Systems for and methods of assigning priority to reader antennae

• US 8,970,376 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Rasband, Paul B., Bauer, Donald G., Campero, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US13/412,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7, 340/10.1, 340/539.11
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for assigning priority to antennae are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, reader antennae identify the location of an object by detecting a tag or other identifier associated with each object. Sensors can be provided to provide additional information regarding the environment of the objects or their surroundings. A priority order is assigned to the reader antennae based on the location and other characteristics of the objects and/or their environment. A polling sequence for reading the reader antennae is determined according to the priority order.

Claims

1. A method of operating a plurality of reader antennae, comprising:

determining a priority order of the plurality of reader antennae, where a preference level is assigned to each of the plurality of reader antennae based on information relating to products detected by each of the plurality of reader antennae and the priority order is derived from the preference levels, wherein the information relating to the products is stored in respective RFID tags associated with the products; and

setting a polling sequence for reading the plurality of reader antennae according to the priority order determined in said determining step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning step further comprises assigning a first reader antenna having a higher preference level with a higher priority than at least a second reader antenna having a lower priority.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reading the plurality of reader antennae according to the priority order determined in said determining step.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said reading step comprises reading more frequently a first reader antennae that has a higher preference level compared to a second reader antennae.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising inactivating a reader antenna.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said inactivating step comprises inactivating a reader antenna in response to one of the group of:

detecting movement of an identifying tag;

proximity of a customer to a reader antenna;

proximity of an employee to a reader antenna; and

proximity of a product to a reader antenna.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises assigning the priority order such that the plurality of reader antennae can be read at an equal frequency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning step comprises assigning a first reader antenna that detects a larger number of products with a higher preference level than at least a second reader antenna that detects a smaller number of products.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning step further comprises assigning preference levels according to a preference factor selected from the group consisting of:

movement of an identifying tag associated with a reader antenna;

proximity of a customer to a reader antenna;

proximity of an employee to a reader antenna; and

proximity of a product to a reader antenna.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning step further comprises assigning preference levels based on input data from a device selected from the group of:

a computer server;

a computer workstation;

a handheld device;

a telephone; and

a wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning step comprises assigning preference levels based on input data from a sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said assigning step further comprises assigning preference levels based on input data from a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

an optical sensor;

a vibration sensor;

an audio sensor;

a pressure sensor; and

a pushbutton sensor.

13. A method of adjusting the priority order of a polling sequence for a plurality of RFID antennae, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of product support structures, each product support structure associated with at least one RFID reader antenna;

placing a plurality of products on at least one of the product support structures, each of the plurality of products associated with an RFID tag;

identifying the location of each of the plurality of products by detecting the associated RFID tags with the plurality of RFID reader antennae;

assigning a priority order to the plurality of RFID antennae, the priority order determined by assigning a preference level to each of the plurality of RFID antennae based on information relating to products detected by each of the plurality of RFID reader antennae, wherein the information relating to the products is stored in the RFID tags associated with the products; and

assigning a polling sequence for reading the plurality of RFID reader antennae according to the priority order.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said assigning a priority further comprises assigning preference levels based on input data from a sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said assigning a priority further comprises assigning a first RFID reader antenna that detects a larger number of products with a higher preference level than at least a second RFID reader antenna that detects a smaller number of products.

16. An antenna prioritization system for prioritizing the reading of a plurality of reader antennae, the system comprising:

a controller device configured to determine a priority order of the plurality of RFID antennae based on information relating to products detected by each of the plurality of RFID reader antennae, and for setting a polling sequence for reading ones of the plurality of RFID reader antennae according to the priority order, wherein the information relating to the products is stored in respective RFID tags associated with the products; and

a reader for reading ones of the plurality of reader antennae in accordance with the polling sequence.