Systems and methods for synchronizing a plurality of RFID interrogators in a theatre of operation

• US 9,805,235 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2017
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartrac Technology Fletcher, Inc. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Kruest, James Robert, Bann, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMSON, SARA B
• Application Number:
  US15/483,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20170235982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07796 arrangements on the record carrier to allow stacking of a plurality of similar record carriers, e.g. to avoid interference between the non-contact communication of the plurality of record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• 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 7/10029 the collision being resolved in the time domain, e.g. using binary tree search or RFID responses allocated to a random time slot
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10039 interrogator driven, i.e. synchronous
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0641 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0266 Marks, test patterns or identification means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0268 for electrical inspection or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/142 Arrangements of planar printed circuit boards in the same plane, e.g. auxiliary printed circuit insert mounted in a main printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0909 Preformed cutting or breaking line
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09127 PCB or component having an integral separable or breakable part
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/30 Assembling printed circuits with electric components, e.g. with resistor

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 theatre 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.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogation system, comprising:

multiple RFID interrogators, wherein each of the multiple RFID interrogators is configured to transmit data to surrounding RFID tags, and wherein the multiple RFID interrogators includes a first RFID interrogator, the first RFID interrogator is configured to;

transmit a portion of data to nearby RFID tags in a first half of a first frame;

wait a time period for a second half of the first frame to start;

upon the start of the second half of the first frame, detect any interference from another RFID interrogator among the multiple RFID interrogators;

and

if an interference is detected from another RFID interrogator among the multiple RFID interrogators, determine if data is expected from a nearby RFID tag, and if no data is expected, adjust a timing of a start of a second frame to coincide with the start of a frame of the another RFID interrogator;

and

if data is expected, select a random number of frames to wait to receive the expected data.

2. The RFID interrogation system of claim 1, wherein if no interference is detected, the first RFID interrogator waits for the expected data from the nearby RFID tag.

3. The RFID interrogation system of claim 2, wherein upon no interference being detected, the first RFID interrogator is configured to process any RFID tag transmission received during a second half of the first frame.

4. The RFID interrogation system of claim 1, wherein the first RFID interrogator is further configured to:

transmit a synchronization pulse to the nearby RFID tags in a first half of a second frame;

wait for RFID tag transmissions in response to the synchronization pulse; and

while waiting for the RFID tag transmissions in response to the synchronization pulse, detect any interference from another RFID interrogator among the multiple RFID interrogators in a second half of the second frame.

5. The RFID interrogation system of claim 4, wherein the first RFID interrogator detects interference from another RFID interrogator when:

a pulse is detected in the second half of the second frame and a pulse is detected in a second half of a third frame; and

the second frame occurs immediately before the third frame.

6. The RFID interrogation system of claim 1, wherein the first RFID interrogator and the another RFID interrogator are wirelessly coupled to each other.

7. The RFID interrogation system of claim 1, wherein the another RFID interrogator moves into a wireless detection range of the first RFID interrogator.

8. The RFID interrogation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first RFID interrogator and the another RFID interrogator is a mobile RFID interrogator.

9. The RFID interrogation system of claim 1, wherein the first RFID interrogator and the another RFID interrogator are part of a baggage tracking system and the multiple RFID tags are attached to bags of luggage.

10. The RFID interrogation system of claim 1, wherein the first RFID interrogator is configured in form of a hand-held scanner for shipment tracking.

11. A method for operating a first radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator among multiple RFID interrogators while avoiding interferences with other RFID interrogators among the multiple RFID interrogators, comprising:

transmitting, by the first RFID interrogator a portion of data to nearby RFID tags in a first half of a first frame;

waiting a time period for a second half of the first frame to start;

upon the start of the second half of the first frame, detecting any interference from another RFID interrogator among the multiple RFID interrogators; and

if an interference is detected from another RFID interrogator among the multiple RFID interrogators, determining if data is expected from a nearby RFID tag, and if no data is expected, adjusting a timing of a start of a second frame to coincide with the start of a frame of the another RFID interrogator;

and

if data is expected, selecting a random number of frames to wait to receive the expected data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein if no interference is detected, the method further comprises the first RFID interrogator waiting for the expected data from the nearby RFID tag.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein upon no interference being detected, the method further comprises the first RFID interrogator processing any RFID tag transmission received during a second half of the first frame.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting, by the first RFID interrogator, a synchronization pulse to the nearby RFID tags in a first half of a second frame;

waiting for RFID tag transmissions in response to the synchronization pulse; and

while waiting for the RFID tag transmissions in response to the synchronization pulse, detecting any interference from another RFID interrogator among the multiple RFID interrogators in a second half of the second frame.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting interference from another RFID interrogator when;

a pulse is detected in the second half of the second frame and a pulse is detected in a second half of a third frame;

and

the second frame occurs immediately before the third frame.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first RFID interrogator and the another RFID interrogator are wirelessly coupled to each other.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the another RFID interrogator moving into a wireless detection range of the first RFID interrogator.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first RFID interrogator and the another RFID interrogator is a mobile RFID interrogator.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first RFID interrogator and the another RFID interrogator are part of a baggage tracking system and the multiple RFID tags are attached to bags of luggage.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the first RFID interrogator is a hand-held scanner for shipment tracking.