Method and device for associating a transponder

Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the time span is statistically determined or corrected, wherein, for the at least one of determining or correcting the time span, the method comprises the steps of:

• obtaining, by the controller, for a plurality of animals, transmission data, wherein the transmission data for each animal comprise at least:
• a first receipt time of a first receipt of the first identification data and a second receipt time of a first receipt of the second identification data;
• for each animal, based on the transmission data, determining a time difference between the first receipt time and the second receipt time, for obtaining a plurality of time differences;
• and
• calculating, based on the plurality of time differences, the time span.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of transponders comprise at least one full-duplex (FDX) passive radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder and at least one half-duplex (HDX) passive radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, and wherein the step of receiving the plurality of identification data comprises:

• transmitting, with the reader device, an interrogation signal, wherein the interrogation signal has, in time, a signal duration;
• receiving, during the transmitting of the interrogation signal, at least a first transmission signal;
• and
• receiving, following an end of the interrogation signal, at least a second transmission signal;
• wherein the step of determining whether the first and the second identification data have both been received within a predetermined time span comprises a step of:
• correcting a moment of reception of the second transmission signal by subtracting the signal duration of the interrogation signal.

Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of transponders comprise at least one full-duplex (FDX) passive radio frequency identification (RFID transponder and at least one half-duplex (HDX) passive radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, and wherein the step of receiving the plurality of identification data comprises:

• transmitting, with the reader device, an interrogation signal, wherein the interrogation signal is transmitted periodically in a plurality of time cycles;
• receiving, during the transmitting of the interrogation signal in a first time cycle, at least one first transmission signal;
• and
• receiving, following an end of the interrogation signal during a second time cycle, at least one second transmission signal, wherein the second time cycle follows the first time cycle a whole number n time cycles later, wherein n is greater than or equal to zero;
• wherein the step of determining whether the first and the second identification data have both been received within a predetermined time span comprises a step of:
• correcting a time of receipt of the second transmission signal by subtracting a time duration of at least n time cycles

Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of receiving the plurality of identification data comprises:

• receiving a first and a second transmission signal;
• determining a signal strength of at least one of the first and the second transmission signal;
• and
• rejecting the at least one of the first and the second transmission signal when the signal strength is below a predetermined threshold value.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one of:

• the reader device is provided with one reader which is connected to one first receiving antenna, wherein the plurality of identification data are received via the first receiving antenna;
• the reader device is provided with one reader which is connected to a first and a second receiving antenna, wherein the plurality of identification data are received via at least one of the first receiving antenna and the second receiving antenna, and wherein the receiving antennas are mutually positioned such that an interrogation field that is formed by transmitting an interrogation signal via the first receiving antenna substantially coincides with an interrogation field that is formed by transmitting an interrogation signal via the second receiving antenna;
• or
• the reader device is provided with a plurality of readers which are connected to a plurality of receiving antennas, wherein the plurality of identification data are received via at least one receiving antenna of the plurality of receiving antennas, and wherein the receiving antennas are mutually positioned such that, for each receiving antenna, an interrogation field that is formed by transmitting an interrogation signal via the respective receiving antenna substantially coincides with interrogation fields that are formed by transmitting an interrogation signal via each of the other receiving antennas.

Device for use in a livestock management system, for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, the device comprising:

• a reader device for receiving a plurality of identification data, the plurality of identification data comprising at least first identification data and second identification data;
• a time determination unit for determining a time of receipt of individual identification data of the plurality of identification data;
• further comprising or operatively connected with:
• a controller for processing the plurality of identification data;
• and
• a data storage, wherein the first identification data are already associated with animal identification data of the animal, and wherein the first identification data and the animal identification data are stored in association with each other in the data storage;
• wherein the controller is configured for:
• determining whether the first and the second identification data have both been received within a predetermined time span;
• associating the second transponder with the animal, wherein the second identification data are associated with the animal identification data only when it has been determined during the determining that the first and the second identification data have both been received within the predetermined time span.

Computer-implemented method for use in a livestock management system, for associating a second transponder with an animal, which animal is provided with a first transponder configured for transmitting first identification data and a second transponder configured for transmitting second identification data,

• wherein, in a data storage operatively connected with the livestock management system, the first identification data are stored in association with animal identification data of the animal,
• comprising the steps of:
• receiving, with a reader device of the livestock management system, a plurality of identification data, the plurality of identification data comprising the first identification data and the second identification data;
• determining, with a controller of the livestock management system, whether the first and the second identification data have both been received within a predetermined time span;
• and
• associating, depending on the step of determining, the second transponder with the animal, wherein the second identification data are associated with the animal identification data only when it has been determined during the step of determining that the first and the second identification data have both been received within the predetermined time span.