Systems and methods for selectively limiting read zones

A method comprising:

• synchronizing, by one or more processors, signal transmissions from a first antenna associated with a first reader and a second antenna associated with a second reader to generate (i) a first read zone corresponding to the first antenna, (ii) a second read zone corresponding to the second antenna, and (iii) a null zone between the first read zone and the second read zone that prevents the first reader and the second reader from reading tags located in the null zone, the first antenna being disposed at a first angle, and the second antenna being disposed at a second angle different from the first angle;
• and
• linking, by the one or more processors, (i) the first reader with a tag located in the first read zone or (ii) the second reader with a tag located in the second read zone based on an energy ratio of a first signal transmitted by the first antenna to a second signal transmitted by the second antenna.

A tangible non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

• synchronize signal transmissions from a first antenna associated with a first reader and a second antenna associated with a second reader to generate (i) a first read zone corresponding to the first antenna, (ii) a second read zone corresponding to the second antenna, and (iii) a null zone between the first read zone and the second read zone that prevents the first reader or the second reader from reading tags located in the null zone, the first antenna being disposed at a first angle, and the second antenna being disposed at a second angle different from the first angle;
• and
• link (i) the first reader with a tag located in the first read zone or (ii) the second reader with a tag located in the second read zone based on an energy ratio of a first signal transmitted by the first antenna to a second signal transmitted by the second antenna.