Variably spaced multi-point RFID tag reader systems and methods
First Claim
1. An event participant timing system for determining a time of a passing at a timing point reference line of a tracked RFID tag traveling along a route, the event participant timing system having an RFID timing system having a processor, a memory and a communication interface communicatively coupled to a communication interface of an RFID tag reader for receiving transmitted tag read messages therefrom and the tag reader system having a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag, and one or more antennas coupled to the radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a monitoring position relative to the timing point reference line, the RFID tag reader being a first RFID tag reader positioned at a first monitoring point relative to the timing point of reference and transmitting first tag read requests and receiving one or more first tag reads from the RFID tag and transmitting over the RFID tag reader communication interface a first tag read message including one or more first tag reads, the event participant timing system further comprising:
- a second tag reader that includes a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag as the first tag reader system, and one or more second antennas coupled to the second radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a second monitoring position of the timing point reference line and that is at an offset distance along the route from the timing point reference line and spaced apart from the first monitoring position along the route, the second tag reader system transmitting a second tag read request and receiving one or more second tag reads from the RFID tag when the RFID tag is also in proximity to the timing point reference line and transmitting over the second tag reader system communication interface a second tag read message including at least a portion of the received one or more second tag reads,wherein the timing system stores in the timing system memory a tag reader normalization parameter associated with the timing point reference line, and the timing system communication interface receives the transmitted first and second tag read messages, determines the time of passing of the RFID tag at the timing point reference line responsive to the received one or more first tag reads at the first monitoring position and one or more second tag reads at the second monitoring position and the stored tag reader normalization parameter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining a time of a passing at a reference line of an RFID tag traveling along a route and a time of lapsing of the tracked RFID tag on the route, the system have a plurality of spaced apart tag reader systems for wirelessly obtaining tag reads, wherein at least one of the tag reader systems is space apart from the reference line. The timing system receives a plurality of tag reads and determines the time of passing of the RFID at the reference line responsive to the plurality of received tag read messages received from the plurality of tag reader systems.
103 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An event participant timing system for determining a time of a passing at a timing point reference line of a tracked RFID tag traveling along a route, the event participant timing system having an RFID timing system having a processor, a memory and a communication interface communicatively coupled to a communication interface of an RFID tag reader for receiving transmitted tag read messages therefrom and the tag reader system having a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag, and one or more antennas coupled to the radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a monitoring position relative to the timing point reference line, the RFID tag reader being a first RFID tag reader positioned at a first monitoring point relative to the timing point of reference and transmitting first tag read requests and receiving one or more first tag reads from the RFID tag and transmitting over the RFID tag reader communication interface a first tag read message including one or more first tag reads, the event participant timing system further comprising:
-
a second tag reader that includes a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag as the first tag reader system, and one or more second antennas coupled to the second radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a second monitoring position of the timing point reference line and that is at an offset distance along the route from the timing point reference line and spaced apart from the first monitoring position along the route, the second tag reader system transmitting a second tag read request and receiving one or more second tag reads from the RFID tag when the RFID tag is also in proximity to the timing point reference line and transmitting over the second tag reader system communication interface a second tag read message including at least a portion of the received one or more second tag reads, wherein the timing system stores in the timing system memory a tag reader normalization parameter associated with the timing point reference line, and the timing system communication interface receives the transmitted first and second tag read messages, determines the time of passing of the RFID tag at the timing point reference line responsive to the received one or more first tag reads at the first monitoring position and one or more second tag reads at the second monitoring position and the stored tag reader normalization parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for determining a time of a passing at a timing point reference line of a tracked RFID tag traveling along a route using an event participant timing system having an RFID timing system having a processor, a memory and a communication interface communicatively coupled to a communication interface of an RFID tag reader for receiving transmitted tag read messages therefrom and the tag reader system having a processor, a memory, a clock, a communication interface, a radio frequency transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag, and one or more antennas coupled to the radio frequency transceiver that are positioned at a monitoring position relative to the timing point reference line, the RFID tag reader being a first RFID tag reader positioned at a first monitoring point relative to the timing point of reference and transmitting first tag read requests and receiving one or more first tag reads from the RFID tag and transmitting over the RFID tag reader communication interface a first tag read message including one or more first tag reads, the method comprising:
-
(a) at the first tag reader system; wirelessly transmitting one or more first tag read requests to the RFID tag; receiving one or more first tag reads including an RFID identification number from the RFID tag responsive to the one or more of the first tag read requests and when the RFID tag is in proximity to the timing point reference line; recording a time stamp for each received one or more first tag read that includes a time of receipt of each first tag read; transmitting one or more first tag read messages containing the RFID identification number, the time stamp, and a tag reader system identifier; (b) at a second tag reader system having one or more antennas positioned at a second monitoring position at a second offset distance along the route from the timing point reference line and spaced apart from the first monitoring position along the route traveled by the RFID tag; wirelessly transmitting one or more second tag read requests to the RFID tag as the first tag reader; receiving one or more second tag reads including the RFID identification number from the RFID tag responsive the at least one of the second tag read requests and when the RFID tag is in proximity to the timing point reference line; recording a time stamp for each received one or more second tag read that includes a time of receipt of each second tag read; transmitting one or more second tag read messages containing the RFID identification number, the time stamp, and a tag reader system identifier; (c) at the timing system; storing a tag reader normalization parameter; receiving the transmitted first and second tag read messages; calculating an average delta time for each of the first and second tag read messages based in part on the stored tag reader normalization parameter; determining the time of passing of the RFID tag at the timing point reference line responsive to the calculated average delta times for the one or more first tag reads at the first monitoring position and one or more second tag reads at the second monitoring position within the first and second tag read messages. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification