Optimizing an interrogation of a tag population
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for optimizing an interrogation of a tag population that includes a plurality of tags. The method includes defining a number of time slots allocated to a first read cycle, and selecting a different number of time slots allocated to a second read cycle based on a duration of the first read cycle.
1 . A method of optimizing an interrogation of a tag population that includes a plurality of tags, comprising:
defining a number of time slots allocated to a first read cycle; and
selecting a different number of time slots allocated to a second read cycle based on a duration of the first read cycle.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
computing a number of tags in the tag population based on the number of time slots allocated to the first read cycle.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
defining a step size for the first read cycle, wherein the step size comprises at least one time slot.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
selecting a different step size for the second read cycle based on the duration of the first read cycle.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring interrogation efficiency during a measurement epoch;
determining whether the measured interrogation efficiency is acceptable; and
repeating the defining and selecting steps if the measured interrogation efficiency is not acceptable.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining step comprises the step of determining whether the measured interrogation efficiency is greater than a predetermined threshold.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the measuring step comprises the step of calculating:
E=T min /T actual , wherein:
E is the interrogation efficiency;
T actual is the actual time it takes to perform an interrogation of a tag population; and
T min is the minimum possible time required to interrogate the same tag population.
8 . A system for optimizing an interrogation of a tag population that includes a plurality of tags, comprising:
means for defining a number of time slots allocated to a first read cycle; and
means for selecting a different number of time slots allocated to a second read cycle based on a duration of the first read cycle.
9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
means for computing a number of tags in the tag population based on the number of time slots allocated to the first read cycle.
10 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
means for defining a step size for the first read cycle, wherein the step size comprises at least one time slot.
11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
means for selecting a different step size for the second read cycle based on the duration of the first read cycle.
12 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
means for measuring interrogation efficiency during a measurement epoch;
means for determining whether the measured interrogation efficiency is acceptable; and
means for repeating the defining and selecting means if the measured interrogation efficiency is not acceptable.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining whether the measured interrogation efficiency is greater than a predetermined threshold.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the means for measuring comprises means for calculating:
E=T min /T actual , wherein:
E is the interrogation efficiency;
T actual is the actual time it takes to perform an interrogation of a tag population; and
T min is the minimum possible time required to interrogate the same tag population.