Electronic identification system with forward error correction system

An electronic identification system including:

• an interrogator for transmitting a first radio frequency interrogation signal;
• a plurality of radio frequency transponders;
• each transponder being operative in response to the interrogation signal to respond with a forward error correctable data message including base data in the form of identification code data for the transponder encoded as a first set of symbol characters in accordance with a first forward error correcting code, a first set of check characters on the identification code data as defined in the first forward error correcting code, other base data encoded as a second set of symbol characters in accordance with a second forward error correcting code and a second set of check characters on the other base data as defined in the second forward error correcting code, for facilitating reconstruction of the identification code data and other base data in the event of corruption of the forward error correctable data message during transmission;
• and
• the interrogator including
• receiver means for receiving the forward error correctable data message;
• and
• data processor means having data relating to the first forward error correcting code, the first set of symbol characters and the first set of check characters in the received forward error correctable data message;
• and further having data relating to the second forward error correcting code, the second set of symbol characters and the second set of check characters in the received forward error correctable data message, to reconstruct the identification code data and the other base data respectively, in the event of corruption of the received forward error correctable data message.