SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBJECT LOCALIZATION AND PATH IDENTIFICATION BASED ON RFID SENSING
A networked radio frequency identification system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the RFID tag readers over a network, and a software module for storage on and operable by the computer that localizes RFID tags based on information received from the RFID tag readers using a network model having endpoints and oriented links. In an additional example, at least one of the RFID tag readers includes an adjustable configuration setting selected from RF signal strength, antenna gain, antenna polarization, and antenna orientation. In a further aspect, the system localizes RFID tags based on hierarchical threshold limit calculations. In an additional aspect, the system controls a locking device associated with an access point based on localization of an authorized RFID tag at the access point and reception of additional authorizing information from an input device.
1 . A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for localizing an RFID tag, the system comprising:
a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers;
a computer in signal communication with the plurality of RFID tag readers over a network;
a memory associated with the computer, the memory storing a semantic model having a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints being associated with one or more of the RFID tag readers;
the memory further containing a software module operable by the computer to localize the RFID tag based on data received from the RFID tag readers;
the software module further being configured to enable the computer to validate the RFID tag by:
determining a semantic attribute for the RFID tag based on the presence of the RFID tag at a first one of the plurality endpoints, the presence at the first one of the plurality of endpoints being based on the data received from at least one of the RFID tag readers; and
determining whether the semantic attribute is contained within a semantic route for the RFID tag, wherein the semantic route is stored either in the computer memory or in a memory on the RFID tag.
2 . The RFID system of claim 1 , wherein the semantic attribute is determined based on a value measured by an environmental sensor.
3 . The RFID system of claim 1 , wherein the semantic attribute is determined based on determining the presence of the RFID tag at a second one of the plurality of endpoints.
4 . The RFID system of claim 1 , wherein the software module is further configured to update the semantic route and to store the semantic route in the computer memory.
5 . The RFID system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is configured to update the semantic route and to store the semantic route in the RFID tag memory.
6 . A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for localizing an RFID tag, the system comprising:
a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers;
a computer in signal communication with the plurality of RFID tag readers over a network;
a memory associated with the computer, the memory storing a semantic model having a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints being associated with one or more of the RFID tag readers;
the memory further containing a software module operable by the computer to localize the RFID tag based on data received from the RFID tag readers;
the software module further being configured to enable the computer to change an activation status of the RFID tag by:
determining a semantic attribute for the RFID tag based on the presence of the RFID tag at a first one of the plurality endpoints and an oriented link associated with the tag at the first one of the plurality of endpoints, the presence at the first one of the plurality of endpoints being based on the data received from at least one of the RFID tag readers; and
changing the activation status based on the determined semantic attribute.
7 . The RFID system of claim 6 , wherein the activation status is one of enabled or disabled.
8 . A method of forming a semantic group for a group of RFID tags using an RFID localization system having a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the plurality of RFID tag readers over a network, a memory associated with the computer, the memory storing a semantic model having a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints being associated with one or more of the RFID tag readers, the method comprising:
changing the activation status of the group of RFID tags;
detecting that the group of RFID tags is present at a first location;
specifying a group semantic attribute for the group of RFID tags; and
assigning the group semantic attribute to the group of RFID tags.
9 . A method of forming a semantic group for a group of RFID tags using an RFID localization system having a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the plurality of RFID tag readers over a network, a memory associated with the computer, the memory storing a semantic model having a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints being associated with one or more of the RFID tag readers, the method comprising:
detecting that the group of RFID tags and an additional RFID tag is present at a first location; and
assigning a group semantic attribute to the group of RFID tags based on a semantic attribute assigned to the additional RFID tag.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the group semantic attribute comprises an activation status.