System and method for operating an RFID system with head tracking

• US 8,890,657 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Lang, White, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US12/609,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20110102149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/539.1
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• 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: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

A method of transmitting radiofrequency identification (RFID) interrogation signals is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a first movement of a user in a first direction, determining a command from the first movement, and transmitting a RFID interrogation signal in response to the command.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting radiofrequency identification (RFID) interrogation signals, the method comprising:

detecting if a user'"'"'s head is pointed to their left or to their right;

transmitting a RFID interrogation signal in response to whether the user'"'"'s head is pointed to their left or to their right such that when the user'"'"'s head is pointed to their left the RFID interrogation signal is steered by a RFID reader to the user'"'"'s left and when the user'"'"'s head is pointed to their right, the RFID interrogation signal is steered by the RFID reader to the user'"'"'s right;

adjusting a strength of the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting movement of the user'"'"'s head in a vertical direction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a RFID response signal in response to transmitting the RFID interrogation signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second user'"'"'s head movement of the user in a second direction; and

adjusting the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting the second user'"'"'s head movement.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein detecting the second user'"'"'s head movement comprises detecting movement of the head of the user in the vertical direction.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the RFID interrogation signal comprises increasing the strength of the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting an upward movement of the user'"'"'s head.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the RFID interrogation signal comprises decreasing the strength of the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting a downward movement of the user'"'"'s head.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein adjusting the RFID interrogation signal comprises adjusting the direction of the interrogation field in response to detecting the second head movement.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second head movement comprises movement of the head of the user to a side, and adjusting the direction of the interrogation field comprises increasing a strength of the interrogation field in the second direction.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the RFID reader increases a size of the interrogation field based on a direction of the user'"'"'s head.

10. A radiofrequency identification (RFID) communication system comprising:

a wireless transceiver comprising a first wireless antenna that transmits RFID interrogation signals; and

a sensor assembly comprising;

a sensor for detecting if a user'"'"'s head is pointed to their left or to their right and to transmit a first signal conveying information indicating a first movement made by the user'"'"'s head; and

a processing architecture for receiving the first signal and to instruct the first wireless antenna to steer a RFID interrogation signal to regions of interest to the user, as indicated by an orientation of the user'"'"'s head in response to the movement made by the user'"'"'s head such that when the user'"'"'s head is pointed to their left the RFID interrogation signal is steered by a RFID reader to the user'"'"'s left and when the user'"'"'s head is pointed to their right, the RFID interrogation signal is steered by the RFID reader to the user'"'"'s right;

wherein the processing architecture adjusts a strength of the RFID interrogation signal in response to detecting movement of the user'"'"'s head in a vertical direction.

11. The RFID communication system of claim 10, wherein the wireless transceiver and the sensor assembly are integrally formed.

12. The RFID communication system of claim 10, wherein the wireless transceiver and the sensor assembly are separate components.

13. The RFID communication system of claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver is adapted to be coupled to a stationary object.

14. The RFID communication system of claim 12, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a mobile device.

15. The RFID communication system of claim 14, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a second wireless antenna.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the RFID reader increases a size of the interrogation field based on a direction of the user'"'"'s head.

17. A method of transmitting signals, the method comprising:

detecting if a user'"'"'s head is pointed to their left or to their right;

steering an interrogation signal based on if the user'"'"'s head is pointed to their left or to their right such that when the user'"'"'s head is pointed to their left the interrogation signal is steered by a reader to the user'"'"'s left and when the user'"'"'s head is pointed to their right, the interrogation signal is steered by the reader to the user'"'"'s right;

adjusting a strength of the interrogation signal in response to detecting movement of the user'"'"'s head in a vertical direction;

receiving a response signal conveying identification information;

determining contextual information associated with the identification information; and

presenting the contextual information to the user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining contextual information comprises retrieving information from a remote system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein detecting comprises detecting the user'"'"'s head movement with a mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting the interrogation signal comprises transmitting the RFID interrogation signal from a RFID reader.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the reader increases a size of an interrogation field based on a direction of the user'"'"'s head.