RFID enhanced operating system (EOS) framework

A method for developing software applications residing on a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) reader, the RFID reader including a memory, the method comprising:

• storing a software development framework in the memory of the RFID reader, the software development framework including a plurality of predefined functional components that interact with the RFID reader in a manner that is independent of RFID reader hardware, the functional components include a set of core components, the set of core components enabling the software application to operate, wherein the set of core components includes:
• a reader interface, the reader interface operating and managing the RFID reader;
• a tag state handler, the tag state handler filtering responses received from RFID tags according to a current state;
• a version manager, the version manager maintaining and supporting RFID reader software version information;
• a license support manager, the license support manager issuing and monitoring a license for the software development framework;
• and
• a set of operating system wrappers, the operating system wrappers implementing a consistent usage policy for operating system functions.

A system for developing radio frequency identification (“RFID”) reader-resident applications, the system comprising:

• an RFID reader, the RFID reader having a hardware platform including a memory for storing at least one software application;
• and
• a host computer communicatively coupled to the RFID reader, the host computer including:
• a software development framework for developing the at least one software application, the framework including predefined encapsulated functional components that interact with the RFID reader hardware platform to allow the at least one software application to operate in a manner that is independent of a specific embodiment of the RFID reader hardware platform, the functional components including a set of core components, the set of core components enabling the software application to operate, wherein the set of core components includes:
• a reader interface, the reader interface operating and managing the RFID reader;
• a tag state handler, the tag state handler filtering responses received from RFID tags according to a current state;
• a version manager, the version manager maintaining and supporting RFID reader software version information;
• a license support manager, the license support manager issuing and monitoring a license for the software development framework;
• and
• a set of operating system wrappers, the operating system wrappers implementing a consistent usage policy for operating system functions.