Reader application markup language schema

• US 7,533,812 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ahmed, Mohamed Fakrudeen Ali, Goteti, Janaki Ram, Kumar, Anush
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai; Thien T
• Application Number:
  US11/620,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20070108281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/375, 235/432, 235/451, 707/104.1, 707/102
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The subject invention provides a system and/or method that facilitates executing a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) process by employing a reader application markup language (RAML) schema that provides a portable format to setup and deploy such RFID process. A schema component can receive RFID data relating to an RFID architecture wherein a RAML schema can be created based at least upon such RFID data (e.g., discovered readers including settings and/or configurations). The RAML schema can include a sub-system definition (e.g., containing the definition of server state and entities in such server) and a process definition (e.g., containing process related entities and inter-relationships).

Claims

1. A system that facilitates implementing an RFID process comprising:

an RFID architecture comprising at least one RFID reader and at least one RFID tag, the RFID readers receive RFID tag signals in order to identify an item and/or object which contains the RFID tag;

a setup component that communicates with the RFID architecture to allow a schema component to employ a reader application markup language (RAML) schema that provides a portable format to setup and deploy an RFID process;

a generator component that generates the RAML schema comprising at least one of a sub-system definition and a process definition based in part on the RFID data, the process definition comprising a logical source that includes a logical reader collection, an event policy, an event handler, and a write handler associated with the RFID process, the sub-system definition defining at least one of a server state or entities on which processes are built; and

a receiver component that obtains the RFID data allowing the generator component to create the RAML schema which facilitates executing the RFID process within the RFID architecture.

2. The system of claim 1, the RFID architecture comprises a plurality of RFID readers at predetermined locations within an enterprise installation.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory component that stores the RAML schema in order to facilitate executing an RFID process by providing a portable format that is utilized dynamically.

7. The system of claim 1, the RAML schema comprises specifications for at least one of a logical reader collection, an event policy for a filter and/or alert, an event handler, a write handler, or tracking information that comprise an RFID process.

3. The system of 1, the RAML schema comprises at least one of a sub-system definition or a process definition that facilitates executing the RFID process based upon the analyzed RFID data.

4. The system of 3, the sub-system definition comprises a definition for entities in a server, independent of a process, and defines a server state and entities on which processes are built.

5. The system of 3, the process definition comprises process related entities and inter-relationships.

8. A system that facilitates implementing an RFID process comprising:

a schema component that employs a reader application markup language (RAML) schema based at least upon RFID data related to an RFID architecture, the RFID architecture comprises a collection of RFID readers that form a sub-system that includes an RFID reader and an RFID tag;

a generator component that generates the RAML schema comprising a sub-system definition and a process definition based in part on the RFID data, the process definition comprising a logical source that includes a logical reader collection, an event policy, an event handler, and a write handler associated with the RFID process, the sub-system definition defining at least one of a server state or entities on which processes are built; and

a receiver component that obtains the RFID data allowing the generator component to create the RAML schema which facilitates executing the RFID process within the RFID architecture.

9. The system of claim 8, the sub-system definition comprises a definition for one or more entities in a server which are independent of a process.

10. The system of claim 8, the process definition comprises process related entities and inter-relationships that define an RFID process such that a particular sub-system instance is utilized to design such a process.

11. The system of claim 8, the RAML schema comprising the sub-system definition is identified with a target namespace location and associated reference.

12. The system of claim 8, the RAML schema comprising the sub-system definition defines an element device comprising a sequence of element names and types.

13. The system of claim 8, the RAML schema comprising the sub-system definition that defines configuration and settings for a physical reader, the physical reader independent of a process.

14. The system of claim 8, the RAML schema comprising the process definition defines a process element having at least one of an RFID process name, a top level logical source of the process, and a component that writes to RFID devices.

15. The system of claim 8, the RAML schema comprising the process definition that defines a parameter for RFID components including at least one of a name or value.

16. The system of claim 8, the RAML schema comprising the process definition defines a collection of event policy components for at least one of filters, alerts, or event handlers.

21. The system of claim 8, further comprising, a setup component that configures and saves discovered RFID readers based at least upon RFID reader settings.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein, the setup component creates a logical reader collection, adds a physical RFID reader to the logical reader collection and specifies properties associated thereto.

17. A method of executing an RFID process within an RFID architecture comprising:

employing a reader application markup language (RAML) schema that provides a portable format for setup and deployment of the RFID process;

receiving RFID data related to the RFID architecture, the RFID architecture comprises a collection of RFD readers that form a sub-system that includes an RFID reader and an RFID tag; and

generating the RAML schema based at least upon the received RFID data and comprising a sub-set definition and a process definition in order to provide a portable format in which the RFID process can be utilized to be setup and deployed, the process definition comprising a logical source that includes logical reader collection, an event policy, an event handler, and a write handler associated with the RFID process, the sub-system definition defining at least one of a server state or entities on which processes are built.

18. The method of claim 17, the generating further comprises generating the sub-system definition to comprise the definition for entities in the server, the entities are independent of a process, and defining server state and entities on which processes are built.

19. The method of claim 17, the generating further comprises generating a process definition to comprise all process related entities and inter-relationships and to specify a process built on top of the sub-system definition.

20. The method of claim 17, the RFID data comprises RFID readers within a server that read at least one associated RFID tag.