Methods and apparatuses to identify devices

• US 9,483,671 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RUIZHANG TECHNOLOGY LIMITED COMPANY
• Original Assignee: RUIZHANG TECHNOLOGY LIMITED COMPANY
• Inventors: Smith, John Stephen, Carrender, Curtis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rostami, Mohammad S
• Application Number:
  US14/303,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include systems with Readers and Tags in which a Reader queries the Tags with a parameter that includes a level of probability of reply according to which the Tags individually and randomly decide whether or not to reply. In one embodiment, the Tags can switch between two states: A and B. The query command also specifies a state (A or B) so that only the Tags in the specified state can reply. After successfully sending the Tag identification data from a Tag to the Reader, the Tag switches to the other state from the specified state. In one embodiment, the operations about the two states are symmetric. In one embodiment, the Tags can remember the parameters used in a query so that a short form of query command can be used to repeat the query with the same query parameters.

Claims

1. A tag responsive to queries from a reader, the tag comprising:

an antenna;

an Integrated Circuit (IC) coupled to the antenna, the IC configured to

receive from the reader a first query command comprising a first value of a probability parameter and a first state flag for the tag,

the IC configured to receive a second query command comprising a second value of a probability parameter and a second state flag for the tag, wherein the tag is configured to determine if the state of the tag matches to one of the first state flag or the second state flag, and the IC configured to reply to the first query command according to the first value of the probability parameter and to ignore the second query command, if the state of the tag matches to the first state flag, wherein the IC is configured to reply to the second query command according to the second value of the probability parameter and to ignore the first query command, if the state of the tag matches to the second state flag.

2. The tag of claim 1, wherein the IC coupled to the antenna is further to send a reply with first handshaking data according to the first value of the probability parameter, and wherein the IC coupled to the antenna is further configured to send, responsive to receiving from the reader a handshake command comprising the first handshake data, a reply with tag identification data.

3. The tag of claim 1, wherein the first value of the probability parameter is an integer Q, the first probability of reply for one of the plurality of tags is substantially equal to p^Q, and p is less than 1.

4. The tag of claim 1, the IC coupled to the antenna further to switch, from the first state to the second state, wherein after receiving a command indicating an error in receiving tag identification data at the reader, the tag remains in the first state if first query command is received after the command indicating the error.

5. The tag of claim 1, wherein the first query command comprises the first value of the probability parameter, and wherein the IC coupled to the antenna is further to:

receive a third query command which does not include the first value of the probability parameter; and

to reply to the third query command according to the first value of the probability parameter.

6. An apparatus to query a tag configured to be in a state that corresponds to one of a first state flag or a second state flag, comprising:

an antenna; and

a reader, comprising;

a receiver coupled to the antenna;

a transmitter coupled to the antenna;

a processor coupled to the receiver, the transmitter and a memory, the processor to control the transmitter and the receiver,

the reader to broadcast a first query command comprising a first value of a probability parameter and the first state flag, the reader further configured to broadcast a second query command comprising a second value of a probability parameter and the second state flag, the first query command to cause the tag to determine if the state of the tag matches the first state flag, and to reply to the first query command according to the first value of the probability parameter and to ignore the second query command, if the state of the tag matches to the first state flag; and

the second query command to cause the tag to determine if the state of the tag matches the second state flag, and to reply to the second query command according to the second value of the probability parameter and to ignore the first query command, if the state of the tag matches to the second state flag.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the reader is further to receive a reply with first handshaking data according to the first value of the probability parameter;

the reader is further to send a handshake command comprising the first handshake data, the reader is further to broadcast, responsive to a determination that there is no reply to the first query command, a third query command comprising a third value of the probability parameter, the third value of the probability parameter indicating a probability of reply which is greater than the probability of reply according to the first value of the probability parameter.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, the reader further to broadcast, responsive to a determination that there is no legible reply to the first query command, a fourth query command comprising a fourth value of the probability parameter, the fourth value of the probability parameter indicating a probability of reply which is less than the probability of reply according to the first value of the probability parameter.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first value of the probability parameter is an integer Q, the first probability of reply for one of the plurality of tags is substantially equal to p^Q, and p is less than 1.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first query command comprises the first value of the probability parameter, and wherein the reader is further to send a third query command which does not include the first value of the probability parameter, and to receive a response to the third query command according to the first value of the probability parameter.

11. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions which when executed on a data processing system causes the system to perform a method to respond to queries from a reader, the method comprising:

receiving from the reader a first query command comprising a first value of a probability parameter and a first state flag for a tag;

receiving a second query command, the second query command comprising a second value of a probability parameter and a second state flag, the tag configured to determine if the state of the tag matches to one of the first state flag or the second state flag;

replying to the first query command according to the first value of the probability parameter and ignoring the second query command, if the state of the tag matches to the first state flag, replying to the second query command according to the second value of the probability parameter and ignoring the first query command, if the state of the tag matches to the second state flag.

12. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that cause the data processing system to perform the method comprising

sending a reply with first handshaking data according to the first value of the probability parameter;

and

sending, responsive to receiving from the reader a handshake command comprising the first handshake data, a reply with tag identification data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first value of the probability parameter is an integer Q, the first probability of reply is substantially equal to p^Q, and p is less than 1.

14. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that cause the data processing system to perform the method comprising

switching from the first state to the second state, wherein after receiving a command indicating an error in receiving the tag identification data at the reader, the tag remains in the first state if first query command is received after the command indicating the error.

15. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first query command comprises the first value of the probability parameter, and wherein the medium further comprises instructions that cause the data processing system to perform the method comprising

receiving a third query command which does not include the first value of the probability parameter;

and

replying to the third query command according to the first value of the probability parameter.

16. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions which when executed on a data processing system causes the system to perform a method to query a tag configured to be in a state that matches to one of a first state flag or a second state flag, the method comprising:

broadcasting a first query command comprising a first value of a probability parameter and a first state flag to a tag, broadcasting a second query command comprising a second value of a probability parameter and a second state flag, the first query command to cause the tag to determine if the state of the tag matches the first state flag and to reply to the first query command according to the first value of a probability parameter and to ignore the second query command, if the state of the tag matches to the first state flag; and

the second query command to cause the tag to determine if the state of the tag matches the second state flag, and to reply to the second query command according to the second value of the probability parameter and to ignore the first query command, if the state of the tag matches to the second state flag.

17. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause the data processing system to perform the method comprising

receiving a reply with first handshaking data according to the first value of the probability parameter;

sending a handshake command comprising the first handshake data,

broadcasting, responsive to a determination that there is no reply to the first query command, a third query command comprising a third value of the probability parameter, the third value of the probability parameter indicating a probability of reply which is greater than the probability of reply according to the first value of the probability parameter.

18. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause the data processing system to perform the method comprising broadcasting, responsive to a determination that there is no legible reply to the first query command, a fourth query command comprising a fourth value of the probability parameter, the fourth value of the probability parameter indicating a probability of reply which is less than the probability of reply according to the first value of the probability parameter.

19. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first value of the probability parameter is an integer Q, the first probability of reply for one of the plurality of tags is substantially equal to p^Q, and p is less than 1.

20. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first query command comprises the first value of the probability parameter, and wherein the medium further comprises instructions that cause the data processing system to perform the method comprising

sending a third query command which does not include the first value of the probability parameter, and

receiving a response to the third query command according to the first value of the probability parameter.

21. A method at a tag to respond to queries from a reader comprising:

receiving from the reader a first query command comprising a first value of a probability parameter and a first state flag for a tag, the tag configured to be in a state that matches to one of the first state flag or the second state flag;

receiving a second query command comprising a second value of a probability parameter and a second state flag;

determining if the state of the tag matches the first state flag;

replying to the first query command according to the first value of a probability parameter and ignoring the second query command, if the state of the tag matches to the first state flag,

replying to the second query command according to the second value of the probability parameter and ignoring the first query command, if the state of the tag matches to the second state flag.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising

sending a reply with first handshaking data according to the first value of the probability parameter;

and

sending, responsive to receiving from the reader a handshake command comprising the first handshake data, a reply with tag identification data.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first value of the probability parameter is an integer Q, the first probability of reply is substantially equal to p^Q, and p is less than 1.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising

switching from the first state to the second state, wherein after receiving a command indicating an error in receiving the tag identification data at the reader, the tag remains in the first state if first query command is received after the command indicating the error.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first query command comprises the first value of the probability parameter, and wherein the method further comprises

receiving a third query command which does not include the first value of the probability parameter;

and

replying to the third query command according to the first value of the probability parameter.

26. A method to query a tag, the method comprising:

broadcasting a first query command comprising a first value of a probability parameter and a first state flag;

broadcasting a second query command comprising a second value of a probability parameter and a second state flag, the first query command to cause the tag to determine if the state of the tag matches to the first state flag and to reply to the first query command according to the first value of the probability parameter and to ignore the second query command, if the state of the tag matches to the first state flag; and

the second query command to cause the tag to determine if the state of the tag matches the second state flag, and to reply to the second query command according to the second value of the probability parameter and to ignore the first query command, if the state of the tag matches to the second state flag.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising

receiving a reply with first handshaking data according to the first value of the probability parameter;

sending a handshake command comprising the first handshake data,

broadcasting, responsive to a determination that there is no reply to the first query command, a third query command comprising a third value of the probability parameter, the third value of the probability parameter indicating a probability of reply which is greater than the probability of reply according to the first value of the probability parameter.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising

broadcasting, responsive to a determination that there is no legible reply to the first query command, a fourth query command comprising a fourth value of the probability parameter, the fourth value of the probability parameter indicating a probability of reply which is less than the probability of reply according to the first value of the probability parameter.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first value of the probability parameter is an integer Q, the first probability of reply for one of the plurality of tags is substantially equal to p^Q, and p is less than 1.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the first query command comprises the first value of the probability parameter, and wherein the method further comprises

sending a third query command which does not include the first value of the probability parameter, and

receiving a response to the third query command according to the first value of the probability parameter.