RFID network system

1. A RFID readers/writers network system, comprising:

an external computer;

a plurality of RFID readers/writers, the RFID readers/writers divided into sets of RFID readers/writers so that the external computer is connected to a set of RFID readers/writers comprised of plural RFID readers/writers;

each RFID reader/writer comprising elements having only components for writing to a RFID tag, identifying the RFID tag, and obtaining information from a RFID tag; and

at least one concentrator connected to the computer,

each concentrator for controlling reading, writing, and verification of a related one of the sets of RFID readers/writers,

wherein a hub is comprised of one concentrator and the related one set of RFID readers/writers, wherein each concentrator comprising:

a concentrator processor running a control and automation program for controlling the reading, writing and verification operations of a corresponding set of RFID readers/writers connected to the concentrator, the corresponding set of RFID readers/writers comprising plural RFID readers/writers;

concentrator processor support circuitry, for supporting the concentrator processor with low level processes;

a RFID readers/writers interface controller connected to the concentrator processor, for controlling the communication between the concentrator processor and each RFID reader of the corresponding set of RFID readers; and

an external computer interface controller, for controlling the communication between the concentrator processor and the external computer, and

wherein the RFID readers/writers interface controller is connected to the concentrator processor by means of a level converter.

2. A RFID readers/writers network system, comprising:

an external computer;

a plurality of RFID readers/writers, the RFID readers/writers divided into sets of RFID readers/writers so that the external computer is connected to a set of RFID readers/writers comprised of plural RFID readers/writers;

each RFID reader/writer comprising elements having only components for writing to a RFID tag, identifying the RFID tag, and obtaining information from a RFID tag; and

at least one concentrator connected to the computer,

each concentrator for controlling reading, writing, and verification of a related one of the sets of RFID readers/writers,

wherein a hub is comprised of one concentrator and the related one set of RFID readers/writers,

wherein the external computer communicates with each concentrator using a high level protocol interface comprised by a reduced set of macro-commands, and

wherein the high level protocol interface macro-commands comprise:

Pass through that allows the external computer to communicate directly with a specific RFID reader/writer with minimal formatting and only the necessary validation;

Hub Ping to request the concentrators to send a message back to the external computer, to know if all of the concentrators are working and connected;

Hub address set that sets the address for the external computer to reach a concentrator;

Hub Ping Broadcast so all concentrators send a response with a delay calculated to eliminate collisions for the external computer to Identify all concentrators available;

Hub Get all readers/writers request the concentrators to send ping commands to the RFID readers/writers and gets a list of all readers/writers available for said concentrator. The concentrator sends this list to the external computer;

MACRO Reader test to test a set of RFID readers/writers by request of the external computer and send the results back;

MACRO Get TAG Header data that obtains the RFID tag header data (all the identification data stored in the tag) of a set of readers/writers by request of the external computer by means of the RFID readers/writers, and send the results back where when no RFID tag is found on the range of a reader a NO TAG message is sent in its place;

MACRO Get TAG Id code that obtains the RFID TAG Id code (the id alphanumeric string that identifies the tag) of a set of readers/writers by means of the RFID readers/writers by request of the external computer, and send the results back where when no tag is found on the range of a reader a NO TAG message is sent in its place;

MACRO Add event data that adds an event or data packet to the RFID tag memory on a set of readers/writers by means of the RFID readers/writers by request of the external computer where when no tag is found on the range of a reader a NO TAG message is sent in its place; and

MACRO Write TAG data that writes general data to the tag memory on a set of readers/writers by means of the RFID reader by request of the external computer where when no tag is found on the range of a reader a NO TAG message is sent in its place.

3. A RFID network system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein all macro commands have a reader set associated in the command structure, for allowing the external computer to access all or only a portion of the readers/writers of a hub at a time in parallel to its normal operations.

4. A RFID network system, comprising:

an external computer;

a plurality of RFID readers/writers, the RFID readers/writers divided into sets of RFID readers/writers so that the external computer is connected to a set of RFID readers/writers comprised of plural RFID readers/writers;

each RFID reader/writer comprising elements having only components for writing to a RFID tag, identifying the RFID tag, and obtaining information from a RFID tag; and

at least one concentrator connected to the computer,

each concentrator for controlling reading, writing, and verification of a related one of the sets of RFID readers/writers,

wherein a hub is comprised of one concentrator and the related one set of RFID readers/writers, and

wherein the external computer can send the following set of commands to all concentrators in parallel: set hub address: sets the address for the external computer to reach each concentrator; ping: sends a message back to the external computer to know if each concentrator is working and connected; ping broadcast: all concentrators send a response with a delay calculated to eliminate collisions, for the external computer Identify all concentrators available.