Radio frequency identification interface devices and methods

• US 8,493,243 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelletto Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intelletto Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Ahmadi, Homayoun, Soudmand-Asli, Mohammadreza, Namazi, Hassanali
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM D
• Application Number:
  US12/818,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 340 101- 106, 3405721-5728, 340/11.1
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4072 Drivers or receivers G06F13/4086 takes precedence; for multistate logic circuits H03K19/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/095 User access; PIN code

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) device is described. In one implementation, there is provided a keyboard emulator; a first keyboard interface configured to receive an operative connection to a host computer, and operatively connected to the keyboard emulator; and a controller configured to receive data from at least one RFID tag; and transfer the data through the keyboard emulator and then the first keyboard interface in response to a user-initiated route instruction received by the controller, wherein the keyboard emulator converts the data to corresponding keystroke codes.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a keyboard emulator;

a first keyboard interface configured to receive an operative connection to a host computer, and operatively connected to the keyboard emulator; and

a controller configured to

receive data from at least one RFID tag;

receive a keyboard message from the host computer via the first keyboard interface and recognize the keyboard message as a user-initiated route instruction; and

in response to the user-initiated route instruction, transfer the data from the RFID tag to the host computer through the keyboard emulator and first keyboard interface wherein the keyboard emulator converts the data to corresponding keystroke codes.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second keyboard interface, and wherein the controller is configured to recognize a series of one or more keystrokes received via the second keyboard interface as a user-initiated route instruction received by the controller.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising one or more user-operable inputs configured to initiate a route instruction to the controller upon actuation by a user.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the one or more user-operable inputs are keys on the housing of the device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first keyboard interface is a USB port, a PS/2 port, a serial interface, a TCP/IP port, or a wireless interface.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display, and wherein the controller is further configured to convey on the display information pertaining to a quantity of detected RFID tags for which data has been received.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to register the device as a keyboard device with the host device.

8. A method of transferring radio frequency identification (RFID) data using a device, the method comprising:

receiving data from at least one RFID tag to the device; and

transferring the data to a host computer through a keyboard emulator and then a first keyboard interface in response to a user-initiated route instruction received by the device through the first keyboard interface from the host computer, wherein the keyboard emulator converts the data to corresponding keystroke codes;

wherein the user-initiated route instruction is a keyboard message.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising conveying information pertaining to a quantity of detected RFID tags for which data has been received.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising transferring command keystrokes from the keyboard emulator through the first keyboard interface in response to a user-initiated route instruction.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the user-initiated route instruction is initiated by an activation of a user-operable input.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the user-initiated route instruction is initiated by receiving data for a predetermined quantity of RFID tags.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the user-initiated route instruction is initiated by receipt of a series of one or more keystrokes.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the keyboard emulator is registered as a keyboard device over the first keyboard interface.