Method and apparatus for routing data in an automatic identification system

A system for controlling the collection, storing, and use of data in an RFID system, comprising:

• an event management system (EMS) connected for receiving data from at least two RFID tag readers, said event management system being configured for processing said data and for logging the data to a database;
• means for maintaining a real-time in-memory event database (RIED) wherein said RIED comprises a versioned data structure having an updated snapshot of the database maintained by said EMS and an outdated snapshot of said database;
• and
• a task management system configured for monitoring data in said RIED and performing a task in response to a status of the monitored data;
• wherein the RIED maintaining means comprises a sequence manager that identifies the database snapshots with indicia that indicates a sequence in which the database snapshots were obtained and the sequence manager is configured to identify the plurality of database snapshots with a unique name and a sequence number that corresponds to a time at which a database snapshot was taken;
• and
• wherein the versioned data structure of the RIED maintaining means comprises a persistent datum data structure, wherein each version of a data item in the RIED is stored with its associated sequence number, such that in response to a query or search for a data item of a desired version, the RIED maintaining means returns a version of the data item with a latest sequence number smaller than the desired version's sequence number.