RFID reader discipline

A method for coordinating reader transmissions, comprising:

• at a first reader, receiving from a second reader a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag;
• and
• if the first reader is transmitting, sending a denial of the request from the first reader to the second reader,
• wherein the first and second readers receive a request to transmit from a third reader, wherein the request from the third reader includes a request for priority, wherein if the first reader is transmitting and the second reader is waiting to transmit, the first reader sends a denial of the third reader's request, wherein the second reader waits to transmit to the radio frequency identification tag until after the third reader communicates with a radio frequency identification tag.

A method for coordinating reader transmissions, comprising:

• from a first reader, sending to a plurality of readers a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag, the request being directed to the readers;
• waiting for responses from the plurality of readers;
• if a denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers, not transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag;
• if no denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers, transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag;
• and
• receiving a request to transmit from another reader, wherein the request from the other reader includes a request for priority, wherein if the first reader is transmitting, the first reader aborts transmitting and the first reader waits to retransmit to the radio frequency identification tag until after the other reader communicates with a radio frequency identification tag.

A method for coordinating reader transmissions, comprising:

• from a first reader, sending to a plurality of readers a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag, the request being directed to the readers;
• waiting for responses from the plurality of readers;
• if a denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers, not transitting to the radio frequency identification tag;
• if no denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers, transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag;
• and
• receiving a request to transmit from another reader, wherein the request from the other reader includes a request for priority, wherein if the first reader is transmitting and a second reader is waiting to transmit, the first reader sends a denial of the third reader's request, wherein the second reader waits to transmit to the radio frequency identification tag until after the third reader communicates with a radio frequency identification tag.

A method for coordinating reader transmissions, comprising:

• for a first of a plurality of readers, determining whether the first reader and any other of the readers interfere with each other;
• storing a result of the determination;
• wherein the first reader sends a request to transmit to those readers determined to interfere with the first reader or vice versa prior to transmitting to a radio frequency identification tag, the request to transmit being directed to those readers determined to interfere with the first reader or vice versa;
• wherein if a denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers receiving the request, not transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag;
• and
• wherein if no denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers receiving the request, transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag;
• and
• the first reader receiving a request to transmit from another reader, wherein the request from the other reader includes a request for priority, wherein if the first reader is transmitting, the first reader aborts transmitting and the first reader waits to retransmit to the radio frequency identification tag until after the other reader communicates with a radio frequency identification tag.

A system, comprising:

• a processing circuit;
• memory coupled to the processing circuit;
• and
• an antenna coupled to the processing circuit,
• wherein the processing circuit is configured to:
• at a first reader, receive from a second reader a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag;
• and
• send a denial of the request from the first reader to the second reader if the first reader is transmitting,
• wherein the first and second readers receive a request to transmit from a third reader, wherein the request from the third reader includes a request for priority, wherein if the first reader is transmitting and the second reader is waiting to transmit, the first reader aborts transmitting and the second reader waits to transmit to the radio frequency identification tag until after the third reader communicates with a radio frequency identification tag.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer code thereon, which when executed by a reader causes the reader to:

• receive, by the reader, a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag from a remote reader;
• and
• send, by the reader, a denial of the request to the remote reader if the reader is transmitting,
• wherein the first and second readers receive a request to transmit from a third reader, wherein the request from the third reader includes a request for priority, wherein if the first reader is transmitting and the second reader is waiting to transmit, the first reader aborts transmitting and the second reader waits to transmit to the radio frequency identification tag until after the third reader communicates with a radio frequency identification tag.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer code thereon, which when executed by a reader causes the reader to:

• send to a plurality of readers a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag, the request being directed to the readers;
• wait for responses from the plurality of readers;
• not transmit to the radio frequency identification tag if a denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers;
• transmit to the radio frequency identification tag if no denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers;
• and
• receive a request to transmit from another reader, wherein the request from the other reader includes a request for priority, wherein if the first reader is transmitting, the first reader aborts transmitting and the first reader waits to retransmit to the radio frequency identification tag until after the other reader communicates with a radio frequency identification tag.

A system, comprising:

• a processing circuit;
• memory coupled to the processing circuit;
• and
• an antenna coupled to the processing circuit,
• wherein the processing circuit is configured to:
• determine whether a first of a plurality of readers and any other of the readers interfere with each other;
• store a result of the determination;
• store a request to transmit from the first reader to those readers determined to interfere with the first reader or vice versa prior to transmitting to a radio frequency identification tag, the request to transmit being directed to those readers determined to interfere with the first reader or vice versa;
• not transmit to the radio frequency identification tag if a denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers receiving the request;
• transmit to the radio frequency identification tag if no denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers receiving the request;
• and
• receive, by the first reader, a request to transmit from another reader, wherein the request from the other reader includes a request for priority, wherein if the first reader is transmitting, the first reader aborts transmitting and the first reader waits to retransmit to the radio frequency identification tag until after the other reader communicates with a radio frequency identification tag.