Multi-protocol rfid system

An interrogator system to read active radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and backscatter RFID transponders at a single monitoring location comprising:

• at least two antennas,
• wherein said system is configured to establish a tag communication signal sequence, said signal sequence comprising first, second, and third sequence portions,
• wherein said signal sequence is arranged to enable said system to:
• read a first active RFID transponder during said first sequence portion,
• read active second RFID transponder during a second sequence portion, and
• communicate with at least two backscatter transponders during said third sequence portion via said at least two antennas,
• wherein the communicating with each of the at least two backscatter transponders overlaps in time.

An interrogator system to read active radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and backscatter RFID transponders at a single monitoring location comprising:

• an interrogator system comprising at least two antennas,
• wherein the interrogator system is configured to establish a tag communication signal sequence, said signal sequence comprising first, second, third and fourth sequence portions,
• wherein said signal sequence is arranged to enable said interrogator system to:
• read at least one active RFID transponder during said first sequence portion,
• read at least one active RFID transponder during a second sequence portion,
• read at least one active RFID transponder during said third sequence portion, and
• communicate with at least two backscatter transponders during said fourth sequence portion via said at least two antennas,
• wherein the communicating with each of the at least two backscatter transponders overlaps in time.