RFID group selection method
First Claim
1. A method of selecting or de-selecting one or more groups of transponders, using a selection process comprising one or more select commands from an interrogator, the one or more groups of transponders being within a field of interrogation, the method comprising:
- transmitting from the interrogator a select command that includes selection or de-selection criteria of the one or more groups of transponders, whereby if a transponder meets selection or de-selection criteria in the select command, the transponder is selected or deselected while remaining in a first state; and
transmitting from the interrogator at least one arbitration command, wherein the at least one arbitration command comprises a select parameter,wherein transponders within the one or more groups of transponders participate in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in response to the at least one arbitration command and in an instance in which the transponder is selected and the select parameter is set to selected, andwherein transponders within the one or more groups of transponders participate in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in response to the at least one arbitration command and in an instance in which the transponder is deselected and the set parameter is set to deselected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention describes a selection and arbitration method for reading a population of RFID transponders (tags). The transponders are selected or de-selected individually, or in one or more groups, using one or more command signals from a reader. The command signals from the reader include selection or de-selection criteria for selecting or de-selecting transponders by moving them between different states by setting or resetting a command flag, such as a flip-flop, in the transponders. The different transitional states include a Ready state, an Active state, a Standby state, a Singulated state and a Quiet state.
43 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of selecting or de-selecting one or more groups of transponders, using a selection process comprising one or more select commands from an interrogator, the one or more groups of transponders being within a field of interrogation, the method comprising:
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transmitting from the interrogator a select command that includes selection or de-selection criteria of the one or more groups of transponders, whereby if a transponder meets selection or de-selection criteria in the select command, the transponder is selected or deselected while remaining in a first state; and transmitting from the interrogator at least one arbitration command, wherein the at least one arbitration command comprises a select parameter, wherein transponders within the one or more groups of transponders participate in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in response to the at least one arbitration command and in an instance in which the transponder is selected and the select parameter is set to selected, and wherein transponders within the one or more groups of transponders participate in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in response to the at least one arbitration command and in an instance in which the transponder is deselected and the set parameter is set to deselected. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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2. A method of selecting or de-selecting one or more groups of transponders, using a selection process comprising one or more select commands from an interrogator, the one or more groups of transponders being within a field of interrogation, the method comprising:
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transmitting from the interrogator a select command that includes data for comparison with data stored in the memories of a transponder within the one or more groups of transponders, whereby the transponder or transponders within the one or more groups of transponders set or reset a select flag dependent on whether they are to be selected or de-selected while remaining in a first state; and transmitting from the interrogator at least one arbitration command, wherein the at least one arbitration command comprises a select parameter, wherein the transponder or transponders within the one or more groups of transponders participate in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in response to the at least one arbitration command and in an instance in which the select flag is set and the select parameter is set to selected, and wherein the transponder or transponders within the one or more groups of transponders participate in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in response to an arbitration command and in an instance in which the select flag is reset and the set parameter is set to deselected. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 49)
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- 18. A transponder comprising logic circuitry responsive to a select command from an interrogator, whereby if the transponder meets selection or de-selection criteria in the select command it is selected or deselected, wherein the transponder is configured to participates in an arbitration sequence, in response to an arbitration command that comprises a select parameter, wherein the transponder participates in the arbitration sequence in an instance in which it is selected and the select parameter is set to selected and wherein the transponder participates in the arbitration is sequence in an instance in which it is deselected and the select parameter is set to deselected.
- 32. An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, the interrogator including a transmitter for transmitting selection or de-selection criteria in one or more commands to select or de-select one or more groups of transponders and at least one arbitration command comprising a select parameter, each transponder within the one or more groups of transponders including a receiver for receiving the one or more commands and logic circuitry responsive to the commands, whereby if the transponder meets selection or de-selection criteria in the commands it is selected or deselected while remaining in a first state, wherein the transponder participates in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in an instance in which the transponder is selected and the select parameter is set to selected and wherein the transponder participates in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in an instance in which the transponder is deselected and the select parameter is set to deselected.
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34. An integrated circuit for use in a transponder including a receiver for receiving a select command from an interrogator, the integrated circuit further comprising logic circuitry responsive to a select command from the interrogator whereby if the integrated circuit meets selection or de-selection criteria in the select command it is selected or deselected while remaining in a first state;
- and the integrated circuit participates in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in response to an arbitration command comprising a select parameter and in an instance in which the integrated circuit is selected and the select parameter is set to selected and wherein the integrated circuit participates in an arbitration sequence, by transitioning from the first state to a second state to transmit a reply, in response to an arbitration command and in an instance in which the integrated circuit is deselected and the select parameter is set to deselected.
- View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
Specification