Systems and methods for synchronizing a plurality of RFID interrogators in a theatre of operation
First Claim
1. A synchronized radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogation system, comprising:
- a synchronization master configured to transmit a plurality of synchronization signals;
a first RFID interrogator configured to;
detect an a synchronization master outage;
in response to detecting the synchronization master outage, attempt to become the synchronization master after a first wait period comprising a random period of time;
determine whether another RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master; and
in response to determining that another RFID interrogator is not attempting to become the synchronization master, become the synchronization master;
a second RFID interrogator configured to;
detect the synchronization master outage;
in response to detecting synchronization master outage, attempt to become the synchronization master after a second wait period comprising the same random period of time as the first wait period;
detect that the first RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master; and
in response to detecting that the first RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master, remain a slave RFID interrogator; and
a communications channel coupled to the synchronization master, the first RFID interrogator and the second RFID interrogator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
RFID tags are used for many purpose including tracking. RFID interrogators are used to retrieve information from tags. In many applications, a plurality of RFID interrogators are required. Synchronization between interrogators in the same theater of operation is critical to ensure that their broadcasts do not interfere with each other. In fixed RFID interrogator applications, RFID interrogators can be wired together allowing a channel to synchronize the transmissions of the RFID interrogators. Methods described herein can ensure that synchronization is maintained in the event of the failure of a synchronizing master. Furthermore, additional methods for synchronizing RFID interrogators in wireless applications are described allowing synchronization in the absence of wired connections between interrogators.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A synchronized radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogation system, comprising:
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a synchronization master configured to transmit a plurality of synchronization signals; a first RFID interrogator configured to; detect an a synchronization master outage; in response to detecting the synchronization master outage, attempt to become the synchronization master after a first wait period comprising a random period of time; determine whether another RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master; and in response to determining that another RFID interrogator is not attempting to become the synchronization master, become the synchronization master; a second RFID interrogator configured to; detect the synchronization master outage; in response to detecting synchronization master outage, attempt to become the synchronization master after a second wait period comprising the same random period of time as the first wait period; detect that the first RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master; and in response to detecting that the first RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master, remain a slave RFID interrogator; and a communications channel coupled to the synchronization master, the first RFID interrogator and the second RFID interrogator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for a first radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator to become a synchronization master, comprising:
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a first RFID interrogator; detecting a synchronization master outage; in response to detecting the synchronization master outage, attempting to become the synchronization master after a first wait period comprising a random period of time; determine whether another RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master; and in response to determining that another RFID interrogator is not attempting to become the synchronization master, becoming a synchronization master; a second RFID interrogator; detecting the synchronization master outage; in response to detecting the synchronization master outage, attempting to become the synchronization master after a second wait period comprising the same random period of time as the first wait period; detecting that the first RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master; in response to detecting that the first RFID interrogator is attempting to become the synchronization master, remain a slave RFID interrogator. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification