating with individual readers of diverse AutoID tags. The reader interface also provides a single interface for hardware communication with a radio, for an application interacting with an entire network of readers, sensors, interpretation steps, product lookup, and information storage providing a single virtual reader.

Claims

1. A computerized method for resolving tag identifications, the method comprising:

performing a scan of one or more tags, each tag having permanent identification information comprising a fixed string of characters and being able to generate temporary identification information comprising a random string of characters in response to each performed scan;

receiving the generated temporary identification information for each of the tags in response to the performed scan;

selectively ordering the temporary identification information; and

resolving the temporary identification information to the corresponding permanent identification information for each tag in the order selected prior to performing another scan, by addressing the tag using the generated temporary identification information thereof, presenting credentials acceptable to the tag, and requesting and receiving the corresponding permanent identification information thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the permanent identification information for each tag is reported prior to performing another scan.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving an instruction to suspend further scanning pending further instruction, allowing interaction with the one or more tags prior to a resetting of the temporary identification information upon a further scan.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the temporary identification information is stored for operational use until a next scan is performed, whereby the temporary identification information for each tag is reset and regenerated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary identification information is recorded in a distinct field in a tag record.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a tag reader performs resolution of the temporary identification information to permanent identification information for each tag upon receipt of a specific resolution command from an application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a tag reader performs resolution of the temporary identification information to permanent identification information for each tag automatically as instructed as part of a group of scan activity instructions from an application.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, if automatic resolution of the temporary identification information is not implemented, the permanent identification information for a tag is not known until an application receives a tag report including the temporary identification information for the tag and forwards a specific instruction to resolve the permanent identification information for the tag.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a reader, performing the scan of the one or more tags, stores the temporary identification information for each tag for future operations.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a reader that performs the scan of the one or more tags stores correspondences between the temporary identification information and the permanent identification information for each tag.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary identification information is a random character string generated upon performance of the scan, the temporary identification information being reset upon a further scan to another random character string.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

performing a scan of one or more tags, each tag having permanent identification information comprising a fixed string of characters and being able to generate temporary identification information comprising a random string of characters in response to each performed scan;

receiving the generated temporary identification information for each of the tags in response to the performed scan;

creating a temporary tag object for each temporary identification information received;

reporting each temporary tag object;

receiving a request for resolution of one or more temporary tag objects in a selected order; and

resolving the temporary tag objects to the corresponding permanent identification information for each tag in the selected order prior to performing another scan, by addressing the tag using the generated temporary identification information thereof, presenting credentials acceptable to the tag, and requesting and receiving the corresponding permanent identification information thereof.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the temporary tag object is reset to a random number upon a further scan of the of one or more tags.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein a tag reader performs resolution of the temporary identification information to permanent identification information for each tag upon receipt of a specific resolution command from an application.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein a tag reader performs resolution of the temporary identification information to permanent identification information for each tag automatically as instructed as part of a group of scan activity instructions from an application.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, having farther computer-executable instructions for performing the step of receiving an instruction to suspend farther scanning pending further instruction, allowing interaction with the one or more tags prior to a resetting of the temporary identification information upon a further scan.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the temporary identification information is stored for operational use until a next scan is performed, whereby the temporary identification information for each tag is reset and regenerated.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein a reader, performing the scan of the one or more tags, stores the temporary identification information for each tag for future operations.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein a reader that performs the scan of the one or more tags stores correspondences between the temporary identification information and the permanent identification information for each tag.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

performing a scan of one or more tags, each tag having permanent identification information comprising a fixed string of characters and being able to generate temporary identification information comprising a random string of characters in response to each performed scan;

receiving the generated temporary identification information for each of the tags in response to the performed scan;

reporting the temporary identification information to an application; and

resolving the temporary identification information to the corresponding permanent identification information for one or more of the tags in accordance with instructions received from the application, by addressing the tag using the generated temporary identification information thereof, presenting credentials acceptable to the tag, and requesting and receiving the corresponding permanent identification information thereof; and

performing a further scan of the one or more tags in accordance with instructions received from the application, wherein the temporary identification information for each of the tags is reset and re-populated with a random character string.