Method and system for generating RFID labels using RFID encoder attachment
The present disclosure provides a system and method for generating RFID labels using a non-RFID label printer and an easy-to-attach RFID encoder. The RFID encoder comprises an RFID controller coupled to a network, one or more antennas, a label detector, and an RFID reader. The RFID encoder can be packed into two or more encoder units that are clipped onto the front and back of the non-RFID label printer. The RFID controller receives a packet of reader settings and a packet (array) of encode data via the one or more antennas. As unprinted labels pass through the non-RFID label printer and the RFID encoder, the label detector senses tags of the unprinted labels, and triggers the RFID controller and the non-RFID label printer to encode RFIDs onto the tags.
1. A computer-implemented method for generating RFID labels using a non-RFID label printer, comprising:
causing an RFID encoder to be armed, the RFID encoder attached to the non-RFID label printer, the RFID encoder comprising an RFID controller, one or more antennas, a label detector, and an RFID reader;
receiving, via the one or more antennas, reader settings, encode settings, and encode data;
sensing, using the label detector, a specific tag of unprinted labels;
encoding the specific tag with a corresponding RFID based upon the encode data;
determining that the encoding of the specific tag is not successful;
recording a tag index of the specific tag as bad; and
initiating a bad label process.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the RFID encoder further comprises a marker label detector, and a marker apparatus.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the marker apparatus is a hole punch apparatus.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining the tag index of the specific tag is bad;
causing the marker apparatus to be armed;
sensing the specific tag via the marker label detector; and
marking the specific tag using the marker apparatus.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
checking the encode data to determine a corresponding tag ID (TID) of a current tag sensed by the label detector;
retrieving a TID list based upon the current TID;
arming the RFID encoder; and
upon the RFID encoder being armed, sending print data to the non-RFID label printer to generate the RFID labels.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the RFID encoder is attached to the non-RFID label printer via one or more clips, the one or more clips configured to accommodate at least one physical feature of the non-RFID label printer.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more clips are adapted to a rear feed lip of the non-RFID label printer, a front exit lip of the non-RFID label printer, and/or expansion ports of the non-RFID label printer.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the RFID encoder includes multiple RFID readers, the RFID readers embedded in a label unwinder or rewinder of the non-RFID label printer.
9. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
causing an RFID encoder to be armed, the RFID encoder attached to a non-RFID label printer, the RFID encoder comprising an RFID controller, one or more antennas, a label detector, and an RFID reader;
receiving, via the one or more antennas, reader settings, encode settings, and encode data;
sensing, using the label detector, a specific tag of unprinted labels;
encoding the specific tag with a corresponding RFID based upon the encode data;
determining that the encoding of the specific tag is not successful;
recording a tag index of the specific tag as bad; and
initiating a bad label process.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the RFID encoder further comprises a marker label detector, and a marker apparatus.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the marker apparatus is a hole punch apparatus.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to perform operations comprising:
determining the tag index of the specific tag is bad;
causing the marker apparatus to be armed;
sensing the specific tag via the marker label detector; and
marking the specific tag using the marker apparatus.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to perform operations comprising:
checking the encode data to determine a corresponding tag ID (TID) of a current tag sensed by the label detector;
retrieving a TID list based upon the current TID;
arming the RFID encoder; and
upon the RFID encoder being armed, sending print data to the non-RFID label printer to generate the RFID labels.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the RFID encoder is attached to the non-RFID label printer via one or more clips, the one or more clips configured to accommodate at least one physical feature of the non-RFID label printer.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more clips are adapted to a rear feed lip of the non-RFID label printer, a front exit lip of the non-RFID label printer, and/or expansion ports of the non-RFID label printer.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the RFID encoder includes multiple RFID readers, the RFID readers embedded in a label unwinder or rewinder of the non-RFID label printer.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a system, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
causing an RFID encoder to be armed, the RFID encoder attached to a non-RFID label printer, the RFID encoder comprising an RFID controller, one or more antennas, a label detector, and an RFID reader;
receiving, via the one or more antennas, reader settings, encode settings, and encode data;
sensing, using the label detector, a specific tag of unprinted labels;
encoding the specific tag with a corresponding RFID based upon the encode data;
determining that the encoding of the specific tag is not successful;
recording a tag index of the specific tag as bad; and
initiating a bad label process.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the RFID encoder further comprises a marker label detector, and a marker apparatus.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the system, further cause the system to perform operations comprising:
determining the tag index of the specific tag is bad;
causing the marker apparatus to be armed;
sensing the specific tag via the marker label detector; and
marking the specific tag using the marker apparatus.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the system, further cause the system to perform operations comprising:
checking the encode data to determine a corresponding tag ID (TID) of a current tag sensed by the label detector;
retrieving a TID list based upon the current TID;
arming the RFID encoder; and
upon the RFID encoder being armed, sending print data to the non-RFID label printer to generate the RFID labels.