Encoding RFID tags of grouped items
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for writing Electronic Product Codes (EPCs) into RFID tags, the method comprising:
- singulating a first tag in a group of tags,determining that the first tag is encoded with a first initial EPC and not a first final EPC,reading a first base code from the first tag,deriving the first final EPC from the first base code,overwriting the first initial EPC with the first final EPC in the first tag,singulating successively other tags in the group while the group is in a reading zone,halting on a second tag in the group in response to determining that the second tag is encoded with one of a second initial EPC and a partially-written second final EPC,writing the second final EPC to the second tag, andif a number of the singulated tags in the group disagrees with a group number or if an error is detected, setting an error flap.
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Abstract
Systems, methods of operation, and software are provided, for encoding RFID tags with which a predefined group of items is tagged. Encoding is by writing applicable Electronic Product Codes (EPCs) to the tags, so as to identify the individual items in the group. A base code can be read from each tag, and the applicable EPC is then written to it.
6 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for writing Electronic Product Codes (EPCs) into RFID tags, the method comprising:
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singulating a first tag in a group of tags, determining that the first tag is encoded with a first initial EPC and not a first final EPC, reading a first base code from the first tag, deriving the first final EPC from the first base code, overwriting the first initial EPC with the first final EPC in the first tag, singulating successively other tags in the group while the group is in a reading zone, halting on a second tag in the group in response to determining that the second tag is encoded with one of a second initial EPC and a partially-written second final EPC, writing the second final EPC to the second tag, and if a number of the singulated tags in the group disagrees with a group number or if an error is detected, setting an error flap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) encoding system configured to write Electronic Product Codes (EPCs) into RFID tags, the encoding system comprising:
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at least one antenna; and an encoding station coupled to the at least one antenna and configured to; singulate a first tag in a group of tags, determine that the first tag is encoded with a first initial EPC and not a first final EPC, read a first base code from the first tag, derive the first final EPC from the first base code, overwrite the first initial EPC with the first final EPC to the first tag, singulate successively other tags in the group while the group is in a reading zone of the encoding station, halt on a second tag in the group in response to determining that the second tag is encoded with one of a second initial EPC and a partially-written second final EPC, write the second final EPC to the second tag, and if a number of the singulated tags in the group disagrees with a group number or if an error is detected, set an error flag. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system configured to write Electronic Product Codes (EPCs) into RFID tags, the system comprising:
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a group of tags; and an encoding station configured to; singulate a first tag in the group of tags, determine that the first tag is encoded with a first initial EPC and not a first final EPC, read a first base code from the first tag, derive the first final EPC from the first base code, overwrite the first initial EPC with the first final EPC to the first tag, singulate successively other tags in the group while the group is in a reading zone of the encoding station, halt on a second tag in the group in response to determining that the second tag is encoded with one of a second initial EPC and a partially-written second final EPC, write the second final EPC to the second tag, and if a number of the singulated tags in the group disagrees with a group number or if an error is detected, set an error flag. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification