Wireless RFID networking systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method for managing a set of tag readers by an access point, the access point having a coverage area for monitoring the set of tag readers, each tag reader having a coverage area for monitoring a set of tags, the method comprising:
- determining groups of tag readers, wherein each tag reader within a group has a coverage area that overlaps coverage areas of other tag readers in the group and tag readers from different groups do not have coverage areas that overlap each other, wherein said determination is based on (i) a range of the coverage area of each tag reader and (ii) a distance between each particular tag reader and a closest tag reader to the particular tag reader;
for each particular group, configuring all tag readers within the particular group to sequentially transmit read requests to the set of tags in the coverage area of each tag reader in order to prevent simultaneous read requests being sent to a particular tag that is positioned in overlapping coverage areas of at least two tag readers; and
configuring a plurality of tag readers that do not belong to a same group to transmit read requests in parallel.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention include a wireless access point that acquires and processes radio frequency identification (RFID) information. The wireless access point may be coupled to a network of RFID readers over a wireless network. The RFID readers may read a plurality of RFID tags and transmit information to one or more readers. The readers may, in turn, transmit the RFID information to a wireless access point. The wireless access point may include a middleware layer for performing a variety of RFID data processing functions. In one embodiment, the wireless RFID reader network may be used to improve positioning of readers and tags, and may include a GPS system or position assisted GPS system at the reader and/or tag level.
94 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for managing a set of tag readers by an access point, the access point having a coverage area for monitoring the set of tag readers, each tag reader having a coverage area for monitoring a set of tags, the method comprising:
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determining groups of tag readers, wherein each tag reader within a group has a coverage area that overlaps coverage areas of other tag readers in the group and tag readers from different groups do not have coverage areas that overlap each other, wherein said determination is based on (i) a range of the coverage area of each tag reader and (ii) a distance between each particular tag reader and a closest tag reader to the particular tag reader; for each particular group, configuring all tag readers within the particular group to sequentially transmit read requests to the set of tags in the coverage area of each tag reader in order to prevent simultaneous read requests being sent to a particular tag that is positioned in overlapping coverage areas of at least two tag readers; and configuring a plurality of tag readers that do not belong to a same group to transmit read requests in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An access point for managing a set of tag readers, the access point having a coverage area for monitoring the set of tag readers, each tag reader having a coverage area for monitoring a set of tags, the access point comprising:
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an interface for communicating with the set of tag readers; and a module (i) to determine groups of tag readers, wherein each tag reader in a group has a coverage area that overlaps coverage areas of other tag readers in the group and tag readers from different groups do not have coverage areas that overlap each other, wherein said determination is based on a range of the coverage area of each tag reader and a distance between each particular tag reader and a closest tag reader to the particular tag reader, (ii) to configure all tag readers within each particular group to sequentially transmit read requests to the set of tags in the coverage area of each tag reader in order to prevent simultaneous read requests being sent to a particular tag that is positioned in overlapping coverage areas of at least two tag readers, and (iii) to configure a plurality of tag readers that do not belong to a same group to transmit read requests in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A system for managing a set of tag readers, the system comprising:
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a set of tags, each tag in the set communicatively coupled to at least one tag reader; the set of tag readers communicatively coupled to an access point, wherein the set of tag readers receive read requests from the access point and transmit the read requests to the set of tags; and the access point having a coverage area for monitoring the set of tag readers, wherein the access point determines groups of tag readers, each tag reader in a group having a coverage area that overlaps coverage areas of other tag readers in the group and tag readers from different groups do not have coverage areas that overlap each other, said determination based on (i) a range of the coverage area of each tag reader and (ii) a distance between each particular tag reader and a closest tag reader to the particular tag reader, wherein the access point configures all tag readers within each particular group to sequentially transmit read requests to the set of tags in the coverage area of each tag reader in order to prevent simultaneous read requests being sent to a particular tag that is positioned in overlapping coverage areas of at least two tag readers, and wherein the access point configures a plurality of tag readers that do not belong to a same group to transmit read requests in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification