Hybrid RFID and wireless communication system for tracking of assets and people and method thereof
An improved radio frequency identification (RFID) reader system includes a plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers located in different locations in an environment, one or more RFID tags, each RFID tag configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) response signal based on data stored on the RFID tag, and a wireless communication gateway. Each of the wireless integrated RFID readers includes an RFID antenna, an electronics module coupled to the RFID antenna configured to operate the RFID antenna and interpret data signals received at the RFID antenna from one or more RFID tags, and a wireless communication system of a first type configured to wirelessly communicate with wireless nodes of the RFID reader system. The wireless communication gateway includes a wireless communication system of the first type configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers.
1 . A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader system comprising:
a plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers located in different locations in an environment, each wireless integrated RFID reader comprising:
an RFID reader comprising an RFID antenna coupled to an electronics module, the electronics module configured to operate the RFID antenna, receive an interrogation signal from a RFID power delivery device, and interpret data signals received at the RFID antenna from one or more RFID tags, and
a wireless communication system of a first type configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other of the plurality of integrated RFID readers to reconstruct an original response signal generated by the RFID tag;
the one or more RFID tags, each RFID tag configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) response signal based on data stored on the RFID tag.
2 . The RFID reader system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless communication gateway comprising:
a wireless communication system of a second type; and
a wireless communication system of a third type configured to communicate with a server,
wherein, at least one of the plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers further comprises a wireless communication system of the second type for communicating with the wireless communication gateway,
and data from the one or more RFID tags is transmitted from the at least one of the plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers to the wireless communication gateway using the wireless communication system of the second type.
3 . The RFID reader system of claim 1 at least one of the plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers configured to wirelessly communicate with a server; wherein the server executes a control system configured to collect, store, and analyze data and communications associated with the plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers.
4 . The RFID reader system of claim 3 , wherein the wireless communication with the server occurs using one or more of a cellular communication system, wireless broadband communication system, a 4G communication system, an LTE communication system, a 5G communication system, and a satellite communication system.
5 . The RFID reader system of claim 3 , wherein the control system is associated with an asset tracking system for tracking assets that are associated with the one or more RFID tags.
6 . The RFID reader system of claim 5 , wherein the location of an asset associated with one of the one or more RFID tags is determined based on RFID communications that occur between one of the plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers and the one RFID tag.
7 . The RFID reader system of claim 1 , at least one of the wireless integrated RFID readers further comprises a battery for providing electrical power to the electronics module and the wireless communication system.
8 . The RFID reader system of claim 1 , wherein at least of the wireless integrated RFID readers receives electrical power from a power supply connected to an electrical power line or electrical power outlet.
9 . The RFID reader system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the wireless integrated RFID readers further comprises a wireless communication system of a third type configured to wirelessly connect to a wide area network or wirelessly connect to internet.
10 . The RFID reader system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the wireless integrated RFID readers transmits data received from RFID tags to a control system via a network connection using the wireless communication system of the third type.