Radio frequency identification system and related operating methods
First Claim
1. A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the method comprising:
- generating an RFID interrogation signal with an RFID reader of the RFID system;
obtaining, in response to generating the RFID interrogation signal, at least one RFID tag response signal at the RFID reader, the at least one RFID tag response signal conveying tag data, and being received through a first network at a stationary controller; and
providing at least some of the tag data to a mobile device through a second network;
receiving, from the mobile device, a request to locate a particular item of interest having a target RFID tag associated therewith, wherein the at least one RFID tag response signal conveys tag data for the particular item of interest;
determining a location of the target RFID tag relative to the mobile device; and
presenting indicia of the determined location of the target RFID tag at the mobile device;
interrogating the target RFID tag to obtain a first tag response signal, wherein the RFID reader interrogates the target RFID tag;
interrogating a reference RFID tag located at the mobile device to obtain a second tag response signal, wherein the RFID reader interrogates the reference RFID tag; and
calculating a position of the target RFID tag relative to the reference RFID tag, wherein the position is calculated based on the first and second tag response signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) system is provided. The method interrogates RFID tags with an RFID reader and provides at least some of the collected tag data to a mobile device that is unable to communicate with RFID tags using the over-the-air interface. In some situations, the RFID system obtains the current location of the mobile device and determines the location of a target tag relative to the current location of the mobile device. Locating the target tag in this manner involves the interrogation of a reference tag located at the mobile device, along with the target tag, using one RFID reader. The position of the target tag relative to the reference tag is calculated in response to the tag response signals obtained from the target and reference tags. Moreover, location of the target tag can be independently determined relative to the location of a mobile reader, by using a reference tag attached to a fixed reader or to the mobile reader.
129 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the method comprising:
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generating an RFID interrogation signal with an RFID reader of the RFID system; obtaining, in response to generating the RFID interrogation signal, at least one RFID tag response signal at the RFID reader, the at least one RFID tag response signal conveying tag data, and being received through a first network at a stationary controller; and providing at least some of the tag data to a mobile device through a second network; receiving, from the mobile device, a request to locate a particular item of interest having a target RFID tag associated therewith, wherein the at least one RFID tag response signal conveys tag data for the particular item of interest; determining a location of the target RFID tag relative to the mobile device; and presenting indicia of the determined location of the target RFID tag at the mobile device; interrogating the target RFID tag to obtain a first tag response signal, wherein the RFID reader interrogates the target RFID tag; interrogating a reference RFID tag located at the mobile device to obtain a second tag response signal, wherein the RFID reader interrogates the reference RFID tag; and calculating a position of the target RFID tag relative to the reference RFID tag, wherein the position is calculated based on the first and second tag response signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the method comprising:
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receiving a request through a first network to locate a particular item of interest having a target RFID tag associated therewith, the request originating at a mobile device; in response to receiving the request, interrogating the target RFID tag with an RFID reader of the RFID system to obtain an RFID tag response signal through a second network from the target RFID tag; obtaining a current location of the mobile device; and determining a location of the target RFID tag relative to the current location of the mobile device; interrogating the target RFID tag with the RFID reader to obtain a first tag response signal; interrogating a reference RFID tag located at the mobile device to obtain a second tag response signal, wherein the RFID reader interrogates the reference RFID tag; and calculating a position of the target RFID tag relative to the reference RFID tag, wherein the position is calculated based on the first and second tag response signals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the method comprising:
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receiving a request through a first network to locate a particular item of interest having a target RFID tag associated therewith, the request originating at a mobile device; in response to receiving the request, interrogating the target RFID tag with an RFID reader of the RFID system to obtain an RFID tag response signal through a second network from the target RFID tag; obtaining a current location of the mobile device; and determining a location of the target RFID tag relative to the current location of the mobile device;
wherein determining the location of the target RFID tag comprises;interrogating the target RFID tag with a first RFID reader of the RFID system to obtain a first tag response signal; interrogating a reference RFID tag located at a second RFID reader of the RFID system to obtain a second tag response signal, wherein the first RFID reader interrogates the reference RFID tag; obtaining, at the first RFID reader, a distance between the target RFID tag and the second RFID reader, wherein the distance is determined in response to the second RFID reader interrogating the target RFID tag; and calculating a location of the target RFID tag based on the first tag response signal, the second tag response signal, and the obtained distance.
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Specification