Method and apparatus for power management for a radio frequency identification system
First Claim
1. A method for controlling power consumption of a plurality of tags communicatively coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader through an ad-hoc/mesh network, each tag in the plurality of tags comprising a battery, tag data, and a battery level indicator, the method comprising:
- receiving a low battery power signal from the battery level indicator of a first tag in the plurality of tags when the first tag battery level reaches below a predefined level, wherein the first tag data comprises time-critical tag data and non-time critical tag data;
in response to receiving the low battery power signal, (i) identifying a second tag in the plurality of tags communicatively coupled to the RFID reader through the ad-hoc/mesh network, the second tag closer to the RFID reader than the first tag, the second tag comprising a battery level indicator that has not generated a low battery power signal, (ii) transmitting the time critical tag data directly from the first tag to the RFID reader, and (iii) transmitting the non-time critical tag data from the first tag to the RFID reader through the identified second tag.
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Abstract
A method and device of power management for a networked radio frequency identification (“RFID”) system are disclosed. The described power management methods reduce the power consumption of battery-operated RFID readers and RFID tags. These power conservation methods increase the RFID system'"'"'s hours of operation and decrease the cost by allowing the RFID readers and tags to function for a longer period of time before requiring charging or replacement of their batteries.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for controlling power consumption of a plurality of tags communicatively coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader through an ad-hoc/mesh network, each tag in the plurality of tags comprising a battery, tag data, and a battery level indicator, the method comprising:
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receiving a low battery power signal from the battery level indicator of a first tag in the plurality of tags when the first tag battery level reaches below a predefined level, wherein the first tag data comprises time-critical tag data and non-time critical tag data; in response to receiving the low battery power signal, (i) identifying a second tag in the plurality of tags communicatively coupled to the RFID reader through the ad-hoc/mesh network, the second tag closer to the RFID reader than the first tag, the second tag comprising a battery level indicator that has not generated a low battery power signal, (ii) transmitting the time critical tag data directly from the first tag to the RFID reader, and (iii) transmitting the non-time critical tag data from the first tag to the RFID reader through the identified second tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for controlling power consumption of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, the system comprising:
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an RFID reader; a plurality of RFID tags, each tag in the plurality of tags comprising a battery, tag data, and a battery level indicator, the plurality of tags comprising a first tag comprising time-critical tag data and non-time critical tag data; and an ad-hoc/mesh network communicatively coupling the plurality of tags to the RFID reader, wherein the first tag is configured to; receive a low battery power signal from the battery level indicator of the first tag when the first tag battery level reaches below a predefined level; and in response to receiving the low battery power signal, (i) identify a second tag in the plurality of tags communicatively coupled to the RFID reader through the ad-hoc/mesh network, the second tag closer to the RFID reader than the first tag, the second tag comprising a battery level indicator that has not generated a low battery power signal, (ii) transmit the time critical tag data directly from the first tag to the RFID reader, and (iii) transmit the non-time critical tag data from the first tag to the RFID reader through the identified second tag. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification