Methods and apparatus for operating a radio device
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- initiating communications with at least one type of wireless identification tags in a monitored region based on use of a corresponding at least one radio communication protocol; and
while carrying out the communications, interleaving i) a portion of dead time during which no portion of the at least one radio communication protocol is transmitted, and ii) a portion of active time during which different portions of the at least one radio communication protocol is transmitted for purposes of communicating with wireless identification tags in the monitored regionwherein initiating communications with the at least one type of wireless identification tags in the monitored region includes;
initiating communications with at least two different types of wireless identification tags in the monitored region based on use of a corresponding set of different radio communication protocols,initiating a first communication with a first type of wireless identification tag in the region based on use of a first radio communication protocol; and
initiating a second communication with a second type of wireless identification tag in the monitored region based on use of a second radio communication protocol;
wherein interleaving the portion of dead time includes interleaving a respective portion of dead time during which no portion of the corresponding set of different radio communication protocol is transmitted; and
wherein interleaving the portion of active time includes interleaving a respective portion of active time during which different portions of the corresponding set of different radio communication protocols are transmitted for purposes of communicating with wireless identification tags in the monitored region.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A radio device such as a wireless tag reader communicates with multiple types of wireless identification tags in a monitored region. The radio device includes a network interface to receive messages transmitted over a network. In response to receiving a message indicating to reconfigure the radio device to support an additional wireless tag protocol, the radio is reconfigured to support communications with a corresponding new type of wireless identification tag in a monitored region. Based on this technique of reconfiguring the radio device via network messages, the radio device optionally supports additional, new or latest versions of wireless tag protocols without having to physically reprogram or replace the radio device.
58 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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initiating communications with at least one type of wireless identification tags in a monitored region based on use of a corresponding at least one radio communication protocol; and while carrying out the communications, interleaving i) a portion of dead time during which no portion of the at least one radio communication protocol is transmitted, and ii) a portion of active time during which different portions of the at least one radio communication protocol is transmitted for purposes of communicating with wireless identification tags in the monitored region wherein initiating communications with the at least one type of wireless identification tags in the monitored region includes; initiating communications with at least two different types of wireless identification tags in the monitored region based on use of a corresponding set of different radio communication protocols, initiating a first communication with a first type of wireless identification tag in the region based on use of a first radio communication protocol; and initiating a second communication with a second type of wireless identification tag in the monitored region based on use of a second radio communication protocol; wherein interleaving the portion of dead time includes interleaving a respective portion of dead time during which no portion of the corresponding set of different radio communication protocol is transmitted; and wherein interleaving the portion of active time includes interleaving a respective portion of active time during which different portions of the corresponding set of different radio communication protocols are transmitted for purposes of communicating with wireless identification tags in the monitored region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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initiating communications associated with each of multiple types of wireless identification tags in a monitored region; to carry out the communications, interleaving portions of different types of wireless communication protocols understood by the multiple types of wireless identification tags; and amongst interleaved portions of the different types of wireless communication protocols, implementing transmit dead times for purposes of receiving communications associated with at least one radio device in the monitored region; wherein the interleaving and implementing comprise; during a first time range, transmitting a respective portion associated with a first protocol of the different types of wireless protocols; during a second time range following the first time range, preventing transmission of any portions of the different radio communication protocols in the monitored region; and during a third time range following the second time range, transmitting a respective portion associated with a second protocol of the different types of wireless protocols. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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initiating communications with multiple wireless identification tags in a region based on use of at least one corresponding radio communication protocol; and interleaving at least one of different data rates and different bit durations for transmitting respective portions of the at least one corresponding radio communication protocol to communicate with the multiple wireless identification tags in the region; wherein interleaving the at least one of different data rates and different bit durations includes; scheduling a first duration of time in a respective transmit sequence for purposes of transmitting a corresponding portion of a first radio communication protocol; and scheduling a second duration of time, which is different in length than the first duration of time and follows the first duration of time, in the respective transmit sequence for purposes of transmitting a corresponding portion of a second radio communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method comprising:
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initiating communications with multiple wireless identification tags in a region based on use of at least one radio communication protocol; and interleaving different modulation types for transmitting respective portions of the at least one radio communication protocol to communicate with the multiple wireless identification tags in the region; wherein interleaving the different modulation types comprises; scheduling a first duration of time in a transmit sequence associated with a transmitter for purposes of transmitting a corresponding portion of a first radio communication protocol according to a first modulation type; and scheduling a second duration of time in the transmit sequence associated with the transmitter for purposes of transmitting a corresponding portion of a second radio communication protocol according to a second modulation type. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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22. A method comprising:
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initiating communications with at least one type of wireless identification tags in a region based on use of a corresponding at least one type of radio communication protocol; and interleaving use of different carrier frequencies for transmitting respective portions of the at least one type of radio communication protocol to communicate with the at least one type of wireless identification tags in the region; wherein interleaving use of the different carrier frequencies includes; scheduling a first duration of time associated with a transmitter for purposes of transmitting a corresponding first portion of a first type of radio communication protocol according to a first carrier frequency; and scheduling a second duration of time after the first duration of time for purposes of transmitting a corresponding first portion of a second type of radio communication protocol from the transmitter according to a second carrier frequency. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification