WIRELESS RFID NETWORKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Embodiments of the present invention include a wireless access point that acquires and processes radio frequency identification (RFID) information. The wireless access point may be coupled to a network of RFID readers over a wireless network. The RFID readers may read a plurality of RFID tags and transmit information to one or more readers. The readers may, in turn, transmit the RFID information to a wireless access point. The wireless access point may include a middleware layer for performing a variety of RFID data processing functions. In one embodiment, the wireless RFID reader network may be used to improve positioning of readers and tags, and may include a GPS system or position assisted GPS system at the reader and/or tag level.
1 . A wireless access point apparatus for acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
a first physical layer interface to a wireless link, wherein said first physical layer interface communicates first RFID data to said wireless access point from a plurality of RFID readers, wherein said plurality of RFID readers read a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein said first RFID data results from reading said plurality of RFID tags;
a second physical layer interface to a wired or wireless link, wherein said second physical layer interface communicates second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server;
wherein said wireless access point executes processing including:
receiving, from a first RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers, first tag information related to a first RFID tag of said plurality of RFID tags; and
storing said first tag information as said first RFID data.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point executes processing further including:
processing said first RFID data; and
transmitting said second RFID data to said server, wherein said second RFID data corresponds to said first RFID data having been processed.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said step of processing said first RFID data includes:
filtering said first RFID data to remove redundant data.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point executes processing further including:
determining a distance between each of said plurality of RFID readers; and
configuring a read request of said plurality of RFID readers, selectively, according to said step of determining said distance.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point executes processing further including:
updating said first RFID data when said first RFID tag moves from a first coverage area to a second coverage area, wherein said first coverage area is associated with said first RFID reader and said second coverage area is associated with a second RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point and said plurality of RFID readers are configured in a star network configuration.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point and said plurality of RFID readers are configured in a mesh network configuration.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point and said plurality of RFID readers are configured in a hybrid network configuration.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first tag information includes a position of said first RFID tag.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point executes further processing comprising:
receiving, from said first RFID reader, registration information indicating that said first RFID reader is in a first coverage area, wherein said first coverage area corresponds to said wireless access point;
storing said registration information;
transmitting said registration information to said server;
receiving, from said server when said first RFID reader has moved into a second coverage area corresponding to another wireless access point, revised registration information; and
updating said registration information with said revised registration information.
11 . A method of acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
reading, by a first RFID reader of a plurality of RFID readers, a first RFID tag of a plurality of RFID tags;
transmitting, on a wireless network link, first tag information related to said first RFID tag from said first RFID reader to a wireless access point;
storing, on said wireless access point, said first tag information as first RFID data;
processing, by said wireless access point, said first RFID data; and
transmitting, on a wired or wireless network link, second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server, wherein said second RFID data corresponds to said first RFID data having been processed.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said step of processing said first RFID data includes:
filtering said first RFID data to remove redundant data.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining a distance between each of said plurality of RFID readers; and
configuring, by said wireless access point, a read request of said plurality of RFID readers, selectively, according to said step of determining said distance.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
updating, by said wireless access point, said first RFID data when said first RFID tag moves from a first coverage area to a second coverage area, wherein said first coverage area is associated with said first RFID reader and said second coverage area is associated with a second RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said first tag information includes a position of said first RFID tag.
16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
transmitting, on said wireless network link from said first RFID reader to said wireless access point, registration information indicating that said first RFID reader is in a first coverage area, wherein said first coverage area corresponds to said wireless access point;
storing, on said wireless access point, said registration information;
transmitting, on said wired or wireless network link, said registration information from said wireless access point to said server;
transmitting, on said wired or wireless network link, revised registration information from said server to said wireless access point, when said first RFID reader has moved into a second coverage area corresponding to another wireless access point; and
updating, on said wireless access point, said registration information with said revised registration information.
17 . A wireless access point apparatus for acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
a first physical layer interface to a wireless link, wherein said first physical layer interface communicates first RFID data to said wireless access point from a plurality of RFID readers, wherein said plurality of readers read a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein said first RFID data results from reading said plurality of RFID tags;
a second physical layer interface to a wired or wireless link, wherein said second physical layer interface communicates second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server;
wherein said wireless access point executes processing including:
receiving, from more than one RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers, a plurality of first tag information related to a first RFID tag of said plurality of RFID tags;
estimating a position of said first RFID tag based on said plurality of first tag information and on a position of each of said more than one RFID reader; and
transmitting said second RFID data to said server, wherein said second RFID data includes said position of said first RFID tag.
18 . The wireless access point of claim 17 , wherein said step of estimating said position is based on a region of overlapping coverage of said more than one RFID reader.
19 . The wireless access point of claim 17 , wherein said step of estimating said position is based on a received power, angle of reception, time of arrival, a carrier phase.
20 . The wireless access point of claim 19 , wherein said step of estimating said position is based on a differential measurement between two tags or two readers.
21 - 32 . (canceled)