Systems and methods for Q value determination

1. A method of determining a Q value for use by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader in an inventory round, the inventory round classifying each slot of the inventory round as either an empty slot, a collided slot, or singly occupied slot, the method comprising:

(a) determining, by a RFID tag reader, at least one of: a number of empty slots, a number of collided slots, and a number of singly occupied slots, in response to the completion of an inventory round; and

(b) applying, by the RFID tag reader, a function to at least one of: the number of empty slots, the number of collided slots, and the number of singly occupied slots, to determine a Q value for another inventory round, wherein applying the function comprises applying a base 2 logarithm function to the sum of (i) the number of singly occupied slots multiplied by a first value and (ii) the number of collided slots multiplied by a second value greater than one.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sum further comprises a the number of empty slots multiplied by a third value.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting a message to zero or more RFID tags during each slot of the inventory round and analyzing a response from at least one of the one or more RFID tags for the presence of a pilot tone.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein analyzing the response comprises detecting a phase change in the response.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second value is two.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the first value is one.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein applying a function comprises using a series to estimate a logarithm of at least one of: the number of empty slots, the number collided slots, and the number of singly occupied slots.

8. A system for determining a Q value for use by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader in an inventory round, the inventory round classifying each slot of the inventory round as either an empty slot, a collided slot, or singly occupied slot, the system comprising:

a transmitter that transmits, to zero or more RFID tags, a message during a slot of an inventory round;

a receiver that receives a response from at least one of the zero or more RFID tags; and

a processing unit that determines at least one of: a number of empty slots, a number of collided slots, and a number of singly occupied slots, in response to the completion of an inventory round and applies a function to at least one of: the number of empty slots, the number collided slots, and the number of singly occupied slots, to determine a Q value for another inventory round, wherein applying the function comprises applying a base 2 logarithm function to the sum of (i) the number of singly occupied slots multiplied by a first value and (ii) the number of collided slots multiplied by a second value greater than one.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processing unit comprises a digital signal processor.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the processing unit comprises a field programmable gate array.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the processing unit comprises an application specific integrated circuit.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the processing unit comprises a microprocessor.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the sum further comprises the number of empty slots multiplied by a third value.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the receiver further analyzes the response for the presence of a pilot tone.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the receiver further detects a phase change in the response.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the second value is two.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the first value is one.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein the processing unit uses a series to estimate a logarithm of at least one of: the number of empty slots, the number collided slots, and the number of singly occupied slots.

19. A system for determining a Q value for use by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader in an inventory round, the inventory round classifying each slot of the inventory round as either an empty slot, a collided slot, or singly occupied slot, the system comprising:

means for determining at least one of: a number of empty slots, a number of collided slots, and a number of singly occupied slots, in response to the completion of an inventory round; and

means for applying a function to at least one of: the number of empty slots, the number collided slots, and the number of singly occupied slots, to determine a Q value for another inventory round, wherein applying the function comprises applying a base 2 logarithm function to the sum of (i) the number of singly occupied slots multiplied by a first value and (ii) the number of collided slots multiplied by a second value greater than one.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the sum further comprises a the number of empty slots multiplied by a third value.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising means for transmitting a message to zero or more RFID tags during each slot of the inventory round and analyzing a response from at least one of the one or more RFID tags for the presence of a pilot tone.

22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising means for detecting a phase change in the response.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the second value is two.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the multiple of the first value is one.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for applying a function comprises means for using a series to estimate a logarithm of at least one of: the number of empty slots, the number collided slots, and the number of singly occupied slots.