Middleware appliance for scalable and reliable automated identification

• US 20050269394A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RF Code Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RF Code Incorporated
• Inventors: Ozer, Nissim
• Granted Patent: US 7,410,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5019 Workload prediction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system

Abstract

In a system for automatic identification, a method performed by an appliance coupled to a network balances load among appliances. The network includes a plurality of tags, a plurality of readers that read the tags, and a plurality of appliances. The appliances service the readers to provide information for a server, also coupled to the network. The server performs an application program in accordance with the information. The method includes in any order: (a) determining an unallocated capacity for service by the appliance; (b) determining a load for servicing a reader of the plurality; and (c) if the load fits within the unallocated capacity, providing a signal to the network for another appliance of the plurality, the signal for indicating that the appliance can service the reader. Another method performed by an appliance includes in any order: (a) determining a figure of merit of communication between tags and readers; (b) sending information for a reader to adjust communication with the tags in accordance with the information.

Claims

1. A method performed by a server coupled to a network, the network comprising a plurality of tags, a plurality of readers that read the tags, a plurality of appliances that service the readers to provide information, and a plurality of actuators responsive to the appliances, the server for performing an application program in accordance with the information, the method comprising:

sending via the network a rule for use by an appliance of the plurality, the rule having a subject and a predicate, the subject specifying a criteria, the predicate specifying an action to be taken in response to the criteria being met;

receiving via the network identification of a particular tag of the plurality of tags, the appliance having applied the rule with respect to the particular tag, wherein applying the rule included;

(1) meeting the criteria in accordance with information from a particular reader of the plurality regarding the tag and ascertaining a physical location, the subject of the rule being insufficient to identify the particular reader; and

(2) to accomplish the action, activating a particular actuator of the plurality in accordance with the location, the predicate of the rule being insufficient to identify the particular actuator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the location is of the particular tag.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the location is of the particular reader.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the location is of the particular actuator.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving further comprises receiving the location in association with the identification.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein accomplishing the action further includes ascertaining an identity of a particular actuator in accordance with the location and activating the particular actuator of the plurality in accordance with the identity of the particular actuator.

7. A memory device comprising indicia of instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

8. A method performed by an appliance coupled to a network, the network comprising a plurality of tags, a plurality of readers that read the tags, a plurality of appliances including the appliance, the appliances for servicing the readers to provide information for a server, coupled to the network, the server for performing an application program in accordance with the information, the method comprising:

determining an unallocated capacity for service by the appliance;

determining a load for servicing a reader of the plurality; and

if the load fits within the unallocated capacity, providing a signal to the network for an other appliance of the plurality, the signal comprising an indication that the appliance can service the reader.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the signal further comprises an indication of the determined load.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising discovering that the reader is not currently receiving sufficient service.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a respective unallocated capacity for service of each other appliance of the plurality of appliances;

receiving a respective load of each reader of the plurality of readers; and

selecting the reader to implement a more uniform distribution of unallocated capacity in each of the appliances of the plurality of appliances.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the reader outputs a plurality of items for servicing; and

determining the load comprises determining a quantity of items output by the reader during an interval.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising obtaining from another appliance of the plurality a rule for servicing the reader.

14. A memory device comprising indicia of instructions for performing the method of claim 8.

15. A method performed by an appliance coupled to a network, the network comprising a plurality of tags, a plurality of readers that read the tags, a plurality of appliances including the appliance, the appliances for servicing the readers to provide information for a server, coupled to the network, the server for performing an application program in accordance with the information, the method comprising:

determining a figure of merit of communication between tags of the plurality of tags and readers of the plurality of readers;

sending information for a reader of the plurality of readers to adjust communication with tags in accordance with the information.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining a figure of merit comprises receiving a second figure of merit from each reader of the plurality.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second figure of merit is determined in accordance with a quantity of messages improperly received.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the second figure of merit is determined in accordance with a signal strength of a quantity of messages.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the second figure of merit is determined in accordance with a time spent receiving messages that were improperly received.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the second figure of merit is determined in accordance with an amplitude of noise when no messages are being received.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the network further comprises an actuator responsive to the appliance; and

the method further comprises operating the actuator to adjust communication between a reader of the plurality of readers and the plurality of tags.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein

the network further comprises a sensor;

and

determining the figure of merit is in accordance with reading the sensor.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the sensor comprises a spectrum analyzer.

24. A memory device comprising indicia of instructions for performing the method of claim 15.