Component diversity in a RFID security network

An RFID security network for monitoring a structure, comprising:

• a plurality of base units;
• and
• a plurality of transponders, each said transponder being in two-way communications with the plurality of base units;
• wherein the plurality of base units are appropriately located within the structure to provide multiple communications links between each of the plurality of base units and each of the plurality of transponders.

An RFID security network for monitoring a structure, comprising:

• a plurality of base units, each said base unit having a controller function, and each said base unit being a separate gateway to at least one external network;
• and
• a plurality of transponders, each said transponder being in two-way communications with the plurality of base units;
• wherein if a base unit is disabled, at least one other network base unit has a communications link to the at least one external network.

An RFID security network for monitoring a structure, comprising:

• at least two base units, each said base unit having at least two antennas;
• and
• a plurality of transponders, each said transponder having at least one antenna, and each said transponder having two-way communications with the at least two base units;
• wherein the at least two base units are appropriately located within the monitored structure to provide redundant communication links between each of the at least two base units and the plurality of transponders;
• and further
• wherein each base unit that receives a message from a transponder transmits a response message to the sending transponder at least once from each of the at least two antennas within each transmitting base unit.

A method for an RFID security network, monitoring a structure, to alert an emergency response entity, said RFID security network including a plurality of base units, with each said base unit being a separate gateway to an external network, and said RFID security network including a plurality of security transmitters in two-way communications with each of the plurality of base units, the method comprising the steps of:

• at least one of the plurality of base units receiving an alert notification from at least one of the security transmitters;
• a first base unit that received the transmitter alert notification attempting to contact an emergency response entity through an external network;
• if the first base unit's attempt to contact an emergency response entity fails, then a second base unit attempting to contact an emergency response entity through an external network;
• if the second base unit's attempt to contact an emergency response entity fails, then a third base unit attempting to contact an emergency response entity through an external network;
• and
• each base unit in succession continuing to attempt to contact an emergency response entity through an external network until a successful notification is achieved.