Apparatus for and method of using an intelligent network and RFID signal router

• US 20060220875A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Kaenel, Tim von, Campero, Richard J., Trivelpiece, Steve, Cocotis, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/366,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220875A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems for, and methods of transporting digital signals and radio-frequency (“RF”) signals are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an intelligent network (e.g., a combination router) and corresponding method are provided for transporting RF signals to, for example, an RFID antenna and transporting digital signals to, for example, a controller. In a preferred embodiment, the intelligent network is implemented with a manager unit for controlling a plurality of network devices to facilitate the efficient management of RFID-enabled devices. The network devices may include a combination router/switch, which has the capability of switching both digital data and RF data, RFID readers, RFID reader/writer pads, and other devices. In accordance with preferred embodiments, the intelligent network allows enhanced flexibility in controlling systems for interrogation of RFID antennae.

Claims

1. An RFID enabled system comprising:

at least one RFID antenna system; and

at least one combination device for selecting a communication route for transporting at least one RF signal to the at least one RFID antenna system and for transporting at least one digital signal to the at least one RFID antenna system.

2. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the at least one combination device comprises at least one combination router,

wherein the at least one combination router further comprises at least one logical unit capable of selecting a communication route to transport the at least one RF signal to the at least one RFID antenna system.

3. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the at least one combination device comprises at least one combination router,

wherein the at least one combination router further comprises at least one logical unit capable of selecting a communication route to transport the at least one digital signal to the at least one RFID antenna system.

4. The RFID enabled system of claim 2, wherein the at least one combination router further comprises at least one data router and at least one RF router, wherein the at least one data router is capable of transporting digital signals to an RFID controller on the at least one RFID antenna system, and the at least one RF router is capable of transmitting RF signals from an RFID reader to the RFID antenna system.

5. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the communication route selected by the combination device for digital signals is substantially the same as the communication route selected by the combination device for the RF signal.

6. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the communication route selected by the combination device for the digital signal is substantially different from the communication route selected by the combination device for the RF signal.

7. The RFID enabled system of claim 6, wherein the at least one digital signal is divided in packets for transmission over the communication route.

8. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the communication route selected by the combination device for RF signals is substantially the same as the communication route selected by the combination device for the digital signal.

9. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the communication route selected by the combination device for the RF signal is substantially different from the communication route selected by the combination device for the digital signal.

10. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the communication route selected by the combination device for digital signals is similar to the communication route selected by the combination device for the RF signal.

11. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, further comprising a primary controller coupled to the combination device, wherein the primary controller transmits signals to the combination device.

12. The RFID enabled system of claim 11, further comprising:

an electronic network;

a plurality of readers; and

a plurality of primary controllers, wherein at least one primary controller is coupled to the electronic network, and wherein the at least one combination device comprises first and second combination devices;

wherein at least one of the plurality of primary controllers is coupled to both the first and second combination device, and wherein at least one of the plurality of readers is coupled to both the first and second combination device.

13. The RFID enabled system of claim 12, wherein the electronic network is selected from the group consisting of:

the Internet, a local network, Ethernet, CAN, serial, LAN, and WAN.

14. The RFID enabled system of claim 11, further comprising an RF reader coupled to the combination device, wherein the RF reader transmits signals to the combination device.

15. The RFID enabled system of claim 14, wherein the primary controller is coupled to an electronic network.

16. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, further comprising:

a primary controller; and

an RF reader,

wherein the primary controller controls the RF reader.

17. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of combination devices connectable to network devices selected from the group consisting of:

combination routers, combination switches, and controllers.

18. The RFID enabled system of claim 17, further comprising:

a primary controller; and

an RF reader,

wherein the primary controller and RF reader are each connectable to at least two of the plurality of combination device.

19. The RFID enabled system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of combination device comprises a plurality of combination routers,

wherein each of the plurality of combination routers comprises a logic unit.

20. The RFID enabled system of claim 19, wherein each logic unit is capable of communicating with at least one other logic unit.

21. The RFID enabled system of claim 17, wherein the primary controller controls route optimization and selection.

22. The RFID enabled system of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of primary controllers, wherein the plurality of primary controllers controls route optimization and selection.

23. The RFID enabled system of claim 17, wherein at least one of said plurality of combination devices controls route optimization and selection.

24. The RFID enabled system of claim 17, wherein the network controls route optimization and selection, and at least one of said plurality of combination devices transports a plurality of routes substantially simultaneously.

25. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the at least one combination device determines a communication route based on operational readiness of devices along the route.

26. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the combination device is configured to perform a system diagnostic.

27. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the combination device is configured transmit a status.

28. The RFID enabled system of claim 27, wherein the transmitted status is based on real-time or logged information.

29. The RFID enabled system of claim 1, wherein the at least one digital signal comprises at least one data signal.