Wireless data transmission between base station and transponder with transmission parameter adjusted based on transponder operating information

• US 7,986,653 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Friedrich, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): BALAOING, ARIEL A
• Application Number:
  US10/896,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20050053024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,561 Days
• Field of Search: 455/106, 455/108, 455/115.1, 455/115.2, 455 411- 43, 370/313, 370/338, 370/328, 340/572.1, 375/315
• US Class Current: 370/313
• 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: H04L 5/143 for modulated signals H04L5/1469 takes precedence

Abstract

Data encoded in packets modulated onto a carrier wave is transmitted between a base station and a transponder. Each packet includes a header section that contains at least a reference symbol and that serves for adjusting one or more transmission parameters, and a further section such as a data section. The transponder transmits data back to the base station through modulation and backscattering of the carrier wave. During the transmission of the header section by the base station, the transponder transmits transponder operating information relating to the processing of data to be received and/or transmitted by the transponder, by corresponding modulation and backscattering of the carrier wave. In response to and dependent on the received transponder operating information, the base station adjusts at least one transmission parameter, whereby the highest data transmission rate within the capabilities of the particular transponder can be achieved.

Claims

1. A method of carrying out a wireless data transmission between a base station and a transponder, comprising the following steps:

a) transmitting first data organized in a data packet from said base station to said transponder, comprising modulating said data packet onto an electromagnetic carrier wave and transmitting said carrier wave with said data packet modulated thereon from said base station to said transponder, wherein said data packet includes a header section containing at least one symbol including a reference symbol, and further includes at least one further section;

b) receiving said first data, comprising receiving said carrier wave with said data packet modulated thereon, in said transponder;

c) transmitting second data from said transponder to said base station, comprising modulating and backscattering said carrier wave in accordance with said second data from said transponder;

d) during said transmitting of said header section of said data packet from said base station to said transponder, transmitting transponder operating information from said transponder to said base station by modulating and backscattering said carrier wave in accordance with said transponder operating information to produce a backscattered signal from said transponder, wherein said transponder operating information is indicative of at least one processing parameter that applies to said receiving of said first data and/or said transmitting of said second data by said transponder;

e) receiving said transponder operating information in said base station; and

f) in said base station, in response to and dependent on said transponder operating information, adjusting a transmission parameter that applies to said transmitting of said first data from said base station to said transponder.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said processing parameter indicated by said transponder operating information is a time resolution capability of said transponder.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said processing parameter indicated by said transponder operating information is an oscillator frequency of a timing oscillator of said transponder.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said processing parameter indicated by said transponder operating information is a parameter influencing a time measurement by an analog time measuring arrangement of said transponder.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first data includes encoded data, said at least one further section of said data packet is a data section containing said encoded data that is encoded by an encoding with data characters defined with reference to a respective time duration thereof, said receiving of said first data further comprises decoding said encoded data, and said processing parameter indicated by said transponder operating information is a minimum value of said time duration of said data characters that can be decoded by said transponder.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first data includes encoded data, said at least one further section of said data packet is a data section containing said encoded data that is encoded by an encoding with data characters defined with reference to a respective time duration thereof, said receiving of said first data further comprises decoding said encoded data, and said transmission parameter specifies a value of said time duration by which said data characters are defined for said encoding and/or said decoding.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein said step of adjusting a transmission parameter in said base station comprises setting a reference time duration of said reference symbol;

and

further comprising;

determining said reference time duration in said transponder, and

adjusting a time resolution of an encoding and/or a decoding of said first data and/or said second data in response to and dependent on said reference time duration in said transponder.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting of said time resolution comprises adjusting an oscillator frequency of a timing oscillator of said transponder in response to and dependent on said reference time duration.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting of said time resolution comprises adjusting a parameter influencing a time measurement by an analog time measuring arrangement of said transponder.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

said transponder operating information is encoded by at least a first signal feature modulated in said backscattered signal by said transponder during said transmitting of said reference symbol by said base station;

said first signal feature exhibits a first time delay after a beginning of said reference symbol; and

said setting of said reference time duration is carried out in response to and dependent on said first time delay of said first signal feature, which is determined in said base station.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said first signal feature is a first modulation state change of said backscattered signal.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said transponder sets said first time delay dependent on and indicative of an existing oscillator frequency of a timing oscillator or an existing charging current of an analog timing circuit of said transponder before said step of adjusting said time resolution.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said at least one symbol in said header section comprises a plurality of symbols including said reference symbol and at least one further symbol, and wherein said reference symbol is a first-occurring one of said symbols in said header section.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

said at least one symbol in said header section further includes a second symbol having a second symbol time duration that determines a data transmission rate of said transmitting of said first data from said base station to said transponder;

said transponder operating information is encoded further by a second signal feature modulated on said backscattered signal by said transponder during said transmitting of said second symbol by said base station;

said second signal feature exhibits a second time delay after a beginning of said second symbol;

said step of adjusting a transmission parameter in said base station further comprises setting said second symbol time duration of said second symbol; and

said setting of said second symbol time duration is carried out in response to and dependent on said second time delay of said second signal feature which is determined in said base station.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said second signal feature is a second modulation state change of said backscattered signal.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said transponder sets said second time delay dependent on and indicative of an adjusted oscillator frequency of a timing oscillator or an adjusted charging current of an analog timing circuit of said transponder after said step of adjusting said time resolution.

17. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

said at least one symbol in said header section further includes a second symbol having a second symbol time duration that determines a data transmission rate of said transmitting of said first data from said base station to said transponder;

said transponder operating information is encoded by at least a signal feature modulated on said backscattered signal by said transponder during said transmitting of said second symbol by said base station;

said signal feature exhibits a time delay after a beginning of said second symbol;

said step of adjusting a transmission parameter in said base station further comprises setting said second symbol time duration of said second symbol; and

said setting of said second symbol time duration is carried out in response to and dependent on said time delay of said signal feature which is determined in said base station.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transponder operating information is indicative of said at least one processing parameter that applies to said receiving of said first data in said transponder.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transponder operating information is indicative of said at least one processing parameter that applies to said transmitting of said second data by said transponder.