Methods and systems of receiving data payload of RFID tags

• US 8,134,452 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US11/755,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20080297324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.32, 340/10.33
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Methods and systems of receiving data payload of RFID tags. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising selecting (by each of a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags) a time window within which to transmit (the selecting to create respective time windows), sending a start signal from a RFID reader to the plurality of RFID tags (the start signal indicative of the start of a first time window), and transmitting a signal by each of the plurality of RFID tags in the respective time windows.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) selecting, by each of a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, a time window within which to transmit;

(b) sending a start signal from a RFID reader to the RFID tags, the start signal indicative of the start of a first time window;

(c) transmitting a signal, by each of the RFID tags, in the respective time windows without receiving input from the RFID reader, wherein at least two RFID tags transmit the signal in the same time window;

(d) for each of the RFID tags that transmitted the signal during the same time window, selecting a new time window and retransmitting the signal without receiving input from the RFID reader; and

(e) repeating step (d) until none of the RFID tags transmit the signal in the same time window.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein selecting further comprises, for each of the RFID tags:

generating a random number; and

selecting a time window based on the random number.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein selecting the time window further comprises selecting the time window directly indicated by the random number.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the at least two of the RFID tags transmitted the signal within the same window.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein determining further comprises receiving a signal in a time window where error detection bits indicate invalid data.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein determining further comprises receiving a signal in a time window where error correction bits received are insufficient to correct data errors.

7. The method according to claim 4 wherein repeating further comprises transmitting at a center frequency different than a center frequency used in the initial transmitting.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising broadcasting a wake signal from the RFID reader to the RFID tags.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein broadcasting further comprises broadcasting a continuous wave electromagnetic signal to provide power to the plurality of RFID tags.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein sending the start signal is performed by cycling the continuous wave electromagnetic signal.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising, prior to selecting the time windows, sending a signal by the RFID reader to set an interaction mode.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising sending a width signal by the RFID reader to the RFID tags, the width signal indicative of a time width of each time window.

13. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

a tag antenna; and

a first RFID circuit coupled to the tag antenna;

wherein the first RFID circuit is configured to transmit a first message to a RFID reader, transmission of the first message beginning at a particular time selected at random by the RFID tag without input from the RFID reader;

wherein the first message is transmitted at a same particular time as a second message transmitted by a second RFID tag within a detection range of the RFID reader,

wherein a different particular time to retransmit the first and second messages is selected such that the first RFID tag and the second RFID tag do not retransmit the corresponding message at the same particular time, the retransmission occurring without input from the RFID reader.

14. The RFID tag according to claim 13 wherein the first RFID circuit, responsive to a signal from the RFID reader, is configured to generate a random number, the random number used to identify the particular time.

15. The RFID tag according to claim 13 further comprising:

a memory within the first RFID circuit, the memory storing data;

wherein the first RFID circuit is configured to transmit at least a portion of the data at the particular time selected.

16. The RFID tag according to claim 15 wherein the memory stores one or more selected from the group consisting of:

an electronic product code;

user defined data; and

a kill password.

17. The RFID tag according to claim 13 wherein the first RFID circuit is configured to receive a signal from the RFID reader indicative of a start time, and the particular time is a time after receipt of the signal.

18. The RFID tag according to claim 13 wherein operating power for the first RFID circuit is derived from one or more selected from the group consisting of:

an internal battery; and

power received from the RFID reader circuit.

19. The RFID tag according to claim 13 wherein the RFID tag transmits by backscattering electromagnetic signals.

20. A system comprising:

a reading antenna; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader coupled to the reading antenna;

wherein the RFID reader is configured to simultaneously activate a plurality of RFID tags, and the RFID reader is configured to receive responses from all of the RFID tags without further communication to the RFID tags from the RFID reader, each RFID tag response being sent at a time window;

wherein at least two RFID tag responses are sent at the same time window; and

wherein different time windows are selected for the RFID tags that sent responses at the same time window and the responses are resent without receiving input from the RFID reader such that none of the responses are sent at the same time window.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein when the RFID reader activates the RFID tags, the RFID reader sends a timing signal indicative of a first period of time in which a response can be received.

22. The system according to claim 20 wherein when the RFID reader activates the RFID tags, the RFID reader broadcasts a continuous wave electromagnetic signal.

23. The system according to claim 20 wherein when the RFID reader receives the RFID tag responses, the RFID reader broadcasts a continuous wave electromagnetic signal and receives responses as backscattered electromagnetic waves.

24. The system according to claim 20 wherein the system is further configured to determine whether any of the responses from the RFID tags are ambiguous, and if any of the responses are ambiguous, the RFID reader is further configured to again simultaneously activate the RFID tags.

25. The system according to claim 24 further comprising an electronic system coupled to the RFID reader, and wherein the electronic system determines whether unambiguous responses were received from each of the RFID tags.

26. The system according to claim 24 wherein when the system determines whether unambiguous responses were received, the system determines whether cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes for each response match data of each response.