Automated RFID Reader Detection

• US 20100237994A1
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lavin, David Kenneth, Carraher, Theodore Robert, Hyre, Bruce Henry
• Granted Patent: US 8,860,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2488 Timing issues, e.g. synchronising measures to avoid signal collision, with multiple emitters or a single emitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Included are network devices, systems, methods, and computer readable medium. These may employ a microcontroller with access to computer readable memory and computer readable storage wherein the microcontroller operates at a first network component of a local area network. The microcontroller may be configured to spatially locate one or more fiducial network components of a local area network in which the microcontroller is a member. The spatial location may be determined by receiving a unique identifier for a first fiducial network component, receiving a wireless signal from a first fiducial network component, determining a physical distance between the first network component and the first fiducial network component, and updating a registry with the determined physical distance. In certain embodiments, the network component may be an RFID reader and the unique identifier may be an IP or MAC address.

Claims

1. A network component comprising:

a microcontroller having access to computer readable memory and computer readable storage, the microcontroller operating at a first network component of a local area network; and

,

an antenna in communication with the microcontroller, the antenna configured to at least transmit or receive radio frequency electromagnetic waves,

wherein, during its operation, the microcontroller is configured to spatially locate one or more fiducial network components in a local area network in which the microcontroller is a member,

wherein, during its operation, the microcontroller determines the spatial location of one or more fiducial network components by;

receiving a unique identifier for a first fiducial network component from the one or more fiducial network components,

receiving a wireless signal from the first fiducial network component,

determining a physical distance between the first network component and the first fiducial network component, and

updating a registry with the determined physical distance.

2. The network component of claim 1 wherein the first fiducial network component is an RFID reader.

3. The network component of claim 2 wherein the unique identifier is an IP address or MAC address.

4. The network component of claim 2 wherein the microcontroller is further configured to query known RFID readers in a network and, in response to this query, determine a physical distance between the network component and one or more known RFID readers.

5. The network component of claim 4, wherein the microcontroller operates within an RFID reader.

6. The network component of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is received from an active RFID tag.

7. The network component of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is received from a passive RFID tag and wherein the registry is updated with a direction and a physical distance.

8. A method of locating fiducial network components, the method comprising:

operating instructions at a microcontroller of a first network component of a local area network, the microcontroller having access to computer readable memory and computer readable storage and in communication with an antenna configured to at least transmit or receive radio frequency electromagnetic waves,

wherein, when carrying out the instructions, the microcontroller spatially locates one or more fiducial network components in a local area network in which the microcontroller is a member,

wherein, when carrying out the instructions, the microcontroller determines the spatial location of one or more fiducial network components by;

receiving a unique identifier for a first fiducial network component from the one or more fiducial network components,

receiving a wireless signal from the first fiducial network component,

determining a physical distance between the first network component and the first fiducial network component, and

updating a registry with the determined physical distance.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first fiducial network component is an RFID reader.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the unique identifier is an IP or MAC address.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the microcontroller further queries known RFID readers in a network and, in response to this query, determines a physical distance or relative direction between the network component and one or more known RFID readers.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the microcontroller operates within an RFID reader.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the unique identifier is received from an active RFID tag.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the unique identifier is received from a passive RFID tag.

15. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by a microprocessor cause the microprocessor to carryout steps comprising:

spatially locating one or more fiducial network components of a local area network in which the microcontroller is a member by;

receiving a unique identifier for a first fiducial network component from one or more fiducial network components,

receiving a wireless signal from a first fiducial network component,

determining a physical distance between a first network component and the first fiducial network component, and

updating a registry with the determined physical distance.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the wireless signal is a radio signal, such as an RFID signal.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the registry includes information identifying components of the local area network and wherein the registry is accessible by the components of the local area network.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein determining the physical distance includes determining the direction between components as well.