Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag(s) and sensor(s)
A method begins by a first radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor, that is associated with a first object element, receiving a first data request signal from an RFID reader and sending a first radio frequency (RF) signal that includes first data to the RFID reader in response to the first data request signal. The method continues with a second RFID sensor receiving a second data request signal from, and sending second data to, the RFID reader. The method continues with the RFID reader sending a representation of the first and second data to a data processing unit, which processes the representation of the first and second data to determine a first and second data point regarding first and second object elements. The method continues by the data processing unit processing the first and second data points to determine an environmental relationship between the first and second object elements.
1. A method comprises:
receiving, by a first radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor, a first data request signal from an RFID reader, wherein the first RFID sensor is associated with a first object element;
sending, by the first RFID sensor, a first radio frequency (RF) signal that includes first data to the RFID reader in response to the first data request signal, wherein the first data is information regarding the first object element and wherein the first RFID sensor generates the first data by:
detecting a variance of one or more RF characteristics of the first RFID sensor from a desired value of the one or more RF characteristics, wherein the one or more RF characteristics includes one or more of an impedance at a frequency, a resonant frequency, a quality factor and a gain;
adjusting, based on the variance, a tuning circuit of the first RFID sensor to substantially re-establish the desired value of the one or more RF characteristics; and
generating the first data in accordance with the adjusting of the tuning circuit that was based on the variance;
receiving, by a second RFID sensor, a second data request signal from the RFID reader or another RFID reader, wherein the second RFID sensor is associated with a second object element:
sending, by the second RFID sensor, a second RF signal that includes second data to the RFID reader or the other RFID reader in response to the second data request signal, wherein the second data is information regarding the second object element;
sending, by the RFID reader, a representation of the first data to a data processing unit;
sending, by the RFID reader or the other RFID reader, a representation of the second data to the data processing unit;
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the first data to determine a first data point regarding the first object element, where the first data point includes one or more of: location, temperature, moisture level, pressure, and another environmental condition;
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the second data to determine a second data point regarding the second object element, where the second data point includes one or more of: location, temperature, moisture level, pressure, and another environmental condition; and
processing, by the data processing unit, the first and second data points to determine an environmental relationship between the first and second object elements.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprises:
receiving, by a third RFID sensor, a third data request signal from the RFID reader, wherein the third RFID sensor is associated with the first object element;
sending, by the third RFID sensor, a third RF signal that includes third data to the RFID reader in response to the third data request signal, wherein the third data is additional information regarding the first object element;
sending, by the RFID reader, a representation of the third data to the data processing unit; and
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the first data and the representation of the third data to determine the first data point regarding the first object element.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of the first data comprises one or more of:
the first data point, a digital value representative of the first data point, an analog signal representative of the first data point, an encoded version of the first data point, an encoded version of the digital value, and an encoded version of the analog signal.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprises:
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the first data to determine a first location of the first object element, where the first object element is associated with a first object;
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the second data to determine a second location of the second object element, where the second object element is associated with a second object; and
processing, by the data processing unit, the first and second locations to determine a distance between the first and second objects; and
when the distance exceeds a proximity threshold, generating, by the data processing unit, a separation alarm.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprises:
adjusting, based on a known variance, the tuning circuit to substantially re-establish the desired value of the one or more RF characteristics;
generating calibration data based on the in accordance with the adjusting of the tuning circuit that was based on the known variance; and
generating the first data in accordance with the adjusting of the tuning circuit that was based on the variance and calibration data.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the first data to determine a first environmental condition of the first object element, where the first object element is associated with a first object;
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the second data to determine a second environmental condition of the second object element, where the second object element is associated with the first object; and
processing, by the data processing unit, the first and second environmental conditions to determine an environmental relationship of the first object.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprises:
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the first data to determine an identifier of the first object element, where the first object element is associated with a first object and the identifier is for the first object;
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the second data to determine a moisture level of the second object element, where the second object element is associated with the first object and the moisture level is for the first object; and
processing, by the data processing unit, the identifier and moisture level to establish that the first object has the moisture level.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprises:
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the first data to determine an identifier of the first object element, where the first object element is associated with a first object and the identifier is for the first object;
processing, by the data processing unit, the representation of the second data to determine a temperature of the second object element, where the second object element is associated with the first object and the temperature is for the first object; and
processing, by the data processing unit, the identifier and the temperature to establish that the first object has the temperature.