METHOD FOR MONITORING THE FUNCTIONING OF AN RFID-BASED RADIO COMMUNICATION NETWORK IN A SPATIALLY EXTENSIVE AREA

• US 20140077934A1
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Identec Solutions AG
• Original Assignee: Identec Solutions AG
• Inventors: SCHWIERS, Stefan, WEHNS, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 9,405,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems

Abstract

A method for monitoring the functioning of an RFID-based radio communication network in a spatially extensive area, wherein a plurality of RFID tags carry out a radio communication with a reader, wherein in the area of coverage of the RFID system at least one fixed reference RFID tag is arranged that carries out a periodic radio communication with a reader and the data from which is compared in a control center with previously transmitted data.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the functioning of an RFID-based radio communication network in a spatially extensive area, wherein a plurality of RFID tags carry out a radio communication with a reader, comprising:

carrying out, in the area of coverage of the RFID system in which at least one fixed reference RFID tag is arranged, a periodic radio communication between the at least one fixed reference RFID tag and the reader;

sending the data from the reader to a control center;

comparing the data in the control center with previously transmitted data relating to the at least one reference RFID tag.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference RFID tag transmits at least the following data to the control center:

1. the ID of the reference tag,

2. the time of the radio communication, and

3. the residual life of the battery used, provided that batteries are used.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference RFID tag is additionally arranged in a marker field of a marker device that generates a spatially delimited electromagnetic field in a specific geographically delimited area of the area of coverage of the RFID system.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the control center relating to the radio communication with the reference RFID tag is field strength data indicating a field strength of the received radio communication, and the field strength data for each communication is compared with previously received field strength data.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising operating the reference RFID tag in a power saving mode that is interrupted only for periodically establishing the radio communication with the reader.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the reference RFID tag to the control center, data relating to field strength of a marker field.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the area of the RFID field at least one reference RFID tag is arranged which periodically establishes, as a reference, with the reader a wireless communication, which is checked against previous wireless communications between the at least one RFID tag and the reader.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control center, using the data received from the reference RFID tag, checks the continuous functioning of the entire RFID system in a spatially extensive local area, and also the functioning of the marker which transmits via a radio communication a I-Mark signal to the reference RFID Lag, which transmits data relating to a UHF reference signal and the I-Mark signal to the control center.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control center, in response to the comparison of the received data with the previously transmitted data, checks functioning of at least one antenna, the reader, at least one cable line, and at least one network component, and at least one component of the control center.

10. An apparatus for monitoring the functioning of an RFID-based radio communication network in a spatially extensive area, comprising:

a reader,

a control unit,

a plurality of RFID tags carrying out radio communications with the reader, and

at least one fixed reference RFID tag in the area of coverage of the RFID system that performs a periodic radio communication with the reader, and sends data relating to the periodic radio communication to the control center, wherein the control center compares the received data with previously transmitted data.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control center, in response to the comparison of the received data with the previously transmitted data, checks functioning of at least one antenna, the reader, at least one cable line, and at least one network component, and at least one component of the control center.