RFID reader with camera, video, and/or audio capture device

1. A method, comprising:

reading a plurality of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags using an RFID reader;

capturing media using a media capture device in response to determining that a trigger event has occurred, the trigger event including at least one of:

a first type of trigger event wherein a RFID tag of the plurality of read RFID tags is included in a predetermined class of RFID tags, wherein the predetermined class of RFID tags includes one of Class-1 RFID tags, Class-2 RFID tags, Class-3 RFID tags, and Class-4 RFID tags, and

a second type of trigger event wherein a signal strength of a RFID tag of the plurality of read RFID tags has changed beyond a predetermined threshold;

performing first processing on the captured media when the trigger event includes the first type of trigger event; and

performing second processing on the captured media when the trigger event includes the second type of trigger event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media includes audio data, wherein at least one of the media capture device and the RFID reader stores audio data therein.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media capture device is embedded in a corner of a housing of the antenna for minimizing an effect of the media capture device on the antenna.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media includes image data, and further comprising engaging a light source when the media is captured to illuminate a location corresponding to the image data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader is configured to read the plurality of RFID tags continuously or semi-continuously and detect signal strength measurement changes from the plurality of RFID tags.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media capture device includes a camera operating in an invisible spectra for taking one or more of still photographs and video recordings in the invisible spectra.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger event is further based on a sensor reading, the sensor being configured to detect an environmental condition.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the environmental condition is selected from a group consisting of temperature, humidity, Ph, sunlight, ultraviolet light, chemicals, radioactivity, pathogens, presence of bacteria, presence of viruses, presence of prions, carbon dioxide level.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising making an angle of arrival determination, and steering the media capture device towards a direction of an RFID read event based on the angle of arrival determination.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein media captured by the media capture device is used to verify data corresponding to an angle of arrival.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising steering the media capture device based on an RFID read event associated with a particular RFID tag and knowledge of a location of the particular RFID tag.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the media in a memory coupled to at least one of the media capture device and the RFID reader.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising storing information about an RFID read event with the media.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising processing the media in a predefined manner based on a particular RFID read event.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing at least one of the first processing and the second processing includes performing image facial recognition based on the trigger event.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing at least one of the first processing and the second processing includes performing voice recognition based on the trigger event.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting optical bar codes related to an RFID tag.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting an RFID read event, and in response thereto, sending an alarm to a predetermined individual, system, and/or entity.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising outputting at least one of visual and audible output using a device coupled to the RFID reader upon occurrence of the trigger event.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving at least one of tactile and audible input using a device coupled to the RFID reader upon occurrence of the trigger event.