SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AN RFID READER AND AN RFID TAG

1 . A method for optimizing communication between an RFID reader and an RFID tag comprising:

detecting the tag;

passively determining a tag type for the tag;

selecting an optimization goal;

determining an optimal parameter set for communicating with the tag, based on the tag type and the optimization goal; and

reconfiguring the reader using the optimal parameter set to communicate with the tag.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the optimization goal is selected from the set of goals consisting of tag range, anti-collision effectiveness, noise tolerance, transaction speed, and communication reliability.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further including adjusting reader operating parameters in accordance with the tag and known tag attributes.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further including constructing a tag fingerprint using measured attributes determined from passive inspection of the tag.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further including constructing a tag fingerprint by actively probing the tag.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further including:

searching a tag identification database for a match between the tag and a profile/rule including reader operating parameters; and

reconfiguring the RFID reader, using a corresponding specific tag profile when a tag matches a specific tag fingerprint in the database, else using a general seed profile rule that matches a corresponding rule in the database.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the reader operating parameters include specific tag fingerprints and general seed profile rules.

8 . A system for optimizing communication between an RFID reader and an RFID tag comprising:

an RFID reader for communicating with the tag;

RFID reader operating parameters stored in the reader; and

a database in which is stored multiple sets of RFID reader operating profiles;

wherein:

the tag-type of the tag is determined;

an optimization goal is selected;

an optimal parameter set for communicating with the tag is determined based on the tag type and the optimization goal; and

the reader is reconfigured using the optimal parameter set to communicate with the tag.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the optimization goal is selected from the set of goals consisting of tag range, anti-collision effectiveness, noise tolerance, transaction speed, and communication reliability.

10 . The system of claim 8 , further including adjusting reader operating parameters in accordance with the tag and known tag attributes.

11 . The system of claim 8 , further including constructing a tag fingerprint using measured attributes determined from passive inspection of the tag.

12 . The system of claim 8 , further including constructing a tag fingerprint by actively probing the tag.

13 . The system of claim 8 , further including:

searching a tag identification database for a match between the tag and a profile/rule including reader operating parameters; and

reconfiguring the RFID reader, using a corresponding specific tag profile when a tag matches a specific tag fingerprint in the database, else using a general seed profile rule that matches a corresponding rule in the database.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the reader operating parameters include specific tag fingerprints and general seed profile rules.

15 . A method for optimizing communication between an RFID reader and an RFID tag comprising:

detecting the tag;

passively determining a tag type for the tag;

selecting an optimization goal;

determining an optimal parameter set for communicating with the tag, based on the tag type and the optimization goal;

reconfiguring the reader using the optimal parameter set to communicate with the tag;

searching a tag identification database for a match between the tag and a profile/rule indicating reader operating parameters; and

reconfiguring the RFID reader, using a corresponding specific tag profile when a tag matches a specific tag fingerprint in the database, else using a general seed profile rule that matches a corresponding rule in the database.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the optimization goal is selected from the set of goals consisting of tag range, anti-collision effectiveness, noise tolerance, transaction speed, and communication reliability.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further including adjusting reader operating parameters in accordance with the tag and known tag attributes.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further including constructing a tag fingerprint using measured attributes determined from passive inspection of the tag.

19 . The method of claim 1 , further including:

determining the tag's implementation by passively measuring the tag's attributes; and

determining the tag type from the implementation thus determined.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tag type is determined from tag characteristics selected from the group consisting of the tag's silicon manufacturer, the tag's version, and an aspect of the tag's inlay.

21 . The system of claim 8 , further including:

determining the tag's implementation by passively measuring the tag's attributes; and

determining the tag type from the implementation thus determined.

22 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the tag type is determined from tag characteristics selected from the group consisting of the tag's silicon manufacturer, the tag's version, and an aspect of the tag inlay.

23 . The method of claim 15 , further including:

determining the tag's implementation by passively measuring the tag's attributes; and

determining the tag type from the implementation thus determined.

24 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the tag type is determined from tag characteristics selected from the group consisting of the tag's silicon manufacturer, the tag's version, and an aspect of the tag's inlay.