Radio frequency identification (RFID) system

• US 7,741,965 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Convergence Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Chung Nam Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Cheung, Chi Chiu David, Ma, Pak Yip Tony, Wong, Hon Fai Eric, Wong, On Yung Timmy, Wan, Tak Ki Peter, Ko, Ping Man Jeff, Tsang, Ngai Ming, Lai, Kin Yue Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/156,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/5.8, 340/10.41, 340/870.2, 348/211.2, 348/207.99
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A group of technologies related to RFID reader and tag are described, including: redundant networked multimedia RFID reader, auto-ranging RFID reader, auto-planning RFID reader, smart active antenna RFID reader and novel RFID tags. These enabling technologies bring RFID reader operations into a new level of automation, capability and ease of implementation.

Claims

1. An RFID reader adapted to receive data from at least one RFID tag, and adapted to receive and/or transmit video/image and/or audio data, including means for accessing data of at least one pre-recorded video/image file, means for receiving video/image data from a digital camera, and means for comparing said data of said at least one pre-recorded video/image file with said video/image data received from said digital camera.

2. An RFID reader according to claim 1 wherein said comparing means compares said data of said at least one pre-recorded video/image file with said video/image data received from said digital camera by using an image comparison algorithm.

3. An RFID reader according to claim 1 wherein said RFID reader is adapted to receive audio signals from a microphone.

4. An RFID reader according to claim 1 wherein said RFID reader is adapted to transmit audio signals via a speaker.

5. An RFID reader according to claim 1 including means for compressing said video/image data received from said digital camera.

6. An RFID reader according to claim 1 wherein said at least one video/image file is stored in a server or local database accessible by said RFID reader.

7. An RFID system including an RFID reader according to claim 1, and at least a server containing data of at least one pre-recorded video/image and/or audio file accessible by said RFID reader.

8. An RFID system according to claim 7 further including at least a digital camera adapted to transmit video/image signals to said RFID reader.

9. An RFID system according to claim 7 further including at least a speaker adapted to output audio signals from said RFID reader.

10. An RFID system according to claim 7 further including at least a microphone adapted to transmit audio signals to said RFID reader.

11. An RFID system according to claim 7 wherein said RFID reader is connected with the rest of the system both wirelessly and with at least one wire.

12. An RFID system according to claim 7 wherein said RFID reader is adapted to be connected with a plurality of access points.

13. An RFID system according to claim 7 wherein said RFID reader is adapted to be connected with a plurality of routers.

14. An RFID system according to claim 7 wherein said RFID reader is adapted to be connected with a plurality of servers.

15. A method of operating an RFID system including at least an RFID reader adapted to receive data from at least one RFID tag, and adapted to receive and/or transmit video/image and/or audio data, including steps:

(a) detecting data of at least one RFID tag;

(b) capturing video/image and/or audio data of an object carrying said at least one RFID tag;

(c) sending said data of said at least one RFID tag to a database;

(d) obtaining from said database pres-stored video/image and/or audio data of said object associated with said at least one RFID tag; and

(e) comparing video/image and/or audio data of said object captured in said step (b) with said data obtained from said database in said step (d).

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said step (b) is carried out by at least a digital camera.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein said step (b) is carried out by a microphone.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein said step (e) is carried out by using an image processing algorithm.

19. A method according to claim 15 further including a step (f) of outputting said audio data obtained from said database in step (d).

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said audio data are outputted by at least one speaker.

21. A method according to claim 15 including a step (f) of transmitting said video/image and/or audio data of said object captured in said step (b) to a personal monitor.